GPS help!I

[Cathryn]

I'm going to be starting the CF in 12 days and am looking for a way to 1) follow my own path; and 2) let those at home also see where I've been and now am. Can any one suggest apps that I can use with my iPhone to do these? And is it necessary to have my phone on (and using battery/wifi/data) all the time? And is this even possible??? Much as gracias!!

 

[Arn]

I'm going to be starting the CF in 12 days and am looking for a way to 1) follow my own path; and 2) let those at home also see where I've been and now am. Can any one suggest apps that I can use with my iPhone to do these? And is it necessary to have my phone on (and using battery/wifi/data) all the time? And is this even possible??? Much as gracias!!

Hi,
I purchase a few extra g's so that I can "Text" the folks back home with a picture of where I am and how I'm doing.

Here is a link to a comparison of many hiking GPS's:

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Handheld-Gps-Reviews

In addition, here is the link for apps:

http://www.backpacker.com/gear/electronics/gps-units/10-best-iphone-apps-for-the-outdoors/

Hope that helps.

Buen Camino,

Arn

 

[evanlow]

IOS has share my location with friends/family which you can setup on your iPhone assuming they are also Apple users. That's the easy part.

As for your location the phone will update base on the following criteria.

1. You use the GPS on your phone. Without cellular the phone needs to be outdoor to pick up the signal and will probably take 20 secs or so to acquire your location..

2. Wifi. When you phone connects to wifi it will take the location from the wifi base station.

Your last location will be updated base on the last connection to either points above. Not every updated to say the least.

Best way is a get a local SIM card. You phone needs to be unlocked. Buy a SIM in Spain for around 25 euros with 2gb data for a month.

3. With a Sim card you will be on the cellular network. That means that your family will know your exact location real time and all the time, even indoor. That's because your location is from the cell network and not via GPS or wifi. And it doesn't use any of the data allowance from your Sim card.

Lastly, for your maps. Download the app Maps.me for your iPhone. Then open the app and download the offline map for Spain (around 300+ Meg's}. When you are there use it instead of Apple maps. Because the map is offline it also doesn’t take up your data allowance. It uses GPS or cell network to find your current location. The same location that your family will see when they want to find out where you are.

 

[MartinZ]

I never could find any good gps units for this purpose.
Commercial ones are too expensive, too big and most importantly too heavy for me.
The gps in your phone will drain your battery like mad!

So I had to build my own!
Only 50grams. Tiny, I will fit in the smallest of pockets and runs 25 hours straight on a rechargeable battery while recording the position (every second!) on a SD card.
Will last me three days before recharging is needed. What it doesn't do is phone home my coordinates though.

This is from my 2014 camino from SJPDP to Santiago, Finesterre and also Muxia
(Locks up my pretty beefy computer's google earth for a minute because it's so huge)

If you find a good commercial option please let us know, i'm sure many people are searching!

 

[evanlow]

I think there might be some deviation from what Cathryn is asking that can be done on her iPhone.

1. Follow her own path.

That requires an offline map. Maps.me will do the trick.
http://maps.me/en/home

2. Allow people she knows to track where is currently at.

Share her location from her iphone.
Using cellular via a local SIM card rather than batter sucking GPS (unless in the open without cell signal). Automatic and even help location one's position on Maps.me.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Hi @Cathryn - I use MotionX GPS on my iPhone and works very well. It has built-in options to share your location either 'live' or you can send your position at a time of your choosing. I loaded a GPX file found here on the forum that shows the CF so easy to be on the path or if you choose your own way, easy to find your way back. It needs no data service but if used all day could be a battery issue so I bought a Mophie battery pack for my iPhone 5s and that gives me an additional 120% battery life.

 

[evanlow]

Forgot to mention that Maps.me supports kml file. So you can load a track (e.g Camino Frances kml file) and it will draw a track line along the map.

 

[newfydog]

Hi @Cathryn - I use MotionX GPS on my iPhone and works very well. It has built-in options to share your location either 'live' or you can send your position at a time of your choosing. I loaded a GPX file found here on the forum that shows the CF so easy to be on the path or if you choose your own way, easy to find your way back. It needs no data service but if used all day could be a battery issue so I bought a Mophie battery pack for my iPhone 5s and that gives me an additional 120% battery life.

+1 on MotionX. Great GPS app.

I wouldn't worry about a wi-fi or cellular signal when using gps, the iphone does just fine without either one.