2 Questions about Cell Phones and GPS's

[TurkeyRookie]

^^ 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.

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.

[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.

[TurkeyRookie]

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.

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

[Fishy Wishy]

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

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.

[welsh]

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.

[huntaway]

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

[Marker]

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.

[oaknut]

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.

[35wailin]

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.

[live2fish]

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...