[Poodle Head Mikey]

I would like to have a cell phone which has integral GPS - accesses satellites. And which will work it's GPS function without cell phone towers or wifi. I want to use it primarily while walking.

Is there such a thing?

A handheld GPS has a Tiny screen. Which I am not interested in squinting at. Whereas cell phones have bigger screens - making them much more friendly to me.

I have a GPS dongle for my iPad, although so far I only have a marine charting / navigation app that uses it. I can see the iPad screen fine - but I don't want to carry it around with me on vacation. But a cell phone can just be in a holster type thing.

So electronic and gadget whiz-kids people - is there anything like I am describing available?

 

[aircooled53]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/free-gps/id335392176?mt=8 for iPad
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpsmapper/ for cell

 

[Poodle Head Mikey]

That phone program seems to provide the ability to know where a particular phone is at the moment. I want a GPS with mapping function - which does not reply on cell phone towers or wifi - but rather accesses the actual GPS satellites directly.

Maybe I was unclear before - what I want is a substitute for reading and re-reading a paper map when traveling by foot in an unknown-to-me city.

PHM
-----------

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/free-gps/id335392176?mt=8 for iPad
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpsmapper/ for cell

 

[Chasespeed]

Droid Mini-Ultra- and Maxx have stand-alone via satellite.

Most, if not all Android devices do. All the ones I had did... One of the things I dislike about the iPhone.

However, use a droid out of signal, will require an app that preloads maps. There are ones for topographic maps, etc.

Chase

Edit, as an afterthought... GPS in a city can be tough sometimes... Depends on how much of the sky is blocked...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Poodle Head Mikey]

The last time I was in Paris I used a paper map to get around the areas that I am not familiar with. I found it a PITA to have to constantly refer to it. And I don't like to do anything which makes me look like a tourist.

This time I would like to use a GPS but the handheld ones all have little tiny screens - which puts me almost back where I started from: a PITA navigation method.

The map function on my iPhones works well - but my phone company charges me HUGE rates when in Europe. So my thought was to buy some kind of large-screen phone which has genuine GPS and then never bother with a wifi or cell service plan. And even Parisians are routinely staring at their cell phones. <g>

PHM
----------

Droid Mini-Ultra- and Maxx have stand-alone via satellite.

Most, if not all Android devices do. All the ones I had did... One of the things I dislike about the iPhone.

However, use a droid out of signal, will require an app that preloads maps. There are ones for topographic maps, etc.

Chase

Edit, as an afterthought... GPS in a city can be tough sometimes... Depends on how much of the sky is blocked...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Moonrunner]

Android-based phone. You can install a package with offline maps. I personally use OsmAnd which uses Open Street Maps. I got ON/QC/NY/MI and a few European/South American countries. Sometimes the data-set is missing some house numbers but it can usually get you within 100yd range of the address you're looking for. No Internet/mobile connection needed, though it helps get a faster initial fix if you install "GPS Status" and download the A-GPS data.

 

[ammoniadog]

I'm surprised to hear that most Ipads and Ipods don't have built in GPS. I thought pretty much all smart phone type devices did.

Anyways, If you want to go the Android route for cheap, go to walmart and look at their "pay as you go" cell phones. As mentioned, almost all android phones have gps in them that will work with out cell service if you want it to. Here's a link to the phone that I got a couple of months ago...http://www.walmart.com/ip/Straight-Talk-LG-L34C-Optimus-Fuel-Android-Smartphone/36202741

I never activated it, so I don't use it as a cell phone. I velcroed it to the dash in the work van and use it mostly for the gps function (My actual cell phone is the dumb flip phone that my boss pays for). I also occasionally play games or use it to check out the internet if I'm near a free wifi signal. It doesn't have much memory, so you can't load very much stuff on it, but for $30 it works way better than it ought to. It does have the capability to use a micro sd card to get a little more storage room if you need it.

After you get the phone working with the internet, you need to sign into "google play" to find some apps. The free gps app that I use that seems to work pretty good is called "Here". It can give you driving, walking, or public transportation directions.

 

[craig1]

I have an iphone 4 and I can assure you it has a built-in GPS chip. I use it away from civilization where there is no signal all the time. The problem is that most map apps require a cell signal to get the map image itself. Google maps allows you to download a map for offline use.

 

[STEVEusaPA]

Whenever I go out of the country, I add an international plan to my phone for one month. Gets you gobs of data, discounted phone rates and usually lots of free text. There's also lots of free wifi in Europe. I've never gone over. Just remember when you don't need it to turn data roaming off
Should be cheaper then buying a GPS device.
I also wondered why you can add full gps service to a "smart" phone that only uses satellites.
Let me know what countries you're heading to and I'll offer up some great places to eat/things to do--if you're interested in my 2 cents

 

[Poodle Head Mikey]

I have an apartment in Paris. I'm going in November this year to avoid having to deal with all the Americans. I like France but I'm not leaving Paris this time. What do you suggest?

PHM
--------

Whenever I go out of the country, I add an international plan to my phone for one month. Gets you gobs of data, discounted phone rates and usually lots of free text. There's also lots of free wifi in Europe. I've never gone over. Just remember when you don't need it to turn data roaming off
Should be cheaper then buying a GPS device.
I also wondered why you can add full gps service to a "smart" phone that only uses satellites.
Let me know what countries you're heading to and I'll offer up some great places to eat/things to do--if you're interested in my 2 cents

 

[Moonrunner]

Mikey, I'd recommend getting a Nexus 5 phone. It offers both Navstar (GPS) and GLONASS so you have more satellites to choose from for more precise location and faster fixes. They can be had relatively cheap and are still a very powerful platform. I've been happy with mine. While the battery is not "user-replaceable", anyone with a bare minimum of technical skills can replace it.

When it comes to qi-chargers, I've had GREAT experiences with Metrans MWT02. When I was shopping for one, I could have bought major brands for the same amount (in some cases even cheaper), but the Chinese off-brand ended up having the best reviews when it comes to the size of the sweet spot, continuous charge, unobtrusive light and no noise. They also produce some chargers that don't perform as well, so mind the model number. MWT02 is the only one I'd stand behind. Qi is an open protocol so it will work with any device supporting it, even Apple's offerings