Ok look I knew the answer before I posed the question let's move on

But just remember that not everyone uses a bike this is the hubb not advrider, not everyone uses android phones, my iPhone will not run on battery anywhere near the time tmottens Samsung will (pretty sure that mine might get an hour or 2 running gps with everything else turned off)

Paneuropean, the EU directive you refer to was nothing to do with power sources but unifying chargers to stop the millions of chargers specific to one brand or another that went in the bin every year.

If you on 4 or more wheels multifunction devices are not really as relevant as for the bikers were weight is. Screen Size, accuracy and mapping are important.

Going back to my walking out case I would want my phones power saved for its purpose in life.......to phone for help when I got a signal

Nothing wrong with a Silva: I still have a couple of them.
That guy is the current Chief Scout of the UK scouting movement: Baden Powell must be rotating in his grave.
? Maybe not.


Just curiosity, but which iPhone are you using? (big screen or smaller screen?)

For 4 wheels I use a 7 inch tablet which does not have a SIM card - so it uses only wifi for acquiring the software and that "forces" me to experiment with android nav apps that work only offline.
+ those apps cannot "steal" my phone book contacts simply 'cos they don't exist in there.

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Dave

iPhone 4S but might be upgrading soon, battery life is one reason

Psssst Warden how does 15.6 days sound? ( that is what my phone says when switched on to ultra power saving mode - Samsung)

and btw- I've finally managed to put the Olaf map on my Android phone (not that I would put that on my handlebars bouncing on trails!!)

Did you got any more details with Olafs map, compared to Openstreetmaps Road, Terrain, Satellite Hybrid view of Google and Bing - which are downloadable for offline usgage with LocusPro (Android) or MotionX (Apple Devices)?

How did you add Olfas Map, what Apps did you use for that?

Thanks for deeper explanations

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Oh, c'mon now. You've made it this far in your experimentation. I'm sure you've got a old one lying around that you could take the next step with. ;-)

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

[QUOTE=tmotten;484613]Oh, c'mon now. You've made it this far in your experimentation. I'm sure you've got a old one lying around that you could take the next step with. ;-)[/QUOTE

I suspect you have touched on another aspect of owning smart phones: not only does everyone have one nowadays (I resisted for many years and became a convert just a few months ago) but there is more than one in a lot of households.

Therefore, as you say, an older model can be used for all manner of "disposable" uses such as for a dedicated navigation device.

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Dave

Yeah. Personally don't like devices where you can't change the battery out.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

I have a gpsmap62c from Garmin which I love but.. it runs on two penlite AA batteries. I now haul a (heavy) charger for this purpose only. Anyone with a better solution? As far as I know you can't charge the batteries while in the device. Take a gamble and hope to run into a charger somewhere ? How common are they along the road? Or what other are there?

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

A few months ago I was in the market to replace my Garmin 60CSx. It was starting to behave a little erratically. (Turned out it just needed a software update and to fully dry out from being fully submerged for 15 minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6maYFQEnokk

The 62 looked like an option because it would have fitted in the same RAM cradle, but could only be powered via usb or AA batteries. So I went out and bought another used, but newer, 60CSx instead. Why? Because I have a dedicated (generally water repellant) power jack that runs from the 12v bike battery that fits the 60. So the AA batteries are only needed when the unit is off the bike.

Now I carry 2 units: One is a spare that carries the same mapping software and tracks/routes/waypoints/pois.

I also like my 60 because it has buttons and no touch screen.

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TBS.com

So I need to fix a powered wire to the dashboard and connect via USB? That way no batteries are needed and I can use it? So far it shoots into pc mode as soon as USB is inserted.. I'll try some more. Sorry about this though. I'm permanently blocked from the gps forum back home since 'lot of attacks are coming from asia' ... so I can't ask it there. Thanks though!!

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

Sir:

I'm not certain how your specific device behaves, but be aware that many electronic devices that have a USB plug on them will behave differently depending on what signals are detected coming in from the wires on the USB plug.

For example, if you plug in a charger that has a USB connector on the end of it, the only signals coming into the device are 5 volts (+ and -) DC current. There are no data signals coming in. Hence, the device continues to operate normally, and the battery accepts the charge from the 5 volts offered.

If you use a USB cable to plug the same device into a computer, data signals will be sent down other wires of the USB cable, and the device will recognize that it is connected to a computer, and switch into 'computer' mode. In addition, if the computer supplies 5 volt power along the two power wires of the USB cable (most computers do), the battery in the device will also charge.

Try finding a USB charger with a plug that fits your device, taking care to ensure that it is nothing more than a power supply - a charger - and I bet your device will continue to work normally when you plug the charger in.

As for supplying your device with power on the motorcycle, there are many USB chargers out there that will convert 12 volt moto power to 5 volt USB power. Most of them have an end that plugs into a cigarette lighter socket. You can just cut that end off, install a fuse, and connect it directly to your motorcycle 12 volt wiring.

Michael

Just to emphasise that many motorcycles nowadays have a computer technology built in - classically the CANBUS of BMWs.
Hence my old Nuvi 205W behaves in different ways depending on which vehicle it is plugged into via a USB cable that is powered up via a 5 volt adaptor in the cigarette lighter socket (or a DIN socket, depending on the vehicle in use).
In any case it sorts itself out if it inadvertently goes into mass storage mode; on the odd occasion that it doesn't self-right itself (rather like those rather cleverly designed lifeboats) then switching it off and on again, while attached to the external power supply, seems to do the trick.

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Dave

The Garmin Nuvis tend to fail on motorcycles because of vibration at the USB port. I've been through a couple of 265w. Just got a Zumo 350 cheap with different power set up on the bike. The dedicated GPS sure comes in handy getting across confusing Mexico, Central and South American cities.

I got a tablet to use as a satnav rather than replacing my satnav. what a disappointment, what a sack of sh1t. It is totally unreliable, the memory keeps filling up for some unknown reason and the apps as buggy as hell. It constantly crashes.

Both apps are paid for from 'reputable' suppliers. A total disappointment. I will be going back to a dedicated satnav/gps and don't see myself returning to a tablet for some considerable time to come.

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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014