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Is there an Iphone app that will replace the handheld GPS?

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:11 am
by steel shot
My etrex is jacked up again. Is there an app out there thats as accurate as the handheld GPS's?

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will repale the handheld GPS

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:20 am
by 4dawgma
Just goto the compass that came preloaded if you need a point. Otherwise I use glympse, it's hell on a battery though

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will repale the handheld GPS

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:28 am
by music_man
The answer is yes and no.
As long as you have good service, you're good to go!
Are you talking about a driving GPS app or hunting?

I like the map loaded on the iPhone for hunting because a lot of the satellite images were taken in winter.
But, I also like motion X GPS.

There are some apps that you can preload maps so you don't have to have service to use them.

I still own both cell phone and regular GPS (one for driving and one for hunting)

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will repale the handheld GPS

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:30 am
by steel shot
looking for hunting GPS app that wont run my battery down. I was hopeing to not have to buy another handheld..

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will repale the handheld GPS

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:43 am
by donia
motion x gps is decent, but i haven't tried it in dense cover...not sure how triangulation would affect it or if there is code written in to compensate. iphone gps chip doesn't have waas capability, so precision isn't dependable (at least up to 5 doesn't, not sure about 5c or 5s). all gps apps call on the iphone's gps and so far, i haven't found an external plug-in device that overrides the iphone 4s or 5 gps.

we've been doing some testing with the gps for a barcode scanner program and have found very little info on how it is handled in the ios. there is an accuracy "setting" that can be implemented through developer code (default is 120km or something outlandish. we recently set it to the lowest setting, but haven't tested it yet), but other than that apple doesn't let you change much due to their efforts at maintaining battery life. the lower the setting, the more battery is consumed because the gps is poling more often (updating) to attain higher accuracy. before we found this, there were points taken with our existing gps/scanner (waas enabled sirf gps chip) and points taken in the exact spot with wifi/cellular/and location set to "ON" with iphone4s and iphone5. some iphone points were 4 to 5 yards from the mapping grade gps, and then there were some that were over a mile away (most likely due to triangulation when gps signal dropped monentarily).

all this to say, get the free version (of whatever app you get) first to test in your area of interest for signal strength, accuracy, etc...you may be better served with another dedicated gps unit.

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will repale the handheld GPS

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:45 am
by 4dawgma
I have an etrex I could let go...

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will repale the handheld GPS

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:10 am
by music_man
steel shot wrote:looking for hunting GPS app that wont run my battery down. I was hopeing to not have to buy another handheld..
Like I said, I always keep both with me.
I like the precision of the hand held, but I like the satellite map of the phone.
I have seen newer hand helds with satellite imagery loaded on them, but if my memory serves me correctly they were extremely expensive.

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will repale the handheld GPS

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 11:31 am
by Deltaquack
Here's one to make your Iphone/Ipad a good GPS.

http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/16428

They had another cool one a while back but I don't see it anymore.

just a thought

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will replace the handheld GP

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:02 pm
by quackerkiller
I have the primos wind checker app...... Just like google earth but shows wind direction......

Re: Is there an Iphone app that will replace the handheld GP

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 7:27 am
by johndavid78
+1 on Motion-X GPS....i've used it heavily for several years. I have tons of waypoints, trails, etc. saved.