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garmin gps are the go. rhinos are real cool with the built in radio
Late model higher end smartphone in a life proof case with NZ Topo maps installed.
@greatshot
The best hunting GPS for you is the one that suits "YOUR" needs best.
I like the Garmin Rino650 :)
The Garmin 62 and 64 series are great too.
Cheers
Pete
thanks do u no what they are worth?Quote:
Originally Posted by P38
Have a Garmin 64s (cabelas on sale), but have nth and Sth island topo nz maps on the iPhone, which work really well on air plane mode, good for a backup and if in semi familiar areas I leave the gps at home, use the phone if requiredQuote:
Originally Posted by Timmay
@greatshotQuote:
Originally Posted by greatshot
I bought mine from here
https://www.ja-gps.com.au/GPS-Units/Handheld-GPS
They had a buy one get one free deal going, so I scored two for the price of one.
Even with the exchange rate and shipping the single unit was cheaper than the same unit in NZ and I got another for free. :
A bloody good bugger on here hooked me up with some maps and I was away.
Cheers
Pete
+1 I use NZ topo 50 on my iPhone and it's excellent and give you signal where ever you are and show where you are and you can record your track so if for example you go through a difficult bluff system in the bush you can go back to how you got up it on the way in etc. cost me $5 and definetly worth it. Used it in the bush in the landsborough and I'm definetly sure it saved me from getting lostQuote:
Originally Posted by Timmay
Greatshot, if you are using your gps under a heavy bush canopy I think you need a unit with a good, high sensitivity antenna.
I have not used a smartphone for this purpose but do wonder if their antenna is good enough, after all most people who use this function of their phones are not in thick bush.
My son and I have been using his iPod touch with an app called Gaia gps, and as an iPod doesn't have a gps (nor internal compass), we use an external gps - a Bad Elf GPS Pro - that connects via Bluetooth.
This combination struggles for some reason in the dark under a bush canopy - darkness shouldn't make any difference to gps. The point to me saying this is that I would be surprised if the internal GPS in a smart phone was a lot better than the Bad Elf as Bad Elf is a dedicated GPS manufacturer. I am not sure why it struggles, but I suspect it is probably due to the antenna design not suiting what we are using it for.
For some reason in the dark this combination struggles to determine what direction we are travelling in, but does indicate where we are.
Like most of you, I'm sure, we are trying to navigate to a hut or a car in the dark and in the bush, and need a bit more reliability, so I am looking at a more purpose designed unit - probably a Garmin Rino 750 - with a view to getting another one later to use their other features, primarily the two way radio and ability to locate the other unit.
I am sure someone who uses a smartphone will correct me if the GPS in their phone works well in the bush.
Also, I carry a magnetic compass as it makes it easier to walk a straight line in the bush than using the GPS, but found the barrel of my rifle was magnetised also and the compass liked to point at the rifle. Just food for thought.
I wouldn't rely on cell phones I reckon my one is shit iphone 6 hopless in the country even when it shows 2 bars I can barley ring someone id never trust it enough to fully rely on it in the bush pluss have to charge it everyday ..i have a garmin 64s its pretty good does the job but I wish id got a touch screen model something else to keep in mind to its suprising how many battery's you can go through always take spares .
I've got a Garmin 64s but like my smart phone more for a few reasons. Battery life is better and the screen is a much better size. Works in think bush, deep in canyons and seems to be accurate enough to be less than 10 ft out.
My smart phone in the bush is my gps, camera, watch, mp3. The Swiss army knife of electronics
Smartphone has worked for me for the last 3 years everywhere I have used it. To be honest it has surprised me as to how good it is. Removes the expense and need for a dedicated device.
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The one with all the good spots already marked.
I use my smartphone for general GPS use, but if I'm marking a point that NEEDS to be accurate or if I need to find my way out under lights then the GPS comes out, especially in dense bush or surrounded by mountains. I spent a couple times doubling back and searching for things before I got fed up with the bad accuracy.
Also, I am confident that I could drop it, fall on it then throw it in a creek and it would still work. I can't trust a smartphone to do that, even with those fancy tough cases. My last phone broke in my pocket when I fell on it.
The gps in cell phone is completely different to the cellular radio and doesn't require require reception to work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boaraxa
I still take a separate gps though because it's waterproof and takes aa batteries.
Thanks for the help
Has anyone used a smart phone on airplane mode for around ten days as a gps?
Stewart island!
223nut you might know?
Take a zip lock bag and a powerbank.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sideshow
I've used my iPhone on airplane mode for a 5 day hunt, it didn't even use half the battery. to be fair I was in and out of bush so didn't really need it, only in the thick dense stuff was it handy for staying on track and choosing the right ridge to go down. I do also have a power bank but didn't use it. I use an app called Galileo. its good, I think you need to pay to use the tracking but I have the NZ topo 50s on it which are great. You need to load them into the Cache to be able to use it in airplane mode.
I'd be interested to know what other apps are available for the iPhone as i'd be keen to use tracking or other functions. tracking would no doubt chew through power at a faster rate.
My cousin and I looked at getting a rhino as the radio and the locating other party feature is cool. Cant justify it yet though.
There's always more toys to buy
haha
Thanks massive attack & i41do2 I'll have a good look at that! Will be hiring a plb off of doc just in case shit hits fan!
iPhone works as well as a Garmin even in steep country and thick canopy. Much lighter
Hardly use my Garmin 62s now. iPhone in a life proof case and its survived heaps of trips now. Better than a GPS I reckon, especially having Googleearth to use too. Plus you can download books and read them at night in ya tent [emoji106]
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That's JoshC, have you tried it out on Stewart? Down port adventure way?
Sorry I know your a busy writer and I'm taking you away from that West Coast adventure that your writing up for us:ORLY:
Having spent around 3 million dollars on smart phones(plus or minus) in the last few years I would rely on a smart phone as a navigation device about as much as I would rely on a 3 month old human not to shit its nappy on a 12 hour drive.
They are FAR to fragile and unreliable IMO.
I have a 62s that does the job....Actually the etrex h before did the job fine too.
Often I will take my two smartphones but only if its not going to be wet and there may be service(one on each provider) for txt updates of weather,comming out early,river up staying another day etc but never for nav.
Yep I have. Works anywhere. Fiordland, Stewart island, Westland , doesn't matter. Download topomap app and google earth app.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sideshow
On google earth, zoom right in on the areas you want to hunt while you're in coverage still and you phone will hold that data so when you're in airplane mode you can still zoom in close and see good detail.
Google earth will pinpoint you on the map almost instantly , on airplane mode/out of coverage.
All of my iPhone's have outlasted my contract terms and I use them in the bush almost daily.
On airplane mode I'll get a good week easy battery life. That's turning it on and off when needed though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I use my phone, I find if I get very sweetie the touch screen doesn't behave. Asides from that it works good.
I don't rely on it, I would not rely on any gps, But I do trust it and use it Alot.
I consider gps a luxury and
Map and compass navigation skills a necessity.
I use the the app "new zealand maps pro".
The dedicated single function GPS unit has quite a limited role actually.
My two old samsung phone both have equally good GPS fix and track as my Garmin Oregon 550.
Camera is also much better. And it has my ballistics app on it.
Touch useability and screen colour are much better on the phones (due to different screen technology). The Garmin can be used in bright sunlight without backlight.
Screeen use is what drains the battery so both phone and GPS units last a long time if you don't use them ! :) :)
Advantages of dedicated GPS Unit:
Rugged. can be used in yor hand while walking. Using a GPS saves a lot of effort in walking and makes your hunting more efficient.
Changeable chargeable batteries (but not the same as my headlamp or UHFCB)
Good software for tracking, waypointing, archiving on laptop. I'm not sure if there is similar available for phones. I use New Zealand Maps (Android) and although map quality is excellent (download at home on wi fi or 4G but get it at the "level" ie resolution you will need in the field) the tracking, marking and transfer to laptop are all very rudimentary. That ought to be solvable but I haven't seen it yet.
Phone could in principle be charged from powerbank, vehicle etc more easily than AA batteries perhaps.
In reality most people can't afford $600 for a new GPS using (or shouldn't).
I know most people do carry them but few use them well and its far from a essential piece of kit.
An ordinary smartphhone can do 90% of what my garmin can.
My strong advice is to put off buying a GPS.
Use paper maps and compass first.
Use a phone app and work on mastering it.
GPS would be way down the list of hunting gizmos for purchase:
get a better scope
good binoculars
good headlamp
better lighter pack
Top notch parka
new unfaded blaze clothes
good tent
more ammo
Then think about a GPS if you hunting in the bush or if in open country get a rangefinder first.
I've got a Garmin Oregon 500, had it for about 9 years and find it so easy to use. It's touch screen and easy to navigate with etcQuote:
Originally Posted by greatshot
A mate has just got home from the US and has 2 x brand new Garmin Oregon 600 still in the box for sale if your interested- PM for details 👍
Anyone used a Suunto traverse alpha watch?
My Samsung has better reception than most gps I know of. As for battery life, with the screen turned down as dull as it gets and in airplane mode, with location on I get roughly 18-20 hours run time so I use a power bank. Was out for 5 days this week, only used the power bank three times, gps mode used on and off every day as an idea of battery usage.
I downloaded the $5 topo gps app purely as a plan be & was surprised where it doesn't work like in the hokies even in some clearings its only got around %7
Same, my smartphone stays in my pack in flight mode but gps on an tracking. (Plan B)Quote:
Originally Posted by veitnamcam
I use my Garmin (Alpha) to see where the dog is and where my buddy may be assuming he also has the same unit. Garmin is tougher than my phone.
Viewranger is a good App or if you have Garmin Maps from "somewhere" then OruxMaps, both will work without an internet connectionQuote:
Originally Posted by Boaraxa
Wow Bagheera now that is a prittey slick review cheers:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bagheera
Thanks for the offer but in the uk:(
My big question for the phone users is, does it give you an accurate position when in thick shit, flat thick shit!! Like real thick shit, so thick you don't even walk on the ground for metres at a time :D
Typical Gibo...always in the shit ;)
Everywhere I go mate, I have to go through the absolute worst to find the goods :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Pengy
YesQuote:
Originally Posted by Gibo
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Yeah man, almost instantly too