ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Dec 22, 2018 12:09:03 GMT -8
A lot of tech info for an OP with a preamble that they are a Luddite.
Battery management with phones is an issue. Consider an external battery charging pack if you go the phone/tablet route.
If you are going to carry a phone you may as well at least have a prepaid with minutes on it. Your church may be willing to transfer the existing service to your smart phone providing it is compatible with the carrier and their plan.
If you like what a computer brought to your life a smartphone might suit you. If you put up with computers because you have to a smartphone may seem a curse.
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swiftdream
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the Great Southwest Unbound
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Post by swiftdream on Dec 22, 2018 13:07:58 GMT -8
This is all extremely helpful, thank you all so much. For now, I think I've been talked out of getting an iphone, which is a huge relief to me. As some have suggested, I may look into a small tablet in the future. Thanks again. I started with an iPad mini 2 and that is what got me interested in this kind of photography. The iPhone I have is much better and has much more capability but that mini is not too bad. Both can do photography on auto too so no elaborate workflow like I related to HSF. The cool thing is the images from he phone seamlessly show up on the iPad for processing. Same with any books and many other things. If you do go the tablet route, with iPads, you will need to get the cellular version if you want gps. The WiFi version does not come with a gps chipset. Reading is super nice on a tablet.
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Post by k9education on Dec 22, 2018 23:23:46 GMT -8
My old Garmin 60CSx can hold a GPS signal pretty much anywhere and will hold a charge for at least half a day. That said, ever since I got my iPhone I rarely carry it. I'm a big fan of Gaia and especially like the ability to use the old USGS overlays. I use them to check out old homesites, cemeteries, etc. or to make my own loops using the old trails that virtually no one travels (no one would find them without a GPS or prior knowledge). The phone's GPS tracking isn't nearly as accurate as the Garmin and will sometimes show me floating quite a ways off my actual location, but it's never reached a point where it's so far off that I don't know where I am. If I am going on an extended trip, I carry an external battery pack as well that will give me 2-3 full charges on my phone.
As for the phone's camera, I rarely use it outside my own home. I typically carry a Canon SL1 or sometimes a Canon G7X if I really just want something small and light. Phone pics are fine for social media and such, but I prefer something that at least offers me the possibility of being worthy of print for the wall.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 23, 2018 9:14:28 GMT -8
This is all extremely helpful, thank you all so much. For now, I think I've been talked out of getting an iphone, which is a huge relief to me. As some have suggested, I may look into a small tablet in the future. Thanks again. I started with an iPad mini 2 and that is what got me interested in this kind of photography. The iPhone I have is much better and has much more capability but that mini is not too bad. Both can do photography on auto too so no elaborate workflow like I related to HSF. The cool thing is the images from he phone seamlessly show up on the iPad for processing. Same with any books and many other things. If you do go the tablet route, with iPads, you will need to get the cellular version if you want gps. The WiFi version does not come with a gps chipset. Reading is super nice on a tablet. Though if the OP isn’t in a hurry the word is the iPad mini is due for a 2019 upgrade. Either gps might be in the cellular (though none of the current models do w/o cellular)OR the replaced iPad mini WiFi+ cellular should go down in price.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Dec 23, 2018 9:33:26 GMT -8
I carry an iPhone provided by my company and an InReach Explorer.
The iPhone battery lasts ~5 days using the camera and navigation apps in airplane mode (no transmitting or receiving). I communicate with people by texting on my phone Bluetooth connected to the InReach. I use the Garmin Earthmate mapping app and usually another for pre-loaded gps tracks. All this is really simple and I don't spend time futzing with it. The phone's capabilities made it not worth carrying a separate gps and camera. I was provided a Samsung phone before this and I liked the camera and display better.
Most of the millennial hikers I know and watch on YouTube carry a smartphone and a battery pack. They do lots of texting, facebooking, instagramming, youtubing, and netflixing anytime they have a cell signal. Their parents are paying ~$75/month for the phone and service.
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swiftdream
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the Great Southwest Unbound
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Post by swiftdream on Dec 23, 2018 10:29:48 GMT -8
My old Garmin 60CSx can hold a GPS signal pretty much anywhere and will hold a charge for at least half a day. That said, ever since I got my iPhone I rarely carry it. I'm a big fan of Gaia and especially like the ability to use the old USGS overlays. I use them to check out old homesites, cemeteries, etc. or to make my own loops using the old trails that virtually no one travels (no one would find them without a GPS or prior knowledge). The phone's GPS tracking isn't nearly as accurate as the Garmin and will sometimes show me floating quite a ways off my actual location, but it's never reached a point where it's so far off that I don't know where I am. If I am going on an extended trip, I carry an external battery pack as well that will give me 2-3 full charges on my phone. What I’ve observed with the iPhone gps tracks is it puts down points every so often, kind of far apart, and connects those dots to make the track so it does look odd. So if I’m curving around it will cut across a short area where I did not walk. But if I simply make a waypoint then that will be dead on accurate. I can see that with the satellite overly that I downloaded. Also when I compare the distance traveled it is accurate to the hundredth of a mile with girlfriend’s Garmin, at least that was the case a couple days ago for our hike. She has her Garmin set to take a fix every second if I recall. I started with an iPad mini 2 and that is what got me interested in this kind of photography. The iPhone I have is much better and has much more capability but that mini is not too bad. Both can do photography on auto too so no elaborate workflow like I related to HSF. The cool thing is the images from he phone seamlessly show up on the iPad for processing. Same with any books and many other things. If you do go the tablet route, with iPads, you will need to get the cellular version if you want gps. The WiFi version does not come with a gps chipset. Reading is super nice on a tablet. Though if the OP isn’t in a hurry the word is the iPad mini is due for a 2019 upgrade. Either gps might be in the cellular (though none of the current models do w/o cellular)OR the replaced iPad mini WiFi+ cellular should go down in price. Very true. There have been some great sales lately too and depending on ones needs are very enticing. I recently got a brand new 2018 iPad at a deep discount. My old mini has been regulated to controlling the music. The new model is my main computer. I originally bought the mini at a steep discount too.same with the phone, waited and waited and jumped when the deals came on.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Dec 23, 2018 18:26:31 GMT -8
Most of the millennial hikers I know and watch on YouTube carry a smartphone and a battery pack. They do lots of texting, facebooking, instagramming, youtubing, and netflixing anytime they have a cell signal. Their parents are paying ~$100/month for the phone and service. You can queue up txt's and emails when there is no signal then they will send when connected. Many movies on Netflix can be downloaded when you have a signal then watched when there is little or no signal. I pay Verizon $75/month to Verizon for unlimited talk, text and data.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Dec 24, 2018 6:53:53 GMT -8
I pay Verizon $75/month to Verizon for unlimited talk, text and data. This is right. I lost track of how many millennials' phones I'm paying for. Verizon may be the most expensive carrier, but the best choice where I live.
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Post by trinity on Jul 28, 2022 13:30:30 GMT -8
Reviving this old thread, because I finally made the decision to purchase an iphone. Since I only plan to use it while hiking/backpacking, and won't be purchasing a phone plan, I got an SE, which seemed like a reasonably priced but capable device. I plan to use it for navigation and plant/animal identification. I have downloaded the premium Gaia app, Seek, Merlin Bird ID, and Hiking Project. Any other good navigation/natural history apps I should consider? It's a brave new world for me....
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kayman
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Post by kayman on Jul 28, 2022 14:57:43 GMT -8
I like Sky Guide and Peak Finder
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 28, 2022 22:25:45 GMT -8
Be sure to download your region for those apps like PeakFinder. Otherwise you need WiFi…
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Post by oldbill on Jul 29, 2022 3:04:40 GMT -8
I've had good success with free Avenza using with downloaded copies of CalTopo maps for off trail routes in the Winds.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Jul 29, 2022 5:40:06 GMT -8
I've had good success with free Avenza using with downloaded copies of CalTopo maps for off trail routes in the Winds. +1 for this. I primarily use Avenza and CalTopo. Avenza mostly on the trail and Caltopo mostly at home but both work the other way around. You just have to make sure you have downloaded what you need before you leave your WiFi.
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swiftdream
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Post by swiftdream on Jul 29, 2022 5:44:57 GMT -8
I did find Gaia to be good but now using the free version of Avenza and just buy the maps I want. There are some super excellent maps designed for hiking. They also offer all the USGS maps for free. It’s easy to carry plenty of maps that cover your immediate area in detail and all of your outlying area for navigational reference. This came in very handy a few weeks ago when we crossed a bone dry canyon and it flashed shortly thereafter cutting us off from the route back home. We got out of the mountains via a different route and found a ride way down to a bridge to cross the roaring, roller coaster, muddy, white capped waters. Years ago eight people were killed when a nearby creek flashed. It took searchers five days to recover them all. A good coverage of maps are valuable on many levels.
WeatherMate is a very good weather app with enhanced radar/satellite views and windstreams, tons of other info too and it doesn’t use too much cellular data if you just need a quick peek. Good to see what might be coming at you out there in times of inclement weather.
The Kindle app is good for plant reference books. I’ve got a good collection there.
The camera app is what I use the most. iPhones take sufficiently good imagery to do just about anything I want.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Jul 29, 2022 5:59:28 GMT -8
They also offer all the USGS maps for free. At least in my area they want $2 for some of the topos. If it is your navigation device and you are going to do things like Kindle you may have to consider a backup battery pack. Kindle is great. I am looking forward to getting back on the trail to finish balzaccom's first book. I've been saving it for trail reading.
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