Hunt x for gps vs iPhone

[teegansdad]

So I'm looking at the Hunt x chip for my gps. I see they have an app for your phone also. What are the pros and cons of both set ups?

[deerhunter_98520]

 need a signal for for it to work on your phone and the gps you don't...I had the trial for the phone and wouldn't work out of service

[andrew_in_idaho]

need a signal for for it to work on your phone and the gps you don't...I had the trial for the phone and wouldn't work out of service

Works great on my phone without service. You have to pre download your maps. The other negative to the phone is you have to pay $30 yearly for the subscription, but if you already have a phone and don't have a gps it probably works out. If you are a RMEF member you can get a free one year subscription to the phone app and try it out then if you don't like you can always buy the chip with nothing lost


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[Waycott15]

I actually sold my gps because of the app. You preload the area you want to go and it works without a signal. It saves all your points and everything you mark and doesn't take up a lot of space either. I have been using it like crazy out in the mountains by my house setting cams and scouting for deer and bear and have had no problems. You also gt a free download if you become a member of backcountry hunters and anglers. So for a $25 year membership that includes four magazines you also get a free $30 download.

[Westside88]

What do you have to do for the free download if you're a RMEF member?

[andrew_in_idaho]

What do you have to do for the free download if you're a RMEF member?

Log into the my RMEF section on their website and there should be a redemption code on the right hand side of the screen


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[Westside88]

Thanks for the info

[Stein]

The phone is the way to go, the interface is light years ahead of any gps unit I have used.  I mark the location of the truck on our GPS and then throw it in my pack and never take it out again.

As was mentioned, download the portions of land you want to hunt and then you can do anything you want.  When you turn on airplane mode, the battery lasts longer than you need and I have a backup charger I carry just in case.

[deerhunter_98520]

I may have to try this with the map downloaded 

[Westside88]

I downloaded this last night. I'm still figuring it out, but the detail seems really good. I just need to figure out the pre loading of maps for out of signal areas. I think you can adjust how big the map is, I just haven't gotten that far yet

[Waycott15]

Go to saved maps and then a grid will pop up and you click how many squares based on the size of the map you want to save. Name it and then it will be under your saved maps. Also whatever base map, i.e. Topo, aerial, or whatever you save it on will be the one that it will use. Then when you turn it on to airplane mode or have no service go to saved maps and click view map and you'll be able to view it without service and track yourself as well.

[Westside88]

Thanks, I think that's the part I was missing. I didn't realize you could click more than one square at time.

[teegansdad]

This is sweet !! Can you save more than one map at a time ??

[floatinghat]

I have the app and am not a real fan.  Downloading the maps (tiles) is painful, you dl tiles and the system is slow and crashes often.  I use cached google maps after identifying an area.  The concept is great but the app is the worst paid app I have on my phone.  I have talked with "support" a number of times and everytime they are going through an "upgrade".   

[Waycott15]

Yeah you can save more than one map at a time and it doesn't take long to click on a bunch of tiles. So if you're not too lazy to click numerous tiles you will be fine.

[jimkirk]

i started trying out the hunt x app last month. i had previously used trimble outdoors.  yesterday i used the app off trail and it worked great with downloaded maps. the weakness i have found is the phone battery.  if you put the phone in airplane mode you can get about a days hunt before recharge.  i carry a battery pack for recharging that weighs as much or more than a gps.  i am off and on with airplane mode because verizon has the most remote coverage in WA.  so software functions good and in fact provides some very nice features of various map types like topo maps and aerial maps with crosshairs on the screens to give you gps coordinates.  gps s are more durable than a phone in my opinion.  equitable replacement, phone battery is the weak point.

[jackelope]

The only downside I have found with the phone is that it sucks the life out of your battery. I also carry a small battery pack to recharge my phone if/when needed. Airplane mode is the key when you're out of service.

[jackelope]

I've noticed when geocaching with my kid that the phones GPS is only reasonably accurate when compared to an actual GPS. If that's a factor then it might bug you but typically I don't need "to the foot" precision when using onXmaps.

[Stickerbush]

Does anyone know if this app works better for iPhone vs Android? Or is one better on gps than the other? I would definitely base my next phone purchase on this

[jackelope]

The iOS app has been available a lot longer. That's all I know.

[Eric M]

I had a nearly identical thread to this a few months back. My 2 older Garmin's kept freezing up on me and they have gotten spendy. I bought the app. It takes awhile to get good with it. It's still a work in progress. The instructions say to only load 10 tiles per map for a faster download I guess. A lot of people seem concerned about battery life, but I only turn mine on when I'm unsure or confirming my position. No need to leave it on all day. Those little solar chargers are dirt cheap now. You can charge your phone up while you sleep. I think I'm done with Garmins. At some point I may buy the satellite one so I can text the wife.

[floatinghat]

Yeah you can save more than one map at a time and it doesn't take long to click on a bunch of tiles. So if you're not too lazy to click numerous tiles you will be fine.

Had nothing to do with LAZY, it was a storage issue wit their server and not contracting correct.  Caching Google Maps gives much better detail but doesn't provide ownership info

[Waycott15]

My apologies good sir I just couldn't help but comment when you said it was the worst paid app on your phone. Im sure you have some other apps that are far worse just saying, because this Is hands down a phenomenal app.

[floatinghat]

Actually, I don't have worse paid apps.   I will say the iphone version is better than android.    However, you make the call on the images, OP asked a question and I replied with my perspective.  The apps has potential and maybe some enhancements have improved it.  Compare it to Navionic's or anyother similar app outside of hunting and make up your own mind.

[floatinghat]

vs

[Waycott15]

Sounds good

[andrew_in_idaho]

If you are actively tracking all day with the onx app yes it will burn through your battery even on airplane mode, if you just use it periodically throughout the day to confirm location and heading and maybe mark the occasional point of interest and keep your phone on airplane mode you might burn through 10% of your battery in my experience


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[pd]

Floating Hat and I have talked about this issue many, many times.  His perspective is valid---the Navionics app seems to have its advantages.

He and I both bought a Garmin (same model, purchased at the same time).  I hated mine, returned it to REI.  I will never own a GPS again.  As a previous poster stated, the software on an iPhone is light years ahead of Garmin.  I use my iPhone 5 (more than 2 years old now) exclusively for hunting, climbing (with a back up compass).  The Hunt OnyX app rocks, in my opinion.  You do NOT need a cell phone signal for the software to work (my hunting areas do not have cell service).  The GPS chip works independently of the cell tower signal.  OS10 separated "airplane mode" from the GPS, so you no longer have to unlock airplane mode to use the GPS, which will save the battery a bit.

I also carry a backup battery, which I did use a week ago when climbing Glacier Peak; we were caught in 40 knot winds and a whiteout, and the GPS assisted us in a safe extraction.

Conclusion, sell your Garmin, rely on your iPhone.

[Waycott15]

Agreed pd. And I sold  my garmin rino already

[floatinghat]

I think you are aware I returned my Garmin also.  I could never go back to that small screen again.  I carry both an iphone 6 plus and a tablet when scouting.  There is significant space for improvement I think the Hunt X guys are working to close it.  The early product left a lot to be desire, I hope they close the gap and quickly.  Pd as you are aware I spend a good amount of time digesting data.  For me hunt x provides a piece of data that assists.

pd,  I tested those bino's and ranged a reflective target at 1826yds

[Waycott15]

I agree floating. It's too hard to go back to the small slow
Screen. Good luck with the maps

[Jpmiller]

I have never owned a gps. I have used compass and topo map and occasionally Google maps in my phone. It sounds like Google maps is similar to this app? What are the differences? I am not the most technologically inclined generally only use it for the occasional location confirmation.

[jackelope]

I've never messed around with google maps aside from navigating with my phone in the car.
Layers:
Washington state specific




Federal specific

[jackelope]

Here's the gov't parcels, private parcels and GMU boundary layers turned on.

[Westside88]

So far I think the ownership info is a very good scouting tool. I'll probably not use my iphone while hunting, but it's great for pre scouting

[jackelope]

So far I think the ownership info is a very good scouting tool. I'll probably not use my iphone while hunting, but it's great for pre scouting

I think it's a great scouting tool and if you're hunting in areas of lots of public and private intermixed or if you're hunting private land...it's great knowing where you're at. I'm sure there are better navigation tools, but I'm not sure you'll find better coupled with the private land stuff and all the other layers available. A guy has to decide what features are most valuable to him and go that route.

 

[Shawn Ryan]

Anyone use Backcountry Navigator? Paid $10 for the app, download maps for the area you want, aerial or topo. Uses the phones gps, so very powerful engine. I use it in the wilderness without issue. Airplane mode and only turn the phone on when I need it.

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[andrew_in_idaho]

Isn't backcountry navigator only for android? Sounds like it has the same features as onx without land ownership data


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[Shawn Ryan]

Don't know whether it's available through Apple. Correct, no landowner data.

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[jackelope]

Pretty sure Backcountry Navigator is available for iOs.

If you haven't looked and want a good GPS app for your phone, look at Gaia GPS.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Question for those of you using other gps apps besides onx, do any of the other guys have all of the markers that onx maps have or the ability to mark and tag locations such as hidden water sources or wallows or bedding areas? The reason I ask is my free 1 year sub to onx will expire in August or September sometime and if I'm going to make the switch I'd rather do it before renewing at $30/yr. This would be a much easier decision if onx charged a one time price as opposed to yearly subscription


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[Waycott15]

So you pay the 30 bucks and you have that edition of the map for as long as you want you just won't get any new updated content unless you buy the map the next year for 30 bucks.

[pd]

So you pay the 30 bucks and you have that edition of the map for as long as you want you just won't get any new updated content unless you buy the map the next year for 30 bucks.

Waycott, I don't think that is correct.  After the 1 year subscription expires, your Hunt OnX screen goes blank---you don't get to use anything.  Somebody correct me if I am wrong.

[Waycott15]

I may be wrong that was my understanding I will do more research as well. Thanks for the heads up.

[Eric M]

I am not sure what to think about Onx now. For the first couple months I loved it. driving arond NE Wa. it was great. Around the areas I hunt near home it was great. This week I took it on a 2 day scouting trip and it was terrible. Several times while trying to check my position, it would say "Unfortunately, Onx Maps has stopped" or something like that and then ask me if I wanted to send an anonymous report. It took 6 tries the one time. I'm not sure if it was the cloud cover or what but I never remember cloud cover being that big a deal with a Garmin. When checking my position in one case it showed I passed my turn by quite a ways even though I hadn't reached it.
I like many of the features of this product. I'm not sure I'll trust it when I'm 10 miles from a road ever again.

[floatinghat]

So you pay the 30 bucks and you have that edition of the map for as long as you want you just won't get any new updated content unless you buy the map the next year for 30 bucks.

Waycott, I don't think that is correct.  After the 1 year subscription expires, your Hunt OnX screen goes blank---you don't get to use anything.  Somebody correct me if I am wrong.

Effectively correct,. You have access to the free version. Unless things have changed if you have marked up maps you must be actively subscribed to retrieve your maps.

[Waycott15]

Yeah I was doing research on their site and it looks more and more like that. It is kind of vague but mostly seems like you will have to renew to keep purchased layers and saved maps etc. I still think it is worth it.

[SemperFidelis97]

Anyone use Backcountry Navigator? Paid $10 for the app, download maps for the area you want, aerial or topo. Uses the phones gps, so very powerful engine. I use it in the wilderness without issue. Airplane mode and only turn the phone on when I need it.

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I use backcountry navigator on my phone for my gps.  I mainly use it to mark my treestands, and some other points of interest so I can find my way to them easily in the dark.  It is tuff getting around in some of this triple canopy stuff on the west side in the dark.

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a Washington and Idaho onxmap for sale. $75 EACH shipped vis PayPal gift.