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Finding the geocache - an overview
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Once you have selected a geocache, the next step is for use the tools built into Geocache Navigator to find the cache. This tutorial will show you how to use these tools.
How do I select a geocache to find?
There are a number of ways to select a geocache. You can:
What tools do I have available?
When you select a geocache, you will find yourself on a screen with 4 tabs on the right. You can switch tabs using the left/right arrows. These tabs include the following tools:
- Compass
- Maps
- Details
- Radar
Using the Compass
 | The Compass is a great place to start. Though a conventional compass on its own is not particularly useful for finding a geocache, this compass comes with an arrow pointing you to the geocache. If you can follow the arrow, it will get you very close to the geocache. In the example on the left, the compass indicates that we are heading South, but that the cache is to the North, almost directly behind us. We would need to turn around to find the cache in this case.
In addition to the big arrow, you can also tell your distance from the cache, using the details box at the bottom of the screen. You can see that in this example we are .68 miles from the cache.
Note 1: As you get closer to a cache, the arrow will start to become very inaccurate, since any small movement in your location will have a strong effect on the direction the arrow points. When you get this close, it is best to switch to the Radar Screen to home-in on the exact location.
Note 2: If the GPS in your phone is very noisy, which has been seen in some phones, the heading may be very noisy, or somewhat inaccurate. If the compass points in the wrong direction, the arrow will also point the wrong direction. If you are having problems with this, you should consider using the radar screen. Also be aware that, the slower you move, the worse the heading will be in these cases, so it may work while driving, but not while on foot for some phones.
For more Information on the compass see Using The Compass.
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Using the Map
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| |  |  | By default the Map Screen only shows yourself and the cache, but it does not show maps behind you. This is by design. Downloading maps can start to use a lot of air time, so map backgrounds are turned off when you first go to a map screen.
To enable Map Backgrounds, you can select Menu > Map Background.
| The Map Background menu lets you select what type of map background you want to use. Depending where you are, different types of maps are more or less useful.
If you are in the middle of a city, street maps will be more useful than topo (topographical) maps. If you are in a city or state park, topo maps will be more useful. In general, aerial photos are nice, but since they are black and white, they can be hard to see sometimes.
|  |  | Here we have selected Street Maps.
For more information, see Using The Maps. | Using the Cache Details
| The Cache Details page will give you a description about the cache. These descriptions usually contain some hints as to how it is hidden. Generally the Name is also a hint on its own. Often times we don't realize it until after we've found the cache, but usually it provides a big hint.
It is also important to know the details on the Container... in this case it's small, so we know we might look over it when we are looking.
If you are new to geocaching, you may want to examine the Difficulty and Terrain ratings before you attempt the Geocache, but in general, it's fun to go search whether you find it or not .
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Using the Radar
| The Radar Screen is most useful when you are getting very close to the geocache. If you can get the arrow indicating your location to stay on the circle representing the cache, you should feel safe that you are in the right place.
Notice that there is a brown circle that surrounds your location. This circle represents the uncertainty of the GPS signal. This means that you could be anywhere inside this circle.
Once you get close to the geocache, it's time to start using your eyes. Note:
Sometimes the location that has been marked for the cache is not 100% accurate. Once you get to this location you should assume that the geocache is near, but don't be too surprised if you find that the geocache is a little off from the location you are at.
For more Information on the Radar Screen see Using The Radar. | What if I can't find it?
If you are unable to find the cache there are still 2 more tools that we haven't talked about:
- Viewing other users' logs
- Viewing the hint
Viewing other users' logs
If you can't find the cache, the next step is to read through a few logs. When people find a geocache, they often add a log to tell everyone about their experience. You can view the last 5 logs by selecting Menu > Show Logs. This will download the last 5 logs. You can scroll through them with the left/right keys. If you go past 5, it will go and fetch the next 5.
From time to time a landscaper will "clean up" and throw a cache away, or someone who doesn't understand will take it. Generally you will find a number of logs where people indicate that they couldn't find it when something like this happens.
Remember, logs are often but not always helpful!
Viewing the Hint
Almost all caches have a hint that comes along with them. The hint will usually be all you need to find it. Some hints are better than others, but generally the hint should be enough to help you find it. To view the hint select Menu > Show Hint.
If you still can't find it, that's all we've got.  I guess you'll have to try the next one. Mark this cache as Not Found and move on. But don't worry... it's all about the hunt anyway!
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