GPS on a smart phone?

[jbeaumont21]

I have been interested in purchasing a Garmin Oregon GPS receiver, however I am wondering if I could just download one of the newer topo map apps onto my smart phone and use that instead.  Anyone know if that is possible?

[Tony 270]

As long as I have service I just use the free GPS app and will show me where I'm at, my elevation, and anything else.

[jbeaumont21]

Thanks for the feed back.  Free is always nice!  

I read some info at the link below and it sounds like some of the down falls of using a smart phone is that you use up battery life very fast and also there is no track back feature.  The more I read the garmin gps might be worth the extra dollars.  I am wanting the nice 3-D maps and also want to be able to see where my hunting partners are on the map.  Not sure I can get all that I want on the smart phone.
http://backwoodsgpstrails.com/wp3/trail-maps-on-cell-phone

[Tony 270]

My problem is that I use TMobile, which sucks once you get out in the sticks. But where it does work I can put in lots of waypoints, look at terrain, satellite photos, regular map... pretty much whatever you want - as long as I get service. Not nearly as good as a real GPS I'm certain, but good enough for free.

[cashmerekev]

What app you guys using for a I phone?

[Caretaker]

I was lost last year for three hours due to my garmin not having he newest maps.  Happened to have cell service on my Iphone, turned it on and told it to take me home and it did.  However, I will never, never replace my garmin with a phone.  Phones are dependent on cell service, gps is not.

[Tony 270]

I use the MotionX GPS Lite (limited, free version).

[cashmerekev]

Thanks!  I will give it a try....

[Alchase]

Iphone apps are only good if you have signal. With ATT I had signal on top of almost every hill throughout the Methow. But down in the valleys you do not.

I use the folowing apps:
Topo Maps
ArcGIS
Gaia GPS
Theodlilite
Hunters Checklist and GPS

[JackOfAllTrades]

I was lost last year for three hours due to my garmin not having he newest maps.

I always set a waypoint for where the truck/road/camp is before setting out.  I may not always know where I am, (on a map since my old 110 doesn't have maps), but I can follow that little arrow back to previous waypoints or where I actually started my day from.

-Steve

[BIGINNER]

there are some newer phones that use satelite signal to track you on google earth,  so you can be out of cell service but still use your gps.  it does eat alot of  battery life though

[Alchase]

there are some newer phones that use satelite signal to track you on google earth,  so you can be out of cell service but still use your gps.  it does eat alot of  battery life though

If there are I do not know of them, Google Earth is a web interface, you need internet service (cell data) to use it.
I still use my Magellan and do as JackOfAllTrades suggested and set a waypoint where my truck is. That way you always have a backtrack regardless if you have the current map or not. Though I have all the maps from Washington.

[Alchase]

I have been interested in purchasing a Garmin Oregon GPS receiver, however I am wondering if I could just download one of the newer topo map apps onto my smart phone and use that instead.  Anyone know if that is possible?

The Garmin Oregon is an excellent choice, smart phones are great, but they are not there "yet".

[BIGINNER]

there are some newer phones that use satelite signal to track you on google earth,  so you can be out of cell service but still use your gps.  it does eat alot of  battery life though

If there are I do not know of them, Google Earth is a web interface, you need internet service (cell data) to use it.
I still use my Magellan and do as JackOfAllTrades suggested and set a waypoint where my truck is. That way you always have a backtrack regardless if you have the current map or not. Though I have all the maps from Washington.

you're right. about google earth,  the phone uses satalite signal for the gps app.  my mistake,  9one of my cooworker got a phone a couple days ago,  i think it was the droid or something,  but the gps gets its signal from satelite when out of service range.

[sisu]

there are some newer phones that use satelite signal to track you on google earth,  so you can be out of cell service but still use your gps.  it does eat alot of  battery life though

If there are I do not know of them, Google Earth is a web interface, you need Internet service (cell data) to use it.
I still use my Magellan and do as JackOfAllTrades suggested and set a waypoint where my truck is. That way you always have a backtrack regardless if you have the current map or not. Though I have all the maps from Washington.

you're right. about google earth,  the phone uses satellite signal for the gps app.  my mistake,  9one of my coworker got a phone a couple days ago,  i think it was the droid or something,  but the gps gets its signal from satellite when out of service range.

Tony Soprano wouldn't like the GPS in his phone!