GPS & Satellite radio

[pbcarch]

Need some help here as the options are dizzying...
I will be heading out west for my first elk hunting trip this fall with my bow. Need to get a GPS and satellite phone.
I am very familiar with Garmin products from my cycling racing...so will stick with them.
All diy back pack hunting on public lands this 1st time out.
I have looked at the Oregon, montanna , older monterra series and can't pinpoint one over the other. Also looking at the Rhinos ..
And help, guidance or experience would be greatly appreciated

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[tttoadman]

If you are running solo, I would look at the simple Inreach instead of the sat phone. I really enjoyed the communication with the inreach, and it doesn't break the bank. I was in the field for 5 weeks last year, and I would hate to see a sat bill for that long.

I wouldn't spend money on a rino until they integrate the sat link texting into it.

 

[Jordan Budd]

GPS & Satellite radio

X2 on the InReach. The 2 way text is fast... and you never have to worry about a call dropping on a sat phone mid sentence. Especially when it's important. Even when we do north country hunts, all the guides carry sat phones as like a worst case scenario backup, but they never used them on our hunts, only an inreach.

And they are WAY cheaper than a sat phone.
--

Rokslide Staff

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[Blockcaver]

Get a GPS app for your iPhone/Smartphone and it solves your GPS needs. I like GAIA GPS and it only cost $20 one time fee. Works all over the west and north for me. Google for lots of threads on it.

 

[pbcarch]

Will be with one or two guys....bow this year and rifle next. Yes saw the inReach...would you go for the one with GPS/ maps as a backup?
I only want to use my phone as a backup...batt life and data is just too unpredictable.
As far as GPS ..I do like bigger screens as eyes aren't what they use to be for close stuff. What features does everyone relly upon? I am thinking about maps to see boundaries, way points to find my camp and elk, that I of course will take , and other places. How are these GPS with weather?

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[tttoadman]

Will be with one or two guys....bow this year and rifle next. Yes saw the inReach...would you go for the one with GPS/ maps as a backup?
I only want to use my phone as a backup...batt life and data is just too unpredictable.
As far as GPS ..I do like bigger screens as eyes aren't what they use to be for close stuff. What features does everyone relly upon? I am thinking about maps to see boundaries, way points to find my camp and elk, that I of course will take , and other places. How are these GPS with weather?

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I was getting a hourly detailed weather report every morning for .50 on the Inreach. It targets my exact location, and seemed very acurate. has

 

[as.ks.ak]

X2 on the InReach. The 2 way text is fast... and you never have to worry about a call dropping on a sat phone mid sentence. Especially when it's important. Even when we do north country hunts, all the guides carry sat phones as like a worst case scenario backup, but they never used them on our hunts, only an inreach.

And they are WAY cheaper than a sat phone.
--

Rokslide Staff

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Budd is spot on!

I use a GPS and a delorme Inreach...reason I use a GPS sepetate is because my Garmin GPS runs on AA batteries. Super easy to recharge, carry spares. The delormes run on a rechargeable battery so I leave it off until I want to send messages, the battery will last far longer than a 10 day hunt if you do it that way. I believe I left the field after only 5 days of use with like 86% battery last fall. And I've never had issues with sending or receiving messages. I love it. Wouldn't even think about changing my setup. I think I pay $65 a month for the expedition plan? Since I'm out on the hill a few times a month from June-November, it is well worth it being able to tell my ol' lady I'm safe and sound when the weather rolls in. I'll attach the plans below.

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[Gorp2007]

Question for everyone recommending the InReach: I can get the new Garmin for $450 or the older Delorme model for $300 (they're clearing out old inventory). Does anyone know of a good reason to go with the Garmin?

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[Hunter Sargent]

Get a GPS app for your iPhone/Smartphone and it solves your GPS needs. I like GAIA GPS and it only cost $20 one time fee. Works all over the west and north for me. Google for lots of threads on it.

This is what I will be using this year, + a small backup GPS like a Garmin Etrex or Forerunner 401 in case my phone gets wet or something. A phone is not a good replacement for a dedicated GPS. I used a Rino last year and it worked great but is heavy, and we never used the 2 way radio feature. My buddy had an InReach and it worked great.

 

[pbcarch]

For you guys using your phone with app for gps.....how are you dealing with battery time??? My phone does not last long (sg6)

Does anyone use their inReach as their GPS for hunting ? The one model has it.

Right now I leaning towards the inReach exploration+ and a montanna ...

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[rayporter]

the inreach served me well last year. even though it has a GPS, the screen is pretty small to use a lot, and if it did you would use up the internal battery a lot faster. as it is the battery will last well if you just turn it on when you want to use it then turn it off.

i got the safety plan for 11.95 a mo. figuring the 15 bucks i save from the next plan up can go to extra texts [ over the 10 free texts], this would bring me up to 30 texts a month if i want to use it a lot. for this i can leave it on all year and not have turn it off or remember to turn it on.

the difference between the safety plan and the expedition would be 80 texts a month. any how that's my logic-grin

 

[jumpman1989]

Used avenza maps last year on my phone in CO. I now use it everywhere and will be using it in all future hunts. I too was first worried about battery life but just make sure you pre download all the maps before you head in and then once your in you can turn your phone onto airplane mode. I may have been able to last the entire hunt with GPS and taking pictures but I carried an external battery bank with me and the bank was at 75%+ when we packed up to leave. My buddy said his Garmin GPS would be the first gear item he sold when he got back home.

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[ChrisS]

For you guys using your phone with app for gps.....how are you dealing with battery time??? My phone does not last long (sg6)

Couple of things, turn off your data/phone service and just use the GPS. Keep it warm. Bring a portable power pack - enough juice for a few charges. I can run an iphone 6s for a good 2-3 days as a GPS without having to recharge. Use a paper map and a compass for navigating around. I only turn the phone on (if I'm conserving battery) to fix my location or mark a waypoint before heading off somewhere else. Leaving it on just drains the battery.

I don't see any reason to get a 2nd gps. I use the basic inreach delorme model for emergencies and weather updates. I don't think there's much of a difference between the Garmin version and the delorme. There's a a few threads in the Trail Camera / GPS / Mapping Software / Sat Phones subforum.

 

[BFM]

Anything in the works at Garmin to have a gps that accepts micro chips and also includes the inreach capabilities? Does this already exist and I'm not seeing it? Seems like a no brainer product to have.

 

[hammer0419]

I just purchased a Garmin Etrex 30x. Small, light, With some nice features. Good battery life which is a huge plus.

 

[RoJo]

One thing on the InReach, it can have trouble getting a satellite connection in deep narrow canyons. I did a rim-to-rim hike in the Grand Canyon last October, and there was a stretch from about Phantom Ranch to above Cottonwood Camp that I could not send or receive any messages. I really like the unit, but it does have its limitations.

 

[Gorp2007]

If you just want a way to let your family know that you're okay and/or request help in an emergency, Cabela's if going to have the Spot Gen3 on sale for $75 starting on Saturday. It's only one-way communication with limited customization, but it can help you and your family rest easier.

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[GIS]

For you guys using your phone with app for gps.....how are you dealing with battery time??? My phone does not last long (sg6)

I rarely get cell phone coverage where I'm hunting so I turn my phone on airplane mode to conserve battery life.

I use my phone and dedicated gps. I'm going to be adding an inreach se so I can communicate with my family in the back country.

- Samsung Galaxy s5. I primarily use the backcounty navigator app. I really like it because I can download aerial imagery for specific areas before I head into the field.

- Garmin gps map 60csx. I've used it for years and been very happy with it.


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