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Sat Nav for Walking and Cycling
TeeGee
10-08-2010
Does anyone use such a device that they can recommend?

I do in fact have a Nokia phone with OVI maps but I think it needs a phone signal which may not exist up a mountain or could be expensive in a foreign country.
clonmult
10-08-2010
Originally Posted by TeeGee:
“I do in fact have a Nokia phone with OVI maps but I think it needs a phone signal which may not exist up a mountain or could be expensive in a foreign country.”

Nope, you can switch off AGPS and rely purely on the built-in GPS module. Then you'll use absolutely no data.

I've tried mine with purely the GPS (as I'm intending to use it as satnav on holiday in the US) - it takes a little longer for its initial lock, but after that works as well as any other satnav.
gomezz
10-08-2010
I have been thinking about getting one of these

http://www.satmap.com/

to replace my ancient Garmin eTrex Vista. The main advantage is that it uses OS mapping. I would not risk my Nokia phone for off-road cycling though it would be useful for locating the nearest pub when out for a walk.
TeeGee
10-08-2010
Alas my Nokia is a 5530 so its sat nav capabilities are minimal and it does require a data connection.
tealady
10-08-2010
You need an OS map for walking and a compass and the right equipment.
My friends who are both qualified in outdoor pursuits and live in the lake district despair of people who are ill equipped. This ranges from telling someone that if they continue to walk in that direction, they will fall off a cliff; to telling someone that in winter just because it was warm when you started your walk, does not mean it is ok to wear just a t-shirt - you can easily die of hypothermia.

<rant over>
gomezz
11-08-2010
Originally Posted by tealady:
“You need an OS map for walking and a compass and the right equipment.”

And know how to use it. "All the gear and no idea" is what springs to mind whenever you see someone decked out in all brand-spanking new kit.
kyussmondo
11-08-2010
I agree. Ordnance Survey make all the maps for the UK. You need 25,000 scale for walking, 50,000 for cycling or if you are just cycling on the road then you can get by with a 250,000 road atlas. I know on the iPhone you can get Memory Maps. It comes with 250,000 scale for free but you have to pay for the different scales of different regions. You can import a route you have made or someone else has made available online (usually a GPX file). There are others like Route Buddy which is iPhone and Mac only. These are not really sat navs though. I would still take a paper map and compass. If you do get lost then a GPS can be very useful as it can show you exactly where you are on the map.

You could probably get away with just a phone but I wouldn't trust it what with battery life and not being able to get a GPS fix when weather gets bad etc.
clonmult
11-08-2010
Originally Posted by TeeGee:
“Alas my Nokia is a 5530 so its sat nav capabilities are minimal and it does require a data connection.”

You bought a phone without GPS, but expect it to work as a satnav? You'll only be able to use cell tower/wifi location, and out in the middle of nowhere that'll be close to useless.
TeeGee
11-08-2010
Originally Posted by clonmult:
“You bought a phone without GPS, but expect it to work as a satnav? You'll only be able to use cell tower/wifi location, and out in the middle of nowhere that'll be close to useless.”

You are telling me what I already know. The phone was originally bought for checking share prices with wifi while lying by the pool at expensive hotels. It performs this task admirably.

I am now expanding my horizons and seeking advice for a future purchase.
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