[pct-l] Best iphone gps app

Fri Mar 11 18:14:50 CST 2011

The use of the cell towers can get you an initial fix faster than the GPS chip on the iPhone, but then the GPS chip uses the standard satellite signals to refine that location.

The Halfmile waypoints are the main files you need.  The maps for something like GaiaGPS or TopoMaps have to be downloaded from the topo map servers that their software supports.  GaiaGPS has all the tracking and photo marking and timing and stuff that isn't a lot of use on the Trail.

I second the recommendations of GaiaGPS for mapped locations and TopoMaps, I have both and use them for their different purposes.  BasicGPS is an app that tells you your current location in many different ways that might apply to many different kinds of maps.

Another to look at is Accuterra Unlimited.  The maps are not as good, but they make it REAL easy to get the maps for the trail.  Still, I reach for TopoMaps before I open Accuterra.

(I just now see that the makers of GaiaGPS have offered the map loading, reading and waypoint management functions of GaiaGPS, without all the tracking stuff, as a free app called Offline Topo Maps (catchy name Andrew!  ;-) and I'll be grabbing that right now to try out.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/offline-topo-maps/id376535806?mt=8 

AccuTerra Unlimited
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/accuterra-unlimited-maps-gps/id355787609?mt=8

If I had to pick one app (besides the Basic GPS app Halfmile mentions) I'd probably go with TopoMaps.  (It might be Offline Topo Maps, if there is an easy way to enumerate maps to download.) Then you have to do the work of finding the right maps to download.  I'd probably build the lists and download them in sections, not the entire trail.  The app will get very slow and cumbersome with the entire trail loaded.

Bottom line, when I do the trail, I'll probably be carrying a Garmin...  Apple would have to wonders on the battery front to change my mind.

BillB

On Mar 11, 2011, at 3:41 PM, Will M wrote:

> So what files do I need to download from halfmile's site? There are
> waypoints, tracks, topo files , etc..not sure which I need though I did
> download topo from the app store.
> 
> Will
> 
> On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 2:57 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Halfmile is quick!
>> 
>> I've settled on GaiaGPS on my iPhone. It lets you download offline map data
>> and it will import all of halfmile's waypoints. I'm really liking it. I have
>> Topo Map too. Halfmile is right, it's nice. I don't like that it doesn't
>> show the trail on many of the topos. Since I have both, I'll probably use
>> both. I'm just not sure I'll download the hi res maps in Topo Maps.
>> 
>> As he said, Backcountry Navigator is an Android app, so you can't get it on
>> the iPhone.
>> 
>> One more thing Will, you were misinformed about the iPhone's GPS needing a
>> cell tower. It uses satellites just like any other good GPS. It has an
>> advantage over the GPS only devices, in that it CAN use the cell towers to
>> help fix your location. They aren't needed though. I've compared it with my
>> Garmin and DeLorme GPS's, and the iPhone appears to be about the same
>> accuracy. It's usually within 20 ft. Good enough for me. I'm either right
>> where I'm standing, or about 10 feet to either side of myself LOL
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 3:38 PM, Halfmile <list at lon.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> My favorite iPhone GPS apps are:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/basic-gps-now-utm-mgrs-email/id293699773?mt=8
>>> 
>>> http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/topo-maps/id306014271?mt=8
>>> 
>>> Basic GPS has nothing to load, but you will need paper maps with UTM
>>> grids printed on them. If your unfamiliar with UTM see this:
>>> http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/quickUTM.html
>>> 
>>> Topo Maps allows downloading of USGS topo maps and importing of
>>> waypoints for offline viewing. You will want to pre-load data when you
>>> have a WiFi connection.
>>> 
>>> -Halfmile
>>> www.pctmap.net
>>> 
>>> ps - Backcounty navigator is good too, but it's an Android App.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 2:19 PM, Will M <jalan04 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I'm looking to try out the iphone gps.  I'm told that without maps
>>> stored on
>>>> the iphhone itself, the gps function will not really work without a
>>> signal
>>>> from a cell tower.
>>>> 
>>>> With that in mind, can someone recommend a good app or software that
>>> they
>>>> would recommend for the iphone.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks
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