iPhone instead of GPS?

[slim23]

I am sure that a few tried it this fall. What were your thoughts? Pia and going back to the GPS? Or sell the GPS? I know you have to pack a spare backup batterie but not much different than spares for the GPS. I have a garmin 62st and love it but my phone will do so much more and when you turn cellular off and use GPS only on pre loaded maps it works great in the flat lands but courious about mountains/cover? Did the aerials overlay close? Topos match up? What programs do you prefer for maps?

 

[flyinsquirel]

I can't speak to those dang iPhones with those little tiny screens, but my Droid works just fine in the mountains and in tree cover. I took the e-trex out of the pack after last season, haven't turned it on in 2 years so it was time to go. I'm using the Back-country Navigator app. I run a Droid over the iPhone for the removable batteries and the larger screen. Spare batt's are $10 each and I can run all week on 2. I need to get some of those gloves that you can work a touch screen with.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

I use mine as a GPS paired with the delorme Inreach. It worked very well in the Arizona desert for me in January. It was easy to pinpoint my location and verify land ownership. Paired with a goal zero or other form or recharging, it can do a lot!

 

[SHTF]

I use mine as my primary but still take my Garmin Csx I like to have at least 3 forms of Navigation. I also carry the Goal Zero Guide 10 with extra phone, double A and Tripple A batteries for all my battery powered gear. I cant find myself out of a wet paper bag. Being Lost for me is an easy thing to do. thats why I take it all.

 

[shaun]

I use mine with that cabelas GPS app during cardio so I can see how far I went and avg speed but man battery gets sucked down

 

[goodgrouper]

I used my droid with backcountry navigator pro. I had excellent results. Turn off cellular and batteries last a long time. GPS function worked great, I can't recall anytime it wouldn't work. I want to get an inreach to go with it. I've always carried a Garmin Rhino and now I want to leave it at home but it is real useful because all my hunting partners have them and you can keep tabs on each other so well. I would be entirely happy using my Droid as my only gps/map device, it worked that well. I always have my compass and paper map too.

 

[Beastmode]

I used my droid with backcountry navigator pro. I had excellent results. Turn off cellular and batteries last a long time. GPS function worked great, I can't recall anytime it wouldn't work. I want to get an inreach to go with it. I've always carried a Garmin Rhino and now I want to leave it at home but it is real useful because all my hunting partners have them and you can keep tabs on each other so well. I would be entirely happy using my Droid as my only gps/map device, it worked that well. I always have my compass and paper map too.

How long would you say it works with cellular turned off? How is the gps signal in the middle of nowhere?

 

[wapitibob]

I researched it a lot last year but was looking at an Ipad rather than Iphone. For what I do, it just wasn't there and i went with a Montana. Bumping it up from an 8 gig to a 16 gig sd card here shortly. As evidenced above plenty of guys like the phone.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

I think I would burn through too much battery too quickly on the phone.

 

[goodgrouper]

How long would you say it works with cellular turned off? How is the gps signal in the middle of nowhere?

The longest I was able to spend in the woods last season was five days, I would turn the phone off when I wasn't using it for GPS and the battery lasted the whole trip. I believe the GPS devices in these newer phones are as capable as any other. mine seems very accurate and I never had problems with signal. It's a Motorola Atrix2

 

[flyinsquirel]

The longest I was able to spend in the woods last season was five days, I would turn the phone off when I wasn't using it for GPS and the battery lasted the whole trip. I believe the GPS devices in these newer phones are as capable as any other. mine seems very accurate and I never had problems with signal. It's a Motorola Atrix2

Droid Bionic here. I can run 5 days with the GPS running 4-6 hours a day on 2 batteries pretty easily. An extra battery weighs about an ounce and can be found on Amazon. Signal in BFE is as good as my e-trex. With these smart phones the screen is what burns the most juice so turn your brightness down and it will help with battery life.

 

[OutdoorAg]

I found this blog post to be helpful...

http://adventurealan.com/iphone4gps.htm

 

[Fatrack]

I have been using the Backcountry Navigator Pro app on my droid and really like it espeically the arial imagery, its pretty much replaced my GPS. BUT, I still have to carry my GPS which is a pain, maybe you guys can help me out. I use the Hunting GPS Map chip for my GPS that shows me public/private lands...sweet hunting tool and I use it a lot. Do you know if there is anyway to bring the public/private land ownership info over to the Back Country Nav app? Is there another way to use the droid gps and mapping software along witht he Public/private boundery info?

 

[Racethesunset]

I use the following approach for the iPhone as a GPS device:

1) Use a battery case on the trip (e.g. mophie juice - a couple ounces for double the batter life, plus you can flip the screen over for protection when it's not in use)
2) Use one of the map apps available for hunting, hiking, etc. and pre-load local topography maps on your iPhone so that it doesn't try to connect via cell towers for maps. These go for $10-$30 bucks, and are worth it
3) Keep the phone in airplane mode until you need to use gps
4) Disable notification and close all apps when you aren't using it

Airplane mode will allow the phone to last at least a week with the additional battery, potentially longer. You can disable airplane mode to connect to GPS to get a direction whenever required.

 

[DWarcher]

Do you know if there is anyway to bring the public/private land ownership info over to the Back Country Nav app? Is there another way to use the droid gps and mapping software along witht he Public/private boundery info?

That is definitely available on the PRO. Go to the menu icon furthest on the right and then cliick on "Purchasing Add-Ons" from the drop down menu.
I was really happy with how the BNP performed last year although I don't reall use a GPS all that much. I just keep my phone in Airplane Mode and keep the GPS function turned off until I need it and when it gets low top the battery off with my Brunton Inspire power pack...worked great.
If you are in an area with no data service you will need to download all of your maps ahead of time.

 

[blb078]

I use my phone for gps too, works just as good as a regular gps. Mine's a Galaxy SII Skyrocket and have Back Country Navigator & Backpacker Pro on it. Both are good apps. Really the only thing a traditional gps device offers that a phone doesn't is water resistance and built a little more stout. Other than that a phone will work just as good. Instead of buying a regular battery get one of the New Trent battery packs and it'll last a long time while you play music and whatever as long as you keep it on airplane mode and turnoff any apps you wont be using. It's also a lot cheaper than buying a gps and having to buy maps etc for it.

 

[Steve in nm]

I use my Droid and Back Country Navagator also and it works fine. Just as good as a gps plus i have my ballastic computer in the same device.
Steve

 

[maverick]

I like the Droid/backcountry navigator combo also. Purchase Accu Terra, it has state, private, Blm, national forest etc. for the entire US. I bought an extended battery for mine. I'm sure I could get a week out of it.

 

[BlackBear]

I use the Droid Razr and Back Country Navigator Pro. Great app and easy to use. I have used it the last two season and it has worked flawlessly. As everyone states, the battery life is the concern. The first consideration is battery conservation. Use your phone only when needed, put it in Airplane mode, dim the screen, turn off all unnecessary programs and the life of the battery will be extended. The last thing I carry is a small lightweight charger that uses (4) AA batteries. 4 lithium batteries results in multiple phone charges. An additional 8-12 lithium batteries can be brought along with minimal weight increase.

There are 2 ways to identify public/private land boundaries with Back Country Navigator Pro. The AccuTerra maps show public/private boundaries. Also, you can purchase boundary overlays by state. I don't remember the cost, but they are not expensive. Having both the AccuTerra maps and the overlays work well.