GPS/Tablet
- Thread starter SteveR
- Start date
Enthusiast III
Influencer I
We use an iPad with Earthmate (app sore). With a small yearly fee we have unlimited downloads of maps. It comes with a good basic map. When we are headed to an area, like the Overland Bound Off the Grid trip, we download the USGS quad maps for the Shaver lake area before we leave home. My wife drops waypoints at all the intersections where we need to turn then she can watch our widget as we make our way down the trail. It has been flawless for several years now. I saw Corrie and Michael on their Utah trip and the map organizer they use, I need to talk to them about joining the space age. We took an extended trip back in the Serrias last year and halfway throw we decided to head into a different area so we stopped in a town for supplies and used a McDonald's wifi to download the maps we needed and headed back out into the woods.
badmnky, a lot of guys put the ball mount on the end of the Pass side grab bar, where I have my CB mike mount, see the pics above. That seems to work good for them. It also moves it down and away from the air bag area and the Guys I talk to say it gives them more view out the windshield...
That's a good idea, I have the cb mount bracket at the left end of the grab bar, but putting a second section or longer section to get around that may work too, while keeping out of the passengers face should the airbag deploy.
Posted via mobile. OB# 3459
Influencer I
I've been running BackCountry Navigator for years now. Really like it and find it to be really stable. I started out with the free version and upgrade to the"Pro".
Just went to and looked a Gaia. Looks really similar but am really interested in the wed component. Anyone have experience with printing maps from this? It looks like one can. To bad there is not a demo version to play with before laying out some money to play with it.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using OB Talk mobile app
Just went to and looked a Gaia. Looks really similar but am really interested in the wed component. Anyone have experience with printing maps from this? It looks like one can. To bad there is not a demo version to play with before laying out some money to play with it.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using OB Talk mobile app
I would look at the help files for how printing works. I never really use it. Simply because unless you have a printer that can print larger format I don't find that to be very useful. I have printed small sections of routes using the USFS maps to share with others on group trips. I just like to use other traditional paper map sources as backups.
As for a trial version true they don't currently offer that. That may change in the future. Powerful, quality software, costs a few bucks. There are plenty of detailed reviews on Gaia which can help most folks decide if the app is for them. I have been using it for 4 years, tested most of the others (and spent the $$$ to do so), and have found no reason to switch.
Right now the Pro version subscription costs a little over $3 a month. For how I use the software that's fine with me but then base version also works well for most users. You have to understand that Gaia is a company with a small team of developers. Including GIS map specialists who continue to convert more and more map types. For example, the new hunting layers which show public and private land. They need to make a living and continue to build great software. It all depends what each individual needs.
The entire app for IOS is being re-written from the ground up. I believe Android will follow. While I cannot discuss the details I am on the team that is testing the new application. When it is released it will continue to blow the competition away. Hopefully they will write a blog post soon discussing the feature changes. As soon as I can share any details I will. All I can say is there are going to be additions that Overlanders will love.
Last edited:
I used LeadNav for the first time yesterday. I have to say it was great. It was a little pricy to get the app and buy the maps but for once I think it was worth it.
We did a part of the TAT. The maps I bought didn't follow the road exactly so I was able to turn a breadcrumb trail into turn by turn directions so o could concentrate on driving and not have to split time between the iPad and the windshield.
The app allows you to pre program commands into the rout like turn left or turn hard right. It also lets you download maps locally so I was able to spend the entire day in airplane mode yesterday over a 300 mile backcountry drive. That works wonders saving battery.
We did a part of the TAT. The maps I bought didn't follow the road exactly so I was able to turn a breadcrumb trail into turn by turn directions so o could concentrate on driving and not have to split time between the iPad and the windshield.
The app allows you to pre program commands into the rout like turn left or turn hard right. It also lets you download maps locally so I was able to spend the entire day in airplane mode yesterday over a 300 mile backcountry drive. That works wonders saving battery.
Enthusiast III
This is a great idea. I just purchased the Rugged Ridge mount for my phone and could easily swap.
Sent from my iPad using OB Talk
Enthusiast III
What Ram Mount specifically did you purchase that matched up with the Rugged Ridge?
Sent from my iPad using OB Talk
That's an Xgrip mount with 1" ball I believe. Same as I have but with the Ram mount on the end vs rugged. Easy to find on Amazon for different size tablets and phones. I have 3.
Ram Mount Universal X-Grip II Tablet Holder with 1-Inch Ball for Small Tablets Including iPad mini (RAMHOLUN8BU)
by RAM MOUNTS
Link: http://a.co/hKAROXv
Ram Mount X-Grip III Universal Clamping Cradle for 10-Inch Large Tablets (RAMHOLUN9U
by RAM MOUNTS
Link: http://a.co/iwK76MD
I am guessing it is this arm as well,
Ram Mount Long Double Socket Arm for 1-Inch Ball Bases
by Ram Mount
Link: http://a.co/aZY2lLz
Last edited:
I would like to see what the map layers look like other than satellite images. It looks like they are using MapBox and a couple of other sources. The key would be what level of detail do the topo maps show? USFS raster maps in Gaia provide the most level of detail of any topo map I have used. LeadNav has some neat features which I think are very geared towards high speed travel. The arrows and voice guidance specifically. Not something I would use but I like the fact that another developer is pushing the envelope in feature sets as compared to the simple apps that just source public maps and not much else.
Influencer I
Thanks 1Louder
If it can do large format printing I'm sold. I have a printer that will do 13X19. I use to use Topo yo make custom river maps for rafting trips. I want to get back to paper maps but getting topos has been getting hardrr and harder.
I feel that for myself I have become to reliant on the technology and feel like I am loosing out just following the little swiggly lines on the screen. To me there is a lot for laying out a map in the morning with a cup of coffee and some friends and figure out the days plan.
Don't take that wrong. I also love the technology. There is no better way to document and log a trip and all the great data one can gather along the way. And as a safty back up it can't be beat.
Also love to hear that Gaia is a small company. I think that this shows one of the great things about the whole smart phone app revolution. It allows a smaller more nimble group to focus in on a particular interest that the big software juggernaut can't seem to do.
Now if Gaia can out put and receive NEMA it would be a home run!
Sent from my GT-N8013 using OB Talk mobile app
Do you mean NMEA data? I would email support and ask them. They used to have an app called Skipper but it has be closed and features are being incorporated into Gaia. I don't think Gaia cares about what size paper you use so you should be ok but see what they say. At the zoom levels I like 8.5x11 isn't very useful. You control the zoom levels though.
I assure you we were not traveling at any high speeds yesterday. All backroads with some dirt and gravel mixed in. It was great being able to download a very detailed sat map to the device, program every turn I had to make into the app and it became just like a turn by turn gps for me. That was really handy as I was riding solo so I didn't have to keep looking at the map I could concentrate on the road and what was ahead. It also let me take in some of the scenery I would have missed if I had my head buried in the tablet.
It does use map box as the base maps but like other apps you can bring in other maps with the correct URL. If you will give me an area of the US I will take a few screen shots of the map box topo maps if that will help.
Northern AZ around the Grand Canyon and Utah border would be good. Moab area would work too.
Advocate III
Member III
It works great, haven't had a map issue yet. There are 3 or 4 different maps you can use that come with the application. Even for hiking I find it great.
Traveler II
