GPS Options - Members Thoughts on Pros & Cons

[Byrnesy]

Gidday all.
One of the uses for my Gladiator is accessing Public Lands in New South Wales and Victoria for Hunting. It is a legal requirement in New South Wales to carry a GPS on ones person whilst hunting in the State Forests with the quarterly downloadable map loaded. (The maps show up to date hunting areas, accessible but non-hunting areas, and active logging areas where hunting is not permitted by can be traveled through). For this I use my iPhone loaded with Avenza as that is the app that the Dept of Primary Industry provide the maps in.

Over the last five months I have been considering purchasing a iPad to use for planning hunts, particularly in camp with one or two other mates. The bigger screen means that we see a larger area and consider sign and different areas that each of us may hunt without disturbing game adjacent to each other or indeed alternatively where one bloke may push game into another gully where another is hunting. You get my point.

On looking at the latest iPads, it appears you get better value going to the Macbooks.

This got me thinking about the Garmin Overland which I can use for nav in the vehicle and the above purposes along with the connection to my InReach Mini which I always carry for safety and comms whilst hunting.

Pros, cons and experiences would be appreciated.

The image below is of our hunting camp in Southern New South Wales July 2021.

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[Byrnesy]

I also have Gaia running on my iphone too.

 

[ArmyMP]

Get a surface pro

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

You’re preaching to the choir. I have Gaia on a iPad mini and also on a android phone for backup. Carry Garmin inReach Mini for satellite capability if needed. Through in a little Anker (or your choice) battery charger. The iPad mini is 256 gigs so plenty of room for maps and other related apps. Not the inexpensive route to go but it’s been very solid. I use the iPad for vehicle navigation also.

 

[Byrnesy]

TFA it would appear so.

I'm no expert ArmyMP but I have somewhat level of distrust for MIcrosoft atm. Apple is likely not much different though. But I'm willing to compare the specs, available apps and sizes between iPad and Surface Pro.

 

[Beemer533]

The issue with IOS products (referring specifically to tablets here) is that in order to have built in GPS you need to buy the wifi/cellular versions. You don't need to subscribe to a service, but you won't have a GPS chip if you buy a wifi only version.

I prefer Android personally, but I wanted a good, powerful 8" tablet to run Gaia and high end 8" Android tablets (Samsung really) aren't really available these days unfortunately.

I ended up buying a Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 8.7" 64 GB for $160 which actually works really well. I just couldn't justify the higher costs for an Ipad mini ($650 for the 2021 cellular/64GB version).

I used the tablet on my recent trip to Moab and the Samsung did really well for Gaia and the couple other mapping apps I tried.

Since you are in Australia I'm not sure how the pricing changes there, but I doubt the IOS stuff is any cheaper there lol..

 

[WILDHOBO]

No iPad or iPhone is very useful once you’ve gone out of cellular range. Technically you’ve still got a gps signal, but most apps won’t let you search maps or set routes until your back in range of a 4g or 5g tower. In my opinion, a purpose built gps, designed to work off grid is the right way to go. Meaning Garmin or equivalent. No touting Garmin. Just using the brand like some use Xerox.

 

[brianinca]

I have used a Verizon iPad Mini 4 for over four years, fantastic device, replaced a non-GPS iPad Mini 2 that Apple gave me.

I have tried with Samsung and Asus and LG and Lenovo to find a less expensive and at least broadly equivalent device to the various iPad options, and in eight years it just hasn't happened. Without stupid subsidies from AT&T ($0.99 iPad 6th gen Kardashian edition x 75), my group would have spent $40K more in the last four years just because iPads work that much better and they are WORTH IT. The $329 LG GPad 5 LTE was my last shot at a less expensive substitute, and it wasn't even close. Equivalent cost Samsung S4's were clearly inferior to the concurrent iPad 9.7's, I don't know about the S7, I've given up.

VS hundreds of iPads I've issued since 2013, I've issued dozens of Surface Pro 3's and up, and cumulatively have had 10X as many issues with them. I have had seed units from Microsoft for several different Surfaces with LTE, even bought a single 7+ LTE outright for a returning controls tech, they just are not up to any kind of serious use. I would NEVER depend on one for any kind of navigation.

I recently picked up a Verizon iPad Mini 2021, it is more of the same, but better, but the cellular service is screwed up because Verizon is also terrible. That Apple makes such a fantastic tablet and makes so much money on them and yet no one can compete (or even get close!) is a mystery to me.

I doubt to use it off-road in my JTR, though, as iPads are not CarPlay compatible (!!!). Both OnX and Gaia are, and I've switched to an iPhone 13 Max Pro with OnX on the phone and Gaia on the 8.4 screen. My tablet holder is on the shelf.

As a long time Android user I don't care to use an iPhone except in this use case, and it works extremely well. The screen is plenty bright and it's giant, I don't understand my petite wife's preference for giant phones - she just traded her 11 Max Pro for a 13 Max Pro. The iPad 8.2 is even bigger, but now CarPlay matters (didn't before) and the phone is great.

No iPad or iPhone is very useful once you’ve gone out of cellular range. Technically you’ve still got a gps signal, but most apps won’t let you search maps or set routes until your back in range of a 4g or 5g tower. In my opinion, a purpose built gps, designed to work off grid is the right way to go. Meaning Garmin or equivalent. No touting Garmin. Just using the brand like some use Xerox.

This is incorrect. I've used OnX and Gaia and Google Maps with downloaded maps and they work fine. I transferred an off-trail campsite in the Mojave from Google Maps to both OnX and Gaia last year, for a run that didn't happen. Would have been a lot more comfortable in 2021, my YJ just doesn't have the same ride quality as my JTR.

I've had Garmin GPS devices since 1996, I can't see ever buying a GPS only device ever again. On a boat, sure - the 10" Garmin nav panel from 2007 was an incredible device, but wow is that a different use case!

 

[WILDHOBO]

I have used a Verizon iPad Mini 4 for over four years, fantastic device, replaced a non-GPS iPad Mini 2 that Apple gave me.

I have tried with Samsung and Asus and LG and Lenovo to find a less expensive and at least broadly equivalent device to the various iPad options, and in eight years it just hasn't happened. Without stupid subsidies from AT&T ($0.99 iPad 6th gen Kardashian edition x 75), my group would have spent $40K more in the last four years just because iPads work that much better and they are WORTH IT. The $329 LG GPad 5 LTE was my last shot at a less expensive substitute, and it wasn't even close. Equivalent cost Samsung S4's were clearly inferior to the concurrent iPad 9.7's, I don't know about the S7, I've given up.

VS hundreds of iPads I've issued since 2013, I've issued dozens of Surface Pro 3's and up, and cumulatively have had 10X as many issues with them. I have had seed units from Microsoft for several different Surfaces with LTE, even bought a single 7+ LTE outright for a returning controls tech, they just are not up to any kind of serious use. I would NEVER depend on one for any kind of navigation.

I recently picked up a Verizon iPad Mini 2021, it is more of the same, but better, but the cellular service is screwed up because Verizon is also terrible. That Apple makes such a fantastic tablet and makes so much money on them and yet no one can compete (or even get close!) is a mystery to me.

I doubt to use it off-road in my JTR, though, as iPads are not CarPlay compatible (!!!). Both OnX and Gaia are, and I've switched to an iPhone 13 Max Pro with OnX on the phone and Gaia on the 8.4 screen. My tablet holder is on the shelf.

As a long time Android user I don't care to use an iPhone except in this use case, and it works extremely well. The screen is plenty bright and it's giant, I don't understand my petite wife's preference for giant phones - she just traded her 11 Max Pro for a 13 Max Pro. The iPad 8.2 is even bigger, but now CarPlay matters (didn't before) and the phone is great.



This is incorrect. I've used OnX and Gaia and Google Maps with downloaded maps and they work fine. I transferred an off-trail campsite in the Mojave from Google Maps to both OnX and Gaia last year, for a run that didn't happen. Would have been a lot more comfortable in 2021, my YJ just doesn't have the same ride quality as my JTR.

I've had Garmin GPS devices since 1996, I can't see ever buying a GPS only device ever again. On a boat, sure - the 10" Garmin nav panel from 2007 was an incredible device, but wow is that a different use case!

I too use Gaia, and if the maps are pre downloaded, as you said, it works fine. The issue is when you need map detail that you didn’t know you’d need. With overlanding, that can happen easily, no matter how much you prepare. I prefer to know that I can pull up new maps and/or create new routes, without having a cellular signal to do the download. The only way to do that is with off-road gps and detailed preloaded maps for your area. I’ve combined Gaia with detailed trail books, matching turns by distance between them, but that’s work when it’s pitch black and you’re on a shelf road.

 

[Beemer533]

When I went to Moab I had downloaded all the layers for the entire state at a pretty high resolution. With a 128GB card in the Samsung I could probably get a lot of of the country.

I knew a lot of the areas I was going to be in either had no reception or no data at least so I didn't want to not have something available.

I'm not saying it's not possible to forget something with Gaia, but with the amount of maps availabile, it's pretty difficult.

I think the biggest issue I have with Gaia is that routing doesn't work offline if you haven't downloaded the routrs and obviously you could easily miss one or just end up having to take a different route than what you downloaded. But even that isn't really a huge deal since you can just follow the map to get where you want to go.

Every area won't have the same detail, but with the amount of space available (at least on a tablet with an SD card slot) there is no reason to not download every thing available.

 

[sarguy1941]

I have the overland in my JT and run the Inreach+. Its a great combination and works well. I had tried the tablet route and just never had good luck as I would forget to download a map or something when I needed it. The overland is simple.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I have the overland in my JT and run the Inreach+. Its a great combination and works well. I had tried the tablet route and just never had good luck as I would forget to download a map or something when I needed it. The overland is simple.

What model? I’m interested. Garmin Overlander? Thanks.

 

[sarguy1941]

Yes Garmin Overlander. I like being able to add maps as needed but have base maps there already.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes Garmin Overlander. I like being able to add maps as needed but have base maps there already.

Thanks. Gaia is “fine”, but want something gps independent for the gladiator. How have you mounted it to not make it hard to use the OE screen? Would you mind sharing a picture?

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

My iPad mini has 256 gigs. I have many gigs of Gaia maps downloaded. Hell, I even downloaded some free Google maps. I have other maps and overland apps downloaded. I have copied HAM repeater frequencies on to my iPad for places I'm traveling through. Is it perfect? No it's not, and probably not the right way to go for a lot of people. It's definitely more than just a gps one trick pony but you pay for it. iPad with Android phone back up and a InReach. I have some frog skins in the game but I don't feel I compromised, and I expect this to last me years down the road. For most people this is probably a big over kill and unnecessary, it is working fine for me.

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