GPS Navigation

[Mariner]

Is it possible to use it as a 'dumb unit' say without simm card just as a gps?
Would this work outside uk?
Cant see why not as no networks involved and relying solely on gps chip.

[Gari]

Don't see why not. Most of us that use phones as a GPS do so in "airplane mode" with the GPS activated, or at least I do, and have had no issues. Not a phone expert mind so I may be missing something.

[Moder-dye]

I used my phone (Xperia z) for navigation in East Greenland with no mobile signal and no problem. As the maps for the area are crap (1:100,000) I just cached satellite imagery on it which was very useful. I had the sim card in, but it wasn't being used. Also had some cyclemaps cached for Reykjavik.

Possibly a Good idea to have an old text phone for super battery life and communication and smart phone for photos and gps.

[DoctorRad]

I used my phone (Xperia z) for navigation in East Greenland with no mobile signal and no problem. As the maps for the area are crap (1:100,000) I just cached satellite imagery on it which was very useful.

Could you see tracks etc on the satellite imagery?

The OruxMaps application on Android allows you to download a Digital Elevation Map - the shape of the Earth's Surface, basically - and overlay any map tiles you have on the device onto that in 3D. Very useful for orientation and familiarisation, and very cool.

[Mariner]

Just to show the depth of my ignorance of smartphones and their ilk would a small (A5ish) tablet achieve the same?

[benp1]

A SIM card capable tablet should work. It won't if it's wifi only

[DoctorRad]

A SIM card capable tablet should work. It won't if it's wifi only

Sorry, what won't work if it's Wifi only?

[Adventurer]

Just to show the depth of my ignorance of smartphones and their ilk would a small (A5ish) tablet achieve the same?

Are you thinking about a tablet on the bars whilst cycling? If you are, I would think it would be too big. As it would need a hard cover over the tablet, thus making it much bigger.

It would also need a GPS receiver and I'm not sure if tablets normally have a GPS built in. Tablets normally use a SIM card or wifi to find location. Not good in the wilds if you loose mobile signal. No mobile signal, no mapping location.

Many phones have a GPS built in, so if there is no mobile signal the mapping will still tell you your location.

[Moder-dye]

Hi Doctorrad, Yeh. Maverick has a whole selection of base maps you can choose from. You just scroll around the area you're interested on the map base you want and at scales you want and it caches it to your phone. It gps trails/ waypoints just record over the map so if you have a trail on screen and change the map it is all just overlain on the new map. I absolutely love maverick lol!


I'm lucky in that work have just ordered me a Samsung galaxy active tab (8") so I'll give some feedback on it when it's arrived and been put to use. Bought it specially for gps tracking, mapping and geolocated photos
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_ ... e-6659.php
Oh and one version of that tablet doesn't even take a sim card, but still has GPS. Not some thing I'd buy myself due to cost, but work obviously think I'm worth it

[vorlich]

Can anyone recommend a waterproof case/bar mount for an iPhone 5?

[johnnystorm]

A SIM card capable tablet should work. It won't if it's wifi only

That's the Apple way of gouging you for more money. A non-cellular Samsung Galaxy Tab4 7" for about £120 will come with GPS and Glonass and a card slot to stick all your maps on.

[Adventurer]

Can anyone recommend a waterproof case/bar mount for an iPhone 5?

http://www.bike2power.com/iphone-5s-wat ... 8&option=5

[vorlich]

Great thanks, that's one I was looking at.

[Mariner]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I ran across this a DooGee X5 DG and wondered if it might be a low cost alternative/backup for etrex?
It appears to function in charge mode but cant see if it runs off usb which what I want to use.
Anyone using one?

[johnnystorm]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I ran across this a DooGee X5 DG and wondered if it might be a low cost alternative/backup for etrex?
It appears to function in charge mode but cant see if it runs off usb which what I want to use.
Anyone using one?

Personally I'd rather put my faith in something like a Motorola Moto E. It's only about 70 quid, runs native android, will have the right bands for UK networks and enough grunt to run bcnavigator & OSMand. An added bonus is that you aren't sharing all your data with the Chinese secret service, just Google.....

[Mariner]

Chinese or Americans hmm difficult.