Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: 92xj on May 22, 2017, 08:40:37 PM

Title: Backcountry phone
Post by: 92xj on May 22, 2017, 08:40:37 PM: How do you use your cell phone in the backwoods?
How long does your battery last?
Do you manually turn off WiFi and 4g internet and turn on location?
Do you put in airplane mode?
How long does your battery last? I know it depends on your use, so what's your use and how long does it last?
I've never taken or used my phone in the Backcountry but want it take it this weekend to use for 95percent pictures and sometimes to turn on my topomaps and look. I'll have my gps with me and will be using that for waypoints and routes, but it just has the factory map, have only bought fancy mapping for Washington and I'll be out of state this weekend. I'm phone and technology stupid
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Oh Mah on May 22, 2017, 08:59:08 PM: I turn the lights down,wifi off notifications are off with wifi off and that's the big one,ringer off.it last usually 4 days
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Magnum_Willys on May 22, 2017, 09:46:31 PM: Airplane mode , lights down, notifications off. But usually turn on location with onxmaps and thats a power sucker. Lasts like 6 to 8 hours using that. Big battery pack.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Jpmiller on May 23, 2017, 07:40:35 AM: My brother has this rechargeable battery pack that weighs like 16oz I think and fully charged both our phones twice over a week time. I can try and get the name if you're interested.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: ctwiggs1 on May 23, 2017, 07:53:51 AM: I put my iPhone on airplane mode and it was at 50% after 3 days. I also have a battery pack recharger - these are commonly available now for as little as like $20.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: boneaddict on May 23, 2017, 08:43:27 AM: Id leave my cellphone at home if I had one. Sometimes its nice to be disconnected from the world
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: 92xj on May 23, 2017, 09:03:55 AM: Not taking it to be connected to the world.
Like I originally said, it will be 95 percent used for pictures, as I don't have a camera that is as light and takes as good of a picture, and potentially used to view a second topo map option.
I don't want to carry a battery charger on this trip, but potentially in the future. Please post your recommendation jpmiller. Thanks.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Duckhunter14 on May 23, 2017, 09:12:27 AM: The battery life will depend on usage. In airplane mode it should last 2-3 days. But if your opening it up for lots of photos and studying stored maps, etc. It may only last a day. I use a small solar panel and battery pack to recharge my phone, headlamp, GPS and small light for camp when I pack in. When there is sun in the forecast it works well. Never have to worry about dead batteries.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: kentrek on May 23, 2017, 09:51:02 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on May 23, 2017, 08:43:27 AM
Id leave my cellphone at home if I had one. Sometimes its nice to be disconnected from the world
:yeah: but unfortunately sometimes that's not the world we live in.....solar charger for the long trips or battery pack for the short ones will go along ways
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 23, 2017, 10:07:11 AM: Will you be in a phone service area for your provider? If not, you'll need to save maps to the phone of the area you'll be in before you go. The GPS usually works even when the network is out of range. But mapping works off an internet connection, hence the need for the saved maps. If you don't know how to save maps to your phone, go to youtube and search for "saving maps to my phone".
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: SteelheadTed on May 23, 2017, 12:08:11 PM: I've heard this works well:

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8 (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YUJJM8)
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: mburrows on May 23, 2017, 12:26:09 PM: I use my phone almost exclusively as a my GPS unit now on airplane mode. Like has been said turn off all background run apps, turn down lights, use sparingly. I carry a phone case with additional battery pack (I think 2500mah) and a portable USB charger which I think is 15,000mah and I can go 10 days easy using my phone as GPS and taking lots of pictures.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: mburrows on May 23, 2017, 12:27:23 PM: Should mention i use the GAIA app for maps and its worked awesome so far on several trips both in the front and backcountry.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Jpmiller on May 23, 2017, 07:04:25 PM: Poweradd Apollo 2

It has a solar recharge on it I didn't know about. We never used it.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Alchase on May 25, 2017, 02:53:11 PM: I use an iPhone 7, others will chime in with their experience.
I turn off all notification or just use Airplane mode. I will plug it in when in the truck heading to town. Fully charged in 20 min. The only place in Washington I do not have service (ATT) is south of Randle, hunting elk, to about 10 miles outside of Trout Lake.
The 7-10 days hunting the Methow for deer, up Hearts Pass, Fall Creek, even over FS RD 37 to Conconuly
I do not loose signal.

FYI - I do not use phone apps for GPS, I use a Garmin 62st GPS.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Okanagan on May 26, 2017, 08:31:43 AM: DeLorme InReach SE, though there are newer models now. Direct satellite texting from anywhere on earth and it works way better than satellite phones for a fraction of the cost. Send text or e-mail to any smart phone or computer or other InReach. I have used it in deep forest loaded with wet snow in deep canyons of the North Cascades, under heavy old growth trees in rain on the Olympic Peninsula, plus Canadian Rockies, Northern Saskatchewan, Yukon, Cape Hatteras, etc. Best wilderness communication device in my lifetime thus far. Mine was about $400 at REI I think, plus a monthly subscription of $15 (?).

I don't bother with phone in iffy country, just take the InReach. It sends a lat/long location and mark on Google earth with each message, showing the spot from which the message was sent. Compose message at the time, such as: Two flat tires, bring a spare here; I am camped two miles from where we planned; my sleeping bag is lonely...

I have my cell phone along in my vehicle and will check to see if it works but don't count on it.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Jpmiller on May 26, 2017, 09:54:25 AM: Is that the one you can program to send a message every so often with your location automatically?
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Stein on May 26, 2017, 10:37:34 AM: A phone will easily last a weekend used for maps, gps and pics as long as you do what the above guys said.

For emergencies, I prefer a dedicated EPIRB although the spot type devices seem to be getting more reliable.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Okanagan on May 26, 2017, 01:58:16 PM: Quote from: Jpmiller on May 26, 2017, 09:54:25 AM
Is that the one you can program to send a message every so often with your location automatically?

Yes, at least I think so. Mine has gazillions of bells and whistles I never use. I turn it on when I want to send a message or check for a message and leave it off the rest of the time. Battery will go for days or even a few weeks that way. My older version is clunky to type but vastly better than the SPOT I used to use because I can compose messages at the time rather than use canned messages written and stored before the trip. SPOT can send: I am OK. InReach can send, I am OK and have decided to stay over another day and hunt tomorrow.

And of course, it has the locked down emergency button that calls SAR, like the SPOT.
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: dscubame on May 26, 2017, 02:34:37 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on May 23, 2017, 08:43:27 AM
Id leave my cellphone at home if I had one. Sometimes its nice to be disconnected from the world

:tup:
Title: Re: Backcountry phone
Post by: Magnum_Willys on May 29, 2017, 12:44:39 PM: Quote from: Okanagan on May 26, 2017, 08:31:43 AM
DeLorme InReach SE, though there are newer models now. Direct satellite texting from anywhere on earth and it works way better than satellite phones for a fraction of the cost. Send text or e-mail to any smart phone or computer or other InReach. I have used it in deep forest loaded with wet snow in deep canyons of the North Cascades, under heavy old growth trees in rain on the Olympic Peninsula, plus Canadian Rockies, Northern Saskatchewan, Yukon, Cape Hatteras, etc. Best wilderness communication device in my lifetime thus far. Mine was about $400 at REI I think, plus a monthly subscription of $15 (?).

I don't bother with phone in iffy country, just take the InReach. It sends a lat/long location and mark on Google earth with each message, showing the spot from which the message was sent. Compose message at the time, such as: Two flat tires, bring a spare here; I am camped two miles from where we planned; my sleeping bag is lonely...

I have my cell phone along in my vehicle and will check to see if it works but don't count on it.

$49/mo unlimited txting, turn on for just months you need it. Waiting for new Rhino to incorporate this feature.... be surprised if its not added within a year.