CK5
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GPS mapping of offroad trails and such.
- Thread starter ridenby
- Start date
I use MotionX-GPS. When I got it years ago it was free. I think it costs a couple bucks now.
Are you looking for a inexpensive hand held gps? Garmin E-Trex or GPSMAP models are good ones.
rampage
3/4 ton status
What phone do you have? My iPhone 6S has built-in GPS and works without wi-fi or cell signal. In fact, most of the time I have it set to airplane mode to save the battery since it’s always trying to search for a cell signal at my mountain house and I can still use my GPS mapping app.
Grab a cheap tablet with GPS capabilities. Phones use GPS as a clock reference, so every phone (even the dumb ones) comes with GPS capabilities. Many non-phone tablets also come with such.
For software I use BackCountryNavigator. It cost $11, IIRC. In addition to doing standard GPS mapping it allows me to download satellite imagery for offline use. So when I'm wheeling I can see my position from overhead. I also trace out my intended route ahead of time, so I'm essentially following a trail of bread crumbs. Both of these features help me stay on track when scouting unfamiliar territory. And having the software log my tracks also documents where I turn around, so I can easily remember which trails have dead ends.
A phone works fine. You just need an app that uses offline maps. There are many. I may have been the one who turned @campfire onto BackCountryNavigator and it may still be the biggest value in terms of free maps and imagery. Pretty much any of these apps can store and read tracks. They vary from sucktastic to awesome. A dedicated GPS unit (Garmin, DeLorme, TomTom, Magellen) may be more stable (i.e. less likely to crash while recording your tracks) and easier to justify leaving in the vehicle full-time, but some of them have expensive or non-existent maps off your trails. Now you don't need ANY map to store and read tracks, but it makes the device harder to use. You can leave any old GPS unit mounted in the vehicle to record where you've been and show you pre-made tracks, as long as you can move data on/off via an SD card or Wifi. That's really all you need to follow yourself back out the way you came, or follow the same route somebody else took and emailed to you. A tablet/smartphone is more convenient in that you can display, store and manage data on that device.
For exploring new areas I'm a huge fan of having pre-downloaded satellite imagery hybrid with the USGS trail maps. Sometimes you can see points of interest or open trails on the imagery that isn't on the maps. In heavily wooded areas, imagery alone isn't enough. There are also areas where any map data is over a decade old and most of those trails are gone or closed. Sometimes the only way to have a map is drive through yourself and store tracks. You can try 20 dead-ends, find one good way through, then go back later and edit your track to only have the valid route. I also like putting a "push-pin" (GPS marker) on things of interest, like gates, downed bridges, waterfalls, etc. to remind yourself of what's down those dead ends.
For these more advanced tasks like editing tracks, splicing them together, making tracks by hand from maps, etc. you'll end up on a PC, though.
I'll second what @campfire, I've used Back Country Navigator (BCN) for years. Used on both phones and tablets. We don't have cell service in the mountains most times, but the GPS works fine. With BCN, you can download the maps on WiFi so you have them when you have no Internet.
You can upload tracks from other sources as well as recording your own.
Aside from a tablet, you could also buy and older used/refurbished phone. I like the giant phones, and they have 5" screens. Like the Samsung Note phones.
You can upload tracks from other sources as well as recording your own.
Aside from a tablet, you could also buy and older used/refurbished phone. I like the giant phones, and they have 5" screens. Like the Samsung Note phones.
One other option is Gaia. Available via the app store, can use on phone or tablet, Droid or apple. Been using three years so far. Base system is free, different layers aka types of maps can be had for a subscription.
Very easy to load .gpx files to it for trail routes that others have done. You can share routes with others in your group if they use it too. Your device must have gps capability. Some iPads that are WiFi do not have GPS chips within them. So a standalone GPS puck will provide the signal via Bluetooth. That's what I'm using and it works quite well. The bonus to using the external gps puck saves the load on the battery in the iPad because all the hard work is happening in the GPS puck.
A couple of nice features I use is recording my track for an off road trip. It gives a ton of info on total mileage, average speed, elevation gain/drop and much more. The track itself allows you to follow it again later if you wanted to go back to a certain place. You can set waypoints on the screen for points of interest, campsite locations and other things. If you have a pre-loaded track you can have it use Google or apple maps to route you to the trailhead then it switches back over to Gaia on its own when you arrive at the trailhead. Very slick.
I'm pretty familiar with it so if you try it out and have questions you can pm me here.
Very easy to load .gpx files to it for trail routes that others have done. You can share routes with others in your group if they use it too. Your device must have gps capability. Some iPads that are WiFi do not have GPS chips within them. So a standalone GPS puck will provide the signal via Bluetooth. That's what I'm using and it works quite well. The bonus to using the external gps puck saves the load on the battery in the iPad because all the hard work is happening in the GPS puck.
A couple of nice features I use is recording my track for an off road trip. It gives a ton of info on total mileage, average speed, elevation gain/drop and much more. The track itself allows you to follow it again later if you wanted to go back to a certain place. You can set waypoints on the screen for points of interest, campsite locations and other things. If you have a pre-loaded track you can have it use Google or apple maps to route you to the trailhead then it switches back over to Gaia on its own when you arrive at the trailhead. Very slick.
I'm pretty familiar with it so if you try it out and have questions you can pm me here.
Another longtime BCN user here. I recommend it.
Started using BCN on my tablet a few months back. Seems to work well. Just make sure you download your map areas beforehand.. It's gone on sale a couple of times in the last 6mo. for 8$ instead of the usual 11-12.
BCN is the only app I have ever paid for....10 years and several devices ago. First thing that goes on a new phone, not that I replace my phone often. They have been around for a while, update their app, and allow you to reinstall without paying again. Best $10 I ever spent.
Got an email BCN is on sale this weekend.
