View Full Version : Geocaching
sammibabe
06-05-2011, 22:52
Just getting into this. Kids really enjoyed it and we have found the info for some in Florida so we thought it would be fun to find some just so we can say we have! What I'm wondering is (not being technically minded) is about the GPS. Wondering if anyone out there who goes (am reliabley informed John did or still goes geocaching)knows if you have a GPS 'machine' rather than a phone app whether it will be ok to use in the States or is it like a sat nav and you have to have a US version. Hope that makes sense and thanks [msnembarrased]
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
06-05-2011, 23:00
We LOVE geocaching and do it all the time (currently #6 in the UK [msnsmile2]).
A UK hand-held GPS unit will work fine in Florida. You may or may not have US maps with it (depending on the model) but to be honest you probably don't need the maps to find caches in the US anyway as most are by a road and reasonably easy to find. The pointer and distance to go will still work on the unit without maps and at the end of the day that's all you need to get you to the right area to start looking.
An iPhone or similar has dedicated apps for caching, but bear in mind unless you have a US SIM card for them, it will eat up quite a bit of data while you are out and about and cost you quite a bit in roaming charges.
Also, phones do not have as accurate GPS as a dedicated hand-held GPS unit, although this is not a big issue unless you are somewhere with heavy tree cover or something similar which can interfere with the satellite signal.
dynomike red
07-05-2011, 14:33
What is geocaching ?
LiesaAnna
07-05-2011, 15:32
told you John (boss man) loved it xx hope you have a great fun doing this in florida xx
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
07-05-2011, 16:40
www.geocaching.com
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by dynomike red
What is geocaching ?
[/quote]
dynomike red
07-05-2011, 16:56
Sounds good will give it a go
Thanks John & Sarah
sorry, have no idea what your talking about!!!
sammibabe
09-05-2011, 03:17
Awesome John, got a while to catch you up then! It was great fun and
our first box was a treasure one and the girls picked a glow in the dark star and we put in a shell and a gold pencil. Our gps is so old that it doesn't have maps on for anywhere but I was unsure of how it worked and thought it might be uk only. We would have found more on our first time out but we were on the wrong side of the river [msnembarrased]Dynomike Red - definately recommend giving it a go. Lyn - have a look at the website and all will be revealed. We have done letterboxing on Dartmoor for years which is similar but you use compass and map but great that you can go to so many other places with this [msnsmile2]