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I know a lot of people don't like smartphone GPS for a number of reasons. I would agree with you completely if my most recent phone was my first experience.
Two weeks ago, I upgraded my old Moto Droid to an HTC Rezound. I have to tell you that everything about that Rezound is pretty incredible - except for the GPS. Driving navigation worked just fine but it was totally unreliable for things we would use it for in bushcraft like recording a trail or finding your way in the woods.
The GPS in my old Moto Droid was rock solid. I returned the 4G wonderphone and went back to my 3 year old slowpoke.
Anyhow, that brings me to the point of this thread. If you are looking for a way to get a cheap GPS with mapping ability, this might be the trick for you.
Since Android phones are a few years old now and the new phones are so much faster, lots of people are upgrading. There are more and more old phones in junk drawers every day. You probably know someone who will give you an old phone or sell it for just a couple of dollars. These phones aren't fast enough for the media content that is driving sales today but they are more than enough for mapping your trails.
During the weeks that I had my Rezound, I had to use my old Droid to track my bike rides in Google My tracks. Even though the old phone was not activated on the mobile network, I was still able to use the GPS and connect to the Internet through my home wi-fi connecntion.
I didn't have the benefit of a constantly updating map on my ride but the program did keep up with all my statistics then overlayed them on the map when I returned home.
Actually, any apps that you can run without needing the cellular network still function on an Android phone, even if the phone isn't activated on a carrier's network. You can read e-books, listen to music, post on forums, etc.
I'm not sure if this works with iPhones, but it should. I also don't know if it works with programs like MapMyRide that require a login.
Two weeks ago, I upgraded my old Moto Droid to an HTC Rezound. I have to tell you that everything about that Rezound is pretty incredible - except for the GPS. Driving navigation worked just fine but it was totally unreliable for things we would use it for in bushcraft like recording a trail or finding your way in the woods.
The GPS in my old Moto Droid was rock solid. I returned the 4G wonderphone and went back to my 3 year old slowpoke.
Anyhow, that brings me to the point of this thread. If you are looking for a way to get a cheap GPS with mapping ability, this might be the trick for you.
Since Android phones are a few years old now and the new phones are so much faster, lots of people are upgrading. There are more and more old phones in junk drawers every day. You probably know someone who will give you an old phone or sell it for just a couple of dollars. These phones aren't fast enough for the media content that is driving sales today but they are more than enough for mapping your trails.
During the weeks that I had my Rezound, I had to use my old Droid to track my bike rides in Google My tracks. Even though the old phone was not activated on the mobile network, I was still able to use the GPS and connect to the Internet through my home wi-fi connecntion.
I didn't have the benefit of a constantly updating map on my ride but the program did keep up with all my statistics then overlayed them on the map when I returned home.
Actually, any apps that you can run without needing the cellular network still function on an Android phone, even if the phone isn't activated on a carrier's network. You can read e-books, listen to music, post on forums, etc.
I'm not sure if this works with iPhones, but it should. I also don't know if it works with programs like MapMyRide that require a login.
