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Webcam Cache
Camcache
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Status

Grandfathered

The webcam cache is a type of grandfathered geocache that involved the use of public webcams.

Description[]

"These are caches that use existing web cameras placed by individuals or agencies that monitor various areas like parks or road conditions. The idea is to get yourself in front of the camera to log your visit. The challenging part, however, it that you need to call a friend to look up the web site that displays the camera shot. You will need to have them to save the picture to log the cache. If you’re a tech-head you could use your wireless modem and save the image yourself on your laptop.

Webcam caches are now in the Web Camera category on Waymarking.com."[1]

Webcam caches were a unique take on the geocaching experience. In their basic sense, you went to a specific location that was within view of a public webcam. Before wireless access points became widespread or wireless data cards hit the market, you would then call a friend. That friend would then get online, access the website hosting that webcam and help guide you into a the camera view if needed. Once ready, they would take a photo of you using the webcam image. If the site did not have a button allowing for the capture of images, this was done with the "PRT SCR" button on the keyboard, and the subsequent image would be pasted into a program like Microsoft Paint for saving. Your friend would then save and e-mail the picture to you. When you got home, you would attach it to your log when you logged the find.

With the advent of commercially available wireless data cards and access points, many have been able to take the photos themselves using their laptops while on-site. This eliminates the need to call someone to take the photo for you.

Webcam caches could not be completed at any available webcam, requiring geocachers to visit specific locations. Not all publically available webcams had associated webcam caches either. Depending on the setup of the webcam itself, you either had a webcam with a fixed viewpoint, one that randomly shifted positions, or one that could be controlled remotely.

As Groundspeak changed their viewpoint on what defines a geocache, they became unavailable for creation, as did locationless caches and virtual caches. Like virtual caches, existing ones were grandfathered and as long as the owner has kept them active, are still available to be found.

References[]

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