questions about carry along GPS and what to look for

[94ToyBear]

Im hoping to get out this year alot more with wheeling, dirt biking, camping and hiking. ... im not in the mind set that I better get a GPS now that im planning on having my son with me.....so what do I look for and stay away from ? At sports authority they rang from 99-200 bucks, and seen some on CL ror. 30 and 50... you have to subscribe to he GPS provider that can be 100 - 150 a year.

[Bob]

FYIW: I just use my iPhone. When on major roads there is usually cell coverage so Google Maps or Apple Maps work fine. For more remote areas or off road/hiking I download maps to use offline and it works fine for my needs. A little planning ahead is needed obviously. The apps I use are Trimble Outdoors Pro for topo maps ($30 annual fee for unlimited downloads) and PDF Maps. PDF Maps works really well for the MVUMs and I think it was recommended by Chris (sorry if I got that wrong). PDF Maps inventory is a bit spotty but major parks and such are there too. These apps change all the time so maybe there are some better ones now.

I looked into getting a separate GPS but these days the phone just about does everything they do. And add a compass app (I like Commander) and it really is "all in one".

[Fireball]

I use my old droid phone as a spare only for music, pictures, and gps. I use an app by Trimble Outdoors. I can download the maps ahead of time. I can add waypoints, and so on. It drains the battery pretty good so I keep a charger cord nearby. Using it in a vehicle is nothing like what I was trying to do with it backpacking. I carried extra batteries, etc. In a vehicle I just leave it on and plugged in.
No program is perfect. I like a lot of the features and it was cheap.

You can upload your trip to the website and view more details as well. Here's a screenshot from the website. This was our trip up Kingston Peak last weekend.

[Tom]

I use my cell too. Got rid of my handheld a couple of years ago. Mines a Windows phone. I use geogps. Cost 10 bucks. No annual fee. Unlimited map downloads.

[94ToyBear]

Can your phone send out text mmessage or an emergency signal ? When it fomes to dirt biking I dont know where Ill end up sometimes.

[Bob]

Oops, its been so long since I looked into it that I gave some incorrect info: The fee of $30 per year for Trimble Outdoors is for some conveniences and extra info like public land ownership and forest road numbers, not for the number of maps downloaded.

[Bob]

Can your phone send out text mmessage or an emergency signal ? When it fomes to dirt biking I dont know where Ill end up sometimes.

If within cell coverage, then 911 or texting will work of course, and if there is a highway or a town somewhere in line of sight from your location you stand a good chance of getting a signal. Otherwise, you'll need a DeLorme InReach, SPOT, ham radio, personal locator beacon, or a satellite phone.

[SubAlpine]

garmin etrex 30 has done me well. Compact, accurate, downloadable maps. I love it.

[Tom]

Can your phone send out text mmessage or an emergency signal ? When it fomes to dirt biking I dont know where Ill end up sometimes.
You can't count on it in the back country. Sat phone...

[JFjeld]

Another vote for phone apps. For Android, I always used BackCountry Navigator. Now that I have an iPhone, I use Motion-X GPS (I think its available for Android as well). Both apps allow you to load .gpx (Garmin) or .kml/.kmz (Google Earth) files, cache the background maps so you don't need a cell signal, etc. For wheeling, I always load the .gpx files from TrailDamage and cache the maps ahead-of-time. Phone GPS are quite sophisticated. Just keep it charged when possible or carry an extra battery or battery pack.

And, yes, if you have no cell signal, your GPS will work; however, an emergency signal or text message is dependent on your cell coverage, so plan accordingly. Though I doubt you have that capability with a hand-held GPS unit, either...

[94ToyBear]

I think I have confused the wording on this subject. What im after is a satellite GPS more for emergencis not directions. Id like something I can take dirt biking with and if im injured I can press a button where ever im at and get help.

[Unbalanced]

I'd say use your phone or another handheld GPS for guidance, tracking, mapping, location, whatever.

Get a ham radio/license for ecomm.

One time license test, and radios are cheaper than that annual fee you were looking at.

Just my 2¢

[Jim]

I think I have confused the wording on this subject. What im after is a satellite GPS more for emergencis not directions.

There have been a couple/few threads on the topic. This is the most recent one that I recall on the forum - you might find it a decent read:
http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?21586-Personal-Locator-Beacon

[94ToyBear]

Thanks everyone !

Ill check it out Jim thank you.