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Old 02-14-2018, 12:51 PM   #1
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Best GPS

There may be a thread on this subject but I can't find it. In 10 years I've gone through 3 hand held GPS systems as they become obsolete. I want a large screen but not as big as laptop. The system needs to be able to load tracks and waypoints from soft ware. It needs to work offline. It does not need to be hand held.
I'm thinking a tablet with a good GPX app would be best.
All suggestions appreciated.
Chris

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Old 02-14-2018, 01:23 PM   #2
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There are two parts to the equation, the hardware and the user interface.

As for h/w, I love using my small tablet (Nexus 7, 2nd edition). Small enough to carry somewhat comfortably in a pocket, but larger than a phone screen (at least for now). My middle aged eyes do wish for a larger screen sometimes. I have a RAM Mount tablet holder mounted in three of my vehicles, and just move the tablet. One note, some of the cheaper tablets do not have their own GPS systems, and instead rely on cell phone tower triangulation. Won't do you any good if you travel where there are no cell signals.

As for the User Interface, I've been using BackCountry Navigator, though they are close to releasing their next product, BackCountry Navigator XE, funded via KickStarter. A very powerful GPS/mapping system, but somewhat challenging to learn how to use to its fullest extent.

At least for paved road driving thought, there's a lot to be said for the dedicated windshield mounted systems.


Herb

BackCountry Navigator

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...-on-ios-and-an
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Old 02-14-2018, 06:21 PM   #3
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I too use a tablet these days. I don't offroad much lately or need a powerful GPS app but I fool around with them anyway because I like them. I have Backcountry Nav and have been meaning to fool around with it.

I use, as a main vehicle GPS, a Samsung Galaxy tablet. Not sure which one, one or two years old. It's much better IMO than the iPad it replaced. Faster, more storage, less buggy, etc. Unfortunately I have to hotspot to use it live or cache maps.
For it I prefer OSMAND, an Open Street Map app that is ok, and then the other regular players, Google Maps, Waze and a few trucking apps which show lots of highway travel extras.

I also carry an iPhone and really like PocketEarth. i use it mainly for hiking. It is a free app and pretty dang good.

I used to use Gaia GPS and it is pretty powerful. It's available on both platforms.

A hiking buddy of mine swears by MotionX GPS.

Most of the better GPS apps I've seen are $50 or $100 for the full use app but include lifetime updates so that solves your obsolete problem.

I see no reason to ever buy a regular GPS only when a tablet can do so much more.
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Old 02-15-2018, 05:17 PM   #4
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Excellent info guys.
1. Tablet with GPS. Nexus Or Samsung. I had Surface 3 for awhile...just crap!
2. A good up to date GPS app that I should expect to pay for in order to get future updates.
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Old 02-17-2018, 09:37 PM   #5
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I currently have a Garmin Montana but am likely done with handheld GPS units. I've played with the Gaia GPS app and like it so I will likely be using it along with a tablet. Not sure if I'll use my old iPad or get a new Android based tablet. I'll just need to make sure to download the appropriate maps to the tablet before I take off on a trip.

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Old 02-18-2018, 08:51 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rltilley View Post
I currently have a Garmin Montana but am likely done with handheld GPS units. I've played with the Gaia GPS app and like it so I will likely be using it along with a tablet. Not sure if I'll use my old iPad or get a new Android based tablet. I'll just need to make sure to download the appropriate maps to the tablet before I take off on a trip.

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Which is exactly why I'm sticking with my Montana and Delorme units. All too often I start out to explore area X but instead, for one reason or another, end up several hundred miles away in area Y. The Delorme has the whole US topo map on it, and the Montana has several different map sets of every state west of the Mississippi, which is all I need. Simple and reliable; when I get to where I want to explore I can pull the GPS units out of the van and put them on the handlebars of the dirt bike or quad - or stick one of them in my backpack and go hiking. Where I live it would take hours to download a map and most of the places I travel to don't have cell service...which is why I pack a satellite phone.
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