Shadyapex
Senior Member
I know most on this forum will have a modern GPS, maps, etc and know how to use them. Still I thought I'd share this as it has led me to pretty much leave my GPS in the glove box, well, mainly because the suction cup keeps bailing off the windshield. Still, here goes.
Get an iPad, even a 1st gen version, available on eBay for about $30, or an iPhone 3gs or later, available for about the same, so just get the pad for the larger screen.
Next download an app called Topo Maps, it's $4.99. Then download all the USGS quadrangles that you think you might need, they're free. This eliminates the need for a cell connection as the map data is stored on your device. You don't need a cell plan.
Maps turn out to be very compressible so they don't take up much storage space on your pad/phone and the device will show you your position on the map.
I keep my beater iPad in the truck all the time with all the maps I usually use downloaded and it's a great boon to finding a place. You can also drop a pin on a lat/long spot in advance of a trip and the device will connect to your home wifi to download the maps.
It doesn't have back track and some of the other features of a modern GPS that I never use as all I really want is a map and to know where I am. And, of course, you're relying on USGS quadrangles that aren't always as up to date as other apps like google, etc. But it works when google maps doesn't, i.e. without a cell signal,,,,,
Get an iPad, even a 1st gen version, available on eBay for about $30, or an iPhone 3gs or later, available for about the same, so just get the pad for the larger screen.
Next download an app called Topo Maps, it's $4.99. Then download all the USGS quadrangles that you think you might need, they're free. This eliminates the need for a cell connection as the map data is stored on your device. You don't need a cell plan.
Maps turn out to be very compressible so they don't take up much storage space on your pad/phone and the device will show you your position on the map.
I keep my beater iPad in the truck all the time with all the maps I usually use downloaded and it's a great boon to finding a place. You can also drop a pin on a lat/long spot in advance of a trip and the device will connect to your home wifi to download the maps.
It doesn't have back track and some of the other features of a modern GPS that I never use as all I really want is a map and to know where I am. And, of course, you're relying on USGS quadrangles that aren't always as up to date as other apps like google, etc. But it works when google maps doesn't, i.e. without a cell signal,,,,,