Post by TermiteHunter on May 27, 2021 22:42:47 GMT -5
How did we ever find a cache before phones?
I would guess that most every new cacher is using a phone to find caches. You are also likely to have joined Geocaching.com and paid a fee for Premium Membership.
This was not always the case.
You may know the origin story about the "blue switch" and the first cache in 2000, if not then learn about that here that's not what this is about.
I started in 2007 and Geocaching was in full swing already. Thanks to the removal of Selective Availability we had access to the GPS system and the devices to use it.
Back then we cached much the same as now but not everyone carried around a GPS reciever in their pocket.
Geocaching.com was the big player as it is today but there were already the Alternative sites.
We would go to the cache listing site and browse the list of caches nearby or use the map.
Maps were used more than they are today since some did not have a GPSR. We zoomed in and tried to find landmarks, printed cache pages and maps to take with us on the hunt.
Those that were most interested purchased GPSR's. A few already had them.
I had purchased one shortly before I found geocaching for hiking trails. (not that I got much use of it for that purpose)
We downloaded the caches directly into our devices or entered the coordinates into them, drive to the general area and use the arrow to point the way.
After finding the cache we would return home and log all our finds for the day on a computer.
Most were free members of the sites with only the most serious paying for a few upgrades or wanting to help support the listing sites by paying an additional fee.
It's much easier now with our phones. No more printing maps and pages of caches or rushing home to be the first to log online.
That was a thing... First to Find AND First to Log.
First to Find was a bigger thing than it is now as well. A cache rarely sat more than a few hours after publication before it was found and logged online.
Everyone having a GPSR in their pocket in the form of a phone made geocaching available to all.
Phones were great for many caches but those in the woods were more difficult with a phone. Reception under tree cover was not good on most phones and a GPSR was still the way to go for a while.
Phones are better now and few have a dedicated device for caching aside from their phone.
I have noticed that most new cachers are now Premium Members on GC.
There are benefits to being a Premium Member but it is not a requirement to enjoy geocaching.
Every site has a free membership and they are not all that basic. Most every key need is available at no charge on every site.
TerraCaching also has a paid level to support the site.
OpenCaching has only a free level. Everyone has access to all privilages.
There are also free alternative apps that can be used for geocaching.
The marketing of Geocaching.com has made it appear that PM is the way to go. It is an option.
While GC is still the big player, there is much variety offered by the alternatives that you may enjoy.
PM on GC gives you some perks.
Stats: These are great. Many really enjoy getting this information.
Notifications: Notification of new caches if you are a FTF hound. Alternatives give this for free and GC does tag new caches in the list format of nearby caches.
Downloads: This was a bigger deal with GPSR's. Being able to download several caches at once. This is still handy if you use software that manipulates the data.
PM Only caches: This allows you to get the info on PMO caches. This is a GC specific thing and really there are not that many around. The idea here was that CO's would list their caches as PMO and no less serious cachers would find them. They would be less likely to be taken or damaged and it would be a special thing for members. Other sites do not have this.
I am not saying this to discourage Premium Membership with GC.
PM gives you some nice advantages.
I just want you to be aware that it is not a necessity on GC and there are also alternatives with the other sites.
I am a member of TC, GC, NC, GPSGames and OCNA. (NC is Navicache and is now defunct site, GPSGames has their own and once listed OCNA caches)
I was originally a Free member of GC. When I got an improved GPSR, I got Premium Membership with GC which I kept for 1-2 years before reverting to free.
I use C:Geo on my phone to access GC and OCNA caches. I have also downloaded TC caches to the app so that I can use it for them as well.
Explore all there is to caching including the alternative sites.
Utilize alternative apps to do what you want with any site.
You are not tied to a single site for caching and you do not have to pay to play
I would guess that most every new cacher is using a phone to find caches. You are also likely to have joined Geocaching.com and paid a fee for Premium Membership.
This was not always the case.
You may know the origin story about the "blue switch" and the first cache in 2000, if not then learn about that here that's not what this is about.
I started in 2007 and Geocaching was in full swing already. Thanks to the removal of Selective Availability we had access to the GPS system and the devices to use it.
Back then we cached much the same as now but not everyone carried around a GPS reciever in their pocket.
Geocaching.com was the big player as it is today but there were already the Alternative sites.
We would go to the cache listing site and browse the list of caches nearby or use the map.
Maps were used more than they are today since some did not have a GPSR. We zoomed in and tried to find landmarks, printed cache pages and maps to take with us on the hunt.
Those that were most interested purchased GPSR's. A few already had them.
I had purchased one shortly before I found geocaching for hiking trails. (not that I got much use of it for that purpose)
We downloaded the caches directly into our devices or entered the coordinates into them, drive to the general area and use the arrow to point the way.
After finding the cache we would return home and log all our finds for the day on a computer.
Most were free members of the sites with only the most serious paying for a few upgrades or wanting to help support the listing sites by paying an additional fee.
It's much easier now with our phones. No more printing maps and pages of caches or rushing home to be the first to log online.
That was a thing... First to Find AND First to Log.
First to Find was a bigger thing than it is now as well. A cache rarely sat more than a few hours after publication before it was found and logged online.
Everyone having a GPSR in their pocket in the form of a phone made geocaching available to all.
Phones were great for many caches but those in the woods were more difficult with a phone. Reception under tree cover was not good on most phones and a GPSR was still the way to go for a while.
Phones are better now and few have a dedicated device for caching aside from their phone.
I have noticed that most new cachers are now Premium Members on GC.
There are benefits to being a Premium Member but it is not a requirement to enjoy geocaching.
Every site has a free membership and they are not all that basic. Most every key need is available at no charge on every site.
TerraCaching also has a paid level to support the site.
OpenCaching has only a free level. Everyone has access to all privilages.
There are also free alternative apps that can be used for geocaching.
The marketing of Geocaching.com has made it appear that PM is the way to go. It is an option.
While GC is still the big player, there is much variety offered by the alternatives that you may enjoy.
PM on GC gives you some perks.
Stats: These are great. Many really enjoy getting this information.
Notifications: Notification of new caches if you are a FTF hound. Alternatives give this for free and GC does tag new caches in the list format of nearby caches.
Downloads: This was a bigger deal with GPSR's. Being able to download several caches at once. This is still handy if you use software that manipulates the data.
PM Only caches: This allows you to get the info on PMO caches. This is a GC specific thing and really there are not that many around. The idea here was that CO's would list their caches as PMO and no less serious cachers would find them. They would be less likely to be taken or damaged and it would be a special thing for members. Other sites do not have this.
I am not saying this to discourage Premium Membership with GC.
PM gives you some nice advantages.
I just want you to be aware that it is not a necessity on GC and there are also alternatives with the other sites.
I am a member of TC, GC, NC, GPSGames and OCNA. (NC is Navicache and is now defunct site, GPSGames has their own and once listed OCNA caches)
I was originally a Free member of GC. When I got an improved GPSR, I got Premium Membership with GC which I kept for 1-2 years before reverting to free.
I use C:Geo on my phone to access GC and OCNA caches. I have also downloaded TC caches to the app so that I can use it for them as well.
Explore all there is to caching including the alternative sites.
Utilize alternative apps to do what you want with any site.
You are not tied to a single site for caching and you do not have to pay to play