What GPS do you use

[Fauss1]

What kind of GPS or app does everyone use? I'm considering paying for onyx which is 40 bucks a year. What other apps are there for GPS tracking. 

[mmc205]

Garmin GPSmap 66i.  Great for navigating, built in satellite communication for texting and SOS.  I pay about $12 per month for an intermediate plan.  Also has turn by turn directions if needed.  Some guys use an old cellphone with pre-loaded maps, but i find them to be too easily damaged and the satellite SOS of the garmin is very important to me when I do trips out west where there is no cell signal in large regions and i'm 50 miles away from a paved road.

[Fauss1]

Does the map have property boundaries and do you have to buy I for a specific area or does it have maps that are across the US

[mmc205]

1 minute ago, Fauss1 said:

Does the map have property boundaries and do you have to buy I for a specific area or does it have maps that are across the US

One of the powerful things about the 66i are the maps, you can download and install just about any map for any land area you can think of.  Its preloaded with at least a decent US terrain map and OSM.  I've never found a decent map that shows property boundaries, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  Some people i know pull their phone out for that and use one of the free online utilities to look at property ownership.  I typically just look online when planning a route or trip using a website like acre value.

As much as the 66i is a great and very capable device, it has a bit of a learning curve if your new to handheld GPS units.  One nice thing is it will link to your phone using bluetooth and you can load maps, waypoints, routes, etc on the fly.  The computer interface is through a website so no need to load software.  Its a little clunky sometimes but works pretty well overall.  My instinct watch, phone, and 66i all communicate and you can look at activites, routes, etc.  For heavier duty trip planning, most use garmin basecamp.  There are a lot of youtube videos that show how you do all of this.

Here's a link to a users manual that gives you a decent breakdown of its capabilities.  

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/gpsmap66i/EN-US/GPSMAP_66i_OM_EN-US.pdf

[mmc205]

1 minute ago, mmc205 said:

One of the powerful things about the 66i are the maps, you can download and install just about any map for any land area you can think of.  Its preloaded with at least a decent US terrain map and OSM.  I've never found a decent map that shows property boundaries, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  Some people i know pull their phone out for that and use one of the free online utilities to look at property ownership.  I typically just look online when planning a route or trip using a website like acre value.

As much as the 66i is a great and very capable device, it has a bit of a learning curve if your new to handheld GPS units.  One nice thing is it will link to your phone using bluetooth and you can load maps, waypoints, routes, etc on the fly.  The computer interface is through a website so no need to load software.  Its a little clunky sometimes but works pretty well overall.  My instinct watch, phone, and 66i all communicate and you can look at activites, routes, etc.  For heavier duty trip planning, most use garmin basecamp.  There are a lot of youtube videos that show how you do all of this.

Here's a link to a users manual that gives you a decent breakdown of its capabilities.  

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/gpsmap66i/EN-US/GPSMAP_66i_OM_EN-US.pdf

ohh, and it has a flashlight!  ?

[Oil Baron]

I have a 60csx, not the latest technology, but a powerful tool, nevertheless.  Less than $100 on ebay lets you see if you really need more features, or you could get a later handheld version with more capacity and bluetooth. I bought a City Navigator SD card for $11 which has most dirt roads and a lot of hiking trails in N. America . . . . and it auto routes. 

I also check the riding area on sat images before a trip and set waypoints if necessary. 

[The Agitator]

I use deactivated Android phones which I get for free and are not waterproof/super durable but IMO using them for at least the last 5 years on/off road  have worked perfectly fine and never had an issue with one breaking on my bike.

With that said if I REALLY need a GPS I carry a back up one protected in my pack running the same app/base topo map while recording the ride.

it took me awhile to figure out how best to use a phone as a GPS and when I finally figured out what a GOOD base topo map was and I could get the Garmin unlocked ones that  worked with the app I used, they have been awesome OFF LINE (no cell service) and help me get unlost a few times.

Then record GPX tracks or import recorded ones for actual trails if you can find those to follow.

Can use the same phone or phones running the GPS app and speedo/odometer apps and switch back and forth as needed but I'll use 2 phones with separate apps see both is need.

Both of these were a total of $20 and that was just for the larger phone (GPS) bar mount.

If I had to buy one it would be one version of a Garmin.

[Fauss1]

1 hour ago, PhilthyX said:

I use deactivated Android phones which I get for free and are not waterproof/super durable but IMO using them for at least the last 5 years on/off road  have worked perfectly fine and never had an issue with one breaking on my bike.

With that said if I REALLY need a GPS I carry a back up one protected in my pack running the same app/base topo map while recording the ride.

it took me awhile to figure out how best to use a phone as a GPS and when I finally figured out what a GOOD base topo map was and I could get the Garmin unlocked ones that  worked with the app I used, they have been awesome OFF LINE (no cell service) and help me get unlost a few times.

Then record GPX tracks or import recorded ones for actual trails if you can find those to follow.

Can use the same phone or phones running the GPS app and speedo/odometer apps and switch back and forth as needed but I'll use 2 phones with separate apps see both is need.

Both of these were a total of $20 and that was just for the larger phone (GPS) bar mount.

If I had to buy one it would be one version of a Garmin.

Are saying if you had to buy one I'd would be a Garmin GPS rather than buying a phone and making it a GPS? I don't have access to an old phone besides ebay.   

 

Does any get away with just using a phone app or do all you use actual GPS? I guess I'm asking does using an old phone turned into a GPS have the same signal as using an app on your phone?

[mbrick]

I recently bought a Garmin Gpsmap. It's a nice unit but the Garmin topoactive does not have all national forest maps. 

Until I can figure out how to load in the national forest MVUMs it's not very useful. I could of course route myself back out but as it stands now I'm still using a paper map.

I did buy a ram mount and it seems to stay in place well.

A buddy pays for onxy and it has all of the trails we have been on.

Edited April 30, 2022 by mbrick

[kcposty]

Garmin 66 in my backpack tracking my route but primarily there for SOS when out of cell service. Deactivated Samsung S7 in airplane mode on the handlebar running the route using Cotrex, Gaia or Avenza.  Personal cell in a chest pocket ready for photos running Relive ap plus tracking ap.

Edited April 30, 2022 by kcposty

[angstDRZ]

5 hours ago, PhilthyX said:

I use deactivated Android phones which I get for free and are not waterproof/super durable but IMO using them for at least the last 5 years on/off road  have worked perfectly fine and never had an issue with one breaking on my bike.

it took me awhile to figure out how best to use a phone as a GPS and when I finally figured out what a GOOD base topo map was and I could get the Garmin unlocked ones that  worked with the app I used, they have been awesome OFF LINE (no cell service) and help me get unlost a few times.

Why would you take the time to say all of that but not say what apps you have had success with.     There are tons of them out there  and finding one that is offline and not subscription based is exceptionally difficult. 

 

[babyarmholdingapple]

I subscribe to Gaiagps.com and have hundreds of rides documented for my self review.

I also download really detailed maps very easily.  

Iphone or Android and I can do functions for it from my Mac as well 

[tateeskew]

I use Locus Map on a deactivated Kyocera Dura Force 2 running Android 9. Really rugged phone and it's the most powerful GPS/tracking/navigation app I've found.

[knobbytrav]

Avenza maps on my phone....it'll even track you in airplane mode.

[GasItandCrash]

Howdy, I use an obsolete Asus ME-173X Android tablet, on a modified automobile tablet mount, that has GPS, running the MyTrails app from https://mytrails.com.au/.  I'm using that app for no reason other than it was the first one I tried.  The tablet never been knocked off or damaged after multiple crashes.

YMMV

 

Edited April 30, 2022 by GasItandCrash
delete incorrect photo

[GasItandCrash]

Disregard the date/time stamp.  I didn't have the camera set properly

The yellow thing attached to the bars is a compound Lopper used for trail maintenance.

Edited April 30, 2022 by GasItandCrash
Clairification

[The Agitator]

14 hours ago, angstDRZ said:

Why would you take the time to say all of that but not say what apps you have had success with.     There are tons of them out there  and finding one that is offline and not subscription based is exceptionally difficult. 

 

Since someone (at least you), asked Oruxmaps FREE.

I have not checked their site for downloading in a long time but you can google say OruxMaps7.4.22.apk (may be newer versions) and download that either to an android or laptop (transfer to phone) and install.

IMO it is a FULL feature GPS app almost to the point where it can be confusing but it can help to download the manual from their site and have a read through.

Let me know if you try it out and if you have any questions I MIGHT be able to help but I'm no expert ?

[The Agitator]

18 hours ago, Fauss1 said:

Are saying if you had to buy one I'd would be a Garmin GPS rather than buying a phone and making it a GPS? I don't have access to an old phone besides ebay.   

 

Does any get away with just using a phone app or do all you use actual GPS? I guess I'm asking does using an old phone turned into a GPS have the same signal as using an app on your phone?

Ya I've only been using androids and it was a bit of a learning curve at first since I only unusually need the GPS when I'm out of cell service (not activated/air plane mode) and it took me awhile to figure out what an OFF LINE map was.

Otherwise I've seen most of the Garmin models in use and as far as costs go over all, the phones/app/off line topos for free worth it IMO.

Garmin's are IMO going to be more rugged/waterproof than most phones but I haven't had any issues with the phones I use but have not smashed them into rocks or submerged in water. Hence why I mentioned I can a backup when I really need one to get un lost or not run out of gas.

Sorry long post and not sure if I answered your questions?

[SuperHonkycross]

I used to use a GPSMap 76. It was pretty big and bulky so I switched to an eTrex 30x and use the GPSMap on my KLR. I definitely like the smaller eTrex for off-road. 

[Gflo]

I use a Garmen Montana 610 in Garmin’s rugged hardwired cradle, and a RAM mount to attach it to the bike.