GPS / Google maps, etc

bigmikeystylez

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So what does everyone use to keep track of where the heck they are while quadding/sledding etc on the trails......you know.....so you can find your way back to your truck/trailer before dark/getting lost haha

i was planning on just using google maps or some kind of app on my phone..
 

Teth-Air

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Garmin Rino to find other riders but its too small of display for good gps use. Maps3D is the best app. for smart phone. Just box off your riding area while having wifi or cell data and download the map. Now you can save it and turn off data. Tracking is good, all types of map styles and can download caribou areas too. Can't go wrong and now I bought a waterproof handlebar mount for the Iphone. Have a USB plug going on the sled too for emergency charging. Make sure you tether your electronics too as lost one phone and a couple of buddies have lost their garmins.
 

X-it

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For your phone, laptop or tablet the best one I have found so far is Memory Maps then google earth for 3 d satellite. Car navigation google maps. But there are at least 200 mapping apps to try, I have maybe only tried 10.
 

Zrock

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i don't trust phone or phone apps for location. One of our members uses their phone to track where we have been. Several times it has shown us on the wrong trail compared to the gps. Unit was out by about a km..
 

whoDEANie

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I've always felt more comfortable carrying a rugged, waterproof GPS. I've been using the Garmin 60 series GPS's for a number of years now and really like them. My only complaint, other than price, is that the screen is a tad too small side for my aging eyes. I haven't putzed around much with the mobile apps, but I don't really care to take my $1000 phone out riding with me - even with a waterproof case, I don't feel it would be rugged enough. Don't know if it's possible with the mobile apps, but I also like to clean up and catalog all my trips using an app like Garmin Base Camp.
 

nast70

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The Backroads SD card is available at Cabela's, GPS City in Calgary (mail order obviously, but I think its the best price there), and probably a bunch of other places that would carry GPS units. I believe you order from Backroads direct as well.
I got mine with my GPS in a package deal at the sportsman show a few years ago. Saved $150.00 if bought separate.
Further to the original question, I also have Backroads on my phone. There is a bunch of different stuff you can subscribe too to add to the experience. I also use ViewRanger on my phone. A lot simpler and you can see others in your party, when that feature works. But for basic track management and waypoint marking, its very good.
 
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X-it

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I have owned 3 garmins and 3 Magellan gps's, still own one of each. Memory Maps on any device is never out, they have been making this app since the 90's. You can buy the dvd from map town of any province then transfer it to an sd card then buy the right licensing agreement and it is better than "any" gps ever could be, or download offline areas online without the dvd. It is complicated for some people to install and get working. I have not wreaked my tablet yet, on my sled or sxs. But I have my phone for backup.
 

HOTLAP

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I use a free app called Wikiloc on my phone, does a great job of logging all your travels GPS style then gives you a map of your travels plus average speed, distance traveled, a chart with elevation and overall time, you can also take pictures as you go and it stores those on the map too.
One thing I really like is everytime you save a trail it uploads it to Google Earth which is really cool as other people can down load the trail and you can download other peoples trails, there are millions Wikiloc trails all over the world on Google Earth.
If you want to check it out on Google Earth just open Google Earth and on the left side menu click the grey arrow to expand the heading "gallery" then scroll down and click the Wikiloc check box, suddenly you will see all the saved trails available by type of trail (hiking, quad, snowmobile, auto etc), this is really awesome if your going somewhere you have never been before and just want an idea of trails in the area. Just click on the icon and click on "display track on map" and it will zoom in with the track overlaid on the Google Earth map.
And no you do not have to have cell coverage to use it which is handy.
 

whoDEANie

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...Just click on the icon and click on "display track on map" and it will zoom in with the track overlaid on the Google Earth map.
And no you do not have to have cell coverage to use it which is handy.

I love doing that with Base Camp for some of our higher elevation rides. Then you can look at your track in 3D from any angle you like. It's been more of a novelty but has come in hand a couple times for planning the next trip to that area.
 

X-it

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I just remembered I am a member for Wikiloc to, just never really expanded it much. In some areas google earths 3d is so clear you can see every tree limb and spot the next opening and line... a must for tree riders.
 

j335

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WikiLoc is my favourite too, combined with my waterproof iPhone case & backup charger it’s a great setup.
The ability to use google maps with my tracks overlayed is the ultimate, hands down better than my rino.
 

the_real_wild1

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Garmin Montana 600 series. Best I have used and I have had a lot of gps's and phone apps during the last 20 years of using them.
 

bigmikeystylez

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this may be a dumb q....but ive never owned a gps unit. Do i have to pay for data or something like that when using one?
 

Grinder

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X-it

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No there is no data for a gps, but if you want better maps it is expensive between 80-200 dollars depending on what you want and if you want satellite for the gps, it usually cost 30-35 a year to download that depending weather you buy garmin or Magellan. And there is no data needed either for a phone, in offline maps. A 7 inch Samsung tablet is 89 bucks a dell right now.
 
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