Iphone GPS

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Yogi_12

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Location
Stephenville, Newfoundland
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Canada
Snowmobile
2011 RsVenture
Anyone use a gps app for an iphone.... and how do you find it.

My dilema is that most handhelds have a small screen....which I can't see without my reading glasses. It would be a pain to take reading glasses snowmobiling. Garmin has some larger screen units....cost around $500.

So I'm thinking iphone screen is good size...plus you have a phone....camera and gps....all in one unit. From what I'm reading....best option is to load maps onto phone....therefore it loads quicker and works where there is no cell service.

I am fairly familiar with the areas I go, I'm just thinking it would be good to have a unit to mark the trails/maps in case of bad weather or breakdown/emergency. And occaisonally we do visit unfamiliar areas.

So, I'm convinced I need/want one.....but I don't really want to spend $500 for a larger screen....if existing iphone can do it all.....or I can bite bullet and buy cheaper unit and take my glasses.

All the app marketing suggest it will.....but has anyone here used them? Also looking like new Iphone 5 will be even better with new mapping in it's operating system.

Any thoughts?
 
I use the OFSC app and it works great as long as there is a cell signal,if there is no signal it is useless.Then you need a GPS that uses satellites not cell towers like the Iphone app does.
 
heat exchange said:
I use the OFSC app and it works great as long as there is a cell signal,if there is no signal it is useless.Then you need a GPS that uses satellites not cell towers like the Iphone app does.
Click to expand...


This is the problem with the various iPhone GPS apps exactly -- they only work when you have cell service, which most of the time in the bush, I find I don't have cell service.
 
I thought they would connect to sattelite also. Iwouldn,t want to rely on cell service. I also notice you can buy a bluetooth sattelite receiver that is suposed to make phone a true gps.
 
I have an iphone and wouldn't use it for a GPS. I use it for listening to tunes and as a phone only and it still kills the battery pretty quickly due to the constant roaming for a signal where I ride and the cold doesn't help either, even though I keep it semi warm in my coat. It just seems phones and other electronic devices just can't handle the cold. I've even used my ipod and still the battery dies pretty quickly.

Get a dedicated GPS and hardwire it, it's the best way to go, plus the trailmaps are better suited to them.
 
The iphone has true GPS in it. It is programmed to use other things to triangulate location as quickly as possible. So it will search for WiFi, Cell and GPS to put you on a particular spot.

When I use my iPhone for Sled GPS, I will actually turn the Cell radio off (airplane mode) so that it doesn't roam and kill the battery. I actually have a waterproof case that I had mounted on my handlebars last year with power, but it got too cold and the phone would shut off. Keep in mind, some mapping apps will want to download the maps as you are on your way, so it needs cell data service to build the maps on the fly. That's why the pre-loaded maps are the way to go, no cell service needed.

But, if you leave it in your pocket and pull it out when needed, it works great on GPS only. I use the Polaris Trail maps app. "Snow Trails" sponsored by Polaris. It's free and updated. I was amazed at how good a free app was.

That being said, it now stays in my pocket on the trial, while my Lowrance H20 is on the handlbars running RedPine Mapping Sledmaps. They have been great to work with and very affordible.

So either way you can keep track of where you are. If I could warm the phone a bit, I would leave it on the handlebars. It was way cool! When I do this on my bike, it can get too warm. These phones are sensitive.

Good luck!
 
I just use the 4.3" automotive Garmin units. Ive never had a single issue from the snow getting on them. They can be had pretty cheap and you can ruin quite a few of them before you have the cost of a Zumu gone. Personally I reccomend to get a gps with trip log so you can see where youve been/came from. Especially handy for out west riding, or just exploring new trails.

Nuvi 205w 255w are inexpensive and have trip logs I use the nuvi 750,760 as they have MP3 players built in. Ive had best luck with Redpine mapping snowmobile gps maps.

ABSOLUTLY POSITIVELY get a Ram mount for whatever you use.
 
Just a side note about the cold killing the cell phones, I have seen heat pouches advertised out there which might help keeping phones warm.
 
I have a spare garmin nuvi 79.99 for red pine ofsc tail maps but what about Quebec trail maps? anyone know of any free software for these or do i have to pay 79.99 X 2 for Ontario and Quebec and is this a yearly fee? any one know?
 
Murse said:
I have a spare garmin nuvi 79.99 for red pine ofsc tail maps but what about Quebec trail maps? anyone know of any free software for these or do i have to pay 79.99 X 2 for Ontario and Quebec and is this a yearly fee? any one know?
Click to expand...

Once you buy the maps they are yours, Redpine was giving updates for the next season after you purchased last time I bought them.
 
I tape a Hand warmer pack to the back of my Garmin. That makes the battery last longer and the screen work faster.
 
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