Let's talk about WAAS.

I can't count the number of times I have run into a new cacher on the trail and have heard, "My GPS just isn't that accurate. It doesn't get me to the cache."

First, no GPS is going to put you right on top of the cache. The game just wouldn't be that fun if you were put dead on the X. Second, there's a multitude of things that can affect your GPS accuracy from tree blockage, power lines, solar activity, etc. C, there's something you can do about it with the right GPS.




Each manufacturers GPS is going to be different. 

Maps, settings, capabilities, etc. I've seen two GPS of the same model get wildly different readings dead on top of a cache. Sometimes tens of feet apart, even more. One thing I always check first for a new cacher, after politely asking if I can hold their GPS, is their WAAS setting. Most will not have WAAS enabled.

From Garmins site:
WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground reference stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data. Two master stations, located on either coast, collect data from the reference stations and create a GPS correction message. This correction accounts for GPS satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere. The corrected differential message is then broadcast through one of two geostationary satellites, or satellites with a fixed position over the equator. The information is compatible with the basic GPS signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can read the signal.

I knew one cacher that had his settings off and had the wrong format set in his GPS for a year. He was using the wrong datum and found 1500 caches. Quite a feat. In the end it made him a better cacher because he had to develop skills that he would not have attained otherwise.

What does this mean to you? It means that your GPS will be more accurate and put you in the general area of the cache more quickly. Typical WAAS position accuracy is three meters (9.84 feet). From there it's all about the geo-force, your eyes and hands. The best thing I can suggest is experience. Many cachers hide the same way, a lot. I know a lot of cachers that hide the same way all the time. LOL So that makes it pretty easy.

Check you settings, especially on older models, to see if your GPS is WAAS enabled. You might be surprised.

And if you're  one of the new breed of cachers who use them new fangled cell phones for all your caching needs, I can't help ya. Just kidding. I found something that really help with my iPhone 4S. But that's next time.

Next up: GLONASS