Resources
CIGA logo for your cache pages
Several members have started to include the CIGA logo on their cache pages which will help us to become better known to other cachers.
CIGA Member
This is the code that you can paste in your cache description to include the logo and a link to our Web site:
<center> <A href="http://www.CIGAcache.org/" target=_blank> <IMG alt="Link to CIGA" src="http://www.CIGAcache.org/cigalogo.jpg" border=0> <br> <FONT size=2>CIGA Member</FONT></a> </center>
You will have to check the "The descriptions below are in HTML" box and you will then have to insert some minimal HTML code between paragraphs, e.g., <P> where there was a blank line and a <BR> where you want a line break.
If you have problems or questions, post a reply to the "Help Needed" topic in the Discussion Board and someone will come to your assistance.
Micro logsheet
If you have already found a couple of micro caches you recognize that there are some good and worse logbook for those caches. Please do not try to use those post-it notes; they are looking nice but will fall apart within the first few finders. Sissy-n-CR provide a very good log sheet on their webpage. It is suitable for Altoid, film containers or even bisontubes. Download and print doublesided: micro log sheet (Acrobat Reader required).Caches along route
Recently, the option to generate a PQ for caches along a route was added to the premium features of gc.com. It is explained on how to use this with google earth; however, in case you do not want or you are not able to install google earth on your PC, here is another way to get it working. It uses the routing of maps.google.com and a javascript offered by Communications from elsewhere.Warning: The following procedure is not working for all browsers; Internet Explorer and Firefox seem to work, Opera not. Before following the instructions you must add the "GMapToGPX" (yellow link at http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/gmaptogpx ) script to your bookmarks/favourites of your browser (see instruction on page).
- Generate a route with maps.google.com. Make sure that the route is less than 500 miles long as this is a restriction of gc.com.
- After generating the route, start the javascript by choosing your bookmark/favourite "GMapToGPX". In case you get an error message, you might have to click on "link to page" in the upper right corner first.
- A window will pop up and your screen look like this:
- Mark all text, copy it into the notepad and save it as "route.gpx".
- This GPX files can be uploaded to gc.com.
- Save the route and generate a pocket query with your desired specification as distance on either side of the route, difficulty, terrain rating etc.
- Upload your GPS and hunt the caches!
Cache Verification
One of the problems with Mystery and some Multi-caches is the fact that ambiguity, data errors and user errors can have you going to a location other than the cache location. If the calculations result in a minor error (last one or two-digits) this may not be a significant problem in finding the cache, but usually you have wasted your time, gas and helped contribute to global warming.Simple checks
One of the simplest ways to provide the user with some idea whether they have a viable (but not necessarily correct!) solution is the use of checksums. Multiple single digit errors can lead to false positives. Example: 1+2+3+9 = 15 = 2 +2+3+8. Even using differing multiplies for each position of the result can also cause false results, e.g., multiplying by the wrong number or making a good old fashion math error. I have committed these type of errors using a very expensive calculator with a full formula display! While the checksums provide feed back and is better than nothing, this method is subject to unforeseen errors and is also hard to change when you have to correct coordinates or move your cache.Email verification
Some cache owners are willing to enter into a correspondence with cachers. This is time-consuming and often results in having to provide a full description of how to solve the puzzle (talk about a major hint!) Most geocachers would rather being out caching than sitting at home answering the same type of emailed questions over and over. My thanks go out to those cache owners that have been responsive and willing to do this, but it was a lot of work for you.Is there something better available? While caching in Iowa last fall we noticed that True/False feedback was incorporated into most of the Mystery caches.
On-line Verification
Several free cache verification services are available. The ones described here provide only a "Correct/Incorrect" answer. They also have some type of "bot" defense (a way to prevent someone from using a program to try all possible results until a match is found).The best way to understand how these services work is to actually use them. The following cache sites have the links to the verification services and can be accessed by clicking the link.
evince
History of Geocaching 101 (GCXF87 )This is a "look up information from the Internet" six question cache (and was a lot of fun). However, it involved doing nine math operations combining the six answers in different ways. This left a lot of potential for simple errors (of which I managed to commit a few).
Click on the red evince logo at the end the cache description. The features of this service are:
- a validation word (very readable) that user must type correctly
- form fields to enter the N and W coordinates (these are edited for reasonable value ranges)
- a Submit button
If you have an error, you have to restart the verification process. If you do it too soon, you will get this message - Whoa, pardner! Not so fast. It's been less than 10 minutes since your last wrong attempt. When a wrong attempt is detected, you need to wait at least 10 minutes before trying again. This is one of several anti-guessing protections used by the evince system. The program does have a funny message, but not one that you want to read many times!
Geochecker.com
BCD (GCX1P7) This cache was a lot easier (when the hint was used) than the caches that NoLemon and Ma n Pa have. However, I managed to not read my own handwriting and had one digit off. Getting a "incorrect" from the checker had me reading the correct word and getting the correct solution.The link for this checker is directly above the BCD diagram. The features of this service are:
- a validation word (being colored-blind caused me problems!) that user must type correctly
- form fields to enter the N and W coordinates (these are NOT edited for value ranges)
- a Check Coordinates button
- a limited of 10 attempts in any 10 minute span, but without a "blackout delay"
- a Google map link is provided on a correct solution
- a count of the good/bad solutions is available to the cache owner
- can use either a Exact or a Fuzzy solution (as long as the proposed solution is within the owner's allowed distance, a successful result will be shown)
Note: needs JavaScript to work.
What to do now?
Click on either of the Cache Verification service links above to access there FAQ. If you have a mystery cache, please consider adding one of these services to your cache page. After you have used it for a while, please post a note about you experience with the service to the CIGA Discussion Board.Hopefully, you will get less email and happier cachers by providing this service.