Warrior General Games

Originally posted by glbisthewaytobe
What are you going to be doing where the Google maps app won't be as helpful as a stand alone gps?

its not for me

a family member was asking about them

Originally posted by Ahrens858
its not for me

a family member was asking about them

So what are they going to be doing?

Originally posted by glbisthewaytobe
What are you going to be doing where the Google maps app won't be as helpful as a stand alone gps?

dunno about where he is, but many of the areas I'd want to camp in Maine do not have reliable wireless reception

Originally posted by glbisthewaytobe
So what are they going to be doing?

traveling around murica


Lack of cell service in alot of areas

Originally posted by seths99
dunno about where he is, but many of the areas I'd want to camp in Maine do not have reliable wireless reception

Yeah, but that would also affect most modern gps wouldn't it? I've never bought one, but most use WiFi now don't they? Or is it satellite? I thought most of them were down with the pay for downloads for updated maps.

Originally posted by glbisthewaytobe
Yeah, but that would also affect most modern gps wouldn't it? I've never bought one, but most use WiFi now don't they? Or is it satellite? I thought most of them were down with the pay for downloads for updated maps.

I think most are still satellite based, but don't know that. I do know that when I'm up around my parents camp, if I need it, I put away the phone and pull out my handheld hunting gps, which has base road and topo maps built in.

Makes sense. How old is your gps though?

not old, but certainly wouldn't be considered 'modern'

Doing some cursory google searches and most run both, they check satellite first, then if there is interference in any of the 4 satellites it needs to find your location with it will search for WiFi signal to cross reference. Pretty interesting.

Originally posted by seths99
dunno about where he is, but many of the areas I'd want to camp in Maine do not have reliable wireless reception
Yup. I just got back from hiking in a place with no cell reception.

Originally posted by glbisthewaytobe
Doing some cursory google searches and most run both, they check satellite first, then if there is interference in any of the 4 satellites it needs to find your location with it will search for WiFi signal to cross reference. Pretty interesting.

I am far from an expert on this stuff but I agree with your statement.

Cycling in the middle of Ireland and I had no problem using my phone for maps/directions ...without wifi

Originally posted by carumba10
I am far from an expert on this stuff but I agree with your statement.

Cycling in the middle of Ireland and I had no problem using my phone for maps/directions ...without wifi



don't confuse WiFi with 3g or 4g data. If you were using your phone, then you were getting data.
dedicated GPS units only need to receive satellite signals.

Originally posted by seths99
don't confuse WiFi with 3g or 4g data. If you were using your phone, then you were getting data.
dedicated GPS units only need to receive satellite signals.

As mentioned, I am no expert so not really sure what point you are making. I purchased a very small data plan from my carrier for Europe. I barely used any of the data...and never got lost. Isn't that the end game no matter what you call it?

I don't think I have access to something that anyone here also doesn't have access to.

Originally posted by carumba10
As mentioned, I am no expert so not really sure what point you are making. I purchased a very small data plan from my carrier for Europe. I barely used any of the data...and never got lost. Isn't that the end game no matter what you call it?

I don't think I have access to something that anyone here also doesn't have access to.

my point is that I think that phones rely on that data for their navigation, especially when it comes to the map itself, whereas a stand alone gps system has the map stored on the system itself, and uses satellites to hone in on location.

I guess the question is, did you ever look at your phone during that time and see 'no service' and still have access to navigation?

Originally posted by seths99
my point is that I think that phones rely on that data for their navigation, especially when it comes to the map itself, whereas a stand alone gps system has the map stored on the system itself, and uses satellites to hone in on location.

I guess the question is, did you ever look at your phone during that time and see 'no service' and still have access to navigation?

Before we left, a friend gave me a tip. When you get to the area you are going to you should use the wifi at the hotel. Open google maps, and it downloads all the local area. So you always have the maps, even without wifi or gps.

Maybe a couple of times a day when I wanted confirmation we were on the right path I would open my phone and put location active and turned off airplane mode. Within a few seconds I saw where I was on the map. Turned off location, turned on airplane mode and continued on. Worked every single time.

The ironic thing was I paid around $120 to download the europe maps into the Tom Tom. I paid $50 for roaming and used maybe $5 worth in 3 weeks