Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Smart Phone VS Garmin et al as a GPS tool

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)

- Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/navigation-maps-compass-gps/)

- - Smart Phone VS Garmin et al as a GPS tool (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/navigation-maps-compass-gps/smart-phone-vs-garmin-et-63191)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie (Post 545660)

Half the difficulty is the mass of information and geek speak.

I've been playing with a tracker

https://sites.google.com/site/pooratrek/poorasecure

Still no idea what GPS&M/GRP/GPS is but it seems if you text it a fixed sequence it texts one back. The radio signal is called about 12 different acronyms and TLA's doh

Andy

But no one knows how the washing machine knows when to wash spin and dry and for how long and when to start. Yet we all know that if you turn that knob you get clean clothes back. Forget the lingo. Keep the eyes on the price.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

The washing machine had a picture of a bloke putting clothes in the drum, powder in the tray, taking the clothes out to read the label, putting them back, turning the knob and pushing the button.

The IT version would tell you your FEP needed RMIW until LED and assume you knew WTF that was.

I have no idea what an APN is. I ignored it and it worked anyway, just like the airbag light on the wifes car.

Andy

Hmm. I need to pay more attention to the washing. F'd if I know which program my jocks need to go in. I guess I do prefer unwrinkled, but that low heat though. I'm going to have to do my Google special research on that one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmotten (Post 545733)

Hmm. F'd if I know which program my jocks need to go in. I guess I do prefer unwrinkled, but that low heat though. I'm going to have to do my Google special research on that one.

Last time I used the washing machine she just stood there, took the half burnt roll-up out of her mouth, sucked air in through her teeth while shaking her head and said " I wouldn't do it like that if I was you". :rofl:

Do it wrong often enough and they do it for you :thumbup1:

:helpsmilie:

Andy

I actually have a licence for Sygic but so far I have been using Google Maps offline and the result is incredible. I have Sygic as a back up but so far I haven't used it.

I've been using Copilot on an Android tablet/phone across Europe for years. It just works. It is road orientated.

Stand alone maps, no permanent data connection required, cheap. 100% recommended.

A while back I decided, after pondering on wether or not to buy a Garmin, to go for a weatherproof smartphone instead. Some people at AdvRider had positive experiences with a range of weatherproof smartphones made by Kyocera but here in The Netherlands these are hard to come by so I decided on a Samsung xcover 4. Being a good €150 cheaper than a basic Garmin Zumo (or €400 cheaper if you want a 5-inch Garmin) I gave it a try.

The phone is supposed to be water-, dust- and shockproof and so far it survived driving through rain and tipping the bike over in the dirt. The screen is very clear and bright and riding on sunny days I've had no trouble reading the screen. The screen also has a mode for operating it with gloves on which works to a certain degree. Pushing large on-screen buttons to zoom the map in and out work fine but you really need to take your gloves off for more delicate things like entering an address. The battery drains pretty fast with the screen on full brightness but I solved that using a USB-port on the dash for the charger.

I've been using OsmAnd which has very up to date maps from Open Street Maps and supports loading GPX routes and tracks. On-screen instructions are very clear. I'll be giving it a try with some nice routes next month in Wales after the HUBB UK meeting!

I've mounted it using a RAM finger grip which fits nice and snug. Never regretted not getting a Garmin.

I'm using a Samsung S7 note which is natively waterproof. Mounted it with the ultimate addons case. None of the charging issues that my S4 has which means it was the problem. The USB connector fits well and stays connected in even the toughest terrain.

Sent from my SM-N920W8 using Tapatalk

More water resistant phones on the market

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walkabout (Post 525331)

I've just caught up with the existance of yet another water resistant smart phone, this one coming from Motorola.
UK's Cheapest Moto G (3rd Generation): Where To Buy?

It looks like a great specification at the price (for around the cost of a rear tyre on a sports bike).

Another year and a half goes by and the technology moves along nicely.
Document

I've been using MotoMappers from the AppStore on my iPhone 5 SE, in a waterproof case from Amazon Motorcycle Pro Bike Handlebar Ball Mount Attachment with Hard Waterproof Tough Case for Apple iPhone 5 5s SE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AQ68Z..._k6MZzcrILKc5e

Both are working great, with OSM mapping and the ability to import gpx and plan routes etc using Google maps. The only downside is the lack of POIs such as petrol stations, although I gather that is a work in progress.

Much, much cheaper than a dedicated m/c gps and lifetime map updates included.

Still works OK for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walkabout (Post 536639)

I've used this for street navigation in a few countries of Europe now.
It has found street addresses in a very accurate manner, in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK using either full addresses or postcodes.
From a recent update (which are offered regularly) it also has a basic form of lane guidance for major autobahn type highways – what I found more interesting, and even quite useful, were the depictions of the overhead gantry signs on the German autobahns which automatically appear in the app software in good time while approaching the junctions.
Naturally, voice directions are also available.

The app had something of an apparent glitch around the area of Geneva airport; I was disappointed in this at the time and put it down to something or other to do with the density of roads in that area, or the complex international borders – later, when fiddling with the app settings I found that I had it set for a walking mode at about 4 miles per hour (which previously I did not realise existed), so I guess that this is what caused the apparent glitch. In this mode it could use all forms of footpaths as part of the routing algorithm, such as pedestrianised precincts.
It certainly hasn't misbehaved since then and it is now set in a vehicle-use mode.

This led me to look more at the settings of the app, having ignored this aspect for some time.
It's impressively detailed with various modes that can be chosen and the parameters for each mode can be preset in great detail (such as the average speed, types of roads to be used – tolled roads, ferries etc etc).
I can't find a thing this app can't do actually.
The display can also be modified and personalised to suit most things that folk may wish to view – number of satellites in use, time to destination, distance to destination, all that kind of thing.
A compass heading can also be placed at the top of the screen.

I think it also has a route tracking capability but I haven't looked into that aspect, having no specific use for suchlike.

About 18 months later and I am still using this mapping/navigation app with the "free" OSM maps (they still offer online purchase of TomTom mapping).
No reason to change, it does what I want it to do.

It does track routes used and save them into GPX or NEMA formatted filing.
It can also import GPX files from elsewhere but I haven't explored that capability much - just the importing process that is explained in their online handbook -
https://www.mapfactor.com/manuals/ma.../Navigator.pdf

ps
Hardware.
Reading elsewhere, it seems that IPhones are prone to overheating when used for navigation - something to do with "the CPU working intensively".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walkabout (Post 512269)

So, I've put my money on the counter and bought the AGM Stone phone shown in the link above (for just less than £100 via auction on UK ebay).

It's early days but first impressions are excellent; the spec in the link above gives a load of detail, including some statements that I don't fully understand.
No matter, this thing is as fast as it can be - switch it on and the damn thing just works; maps come up as fast as I can press the buttons.

Incidentally, behind the back cover shown in the linked information (which is screwed into place) there is an additional cover with a rubber seal which protects the innards from H2O, dust etc.
I don't aim to deliberately test it up to the IP67 specification but it appears well capable of resisting rain water.

Some 2 1/2 years later and I remain very impressed with the performance of this hardware.
It has never let me down in running as a GPS/mapping system for my type of usage.

At the time of purchase I did wonder about buying what amounts to an unknown brand - not that I am a big follower of brands - but it turns out to be a company that is still in production with a range of mob phones:-
This one is about nearest to the specification that I bought - A8 SE (2GB RAM) | AGM Mobile
As ever, the technology has moved along in quality and quantity with increased specifications all round for not a lot more in the asking price (it even has dual SIM now). About the only thing that is the same as my model is the screen size.

And -
"The software of AGM A8 SE has been specially optimized for stable GPS and Glonass performance, which makes you never lose your way outdoors" according to their marketing blurb.

More from their blurb page:-
"AGM owns patents on smartphone rugged/waterproof design, and AGM models can meet IP68/MIL-STD-810 standard"
http://www.agmmobile.com/en/page/about

How to put it all together on a bike

There's a good description about how to set up a smart phone - I use a chinese made copy of the same X grip on one of my bikes.
https://www.transeurotrail.org/forum...php?f=17&t=418

Having joined this conversation very late in the game, I can only share my experience using a smartphone as a GPS instead of a dedicated GPS. I used my iPhone 5 to navigate through cities in Mexico to find hostels and on several occasions the phone overheated and shut down. Running the software often heats phones up, and under the blaring Mexican sun, it only made it worse.

A few times I was sitting on the side of the road after a long day of travel in some foreign city, fully kitted in my riding gear, sweating like crazy, tired from a long day's ride, simply waiting for my phone to cool down long enough to show me how to get to my hostel for night. Not again, no thank you.