Skip to content

GPS? IP Address! Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Ice and Wind: The cache owner has not responded, or corrected the problems with this cache, so I must regretfully archive the listing.

More
Hidden : 10/17/2001
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Related Web Page

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

This one is pretty easy, but you'll need to do some basic math. A fun way to get down with lat/lon coordinates and computer IP addresses!

The coordinates given are for my computer, not the actual geocache. To find the real thing, you'll need to use the following virtual cache coordinates. These place you about 800 miles west of Cabo San Lucas. But the geocache isn't there either! Instead, they are clues. The longitude coordinate remains correct, but in this case the latitude coordinate represents the IP address for my server.

N 21° 36.660912996'
W 122° 10.333'

Here's what you'll need to do: Convert the latitude coordinate into decimal degrees. Then, working left to right, insert dots as shown. (Ignore the decimal point in the coordinate--just use the digits.)

xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

(A slight change as of 15 June 2011...)

Because of a new IP address (Thanks verygeeky) you now need to do some subtraction. Take the number above and subtract as follows. I've done the last set to ensure that you understand what to do. Then proceed with the directions that follow.

 xxx.xxx.xxx.166
-152.029.146.099
----------------
 zzz.zzz.zzz.67

Using your web browser, go to this IP address. There you will find a replacement latitude coordinate. Combined with the original longitude coordinate, this will place you at a point due south of my computer--and not in my house! There you will find the actual geocache.

Notes: Using the coordinate translator at the top of the page ("convert to NAD27 or UTM") won't help. You'll have to do the math yourself or find a different converter. If you know how many minutes there are in a degree, the math is easy!

I took a handful of readings and I believe the final coordinates are within +-12 feet lat and +-20 feet lon.

November 12, 2007: The new IP address is for my server, not the computer at my house. Sadly, after six years with the same IP address, I now have a dynamic IP address. None of this affect the outcome of the cache. It's just different data.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

THERE USED TO BE A HINT BUT PEOPLE WERE CHEATING. SOLVE THE PUZZLE AND I WILL EMAIL THE HINT TO YOU.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)