[pct-l] smartphone as GPS

[dsaufley]

Dunno, and couldn't quote the guy precisely, but that's the gist of what he
said.  No doubt there's an engineer/technical person out there that can make
better sense of it.  Techno-peasant that I am, I'm simply beguiled with the
thing, and am surprised every day at what it can do.   If one of the
whiz-kids out there can show me how to get GPS capabilities on the PCT
without a tower signal, I'd be interested in learning.

 

L-Rod

 

From: giniajim [mailto:jplynch at crosslink.net] 
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 3:43 PM
To: dsaufley at sprynet.com; 'Eugene Leafty'; Pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] smartphone as GPS

 

Strange.  I've noticed that when I put my Droid in Airplane Mode that
battery use goes way down.  And I don't know what would draw power when its
hard off (holding the off button down for a few seconds).  

----- Original Message ----- 

From: dsaufley <mailto:dsaufley at sprynet.com>  

To: 'Eugene Leafty' <mailto:atetuna at hotmail.com>  ; Pct-l at backcountry.net 

Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 6:29 PM

Subject: Re: [pct-l] smartphone as GPS

 

I have a Droid 2 (II?), and the salesman warned me about the battery life
issue if I wasn't going to be able to recharge it daily. He instructed me to
actually REMOVE the battery to conserve power -- the device will exhaust the
battery as it searches for a signal even in the off/powered-down position.
I only put the battery in and turned the device on about once a day where I
thought I could get a signal, and then only used a few features, usually
quite briefly. I brought a charged second battery, and between the two
batteries I was okay for over a week without power outlets. Signal strength
and wireless access is a whole other animal; already plenty in the archives
on which network has the best access where. Works great down here in the
flatlands, but I wouldn't stake my life on it out there.

I did not use the Droid for a GPS, so can't comment on that.  I'm still
trying to master map and compass/orienteering, and need all the practice I
can get. I also don't think I want to hear that lady's voice saying "Turn
left at the next intersection," which always sounds to me like "Turn left at
the next trail intersection [you idiot]." 

L-Rod 

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Eugene Leafty
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 2:13 PM
To: Pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] smartphone as GPS

I bet we could definitively settle the cellphone-gps vs real-gps concerns at
kickoff.  I'm sure there will be more than a few people with some type of
gps on their smartphones.  Add cellular and gps jammers to the mix and we
should have a pretty good idea of what really works and how.

I know I'd love to have one electronic device that replaces my cell phone
and gps, but there's no way I'm going to risk spending $500 on a smartphone
unless I know for 100% that it does gps well.  I really don't care much for
the other smartphone features anyway.

Sir Mix-a-lot

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