Navigation advice Garmin vs phone

[280ackimp]

Gents, I am looking at the "onx" products for use this year and could use a some opinions. I usually use a Garmin rhino 530hcx in big woods, the unit is old but does what I need it to. I ve been looking at the onx and the idea of using a phone for navigation is concerning.

the cons
1. no cell service where I will be
2. limmitted battery life
3. not rugged

the pros
1. great big screen for detail
2. can see sat images/layer

Do any of you run the chip on a gps and what do you think?

I am not an advanced user, usually use a compass and just use the gps to log waypoints, so detailed maps are what i need, the land owner and zone features are kind of cool but dont know if i would use them

What do you reccomend?

 

[JimP]

I have always used the chip in the GPS. On the screen size that is what the IN and OUT buttons are for to get you real close or to pan out for larger areas. That and a paper map of the area and I am fine.

But then my phone is still one of those flip phones with a 1 1/2" x 2" screen. But even if I had a larger phone I would still just use the GPS. Even if the batteries die in the handheld GPS I can swap them out in a minute and be on my way.

 

[kidoggy]

I avoid technology and generally just rely on the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

will look at a paper map if hunting near unit boundaries. or before I take off down a ridge to see where to drop off shuttle vehicle

 

[LCH]

I got the GPS and chips about 5 years ago, before the app got decent. I now have 7 states, so that plus the GPS and I'm into it about $1200.

I've seen the app in use and it was fine, just so long as you knew where you were going to be and downloaded the maps ahead of time.

I feel like I'm locked in to the GPS now that I've invested so much in it, but if I had it to do over I think I'd just use the app.

 

[JimP]

One thing that the GPS has over the app is to direct you back to a location that you have marked. That along with telling you how far away you are from that location. Perhaps the app will also do this but I haven't heard of it doing so.

As for the chip in the GPS you really don't need it unless you are concerned with land boundaries and ownership. If you used it without the chip it will work just fine as long as you mark where you want to go back to such as your vehicle or where you have a animal down at.

 

[Don K]

I have a older Garmin with the chip and this is the first year using the app. My phone is a older one and doesn't have alot of room for the OnXmaps so I went out and purchased a Lenovo 8 inch tablet for 99 bucks. You don't need cell service,download the maps of the area your going to and use them for offline use. I downloaded the area on my tablet and the 4 days I was scouting my GPS never came out of my pack other than to mark camp the first day. The app is awesome, and will do way more than the chip will. You can "go to " any of your marks (or waypoints ) just like the GPS. It will tell and show you direction, and distance just like the GPS. With all the layers the app has it is great.

My recommendation is get the app just for the state your hunting, mess with it at home and try it out this season and have your GPS there for backup. Load the maps of the area your hunting on your phone, click offline maps, put your phone on Airplane mode to save battery as you dont need cell service for it to work

 

[Slugz]

Style of hunting, geography of hunting area, goal of what you are trying to do/accomplish.....etc etc determine I think what works best.

Example....big woods elk hunting I've already done all my studying prior to the hunt, know what drainages I'm gonna be in, what drainages/areas I may have for backups and generally know my game plan. No chip in the GPS and I'll take my Rhino and drop reference waypoints in there for me to use. Photo copy sat image with the waypoints on it for easy visual reference and I go in.

Turkey or antelope hunting I'm using the Onx on my big screen Samsung Note 4. Give me better detail. Like Don above I go offline mode, cell data disabled and GPS receive only.

Now all that being said.....when elk hunting I'm referencing my GPS if I need it and have my phone in my pack anyways for pics. I once back up navigated my way back to the truck (2.85 mile hike) using a limited cell signal and Google maps (dropped favorite points) after dropping my Rhino into a ravine.

 

[LaHunter]

I still like using my garmin gps with onx chip, but I usually have my topo maps and compass in use more often when navigating.

 

[WapitiBob]

I would recommend 7 day trial of both onX and GAIA. Gaia has a little better compass and "track back" feature, onX seems a bit easier to use.

 

[Prerylyon]

I have a great GPS app on my phone, but when I'm in the backcountry, I rely on:

-paper map + compass
-dedicated GPS receiver

I just got back from camping and hiking with my kids in the Medecine Bow and re-affirmed those personal choices.

The GPS need not be fancy; I use the lowest end Etrex preloaded with a free topo map. I find the GPS units to be very miserly with the battery when compared to a phone. They also require no data connection. Of course, you can preload the maps into the phone while near a tower or use an SD card. However, I believe the dedicated GPS to be a more more efficient tool as its built to be standalone. In areas with tricky private land boundaries, a recent 3rd party map loaded into either device is a better idea than the free ones I alluded to.

The paper map and compass may seem crude, but they are a timeless technology that has proven its worth. Plenty of websites and books on orienteering will teach someone how to orient the compass to the map and how to navigate; as will a young person's scouting handbook.

Regards,


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