gps app for android

[te_wa]

any info on GPS applications for the android phone?
i see a couple available for free download, like MyTrails and GPS essentials.

i wondered what you guys recommend for backcountry travel via cell phone both on and offline.

shoot!

[The_Eagle]

@te-wa
Mike... Where you been? -> viewtopic.php?f=84&t=8120

[SAMBA]

@The Eagle

Yo Eagle (or the more formal "The Eagle" if that's your preference),

Me thinks te-wa meant to say "any info on GPS applications for the android phone that WORK?". I've tried a bunch of different settings on my android Moto X, and I've never gotten past the infinite "Determining accuracy" dialog box. Any suggestions?

[joebartels]

bring it over, let's go hiking

[The_Eagle]

Me thinks te-wa meant to say "any info on GPS applications for the android phone that WORK?". I've tried a bunch of different settings on my android Moto X, and I've never gotten past the infinite "Determining accuracy" dialog box. Any suggestions?

I don't think that's what he meant at all.

You did know that it won't work on you Flip Phone..... Right?

Either you have something wrong w/ your brick phone, or, heaven forbid, User Error.

You need to hike with the Webmaster/HAZMaster General, to settle this...

[hippiepunkpirate]

I've tried a bunch of different settings on my android Moto X, and I've never gotten past the infinite "Determining accuracy" dialog box. Any suggestions?

I had that problem with my last phone. I got a new phone and HAZ Tracks works brilliantly every single time.

[johnny88]

I've been using Gaia for a couple years now. I download the topo maps and import my .gpx files ahead of time so I can view them offline. I only open the app when I want to check my location (usually to verify I'm still on the right path or right area, etc), otherwise it remains off with the phone in airplane mode. My phone's GPS has produced a reasonably accurate location everywhere from a canyon in the Galiuros to an old growth forest in Oregon. With dense tree coverage in Oregon, it would sometimes take 30-60 seconds to get a lock. Arizona is usually much faster.

Gaia seems to be bad at tracking though and it quickly drains the battery. Leaving tracking off, keeping the phone in airplane mode, and checking location a few times a day, I've been able to stretch my phone's battery out to 7 days without dropping below 30%. I've used it with both iPhone and Droid Moto X

[te_wa]

ok, i got the HAZ tracks for the galaxy s5.
thanks, Joe (and Eagle)!

[joebartels]

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. Bruce and others can help with specific S5 questions.

For anyone wondering...
Battery life will be about the same for all apps when tracking. They all use the internal gps of your device. Old Androids get about 8 hours up to about 14+ hours on bleeding edge models. The main advantage for Android over iPhone is batteries can be replaced on many models vs carrying a battery pack. Another huge advantage is Android records in airplane mode whereas iPhone will not. I'm not anti iPhone, HAZ Tracks and everything else feels slicker on iOS.

Advantages for HAZ Tracks over Gaia and all others...
Multiple ways to import ( you do not need to know anything about file types )
- import / export to Route MGR
- import any Official Route on HAZ alphabetically
- import any Official Route on HAZ near you

Anti scribble recording, created by hikers for hiking
- when you stop, it stops ( no clue why Garmin can't figure this out )

HAZ Tracks is not currently suitable for...
- extended 80+ mile trips without any cell access*

Offline maps on HAZ Tracks are based on 1 route with up to 80 miles of track set to follow. Simple. On the same token other apps offer blocks of areas which is nice for exploring areas without tracks.

Hikebot told me a new Android 4.4+ specific app may be coming out later in the year...

[te_wa]

thanks, Joe.

i will add, there are several good battery pack chargers (mophie, anker, etc) that will double or triple battery life on Apple phones. i'm sold on mine.

[chumley]

Looks like Joe beat me to a couple of points in my reply. But I'll add my thoughts anyway.

I've used a variety of GPS and Map apps on my iPhone. Some are free, others I've paid for. Gaia is by far the most expensive app I've tried ($20 !)

Some apps have slick interfaces, others are a bit more clunky. Some excel at offline map tiles, other excel at gps tracking and statistics. You obviously have to choose which features are most important to you.

For me, HAZ Tracks is not the only gps/map app I keep on my phone. But it IS the only one that I load or record tracks on. There is absolutely no other GPS/Map app that is as easy to upload/download tracks to as you will find in the HAZ Tracks/Route Manager interface. Anybody can do it! And all of this is FREE!

While I won't argue with anybody who complains that HAZ Tracks has some quirks or the design isn't the cleanest compared to some of the other GPS/Map apps out there, but it is actively in development. It is updated regularly, and most importantly (IMHO) is that anybody with a question, complaint, or comment can post here in the forum and the developer will read and reply to your query. There is also a community of other users who are responsive and here to help. And that's something that isn't available from most of the other apps out there.

That's the real plus if you ask me!

[RowdyandMe]

Now I have a old Galaxy S3 and Haz works awesome except when I am in caves or old mineshafts, but I have faith in Joe to over come this.