Question on Smartphone GPS

I doubt you’ll find comparatives on phone GPS functions.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and use the GPS function with Backcountry Navigator app… works great. GPS works very good. I’d say as good as my Garmin eTrex30. I don’t have any experience with any other smart phone. The Galaxy S5 is water and dust proof.

Billy

my iphone 6 is dependable as my Garmin in acquiring satellites; the gps technology and GAIA software is the sole reason I purchased a “smart” phone- the camera ins’t half bad either :)

Check out Adventure Alan’s post here: http://www.adventurealan.com/iphone-gps-map-backpacking/

Gaia GPS is fast to acquire satellites and I can get four days with my iPhone 6 in airplane mode (you can still use the GPS). I’m extremely happy with this setup other than I wish it was waterproof without an expensive, awkward case.

“My current one (Galaxy S3) is marginal, it has a difficult time acquiring and keeping a signal”

Ron – it’s unclear if you mean it has a hard time keeping a GPS read or keeping a cellular phone service signal.  Any model of iphone or brand of android phone should have no trouble getting a GPS read that is sufficient for hiking (within 10-20 meters in nearly all conditions), and NO phone of any brand will be able to get a cellular signal when it’s out of range of cell towers.

The trick is to pre-download all the maps you need and then put the phone in airplane mode.  Searching for a non-existent cell signal is a huge battery drain.  Get any model of Android and use Backcountry Navigator (I haven’t used it but consensus is that it’s the best Android hiking GPS app), or get an iPhone and use Gaia GPS.

Thanks everyone for the input, I’m going to go out tomorrow to start looking.  Amy, my problem is with getting and keeping a GPS signal, cell phone signals are not an issue, I use Gaia.  I’ve sat on unobstructed ridges at 12000ft in Colo and it’s taken 20-30 minutes to get a location.  Same thing when using it for driving, lost and misplaced signals are common, locations can be a mile plus from where I actually am, for example being on an interstate when my location reads as the middle of a large lake.  I’ve given up on Verizon, they are friendly and useless.

Thanks…Ron

Hi Ron,

I use an app called GPS Status, it allows you to manually download the “A-GPS Data” before your trip, this data gives the phone an idea of the current state of the GPS satellite “constellation” and greatly improves initial lock. It also gives you a handy spirit-level/clinometer compass and speedometer.

You still need an app such as Gaia for mapping and navigation.

Dave

^ Dave- that sounds interesting, going to check it out- thanks

Mike

Ron,

I agree with the poster that an app like GPS status can help with quiker acquisition of satellite position.  It also shows exactly what is going in terms of relative device to date little position.

The GPS antenna is the culprit in smarphones. The chip should be fine but the antenna can have problems.   If you are using a case, try without the case.

My biased vote is that of you are going to buy an Android, get a nexus.   That way you will have updates, both security and software.

Also, though you mentioned Gaia as your app preference, I would go for oruxmaps as it is free, gives me access to Google terrain, hybrid, and Street maps as well as MS, openstreet, USGS topo, flight charts, etc.  All free and all offline.

Anyway, hope you enjoy whatever new phone you get.

Peace

It’s not clear to me how the GPS Status app helps my phone acquire signals, or what the process is to use it in conjunction with something like Gaia.  I just downloaded it, and I can see the info it displays, which is very cool I must admit.

But do I need to open it before using Gaia?  Leave it on while using Gaia?  In what way does it help other than showing info?  Can someone please help explain?

Sorry to be so clueless.

Also appears it doesn’t work with the newer iPhones

OK, on Lifehacker I found:

“Launch GPS Status & Toolbox. You’ll see a compass and some other stats. Hit the menu button for more options.
Make sure you have an active data connection and go to “Manage A-GPS State”. Then, tap the “Download” button in the menu that pops up. When it’s done, exit the app.
Now, go back to Google Maps (or whatever app you use to navigate) and try to get a lock. You should find that it’s much quicker than before.

The one downside to this method is that it isn’t necessarily a permanent fix. You may have to do this again every so often to get the GPS locking quickly again, but it’s a small price to pay to be able to navigate again.”

But if I need an active data connection this won’t help much in the mountains.  Or will doing this at home somehow help when I am 200 miles away?

I’m not sure with Gaia, as it is more expensive with less maps so I don’t use it.  Bit with Locus and Oruxmaps, you can set how accurate the GPS signal should be to register a fix.

The GPS status info and functionality is built into Locus Maps, while oruxmaps specifically works with GPS status.  You download the GPS status toolbox and Oruxmaps and then in the tools menu of Oruxmaps, GPS status shows up.

Yes, you do need a data connection to download new A GPS data, but you would do that before heading out on a trip if you haven’t used your GPS in while.

The other factor you may need to consider is that your GPS location settings should be set to “device only” if you are using it where there is no cell signal.  On some phones if you don’t have this set and you have no cell signal, it struggles.  Not sure why.

So when you want to use GPS with a map app in the back country, turn you phone to airplane mode, set location to device only and it should work.

Again, I am baffled by why people like Gaia so.much when Oruxmaps is free with many more maps options and Locus Maps is also cheaper than Gaia while also having many more map options.   It seems like because Gaia is also available on iPhone while the other two are not, Gaia has gotten really popular.  Just my thoughts.

Peace

“I am baffled by why people like Gaia so.much when Oruxmaps is free with many more maps options”

I use Backcountry Navigator (BCN). They provide maps for every square inch of North American and beyond. All I need is one map for each piece of ground that I hike… I’m in this for hiking, not to become a map junkie… There is something to be said for simplicity…

billy

Last year we got Androids as our family upgraded to smartphones. I installed Backcountry Navigator. Very well thought out app. Good UI. Unfortunately it crashed frequently. It also confirmed my map uploads, which later, offline and out there, were nowhere to be found. The phone itself had less than desirable battery life, even with all recommended precautions in place. So I went back to the eTrex.

The we switched carrier and was offered .99 cent iPhone 5’s with our contract (yes, a contract!). I need not fan a fire that’s best left in embers, but those new phones worked a lot better overall, and with the GPS apps in particular.

For the past 8 months with the iPhone I have used Topo Nomad, paid edition, and iHike. I find it unnecessary to bother with anything but 7.5 minute USGS topos, and both those apps store them offline for free, Too Nomad in the best resolution.

I have never waited for a satellite fix, even with LifeProof cases on. Accuracy is impeccable. Battery life excellent. The screen is fine in the brightest of daylight.

The only thing that keep the eTrex around is its ability to record a multi day track without rapid battery drain, something no phone I know of can do.

George… what Androids did you have?… there are many, maybe hundreds. And did you contact BCN support? They are usually happy to help…

I have a Samsung S4 and have had zero problems with Backcountry Navigator storing maps and using them off line. In fact, I download the entire four corners area of AZ, UT, NM, and CO because when I go out there I never know exactly where I will end up.

The maps are SOOOO much better than on my eTrex… But I have kept my eTrex to use as back-up… sometimes on a critical backpack I will take both my eTrex and my S4… redundancy in case one fails… And I”ve figured out how to move waypoints from one to the other and back.

billy

Don’t remember the models, one was an LG, the other a Samsung. Especially the LG did not mesh with me.

Yes, I contacted BCN support. Replies were fast and friendly, but ultimately did not solve the issues. As I alluded to above, this is a killer app. If it works on one’s phone I can’t see any reason to look further.

does anyone know a iphone equivalent for the GPS status app- mine acquires satellites well, but if there is room for improvement…. the clinometer would be neat to have as well

Billy,

I agree that more maps is not the point.

For me though, my switch from Garmin started because I began going places that they did not have maps for.   Even using gpsfiledepot there were no maps for the North Indian Himalayas and many other parts of Asia.

After using Oruxmaps and Locus Maps, with the ability to have topo, satellite, terrain view etc depending on what map worked best for the activity, (hiking, climbing, mountaineering) I could not go back to Garmin.

I have tried BCN and Gaia but have not been impressed even if I was not at all concerned about price.   I know this is just personal opinion but I think that the interface and features of Oruxmaps is a step up from BCN and Gaia and since it is free, a better iron fort most than Locus.

Of course, if you like BCN, no reason to stop using it.

Peace

I am a total n00b with smartphone GPS. I have never used it before.

I would like to hike this trail this next week in the Canary Islands:

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do;jsessionid=924831854C535B31015FCCFAFBA77C62.fe1?fileId=dpvhynewcrxeurgc

Can someone please let me know which iPhone 6 compatible app is simple to use and will permit to download the above file for use?

Edited to add: I just want to follow the hike, I don’t need any other advanced features you guys are discussing above. :)

sara,

what you want to do is download the gps track from your linked site as a gpx file. whether you download the waypoints as well is up to you. sometimes those act funny in translation, sometimes not.

i use gaia on my iphone, and i really like it. thus far, it has simply Worked, which is all i ask! i gather there are free options out there too but i don’t know anything about them.

whichever program you choose will provide some way to upload the gpx file you downloaded. (gaia also offers access to a layer called “openhikingmap” that i believe is a user-generated trove of trails. your trail may already be in that system.)

at that point, you will want to select the best topo map available in your program and for the area (i know nothing about EU maps!). your gpx route should already be showing on the map, hovering above the map base layer.

download the topo and you should be able to see it clear and easy in airplane mode while you’re hiking.

:)

Thank you very much ben., I really appreciate the help!

Those instructions were very clear to follow. :)