Cell Phones And GPS?
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trophyhunter
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Dude they have some phones that have that capability BUT that method of GPS is a BAD IDEA....we hunt places where we go into the back country and there is no cell signal for miles...what you going to do with a cell if you can't get a signal...nothing...For GPS use and safety get your self a good hand held GPS and learn how to use it. Get on Cabela's and check out the Garmin E-trex 10 for $99 or the Etrex 20 for $169 now on sale....worth their weight in gold in the wilderness. Waypoint mark your truck, camp, backpack on a stalk and game after it is down as well as good hunt'n spots 
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trophyhunter
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If you are in areas that have a cell signal Sooner or later when you need that signal most. Your going to find yourself deep in a canyon where you can't place your direction. IMO cell GPS are not for anyone going off the beaten path period. For safety get a hand held like a Garmin 10 or Garmin 20.
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WVHUNTER
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I haven't used one yet but I'm getting ready to. There is a post in Hunting Gear that has some information. I will try to add a little here. There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about how they work.
Do they work without cell service?
Yes, the newer smart phones, Iphone 4 and newer, Samsung S2 and newer have independent GPS chips that work without cell service. But you have to have the maps downloaded and saved before you lose service.
Which phone?
There are two types of phones, Iphone and Android, There are Apps available for Iphone and Apps for Android and some companies make them for both. The main difference is the Androids have Micro SD card slots and the Iphones don't. With the Androids you can buy SD cards with maps already loaded or buy SD cards and download them yourself. The Iphones will be limited on how much data you can store.
Which App.?
That's a good question. Apps range from free to $29.99. You probably don't want the free one, it may be limited on letting you down load. The $29.99 would be a Hunt Maps annual subscription per state with property lines. But there may be several between two and ten dollars that will do what you want.
Can I download my entire state before I start?
Maybe, depends on the phone. I saw somewhere that Utah was 10 GB, If you have an 8GB phone then no, if you have a 32GB phone or one that takes SD cards then yes.
How many Apps can I have?
You can have as many as you want. You may find that one App does some things better and another App does other things better.
Any tips?
When cell phones are out of service area they use a lot battery power searching for service so if you are out of cell service put it in airplane mode and it will save your battery.
Since these maps may be a lot of data use Wi-Fi to download them if you can instead of the cell download. The Wi-Fi data won't count against your contract amount of cell data.
Are Garmin GPS units obsolete?
If they're not they soon will be. The smart phones have larger, higher resolution screens and faster processors and if you already have one you can download maps for anywhere in the country for $1.99.
Do they work without cell service?
Yes, the newer smart phones, Iphone 4 and newer, Samsung S2 and newer have independent GPS chips that work without cell service. But you have to have the maps downloaded and saved before you lose service.
Which phone?
There are two types of phones, Iphone and Android, There are Apps available for Iphone and Apps for Android and some companies make them for both. The main difference is the Androids have Micro SD card slots and the Iphones don't. With the Androids you can buy SD cards with maps already loaded or buy SD cards and download them yourself. The Iphones will be limited on how much data you can store.
Which App.?
That's a good question. Apps range from free to $29.99. You probably don't want the free one, it may be limited on letting you down load. The $29.99 would be a Hunt Maps annual subscription per state with property lines. But there may be several between two and ten dollars that will do what you want.
Can I download my entire state before I start?
Maybe, depends on the phone. I saw somewhere that Utah was 10 GB, If you have an 8GB phone then no, if you have a 32GB phone or one that takes SD cards then yes.
How many Apps can I have?
You can have as many as you want. You may find that one App does some things better and another App does other things better.
Any tips?
When cell phones are out of service area they use a lot battery power searching for service so if you are out of cell service put it in airplane mode and it will save your battery.
Since these maps may be a lot of data use Wi-Fi to download them if you can instead of the cell download. The Wi-Fi data won't count against your contract amount of cell data.
Are Garmin GPS units obsolete?
If they're not they soon will be. The smart phones have larger, higher resolution screens and faster processors and if you already have one you can download maps for anywhere in the country for $1.99.
WVHUNTER
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I think the big thing on this is how user friendly are the Apps going to be. And I haven't used it so I don't know.
If you are sitting in your living room the week before your hunt in an area that is 500 miles away how long is it going to take to find the maps and download them. I don't know if it's going to take five minutes or five hours. And you will have to have some knowledge of where you are going.
A have an android also and I think I am going the SD Card route. Trimble has them for $69.99 per state without property lines and $99.99 with property lines. And you can still download maps in other states if you want to.
This should be idiot proof and that's what I am looking for. Just pop in the SD Card, download the App and tap the Icon with your finger and should be good to go anywhere in the state.
If you are sitting in your living room the week before your hunt in an area that is 500 miles away how long is it going to take to find the maps and download them. I don't know if it's going to take five minutes or five hours. And you will have to have some knowledge of where you are going.
A have an android also and I think I am going the SD Card route. Trimble has them for $69.99 per state without property lines and $99.99 with property lines. And you can still download maps in other states if you want to.
This should be idiot proof and that's what I am looking for. Just pop in the SD Card, download the App and tap the Icon with your finger and should be good to go anywhere in the state.
trophyhunter
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Thanks for the info. I always thought the GPS would need a cell signal. I will need to look at those Apps for the future...I have so many way points and information stored on my Garmins and transfer that info to my computer topo and aerial programs. Do you know if those new Apps will have features for waypoints? Or will those apps only show you where you are located?
Thanks,
TH
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Thanks,
TH
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WVHUNTER
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Yes, I think most of the Apps do waypoints, also do "Breadcrumbs" which tracks the path you have taken so if you want to return on the same path.
I'm not sure about transferring information back to your computer but I think you can with some of them.
If you already have a Garmin or Trimble SD card that you are using with your Garmin GPS can you put in it your computer and then download it to your phone, not sure about this either but maybe.
I'm not sure about transferring information back to your computer but I think you can with some of them.
If you already have a Garmin or Trimble SD card that you are using with your Garmin GPS can you put in it your computer and then download it to your phone, not sure about this either but maybe.
C
cormanaz
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Get a Garmin GPS. I have the "Base" $100 model and its NEVER Failed me. Always gets me to where I need to go. Trust me. No don't get me wrong, I never just break it out. I always use a compass, and pay attention to where I'm going and my surroundings. At least once a day while hunting, I do break it out the Garmin and see if I'm right where I think I am, and I do use it after dark alot. Never fails.
Very interesting subject....so, here is my 2 cents...
I do a lot of hunting in areas with little to no cell phone signal. When I can, I prefer to bivy hunt. With this being said, I still bring my cell phone with me.
When it comes to bivy hunting, I ALWAYS bring items which have multiple uses so I can reduce my weight. I have started to get into the habit (the past 2 years of taking my cell phone with). Here are the reasons why: (1) alarm clock, (2) camera (and video), (3) digital maps, (4) GPS, and (5) a means of communication (text/voice) on occasion. Due to the aforementioned, I have been able to reduce weight that I carry, but this has also introduced a new problem (which I will get to later in this post).
Please note that my usage of the GPS functionality with the cell phone is ONLY as a backup. I do rely on my Garmin Montana as my primary GPS. I do not feel as if the smartphone is a soley reliable means of a GPS system - yet. In the future, it will get there, but I do not think it is there yet (waypoints, bread crumbs, accuracy...).
On my cell phone, a Motorola Android Maxx, I downloaded the Backcountry Navigator Pro application. I like this application because you have great quality digital maps (topos), satellite overviews, and overlays of topo contour lines onto satellite maps. I bought the add-on, landownership. This add-on is just as good as the XHunt (name???) maps for GPSs. The only thing this add-on doesn't have is landowner information (name, etc.), but it tells you state, national forest, blm, etc. It is really good!!!
Now, for the only problem this has presented to me is to how to recharge my cell phone out in the field. I have tried solar, but have found that even in the sunny state of NM, it is not reliable. So, I have bought a Brunton Hydrogen Reactor and will be testing this out to solve my problem issues...
Hope this helps....take care.
JBone
I do a lot of hunting in areas with little to no cell phone signal. When I can, I prefer to bivy hunt. With this being said, I still bring my cell phone with me.
When it comes to bivy hunting, I ALWAYS bring items which have multiple uses so I can reduce my weight. I have started to get into the habit (the past 2 years of taking my cell phone with). Here are the reasons why: (1) alarm clock, (2) camera (and video), (3) digital maps, (4) GPS, and (5) a means of communication (text/voice) on occasion. Due to the aforementioned, I have been able to reduce weight that I carry, but this has also introduced a new problem (which I will get to later in this post).
Please note that my usage of the GPS functionality with the cell phone is ONLY as a backup. I do rely on my Garmin Montana as my primary GPS. I do not feel as if the smartphone is a soley reliable means of a GPS system - yet. In the future, it will get there, but I do not think it is there yet (waypoints, bread crumbs, accuracy...).
On my cell phone, a Motorola Android Maxx, I downloaded the Backcountry Navigator Pro application. I like this application because you have great quality digital maps (topos), satellite overviews, and overlays of topo contour lines onto satellite maps. I bought the add-on, landownership. This add-on is just as good as the XHunt (name???) maps for GPSs. The only thing this add-on doesn't have is landowner information (name, etc.), but it tells you state, national forest, blm, etc. It is really good!!!
Now, for the only problem this has presented to me is to how to recharge my cell phone out in the field. I have tried solar, but have found that even in the sunny state of NM, it is not reliable. So, I have bought a Brunton Hydrogen Reactor and will be testing this out to solve my problem issues...
Hope this helps....take care.
JBone
COLOelkman
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I'm with JBone on this! Started using Backcountry Navigator on my phone and it has worked very good. Not quite as perfect as a handheld GPS but way less things to bring. As for battery life, I keep mine in Airplane mode and it uses very little battery. I also bought a couple extra batteries as you can get them on ebay very cheap. Also had a Goalzero Switch 8 with the small solar panel and I could have made it several weeks easy. One drawback is the screen as most phone screens are not great in the sun but I installed a matte screen protector and it helped. Another thing is you need to download (free) the maps you need ahead of time since it downloads from the net so you want to do this via a wireless connection. I love mine as it saves bringing a separate camera, video recorder, gps and phone. Hope they come out with a rangefinder in a phone!
I have a simple flip phone that works when folk's can't get signal. I leave it off while hunting/or in truck to save on charging as they roam so much and run down.
I have a Garmin 450t with sd map card and it goes with me all the time.And it always gets a signal,always works. I carry replacment rechargables that also work in my headlamps/flashlights same with camera, multi uses.
I can rarely get a call thru to get help packing an animal out way back anyway. Folks I woulda called are out on their own hunts,ranching or outfitting/guiding.
So I go alone and have GPS with me. The cell stays behind usually.
I have a Garmin 450t with sd map card and it goes with me all the time.And it always gets a signal,always works. I carry replacment rechargables that also work in my headlamps/flashlights same with camera, multi uses.
I can rarely get a call thru to get help packing an animal out way back anyway. Folks I woulda called are out on their own hunts,ranching or outfitting/guiding.
So I go alone and have GPS with me. The cell stays behind usually.
COLOelkman
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Another benefit of bringing a smart phone, to add to jbones list, is the phone can be paired with a Spot Communicator or InReach device so you can text, 2 way text or send notice directly to Emergency Rescue services in case a major emergency happens. To repeat others comments, all this is done without any cell tower signal.
N
Navaluk
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LAST EDITED ON May-23-14 AT 06:25PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-23-14 AT 06:24?PM (MST)
I only take a gps. The reason is simple. When I get 5 miles from town there is no cell service. You don't get cell service between my town and the next town no matter which way you drive. So, why risk my phone? I might look into the benefits of the phone based system if I lived in Kansas or similar flat and or civilized country.
I need some risk in my hunting or I'll just buy the video game and save big bucks, so I'm okay without a direct "Bat Line" to every rescue service in the county. But I realize not everyone grew up living on the edge, riding bicycles without helmets, so your risk tolerance may differ.
I only take a gps. The reason is simple. When I get 5 miles from town there is no cell service. You don't get cell service between my town and the next town no matter which way you drive. So, why risk my phone? I might look into the benefits of the phone based system if I lived in Kansas or similar flat and or civilized country.
I need some risk in my hunting or I'll just buy the video game and save big bucks, so I'm okay without a direct "Bat Line" to every rescue service in the county. But I realize not everyone grew up living on the edge, riding bicycles without helmets, so your risk tolerance may differ.
I have historically been a real proponent for Garmin GPSs and still own and use several including the Garming Rino which is one of my favorite because of the radio combination. I still like the Garmin HOWEVER I have an iphone and have been using a couple of gps programs. One is called Gaia GPS and the other is GPS Kit. Both are similar and both are great. I am almost to the point that I prefer that over a standard GPS.
Both apps allow you to use the gps functions without cell service. The only thing you need to remember to do is pre download the areas you are interested in before you get out of cell service. After that there is not much difference in the capabilities and functions of the gps apps vs the Garmin gps. I also like the fact that the maps are readily available and you can get different types. The types of maps available may not be as extensive as the maps that are available for the Garmin gps but the maps for the iphone app are free. The radio capability of the Rino is something I do like but if you are just needing a gps then I would seriously just consider the phone apps. When I go hunting now I take my phone and a Goal Zero solar charger and can go forever with that combination.
There is also a new product called goTenna that is coming that is going to allow offline texting capabilities for cell phones. It is pretty impressive with 2 watts of power and "store and forward" capability. Who knows but maybe we can someday talk while offline also. (phone to phone)
Both apps allow you to use the gps functions without cell service. The only thing you need to remember to do is pre download the areas you are interested in before you get out of cell service. After that there is not much difference in the capabilities and functions of the gps apps vs the Garmin gps. I also like the fact that the maps are readily available and you can get different types. The types of maps available may not be as extensive as the maps that are available for the Garmin gps but the maps for the iphone app are free. The radio capability of the Rino is something I do like but if you are just needing a gps then I would seriously just consider the phone apps. When I go hunting now I take my phone and a Goal Zero solar charger and can go forever with that combination.
There is also a new product called goTenna that is coming that is going to allow offline texting capabilities for cell phones. It is pretty impressive with 2 watts of power and "store and forward" capability. Who knows but maybe we can someday talk while offline also. (phone to phone)
