GPS in Geocaching Games
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure haunting game that requires GPS receivers in order to find out a cache. Geocachers search an undercover treasure by using the co-ordinates of the cache through Internet and then go for finding out the hideout place of the cache.
Cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and some kind of treasure. Geocachers first find out the co-ordinates of the cache and try to find out the cache with the help of GPS receivers. After finding the cache, the visitor maintain their findings in the logbook and then can take any objects from the cache by keeping something valuable for the next person to find. The thrill of the search and the excitement of discovering a new place generate interest for this game. Geo cache can be of any size and even can hide in any mountainous region and underwater.
There are different kinds of GPS units and software available to find the location of the cache. The waterproof GPS cache units contains battery for remote areas, screen readability that enables itself to read in daylight and night, and waypoint storage to record all cache location. A more developed handheld GPS receivers are enabled with Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) for position accuracy, a compass, an altimeter that shows the vertical direction of the cache, an antenna to catch signals under dense tree cover area, digital map for easy navigation.
After getting a GPS unit, the first thing you have to do is to find out the cache co-ordinates through Internet and insert them into the handheld GPS unit. Then you are ready to explore the thrill and adventure of the game. The sole aim of the game is to set up caches in different parts of the world and share the coordinates of the spots on the Internet to invite others to track down the cache and explore the place. GPS users can use those coordinates to find the cache and in this way the visitor can get valuable things placed in the cache.
Geocaching Software:
There are several software are available for the better observation of the cache information and some of them are listed below.
- GSAK or Geocaching Swiss Army Knife provides multiple databases, sending and receiving co-ordinates, finding target location through online maps. It also sends the coordinates or waypoints directly to the PDA or GPS receiver.
- CacheMate used in palm based PDA devices. The information about the caches and provide immediate access to cache coordinates. The facility of decoding hints is also available in this and overall is suitable for geocatchers who does not want to maintain any paper work during treasure haunting.
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CacheMaps – This allows in downloading co-ordinates from any Geocaching sites and displaying them in a online maps. The most important features is its offline work facility that allows to see the maps if you suddenly lose Internet connection.
- EasyGPS – This provides the easiest ways to create, transfer and edit the coordinates of the cache between your PC and GPS unit. By this you can manage all routes and can see them in a systematic way sorting by their name, distance or elevation. This software directs you to some of the best online mapping sites giving details about all kinds of information.