Hand held GPS

chris954

chris954

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does anybody use a hand held GPS for navigating out In the countryside and if so are they worth the money, are they useful, reliable and which one do you use? I’ve been considering getting one for hill walking in the peak district but firstly theres that nagging doubt asking if I really need one and secondly I would prefer to perfect my map/compass skills but there are times when its dark or the clouds drop when you just cant see far enough to get a map and compass bearing.
 
If you have a smartphone and want to try GPS before splashing out too much cash, try the Viewranger app.
It uses open source mapping for free which isnt as good as O.S. mapping IMO or you can buy O.S. map tiles in 50k or 25k and also ALL UK national parks in 50k for £10.
I have the Sat nav active 10 which I find excellent but has been superceded by the active 12 and about £399 with full UK 50k mapping.
Downside is the maps aren't cheap to buy unless you wait for a sale on the satmap website or buy second hand.
25k maps are more useful when walking.
 
I use a cheap Garmin etrex that I bought second hand from TP
It works very well can input ordnance survey coordinates as well as saving locations
Very handy for finding exact locations or saving somewhere that you have found
Have been using it for years now at nature reserves
I have tried using my mobile phone but found the etrex was better
 
Agree with Paul - Viewranger is good; definitely worth a try.

Another app which is really good is OS locate. It is from the OS and also free. It should be used in conjunction with a map and compass and it, via GPS, gives you your current six figure grid reference. At the least it is a good way of confirming your position and it could be a life saver.

Registering your mobile for EmergencySMS could be useful too - http://www.emergencysms.org.uk/about_emergencysms.php

Dave
 
Another here using ViewRanger and highly recommend it.
It is also useful if I need to geotag an image I have taken. Just take a phone replica image via the Viewranger app.
 
I have seen some really nice kit in places like Cotswolds but just way to pricey for such a niche item.

with large screen smart phones being so cheep now it is hard to justify.
you can get the OS stuff just as well.
 
Mr Bump said:
I have seen some really nice kit in places like Cotswolds but just way to pricey for such a niche item.

with large screen smart phones being so cheep now it is hard to justify.
you can get the OS stuff just as well.
Click to expand...
The problem with using a phone is that if you cant get a signal, the gps doesn’t work, well it doesn’t on mine anyway.
 
chris954 said:
The problem with using a phone is that if you cant get a signal, the gps doesn’t work, well it doesn’t on mine anyway.
Click to expand...

it should do GPS is independent from phone signal, odd one that.
I used to use an old phone as a GPS which didn't even have a sim in it for my motorbike
 
chris954 said:
Thats the one I was looking at but was a little bit concerned that the 1:50000 maps wouldnt be detailed enough.
Click to expand...


You can get better maps on line, I'll dig a link out tonight if I can find it still. The ones on mine were free from a Scotish website.
 
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chris954 said:
The problem with using a phone is that if you cant get a signal, the gps doesn’t work, well it doesn’t on mine anyway.
Click to expand...

What phone have you got?
Pretty much all phones have a separate GPS aerial so phone signal is not needed.
Viewranger has 1:25,000 maps and you only need to download the map tiles you need, so
no expensive outlay.
 
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wontolla said:
What phone have you got?
Pretty much all phones have a separate GPS aerial so phone signal is not needed.
Viewranger has 1:25,000 maps and you only need to download the map tiles you need, so
no expensive outlay.
Click to expand...

This.

Just tried mine (Nokia 625 IIRC) with its SIM card removed and the GPS works just fine.
 
wontolla said:
What phone have you got?
Pretty much all phones have a separate GPS aerial so phone signal is not needed.
Viewranger has 1:25,000 maps and you only need to download the map tiles you need, so
no expensive outlay.
Click to expand...

Iphone SE.
 
Right, the SE is notorious for its inaccurate GPS. put your phone in aircraft mode and turn GPS on.
Use an app like GPS TESTER and see how it performs. You should get accuracy well within 10 meters
outside with clear sky.
 
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If you get a decent standalone Garmin type GPS device you can download contour maps from here

http://www.smc.org.uk/downloads/contour-maps

Add them to your GPS device and it makes a world of difference. Buying map sets can work out hugely expensive unless you can get them of fleabay second hand without getting your fingers burnt
 
I use a Satmap Active 10 and I would not be without it. There are newer models now, the Active 12 and 20, very effective when out and about on the hills.

As the mapping is on SD cards, there is no issue with lack of mobile phone signal.

The Satmap devices are not cheap but they work very well, better than a phone based solution in my experience. When my 10 packs up I will get a 10 or 20, depending on funds.

Chris
 
You can get all manner of wonderful devices these days, but like you I like to use a map and compass. I do, however, carry a cheap and simple Garmin eTrex for accurate positioning on the likes of Kinder Scout.
It's very re-assuring to have.
 
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chris954 said:
The problem with using a phone is that if you cant get a signal, the gps doesn’t work, well it doesn’t on mine anyway.
Click to expand...

One thing to watch with Smart Phone GPS is that it is often nowhere near as accurate as a dedicated device.

I've had an iPhone in the past tell me I was 100m off in a field. You can look up the accuracy specs with a bit of googling.
 
neil_g said:
One thing to watch with Smart Phone GPS is that it is often nowhere near as accurate as a dedicated device.

I've had an iPhone in the past tell me I was 100m off in a field. You can look up the accuracy specs with a bit of googling.
Click to expand...
Yes this is what I found in practice the mobile phone gps wasn't accurate enough for what I was doing that's when it worked at all and the battery wasn't drained
A garmin extrex basic model is so cheap that it's not worth messing around with anything else
 
Well I pulled the plug yesterday snd bought a Garmin GPSMAP 64s and as is usually the case with everything I buy these days had to take it back as the memory card with the GB maps on it was faulty. All sorted now though, I just need to download the instructions and figure it out.
 
I still use my old faithful Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx loaded with TOPO maps bought in 2005. It was a lot of money at the time but is still going strong and gets well used. I use it for walking and geocaching.
If the newer models are as good (or better) then you can't go wrong.
 
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