[pct-l] Best iphone gps app

Sat Mar 12 14:21:26 CST 2011

Thanks for all of the advice.  Downloaded Topo with the halfmile wayponts
and it looks  awesome!  Just out of curiosity, are there waypoints available
for water sources and/or good camping spots?

Thanks again everyone,

Jalan Jalan
On Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 4:14 PM, Bill Burge <bill at burge.com> wrote:

>
> 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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