Smart Phone VS Garmin et al as a GPS tool - Page 9 - Horizons Unlimited

**makia** · #**121** 2 Jan 2013

Hi
I use an Iphone with Ram mount it is great to read in the morning or evening but in the daylight it is hard at best. Has anyone found a cover that keeps the phone dry and you are able to charge as you are travelling as the GPS chews up the batteries. Any ideas or fixes would be great. I think the smart phones are the way to go one less thing to carry around they will only get cheaper and better.
Nick

**Walkabout** · #**122** 17 Jan 2013

Another endorsement for offline mapping on smart phones; in this case used in conjunction with paper maps:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...355#post408065
(post number 5).

**GaryUnguided** · #**123** 23 Jan 2013

I'm keen to try Iphone as a GPS replacement. Important advantages seem to be much more intuitive software and carrying a multi-use device that can also be used to play music or duck into a cafe connect to wifi, check your email, take a photo, or compose a video. To me this is part of the charm of motorcycle travel - figuring out how to simplify things down to the essentials. In the spirit of the debate, below are my idea of solutions to the issues that I've commonly seen raised:

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadTrekker

Personnaly I would not like to put all my eggs into one basket, A smartphone is for communicating and listening to music. My Iphone eats battery power when running any APP so the phone will die and then you have lost communicatins as well.
$20 usb connector
Smartphones are not water or dust proof
$40 case
Smartphones cannot be used with gloves on
conducting thread
Smartphone mapping software is eons behind the GPS companies
my garmin 60csx is a massive pain to use compared to google maps on my phone
Smartphones cannot be easily viewed in bright sunlight
not sure about this one - maybe shade my windshield (?)
Smartphones are not as accurate as GPS as they track very few satellites
everyone always says this, but I haven't experienced the problem yet. I just used the Motion X app on a hike in Death Valley with no trail to follow and could see precisely where I was
Smartphones require a network connection for the APP to run which can be expensive when traveling through different countries
this is not not true for all mapping apps
Smartphones usualy switch off the screens after a preset time to safe battery life so no road map.
touch the button
Smartphones are not designed for the high frequency vibrations on a bike so it will damage it after a short time.
this is a real concern. anyone have experience with this?
Keep the GPS seperate to mitigate against breakage, theft, failure, battery life.
more crap to loose, break, get stolen

I have a Zumo 660 its built to last in all weathers and it works with clear instructions and maps. I have my Iphone linked via bluetooth to the Zumo and then linked to my Interphone F5 headset. This si the best set up you can get its totaly safe and reliable.

You pay your money and throw the dice!!!

**GaryUnguided** · #**124** 23 Jan 2013

On the smartphone GPS evolution front, the two Iphone apps that I've found most useful are MotionX and MapsWithMe, but they both have their shortcomings.

MotionX supports track and waypoints and all that, but the OpenStreetMap (OSM) data are huge! Difficult or impossible to fit large areas at high resolution on a 16gb phone.

MapsWithMe OSM data is incredibly compact - highest level resolution for far less space and time to download. The MapsWithMe OSM tiles at the highest resolution are 90,000 smaller than the MotionX ! Seriously - how is this even possible?! I tested with an area about the size of Morocco - 11 MB vs 890 GB.

So, the solution for now may be - download low resolution data in MotionX to use tracks (since away from cities the high res maybe isn't as important) and use MapsWithMe in cities. Anyone have a better idea?

**ozranger** · #**125** 26 Jan 2013

here is my 2 cents.

i rode Africa with a motorola defy. this sucker is water proof, dust proof and shock proof. i used 2 maps/nav apps sygic and navit (both fell off the back of the internet truck) i could download the whole of africa on navit and some countries with sygic.
i would put my phone in the map section of my tank bag.
i could also use the phone for all my music and both gps apps would interrupt my music to tell me voice directions

the navit maps weren't the most comprehensive but not much of africa is mapped!
i could also check my email and do all the net stuff with this phone and it was way cheaper then a good gps it only cost me around 300 bucks. fits my phone gps and some computer needs. i love it and use it all the time now for navigation both online and offline.

**Modman** · #**126** 8 Feb 2013

I've read this thread (or at least most of it) with interest.

I've been a tomtom user for many years and have a chinese motorbike tomtom satnav on my bike which works fine. I quite like the interface and simplicity.

The Zumo seems to be the satnav of choice for bikers though, I've never used one but I don't know what functions of it over the tomtom I am missing? Bear in mind though I've always stuck to tarmac before. I think it can track your ride and stuff?

Anyhow I have just been cleaning out my wardrobe and found a Garmin 60CSX. I've played around with it, loaded Basecamp on my PC and loaded a map (Of Iceland) and see I can get OSM maps for it. However I'm pretty naive and wondering if the fad with these is over now that phones and tomtom/zumo's are around.

Basically is the 60CSX something I should learn about, play with and become familiar with and will it become a good part of my travels or am I just playing with outdated or unsuitable technology?

Thanks - Daniel

**Walkabout** · #**127** 8 Feb 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modman

I've read this thread (or at least most of it) with interest.

I've been a tomtom user for many years and have a chinese motorbike tomtom satnav on my bike which works fine. I quite like the interface and simplicity.

The Zumo seems to be the satnav of choice for bikers though, I've never used one but I don't know what functions of it over the tomtom I am missing? Bear in mind though I've always stuck to tarmac before. I think it can track your ride and stuff?

Anyhow I have just been cleaning out my wardrobe and found a Garmin 60CSX. I've played around with it, loaded Basecamp on my PC and loaded a map (Of Iceland) and see I can get OSM maps for it. However I'm pretty naive and wondering if the fad with these is over now that phones and tomtom/zumo's are around.

Basically is the 60CSX something I should learn about, play with and become familiar with and will it become a good part of my travels or am I just playing with outdated or unsuitable technology?

Thanks - Daniel

I don't have one of those 60csx but there does seem to be a steady market for second hand ones on the likes of ebay.
I believe the replacement model is the 62 and you can find feedback about various models of garmin in the rest of this forum:-
Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS - Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB
Just look back in there for views about the 60csx - I believe there is a strong following of this model so if you don't want it I have no doubt you can sell it.

By the way, I also have a (very old) Tomtom and I like the simplicity of it.
I bought a second hand Garmin Nuvi 205W just because I wanted to experiment with free maps such as OSM.
Again, read reviews for the capabilities of the various Garmins; the company have a huge range of models and, from what I can tell, most/all do tracking but not all accept routes - I have been known to be wrong though

**Modman** · #**128** 9 Feb 2013

Thanks for that info Dave. I will have a look at everything. My Cheap Chinese satnav keeps hanging, grrr so I am going to eed to buy something in a few months.

**Walkabout** · #**129** 9 Feb 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modman

My Cheap Chinese satnav keeps hanging, grrr

In that case, I would definitely give the 60csx a go: now that I have got over the wonder of touch sensitive screens I think there is something to be said for a GPS that uses buttons - positive control while wearing gloves for instance.

Anyway, you have the thing, so why not use it? As I mentioned, they seem to be rated quite highly by others. The only other thing that comes to mind is their "computing power"; maybe the older technology will be slow or not able to load up "big" maps?
I think they are water resistant and you should be able to get a mounting bracket to fix it to a bike.

Somewhere in here, not so long ago, is a thread about a different, cheap, GPS made in China (although that is not to say that Garmin et al do not also have factories in the republic ;-)
Maybe you have the same make??

**Modman** · #**130** 11 Feb 2013

Thanks for that Dave. I have been playing around with it most of Sunday (Indoors mind you) and have some maps loaded and now just learning the different terminology.

**seouljoe** · #**131** 3 Mar 2013

Nokia Lumia 920's capacitive display works with gloves | The Verge

**gunt86** · #**132** 7 Apr 2013

downside of using smartphone as gps device is that in the event the smartphone is stolen or damaged, you will no longer have a gps device as well. As we can buy gps device for US$100 or so, it makes sense to have a gps device in addition to the smart phone. The gps device is also much more durable and less sensitive to the elements than a smartphone.

**Walkabout** · #**133** 7 Apr 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunt86

downside of using smartphone as gps device is that in the event the smartphone is stolen or damaged, you will no longer have a gps device as well. As we can buy gps device for US$100 or so, it makes sense to have a gps device in addition to the smart phone. The gps device is also much more durable and less sensitive to the elements than a smartphone.

I think you will find, reading back through the posts in this thread, that those points have been discussed and, some folks anyway, have found satisfactory solutions to each of them; satisfactory to them at least.
Personally, I still use a cheap mobile phone and an even cheaper (second hand) GPS; I don't mind if either gets broken, stolen, or whatever - so, there is another option, outside of smartphones (there are more mobile phones in the UK than there are people, certainly in my home).
There again, I like paper maps and compasses.

There are a couple of free softwares for smartphones identified in the thread linked below- I haven't checked back through earlier posts, so it is possible that they have been mentioned already?

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...432#post415962

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best VFM Garmin GPS	Walkabout	Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS	42	3 Weeks Ago 14:28
Numpty Garmin GPS SD card question	Matt Cartney	Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS	7	19 Feb 2012 15:37
Zimbabwe: Visas, borders and miscellaneous info	MovingHouse	sub-Saharan Africa	1	26 Jan 2012 15:13
Garmin GPS newbie	ashmax	Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS	12	12 Dec 2011 11:02
Vietnam Maps for GARMIN GPS receivers	Paul99	Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS	4	23 Oct 2009 05:46

Shipping the Bike

Regional Forums

Other Forums

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Links Page

Bike Tech

Other Gear

Bike Forums

Stuff

Other Forums

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Links Page

Shipping the Bike

Crossing Borders

Staying Safe & Healthy

Getting There

Life on the Road

Horizons Unlimited presents!

Links Page

Tell your Travel Story - Blog on HU!

Horizons Unlimited Communities

Horizons Unlimited Presents!

Links Page

Why come to an HU Travellers Meeting?

Where are HU Meetings?

HU Travellers Meetings

Non-HU Events

Participate!

Photo Contest!

Why become an HU Member?

Horizons Unlimited presents!

New to HU? Start Here!

Your Hosts

ALL HU Travellers Meetings now open for registration. We hope to see YOU at one of them this year!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 4 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 4 guests)