2 Questions about Cell Phones and GPS's

My current GPS is a Garmin E-Trex Legend. It is black and white, and easy to use, and I have the Topo Canada Maps for it somewhere. But, it no longer works. At this point all I really need a GPS to do for me is to be able to mark a few points, and be able to get back to them after haphazardly chasing game after a shot is made, marking a few shoals on a lake, or to get unlost.

My current cell phone is an old 'colour' flip phone. It needs a new battery, but still works. I'd like one that I can use on my Bell pre-paid account, and that has a camera with some storage for photos and music and video, and does the wifi thing so I can read stuff like this site while laying on the couch, I don't plan on using it much for data, only in an emergency when I need to look up a phone number or such.

#1 If I was to buy a new Cell and a GPS, what would you recommend.?

#2 Could I get away with a new cell phone that has GPS built into it. Does this exist? Will it work even as a true GPS when out of cell tower range?

Thanks,

Entropy

Phones will work as a stand-alone GPS when there is no service, provided you have the maps already downloaded. (Cached Google Maps, etc) if you don't, then yes, cell service is required to download the maps as it locks your location.

That being said, the recievers are not as strong as those in dedicated GPS units, under thick cover, it may not be as accurate.

As for a phone, any smartphone/android will serve you well. Comes down to price and size, but they all do the basic functions.

Samsung Galaxy's are nice phones to start looking at.

As for the GPS' can't go wrong with the Garmin line up.

The Montana and Oregon are good to start with.

Phones are not that tough, are not water proof and sink.

Phone is going to be just fine...If you don't hunt North of about King city. I use my phone at Hullet, Fingel, Cedar Creek. If I am somewhere that does not have a road with in a mile or so in Every direction, then A GPS a Good ANALOG compass, and maps for backup. Heck even when I am walking around Hullet or Fingel I have a basic map. It may not be much more then a print out from the Conservation areas web site, but it's easier to scribble on the paper then use white out on my phone.

King City is south of anywhere I hunt. And cell coverage is often an issue. Hmmmm......

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Originally Posted by Entropy

King City is south of anywhere I hunt. And cell coverage is often an issue. Hmmmm......

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I think you answered your own question. Do you have the software for programing and updating your E-trex? You may simple need to do an update or two and install new(updated) maps.

The E-Trex Legend has screen issues. It has bars across the screen then ... nothing.

The biggest problem i find when using a cell phone is battery life. I have a galaxy s3 and the battery life is terrible. I do have a portable charger for my phone but feel much better with a handheld gps and spare batteries in my pack.

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Originally Posted by Entropy

The E-Trex Legend has screen issues. It has bars across the screen then ... nothing.

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Yup that's broke.

^^ add to this that weak or non-existant cell signal will make your phone burn more juice as it constantly polls looking for a (better) signal.

Your are best to just get an entry level GPS. I use a cheap old Etrex with no bade map. B&W and all that is on my screen is my way points, my trails, and a scale. Keeps me unlost.

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Originally Posted by Fishy Wishy

^^ add to this that weak or non-existant cell signal will make your phone burn more juice as it constantly polls looking for a (better) signal.

Your are best to just get an entry level GPS. I use a cheap old Etrex with no bade map. B&W and all that is on my screen is my way points, my trails, and a scale. Keeps me unlost.

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To add further, if you are in a weak "high end" srvie, like LTE, or 4G, change your network to use 3G/GSM etc. Their may be a stronger lower end signal, and it won't waste battery seaking for the higher end if you're on the fringe of it.

My computer guru tells me that the phone that are coming out this fall are markedly better than last years for the things I want--northern reception, GPS and map resolution. The new towers that have been going up the past few years have made it hard to get out of rach of the newer phones . Maybe deep in Algonquin or the west end of the Ottawa valley but west of here and up into the park corridor have good coverage on a NEWER phone.

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Originally Posted by patvetzal

My computer guru tells me that the phone that are coming out this fall are markedly better than last years for the things I want--northern reception, GPS and map resolution. The new towers that have been going up the past few years have made it hard to get out of rach of the newer phones . Maybe deep in Algonquin or the west end of the Ottawa valley but west of here and up into the park corridor have good coverage on a NEWER phone.

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Just come up here with any provider other than Bell, and no on will be calling :)

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Originally Posted by TurkeyRookie

Just come up here with any provider other than Bell, and no on will be calling :)

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Funny you say that. I have always had Bell (other than around 2000 our first shared cell phone - you know for car emergencies when traveling between Niagara and Timmins/KL - was. Rogers and I ended up throwing the thing at the sales guy when I found out I didn't even have analog signal through Temagami where their map showed digital coverage -. Remember those days?)

At our moose camp I have only had spotty connection with Bell (since they went hspa - was better when I had my old BBs on their old CDMA network) yet the guys with Rogers get a decent signal.

Seems to be different pockets for different carriers.

Not sure about good coverage on a newer phone. Samsung Galaxy S5 (Rogers) this summer had no reception most of the time on highway 60 through Algonquin. I was reduced to getting the weather report by using this thing called a "radio" that you have to listen to. It was frightening, man, like being in the stone age or something. :)

I would go with a GPS and not expect a phone to do it all for reasons of durability, waterproofing ... well, actually, I would go with a map and compass, being comfortable in the stone age.

Except in certain area's where we get cell reception, a phone is just another thing to carry. GPS's are great till the bettery dies. A good old fashion campass hanging around my neck has yet to fail me. A lot of fish finders have built in gps now so a stand alone unit would not be needed.

HA

I have used both the Garmin 62 and also Magellan Explorist, the Garmin wins hands down. I also like the optional topo maps you can get for the Garmin unit that show WMU unit boundaries, was $150 upgrade to the stock map at Sail.

My son uses his cell phone but pays $70 per month, so if I do some quick math compared to my old phone plan at $30 per month with no data, buying the GPS and optional maps pays for itself after about one year.

I use the GPS on my Galaxy S3 all the time. I downloaded a program called Canada maps and use it in conjunction with the phones GPS. Its accurate enough to get me where I need to go. When im in the wide open it will take me within arms reach of a waypoint. Would I trust my life to it....nope. its still just a phone.

I liken the current crop of "do everything" smartphones to places like WalMart which sell a bit of everything, but don't specialize in anything, and the help section is seriously lacking. Now go into a specialty store, be it outdoors/electronics/etc, and ask for assistance and you will get far better service.

My buddy asked the same question as the OP a few weeks ago. I told him to get a dedicated GPS for better reception/signal processing. waterproof, battery life and changeability and functionality. I also told him to get a phone and don't worry about the GPS signal on the phone, because he does not have a data plan like myself and couldn't see much use in having a pinpoint location without a map around that location to give it context. Plus, like has been mentioned, they are not waterproof and they sink.

Personally I use my iphone along with gps kit(app)... I also have a case with a solar panel on the back that is water proof... Which has a "life jacket" that floats Lastly I also
Bring a power pack that I bought on eBay which holds 4-5 full charges... I've downloaded my entire area for less then 1gb while on wifi...

Also when I bought my phone I also paid for pale care which covers almost anything that can happen to it...

This is my second iphone I'm using this way...my etrex is packed and outdated since!


Edit: there is also no cell coverage where I go and there's tips online on how
To change some settings to save battery life... My battery usually last for 6hours if tracking and about 10-12 if not tracking but just looking at screen periodically...

tthere is a garmin 60c for sale in the hunting for sale

my etrex is doing the same thing, has bars across the screen and can barely see it, but still gets the job done lol

i mostly use my cell phone these days, i have a galaxy s2, i pay $56/month for it and data, and cancelled my home internet, so saved $70/month right there. funny thing is i have very patchy cell service at my house, but as soon as i go into the bush behind my place i have a solid 1 bar, and i climb the hill, i get full coverage...

the gps on phones, you can download gps apps for them. what i mainly do is use google maps, there is a button to click, that shows your position on the satelite image... love it! dont need cell coverage for it to work, as long as you have the map downloaded, but finds you alot better when you do have a data connection

as for the the trusty old compass... the only time i have bin severely lost... was due to the compass lol was hunting a spot that i knew if i headed north i would hit the river, well i went through this swamp that i dont even think the deer were stupid enough to cross, i came out the other side, and pulled out the compass so i could head for the trail... well it told me north was opposite of what i thought, but i trusted it... i walked and walked, and thought geez i shouldve crossed the river twice by now... just by luck, i herd a car on the near by road, and went in the direction... a 15 minute walk down the road told me i had bin going south all that time... old timers in the area told me that it was the iron or something in the rocks around eddy lake that drew my compass that way... either way that compass got used for target practice, and a gps was bought lol

I agree on the compass and map thing. I always have a compass in my pack. I like having a GPS for when a grouse or deer is shot. I can track it for a long ways and not have to worry too much about land marking as I go.

Also, the number of times I have used my GPS to get me to my duck blind in fog makes it priceless. For a very long time on many mornings you hear others trying to do the same, all while bouncing off stumps and logs.

Thanks for all the input.
Entropy

Just found a video on how to take the etrex apart and 'fix' it. Might give that a try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m7H5AZVgwQ

Entropy

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Originally Posted by Entropy

Just found a video on how to take the etrex apart and 'fix' it. Might give that a try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m7H5AZVgwQ

Entropy

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Not like your going to wreak it.:goodstuff: