Author Topic: What do you use for Geocaching  (Read 536 times)

Offline shawnandsam

  • First Steps
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • I'm a CacheWalker
  • Location: Evesham
    • View Profile
What do you use for Geocaching
« on: April 16, 2012, 10:16:39 pm »
I'm looking toget a GPS for my geocaching as i use my HTC atm and the battery does not last long.  So i would like some info on what others use and would recomend.

Cheers

Shawn

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Offline walktall

  • Administrator
  • CacheWalker
  • *
  • Posts: 4038
  • Karma: +38/-7
  • the Peace of walking
    • View Profile
    • Yinglong
Re: What do you use for Geocaching
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2012, 11:05:38 pm »
I use an Oregon 300, now discontinued but there are newer versions; with OS 50K map added option (you can buy this at a later date).

I think its a great unit but find sometimes the screen suffers in strong sun light. It's great for paperless geocaching and you can write short logs while out, good for when you do loads of caching in a day. Easy to download and upload from the unit and can hold 2000 geocaches plus waypoints.

Best thing is to go to an Event and see different units cachers have with them and ask what they like and dislike about their GPS.
Lets go for a CacheWalker  
CacheWalker & Cotswold Caching forums for the Cotswolds & beyond

Offline tarmacjohn

  • Moderator
  • CacheWalker
  • *
  • Posts: 1436
  • Karma: +30/-0
  • Anywhere is walking distance if you have the time
  • Location: Evesham
    • View Profile
    • My Faceboook page
Re: What do you use for Geocaching
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2012, 11:21:49 pm »
Nothing to add really, just to endorse Walk Tall's comments about the Oregon 300.

There are many, many more options. I have even seen people using the sat nav out of their car.

Going down the Oregon route is quite an expensive option. The GPS will cost £200+ and if you go for OS maps you an expect to pay a minimum of £100.

As Walk Tall says; go to an event and see what people are using. You will find that most people are more than happy to show you how things work. A useful web site for looking at GPS units (probably the cheapest as well) is http://www.handtec.co.uk/section.php/345/1/outdoor-gps

Offline foraging 5

  • Rambler
  • *
  • Posts: 162
  • Karma: +5/-0
  • I'm a CacheWalker
  • Location: North Cotswolds
    • View Profile
Re: What do you use for Geocaching
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2012, 11:33:07 pm »
Oregon 300 does the job for us, simple to use and pretty easy to upload and download info.

Offline Bear and Ragged

  • Fell Walker
  • *
  • Posts: 636
  • Karma: +10/-2
  • *.*
  • Location: Land of the Bear and Ragged Staff!
    • View Profile
Re: What do you use for Geocaching
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2012, 11:43:28 pm »
Depends on if you like touch screen or buttons...

If you like the touch screen phone -apart from the battery life!- touch screen GPS may be the way to go.
Oregon 300.
Still have my GPS mapCSX.

At the moment most caching is done with satnav (still attached to the windscreen!) for cache and dashes, or the phone.

Edit t o add:
May be worth taking a look at GSAK. http://gsak.net/
Useful for lots of things, especially if you solve puzzle caches at home, it allows you to keep the 'Corrected Coordinates' and send them to your GPS.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2012, 11:52:07 pm by Bear and Ragged »
I have a Geocaching problem...
Work gets in the way!

Offline Gackt

  • ABH Walker
  • *
  • Posts: 792
  • Karma: +12/-0
  • GeoVampire
  • Location: Cirencester
    • View Profile
    • about.me
Re: What do you use for Geocaching
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2012, 01:54:17 pm »
I know this is not that new of a thread, but thought I would contribute anyway.

I don't have any good advice on newer or top end equipment. I can only talk about what I use, which is real old, but reliable equipment, and good if you're on a very tight budget.

I use a Garmin eMap as my GPSr. It can fit just 500 waypoints, but that is more than enough for my occasional caching. The screen is monochrome, but of a good readable size. And as the name suggests it has map capabilities. This cost me £50 second hand a couple of years ago, and came with a memory card installed with basic maps of the south of the UK and a car power lead. It takes two AA batteries, which I have a couple of sets of.

If I am going out to do more than just one or two caches, which is not that often at the moment, I load a html formatted PQ using GSAK to my now quite dated K800i phone so I don't need paper print outs.

Offline walktall

  • Administrator
  • CacheWalker
  • *
  • Posts: 4038
  • Karma: +38/-7
  • the Peace of walking
    • View Profile
    • Yinglong
Re: What do you use for Geocaching
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2012, 12:11:39 am »
Practically all the time I'm paperless but get caught out now and again if the description is so long the GPX file doesn't have it all or if the CO has used pictures within the text which you need :( :o
Lets go for a CacheWalker  
CacheWalker & Cotswold Caching forums for the Cotswolds & beyond

 


CacheWalker - for those who love geocaching and walking
© 2012-2021 CacheWalker

Header Image: Trees © Griff Grof