GC342WD - JAVA

GC342WD - JAVA
By: The R.G.B. Red Herring Coffee Co. INC

1. Here is the puzzle.

JAVA

A cache by The R.G.B Red Herring Coffee Co. INC

N 44° 01.000 W 088° 45.750
UTM: 16T E 358731 N 4875234

In Wisconsin, United States

 SE 77.8 mi from your home location

Geocache Description:

***THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED CORRIDANTES***

I hear that someone’s java fund had to get tapped.

I felt sorry for him and made a midnight run under the cover of darkness.

I would think that this would be a dream come true. Java and a puzzle.

And to make it REAL interesting, there is a $20 gift card to a certain java drinker’s favorite coffee place for the FTF.

Good Luck!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



2. Identify the Puzzle.

This is a binary puzzle; however, a standard numeric binary conversion doesn't get you anywhere.  As it turns out, the puzzle is an alphabetic cipher.  With a quick Google search of the phrase "alphabetic binary cipher" you will discover Baconian Cipher or Bacon's Cipher.

After many failed attempts to identify the puzzle components, we decided that we needed to simplifying the puzzle.  Since the Dollar Signs and Stars were the most obvious puzzle objects, we started there.  It was easier to see the symbols without the mugs, red herrings, and color distractions, so we removed those items.

With the distractions out of the way, we could more easily test the cipher.

Here are a couple of links to the Baconian Cipher.  Notice that the cipher has two versions.  In one version, every letter has a distinct code (use that one).  In the other version I/J share a code and U/V share a code (do not use that one).

Bacon's Cipher

Bacon's Bilateral Cipher

Bacon's Cipher Decrypter - from Geocaching Tools

This is the tool that I found to be the most useful.

Bacon's Cipher Encoder/Decoder

Here are some issues you will need to address while trying to solve this puzzle.

With a Baconian binary cipher there are two ways to assign the labels, A and B.

1. Make all the Dollar Signs A's and all the Stars B's.
2. Make all the Dollar Signs B's and all the Stars A's.

You will need to test both.

Having done that, you will quickly discover you have another problem. How do you read the blocks to decrypt the message?

1. Left to Right (BBABA)
2. Right to Left (ABABB)
3. Top to Bottom (BBBAA)
4. Bottom to Top (AABBB)

And finally, how will you identify a potential solution?

1. Read the Message from top left to bottom right
2. Read the Message from bottom right to top left
3. Read the Words from left to right
4. tfel ot thgir morf sdroW eht daeR


Now get your feet wet.  Give it a try.

...Imagine the theme song from Jeopardy playing while you work...

Do, Do, Do, Do

Do, Do, Do...

Do, Do, Do, Do

Doop,

Do, Do, Do, Do, Do...

Do, Do, Do, Do

Do, Do, Do...

Doop,


Do, Do, Do

Doop, Doop, Doop...

boom, boom

Ok, by now you should have discovered that this binary solution was a Red Herring.  There were words that looked as though they might become a meaningful message, albeit with serious misspellings and word omissions, but in the end it turned out to be gibberish.

Great!  Now what!!


Back to the cups.  It turns out there are two other binary possibilities in the cup grids that could potentially solve this puzzle.

1.  Symbol Colors

Every cup has Symbols that are either Black or an Other-color.

Isolate the colored symbols.  Then assign A or B labels to the Black and Other-colored Symbols.  (Remember, you might have to reverse these letter assignments and test them.) 

2.  Background Colors

Every cup has colored Background Blocks located behind the symbols that are either Red or an Other-color.

Start by isolating the color blocks.  Then assign A or B labels to the Red and Other-colored Blocks.  (Again, you might have to reverse the A-B assignments and test them.)

Now you are ready to test the code strings to identify which binary code solves the puzzle.

Enter the code strings you want to test into the Bacon's Cipher encoder/decrypter, in groups of five separated by a space.  Each decrypted letter of the alphabet is composed of five encrypted code letters.  It will be much easier to proofread your work and correct typos if the groups of code you enter are each separated by a space.

Remember to use the 26 letter cipher, and test as follows (refer to the middle block above):

1. Left to Right (BABBB) - top row

2. Right to Left (BBBAB) - top row

3. Top to Bottom (BBAAB) - middle column

4. Bottom to Top (BAABB) - middle column

This decrypted code reads backward.  It says, "Two West Zero Eigh..."



3.  Solve the Puzzle.

So far, we have determined that this puzzle is an alphabetic binary cipher that can be decrypted by using Bacon's Cipher.  Furthermore, there are three distinct binary codes hidden in the cups.

1.  Dollar Signs and Stars
2.  Symbol Colors
3.  Background Block Colors

In addition, label assignments must be tested.

1.  A - B assignment
2.  B - A assignment

Code entry must be tried in every direction.

1.  Left to Right
2.  Right to Left
3.  Top to Bottom
4.  Bottom to Top

Determine which direction the solution must be read.

1.  Top Left corner to Bottom Right corner
2.  Bottom Right Corner to Top Left corner
3.  Read Forward - Left to Right
4.  Read Backward - Right to Left


Finally, and this is probably the most important, what is this CO's typical method of operation.

Having solved many other HCH puzzles, we have discovered that he typically takes the most difficult path and obscures the solution with spelling errors and omitted words.  In other words, save yourself time and frustration by testing the most difficult and illogical path first, working your way toward the easiest and most logical path.

Start by testing:

1.  Background Color Blocks - binary system

2.  B (Red), A (Other-colored) label assignments

3. Code Entry from Bottom Right Square to Top Left Square

(This will make it so the decrypted message reads correctly, otherwise you will have to read the message backward.)

4.  Top to Bottom Code Entry (Columns, starting with the right column in each square)


Here are the Color Block puzzle grids.

Now, starting at the Bottom Left corner, start entering the code strings into the Bacon's Cipher encoder/decrypter.  Enter the strings in groups of five letters, separated by a space, starting at the right column, entering code letters from top to bottom.

Bacon's Cipher - encoder/decrypter

DON'T FORGET

USE THE THE FULL 26 LETTER DECRYPTER!!!

Here are the decrypted squares.

4.  Put the Solved Coordinates together.

Solved Coordinates:

N 43 59.822, W 088 44.095   

5.  Verify the Solved Coordinates.

Use GeoCheck to verify the Solved Coordinates.

GeoCheck - JAVA