Has the GPSr Had Its Day - OBGCP11

The Oh Beep! Geocaching Podcast

This week on The Oh Beep! Geocaching Podcast we're discussing GPSr vs Smartphones for Geocaching.

All news/events, discussions and links for this episode can be found at ohbeep.com/11

If you have any comments on this show, past shows, future shows, or anything else geocaching related then please send it to [e-mail]. You can also find us on Twitter (@ohbeepgcp), Google+ (google.com/Ohbeepgcp), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ohbeepgcp) and Pinterest. Or at www.ohbeep.com.

News & Events...

BBH #73 - Bordering on a Breakthroughby Team Hippo | GC4VZHF | Southern England, United Kingdom

THE CUNNING CACHERS JANUARY 2014 MEETby The Teddies | GC4W2FQ | Southern England, United Kingdom

Post-Dublin Recovery Eventby The Dublin 2014 Crew | GC4VQ3A | East Midlands, United Kingdom

Brew with a View - Jan 2014 - Rye Loaf Hill by Jurassic Parkinsons | GC4VKY3 | Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Other News...

Story in the Melton Times - Get Fit For Less This January -

A variety of budget busting activity sessions will take place across Leicestershire and Rutland from Monday, January 20 to Sunday, January 26.

On Saturday Geocaching, aimed at families, will run at Melton Country Park from 11am and on Sunday an Xplorer challenge will run from 11am at the country park.

Video of the week...

GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos: What's in Your Geocaching Pack? by Andy "Head Hard Hat" Smith.

Sam is going old school this week, with his choice for video of the week. What's in your geocaching pack is a common discussion between Geocachers. This video shows some options:

Discussion...

Tony Liddell (on Facebook) - I started out with the phone, then got myself a gps but always preferred the phone, despite the disadvantage with battery life and sometimes accuracy

Andrew Wood (on Facebook) - I cached exclusively with an iPhone from 2009 to the start of 2012 when I bought an etrex 30. Since then I've used a combination of the two, as each has its advantages. Battery life is obviously a major plus for the GPSr, but I couldn't live without the "always online" features of the phone. I've never found a difference between them with accuracy.

Corey Stevens (on Google+) - The smartphone has many pros for being a versatile "swiss knife" style electronic tool, but nothing beats the accuracy of the GPSr. I can keep my gloves on in the cold without buying specialty gloves, it's waterproof and tons more rugged than most smartphones, and my batteries last hours longer!

Neal (Gackt) (on CacheFace) - Smartphone. It obviously depends on which model you use, and what software you use on it, but if you choose wisely the phone has equal or better battery performance and accuracy. My android phone has c:geo running, with offline maps installed, a number of PQs plumbed in so have thousands of cache details at my finger tips for when in no phone signal areas. The ability log caches when and where I want. The ability to receive emails with new published caches and store the details into it anywhere I am at any time. I have compared the accuracy for placing caches along side my GPSr, there is no issues there. The dedicated GPSr IMO has almost had its day. The only time I get my GPSr out of my back now is if I need to have a photo taken with it for TerraCaching locationless caches, and that is all. The only benefit my GPSr has over my phone now is ruggedness, but I get around this fairly well with a good phone case.

Norman Hicks (desmognathus) (on CacheFace) - I still carry my GPSr, but do most navigating any logging with the iPhone. Sometimes the GPSr is closer, sometimes the iPhone is. Occasionally, they even agree about something. I do have a good backup battery for the phone in case I run it down. I find the iPhone to be steadier under heavy canopy, which I would not have expected. Perhaps this relates to the way the satellite signals are processed?

Derek Carter (on CacheFace) - For urban caching, I use my iPhone since I can keep it on the charger in the car, but I have my GPSr handy just in case the phone seems too far off. Out on the trail, I use my GPSr pretty much exclusively. The batteries last pretty much all day, and I can carry an extra set with me easily. That way, the phone stays charged in case of emergencies. I don't see the "equal or better" battery performance on my phone when running the geocaching app. My phone drains rather quickly when apps are running in the background, especially any that use a constant location tracking system.

GPSr vs Mobile Phone

GPSr Pro’s

• More accurate than phone
• Better battery life
• More rugged than mobile phone - less expensive to replace
• You can use most models whilst still wearing gloves
• Requires pre-planning. This can help you learn more about the area - the safest routes etc

GPSr Con’s

• It can be an expensive investment for a device that is only used for geocaching
• Once away from the PC, whats on you GPSr is what you have to go geocaching with.
• No way of contacting people if you get in to trouble - unless you take a mobile with you
• Requires pre-planning.

Mobile Phone Pro’s

• You have the up to date cache information at your fingertips - assuming you have a data connection
• You can load with offline information
• If you don’t get on with how one app works, there are plenty of others that may be more your type
• If you get in to trouble, you have your mobile with you
• The apps don’t stop at helping you find geocaches. There are also plenty to help solve puzzle caches in the field.
• The phone looks less odd when geocaching in high muggle areas
• You can log your finds in the field - especially useful when on that FTF hunt, just to let others know ASAP that the FTF is no longer up for grabs.

Mobile Phone Con’s

• You can protect your phone whilst out, but it comes at a cost (special protective cases etc)
• Unless you have a pair of mobile friendly gloves - or remember to take a stylus out with you - phones don’t tend to be glove friendly.
• Geocaching tends to suck up the battery juice on a mobile. You can get chargers for out in the field - but these come at a cost
• If you’re relying on that data connection, rather than loading for offline use, then you may hit issues when in a poor reception area. Unless you have that offline backup, you may find your geocaching day cut short

Links relating to this discussion:

GeoGearHeads Episode 104: Multi Device Caching I http://cacheamaniacs.com/ggh-104-multi-device-caching-i-1

On next weeks show, we're discussing reasons to start Geocaching. If you have a muggle in your life, who is on the fence about going out Geocaching, then this might be the show for them.

Then on episode 13, we have the interview with DarrylW4 - host of GeoGearHeads and The Geocaching Podcast.