Can my smartphone replace a GPS unit?
- Thread starter FitToHunt
- Start date
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
Yes.
I didn't do very many tracks, but I did tons of waypoints.
The iPhone 6 plus has a great battery.
I love how Gaia GPS has actual USGS maps too.
http://www.gaiagps.com
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okielite
Banned
I like that setup. I didn't realize it shows public land as well according to this page.
http://blog.gaiagps.com/gaiapro/#
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I have used Viewranger GPS on my Galaxy S5. It is awesome, free and I think I may have paid $15 to upgrade one of the maps. It does everything my GPS used to do and the screen is easier to see. Dito on the Airplane mode, it saves battery. I take a charging system on extended hunts and it will charge my phone 4 times, so that is good for a week. It makes tracks, waypoints, has topo and satellite maps. A friend turned me onto it and I really enjoy using it. I can't imagine any other features that I need to be safe, hunt new areas or keep track of my way back to the trail head.
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
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I tried on my Android but it ran the batteries down way to fast. I like A GPS and a spot since I never have a cell signal anywhere I hunt. I just turn off the phone and leave it in the truck.
jjenness
Very Active Member
This is one of the best aspects of hunting and being in the outdoors if you ask me.
Fink
Veteran member
Admittedly, that was with an older iphone, but even still, my new iphone won't last near as long as a GPS. I won't disagree with you that the iphone is a higher quality piece of equipment, in fact, I can't believe how terrible the interface is on my Garmin... But, it always works, and always gets me where I want to go. I guess it's more of a security blanket for me.
Regarding GPS battery life, brand new lithium batteries will last a LONG time in a GPS.
I'll probably play around with using my phone as a gps this fall, but the Garmin will definitely be going with me.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I only use my GPS for land status info. I have Wyoming & Colorado chips and use them to make sure of whose land I am hunting.
okielite
Banned
The GPS receiver on a smartphone has nothing to do with a cell signal. This is one of the most common misconceptions out there.
You can with the trimble hunting app. Plus you can download any of the state land maps ahead of time. If you keep you phone on airplane mode it will save a ton of battery life and still work without cell service. Mine lasted a couple days on one charge.
Now I'm gonna start looking into external batteries for my phone.
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
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I didn't say that did I? Why bring it when the batteries don't last as long as the GPS and there is no cell signal? Why bring it for a seven day hunt when the batteries only last one day then have to be charged? No misconception on my part. I said nothing about the GPS and Cell signal having anything to do with each other.
okielite
Banned
LOL. You implied such. Here is your quote.
I like A GPS and a spot since I never have a cell signal anywhere I hunt
That statement implies that the phone GPS won't work for you because there is no cell signal where you hunt, which is not the case.
There are plenty of options out there for charging batteries but the easiest is to put your phone in airplane mode so it will stop searching for a signal and wasting battery life. That will dramatically improve how long the unit will work. Do as you please but from what I can see many people have misconceptions about what a phone GPS will do.
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WapitiBob
Veteran member
It's a phone, with a stick-on app to try and make it something it's not.
Take the Garmin Montera and it's Android OS, unlock the .jnx restriction, remove the limitations on tiles, and drop the price to $299. done
Take the Garmin Montera and it's Android OS, unlock the .jnx restriction, remove the limitations on tiles, and drop the price to $299. done
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
- 1,638
- 90
Yea you are right you interpreted my post and thoughts correctly. Even in airplane mode the batteries in mine only last a day using the GPS. Why have to worry about charging a phone some time each day or every other day when you can bring a GPS and pop out the batteries once a week and move on?
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
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- 90
laxwyo
Very Active Member
My gps/phone is not on the whole time. I use it the first day until I learn the area. Then I use it if it gets dark and I need help.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
WapitiBob,
Is there a practical performance difference between the GPS receiver in the Garmin vs. iPhone 6 Plus?
I ask because I don't know.
This is my experience this past season:
I carried both my phone and Oregon for the first few weeks of archery. I realized I wasn't using the Garmin at all due to the easier interface on the Gaia App. It seemed to me that the phone was at least as accurate in providing a location on the map as my GPS, and got a signal much faster.
I left my GPS at home for the rest of the season, and only used the phone. It just plain worked. I used all the power saving tips, and only took the phone off airplane mode to activate the GPS (GPS doesn't work in airplane mode on iPhone) so I could mark a waypoint, or get a bearing, or check the terrain, etc. In this way the battery lasted for five days without a charge and still listed more than 50% battery left!
In practical field performance, and for my uses, I found the phone vastly superior to the GPS.
I was skeptical too, and don't blame anyone for choosing a GPS, but I won't be carrying a handheld GPS anymore.
I second the post by Bitterroot Bulls. With the phone I also have a video, and camera in one. The new phones are amazing for photography. Also, you would be surprised that some places, especially really high have Cell. I was able to send a Text to my family on top of the mountain and a photo of last years bull elk shot. I own a Garmin Etrex Vista and it has not left the house for a couple years now, no need. I have the Android, Galaxy S5 phone and the GPS will work when in Airplane mode.