GeoSnippits - Calibrating A GPSr Unit For Geocaching

[hikerjamz1]

I did not know you could calibrate a GPS, so I went to search on Ask.com for calibrating my Magellan Triton 500 and it took me to Magellan support website and it went step by step on how to do this. Very impressed with your video on calibration... Thanks !!!!

[iamownagenoob]

I only have a tom tom gps I think it sucks pretty bad. Should I use a phone or a gps because when I travel to places, I end up like at the wrong place. It has never really helped me before.. I have only found ONE geocach. But it was lucky cause I saw it walking: trying to find it.

[momo4236]

Ahh :) ok thx

[momo4236]

Sry im from Germany, and my english is not good.

[headhardhat]

@momo4236 No problem at all thanks for writing in.

-HHH

[momo4236]

Hello,

very nice clip.

Can you the Garmin etrex vista?

Is the GPS good for geocaching?

[headhardhat]

@momo4236 The Garmin Vista is a good starter GPS. It does have some difficulty with heavy coverage like trees and close to tall buildings but if you are in more open field they work fine.

-HHH

[loganmax8]

I don't need a GPS, I go and I just use the maps on the site to find the exact location!

[headhardhat]

@loganmax8 You are a bold geocacher. I know of some geocachers that do that but not many. However you like to geocache, more power to ya!

-HHH

[jutubaeh]

in soviet russia antenna turn you...

[gelaserguy]

You cannot "calibrate" your GPS receiver. In this video HHH is only calibrating the electronic compass. Many (most) GPS units do not have an electronic compass and cannot tell what direction you are facing while standing still (or moving slowly). A basic GPS can only point you in the correct direction once you are moving. The compass is only used for directional information when you are not moving. Finding GZ is purely a function of obtaining the best possible signal from the most satellites.

[HistoryCaching]

Great video! Thanks for the tips.

[TheDavincivirus]

Also if you have to use a iPhone, android, or other smartphone to place a geocache you should always make the hide in a area that you can confirm using landmarks from a satellite map easily.

EX: I am hiding a geocache at a park in a gazebo. I got approval to place the cache in the park and can't afford a GPSr unit as of yet. I launch my program and locate the coordinates for my hiding than I launch a satialite / gps based map and confirm my tracking is as accurate as I can. (Only an example)

[headhardhat]

@TheDavincivirus Yepper and just keep in mind that some reviewers have problems if you mention that you are using a smartphone for the hide. Using a satellite map will help sell your hide to the reviewer better.

Thanks as always guys!

-HHH

[Coatfish1983]

Hi Head Hard Hat :) just one question to calibrate the gps is important be in an area free of trees and buildings or any place do?

[headhardhat]

@Coatfish1983 The least amount of tall objects around you, trees, buildings, mountains, etc. The better. Sometimes you can't help but have them there. Yet if you can get a clear sky all the better. That was why I actually filmed this one in a great big open field.

[geomodelrailroader]

Nice tip Head Hard Hat. I have hills and canyons in my area and sometimes the echo from the satellite bounces off the walls of the canyon It is good to calibrate the units every time I change a battery or find a cache. when I go to other states or towns the first thing I do before I go hunting for caches is calibrate it.

[headhardhat]

@geomodelrailroader Absolutely. Even a few hundred miles can change the accuracy. There is always going to be those opsticles like hills and canyons, trees, tall buildings, etc. That will play with the signals. We just have to find the best way of working around them. Thanks for watching!

-HHH

[geomodelrailroader]

@headhardhat LOL and the 30 feet range error can be a problem

[bghoo8313]

Hey HHH, I go geocaching regularly and sometimes I find a a person that I think is a geocacher, what sort of things can I say or do that would determine if this person is a cacher or not. often times these people dont have GPSs so I'm not 100% sure.

-hunter-

[headhardhat]

@bghoo8313 Ahh the geocache salute :) I usually wave with my GPS in my hand and other geocachers instantly know that I am one. That and the huge tshirt with the word Geocacher helps :)

-HHH

[kmatts14]

Lol, I like the thumbnail for the video. ;)

[headhardhat]

@kmatts14 LOL, it's always the luck of the draw with YouTube.. Okay it's headhardhat standing behind a green poll. We should have a famous quote contest or something. Thanks for watching :)

[THTinCT]

I used to do the GPS two-step all the time and always felt silly, but it was fun, until I figured out to just turn the GPS. I never thought about calibrating after a battery change. Thanks for another great video.

[headhardhat]

@THTinCT Glad the hints help... To tell ya the truth I like doing the two step.. Makes me feel like a kid again :) Thanks for chiming in.

-HHH

[squip882000]

Thanks very much - I have the same GPS, gotta love the 60csx.

Have you had a look at the GPSMap62 series - I am wondering if I should treat myself to an upgrade.

[headhardhat]

@squip882000 Thanks for watching! I have looked at the GPSMap62 among a few others.. I always like upgrades :)

-HHH