What is the best GPS for geocaching?
There is a lot of talk about what GPS is the best for finding a geocache. In reality almost any GPS is as good as another for finding caches. There are just too many variables to the coordinates that are posted to say that any GPS is better than another. First of all, what GPS did the hider use and how prudent was the hider in marking the coordinates? Some geocachers, due to inexperience or lack of knowledge how gps units work, might just push the mark button and use those coordinates. Some geocachers have a GPS that allows them to set the unit down and download 100's of coordinates and average them.
We do not have one of these models. We prefer to take readings from several different directions and average them. I then try to tweak the corrdinates by adding or subtracting one or a few thousands from the latitude and longitude to try and get them as close as possible. This is quite easy. If you are consistenly 20 feet south of the cache you can add one or two to the north coordinates. If you are consistently 20 feet west of the cache you can subtract one or two from the west coordinates. When I think I have good coordiantes, I hand the GPS to Barb and she walks to the cache site from a distance and from each direction. If the coordiantes seem good we go with them. For devious hides we return on several different days until the coordinates are as good as possible. This is a good practice as you will get different satellites on any given day or at different times of day. Other considerations are cloudiness and tree cover. We usually cringe when we have to hunt down a micro hidden in a pine forest. Pine trees reak havoc with reception.
So lets say that you have a great GPS with an extenal antenna and WAAS and go out on a clear day. The hider has a cheaper unit, no WAAS, went out on a cloudy day and pushed mark. Does that expensive unit really make it easier to find the cache. I don't think so!
In summary. It doesn't make a difference if you have a Garmin, a Magellan or some other make of GPS. Buy a unit that you can afford and go out and have fun. It isn't the GPS that finds the caches, it is you!
We do not have one of these models. We prefer to take readings from several different directions and average them. I then try to tweak the corrdinates by adding or subtracting one or a few thousands from the latitude and longitude to try and get them as close as possible. This is quite easy. If you are consistenly 20 feet south of the cache you can add one or two to the north coordinates. If you are consistently 20 feet west of the cache you can subtract one or two from the west coordinates. When I think I have good coordiantes, I hand the GPS to Barb and she walks to the cache site from a distance and from each direction. If the coordiantes seem good we go with them. For devious hides we return on several different days until the coordinates are as good as possible. This is a good practice as you will get different satellites on any given day or at different times of day. Other considerations are cloudiness and tree cover. We usually cringe when we have to hunt down a micro hidden in a pine forest. Pine trees reak havoc with reception.
So lets say that you have a great GPS with an extenal antenna and WAAS and go out on a clear day. The hider has a cheaper unit, no WAAS, went out on a cloudy day and pushed mark. Does that expensive unit really make it easier to find the cache. I don't think so!
In summary. It doesn't make a difference if you have a Garmin, a Magellan or some other make of GPS. Buy a unit that you can afford and go out and have fun. It isn't the GPS that finds the caches, it is you!
4 Comments:
Excellent info. I couldn't agree more. I use 'el cheapo' all the time - they all run off the same satellites so it won't matter if you pay $100 or $100,000 - it only adds more features.
Great info on nailing down coordinates for a cache hide. I have not yet hidden one but I have a location that I am planning to hide. I'll try getting coords on different days and different weather.
Some days and locations my GPSr puts me within a few feet of the cache. Other times I may be 40 feet off. I have noticed that when I first walk in to the coords listed, if I stand there for a few and maybe walk away and back again I get a little different position....and usually more accurate.
Great point. You always have to remember that your GPS is only as accurate as the hider's GPS.
Great Post! You capture the real spirt of geocaching. It's not about what kind of GPS you have. It's about going out and having fun!
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