GPS or Smartphone?

[golfpunk]

would a smartphone with the OS maps be a good alternative to buying an actual specialised GPS device? I have a new sony xperia z2 which has excellent battery life but I could also carry a portable battery recharger pack incase of a low battery situation.

does anyone else just use a smartphone when in the hills as a backup to using a map and compass?

[Gythral]

I think a number of us do, I use a Galaxy S and AlpineQuest,
others will suggest ViewRanger as the app of choice.

[Essan]

No, I just use a paper map. The battery in that lasts for years

[tenohfive]

Curious to see if attitudes have shifted, it's been a little while since this was last discussed.

I used a smartphone (Z1) with Viewranger. The OS Explorer maps are cheap if you shop about (check eBay) for VR and I find it does everything I need it to do. Battery life is a complete non-issue these days with smartphones.

[davekeiller]

Using a GPS app on my smartphone saved my bacon the other month when I got lost in poor visibility as it could quickly and reliably give me a 6 figure grid reference. I find it more than adequate for that sort of emergency use, and don't see why it wouldn't work for anything else you might want to use a GPS for.

[Mancunian]

I've always been a friend of a dedicated GPS device (have a Garmin Oregon 300) for several reasons:

1. Battery life. Especially on multi-day trips to Scotland I carry plenty of spare batteries so that I have the Garmin always on and record a track of the route we walked.
2. GPS reception seems to be better. My smartphone (Moto G) always requires a couple of seconds to get a fix after turning it on.
3. the garmin is more rugged than a smartphone so I attach it to my rucksack and dont have to fiddle in my pocket to find the phone.

But to be honest on day walks I prefer the smartphone for these reasons:

1. Operation is easier. Multitouch, etc.
2. Screen resolution and brightness is much better.
3. Internet access enables me to check for geocaches or to have a look at a satellite image in ordner to find pathes etc.

So it all depends on the activity whether I use the phone or the GPS.

[golfpunk]

thanks for the replies, guys.

we're just planning on day trips for the time being so I think a smartphone will do the job like you say. I've downloaded a couple of the OS apps - OS mapfinder (land ranger tiles only cost 69p and explorer tiles only £1.99) and the OS locate. should hopefully do the job.

[Lightfoot2017]

I use OS Locate on my smartphone (HTC One) – but only as a back-up to a map and compass.

OS locate is fab for 6 figure map co-ordinates, but its pants for altitude.

See the following thread: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=44357

[doggy]

I had a S3 and now I've got Z1 but they can't compare to a real GPS.
Once you lose your phone signal you lose the GPS too, I've never lost the Garmin GPS signal and the batteries are double A so easy to change. Personally I use rechargeable and I carry spares.

[tenohfive]

I had a S3 and now I've got Z1 but they can't compare to a real GPS.
Once you lose your phone signal you lose the GPS too,

Nope. If you've got offline maps (which all decent mapping software allows for) you've still got maps irrespective of whether or not you've got phone signal. Once a map is downloaded (i.e. at home) it's always available.

I'm all for debate about the relative merits incidentally, it's just that the quoted statement is factually incorrect.

[bydand_loon]

I had a S3 and now I've got Z1 but they can't compare to a real GPS.
Once you lose your phone signal you lose the GPS too,

Nope. If you've got offline maps (which all decent mapping software allows for) you've still got maps irrespective of whether or not you've got phone signal. Once a map is downloaded (i.e. at home) it's always available.

I'm all for debate about the relative merits incidentally, it's just that the quoted statement is factually incorrect.

Yup 100%

I have actually removed the sim card (saves loads of battery life by not constantly searching for a phone signal in no reception areas) from the old htc desire I use. I moved the viewranger app to the micro sd card and disabled or deleted pretty much everything on the phone not required. I had bought the 2 or 3 viewranger Scottish maps so no need for any other mapping. It works perfectly. No dramas with the gps and the wifi works if I want to upload somewhere, it also still allows emergency calls if for some reason thats needed

I take a spare insurance battery on day walks and an EasyAcc 10000mAh power pack for multi day trips, it gives me 5 or 6 days (also charges my kindle if required and other phone)

[tenohfive]

I had a S3 and now I've got Z1 but they can't compare to a real GPS.
Once you lose your phone signal you lose the GPS too,

Nope. If you've got offline maps (which all decent mapping software allows for) you've still got maps irrespective of whether or not you've got phone signal. Once a map is downloaded (i.e. at home) it's always available.

I'm all for debate about the relative merits incidentally, it's just that the quoted statement is factually incorrect.

Yup 100%

I have actually removed the sim card (saves loads of battery life by not constantly searching for a phone signal in no reception areas) from the old htc desire I use.

I take a spare insurance battery on day walks and an EasyAcc 10000mAh power pack for multi day trips, it gives me 5 or 6 days (also charges my kindle if required and other phone)

You don't need to remove the SIM if you don't want to - if you go into settings you can turn off mobile data and even the generic phone signal I think (it's the data that seems to give the biggest hit mind.) Unless you're really into weight saving It's been a few years since I've used my Desire so can't talk you through to the exact screen but it's relatively straightforward IIRC.

Great little phone - I've moved on to bigger and better but the Desire was the first phone in a long time that actually blew me away by how good it was.

[Mancunian]

You don't need to remove the SIM if you don't want to - if you go into settings you can turn off mobile data and even the generic phone signal I think (it's the data that seems to give the biggest hit mind.)

I agree, you do not have to remove the Sim card BUT you have to switch off the generic phone signal as well. Even with data switched off, the phone will try to find a network signal which reduces battery life significantly when there is only poor network strength or no network at all.
So removing the Sim card is the safest option.

A different solution might work as well: Airplane mode!
I just tested this on my Moto G. The phone signal is turned off completely but the GPS still works.

[tenohfive]

Doh. Airplane mode is the easiest route of course. But absolutely no need to take the SIM card out, you can do just about everything with it in - and still make calls if you're lucky enough to have signal. Turns off the wifi too (another battery drain, as it constantly searches for saved networks.)

[golfpunk]

yeah I was planning on using airplane mode and taking something similar to the EasyAcc 10000mAh power pack with me incase of emergency. will also come in handy when we progress onto more than day trips!

i'm going to download the viewranger app tonight and have a play about with it and compare it to the OS equivalent.