GPS maps / IPAD

[RDM416]

Does anyone out there have an IPAD? Do they come with a built in GPS like most of the smart phones? If not, is there a GPS module that could be connected through a USB port?

I just think the large display area would make the maps so much easier to use since you would not have to zoom up so far to see detail.

Also does anyone out there know if you can "cache" maps from Google Earth? I am going to be elk hunting in Southern NM this fall. I will be camping up in the National Forrest way away from any cell phone signal. But I would like to take my laptop to be able to pull up Google Earth maps while in camp to plan the next days hunt. Is there a way to download maps of the area I will be hunting and store them in my computer so i can pull them up even though I don't have a data connection to my laptop? Any suggestions?

 

[GPSmaps]

Also does anyone out there know if you can "cache" maps from Google Earth? I am going to be elk hunting in Southern NM this fall. I will be camping up in the National Forrest way away from any cell phone signal. But I would like to take my laptop to be able to pull up Google Earth maps while in camp to plan the next days hunt. Is there a way to download maps of the area I will be hunting and store them in my computer so i can pull them up even though I don't have a data connection to my laptop? Any suggestions?

I don't believe you can use Google Earth without an internet connection (you can use it but the detailed imagery doesn't load from Google's servers so you just see a pixelated image.

The only thing I can think of would be to take screenshots of your area while you are at home and pull up those pictures on your computer when you are in the field.

Happy Hunting!
-Eric

 

[kweidner]

I am actually viewing this thread on my Ipad. Don't know how off the beaten path you go, but my 3G Ipad gets signal everywhere on our 3000 acre lease. Yes they do have gps capabilities like the smart phones, There are tons of apps from the app store that will do just about anything you Want for under $10. I wouldn't trade my Ipad for anything. You can even get ballistic apps for the thing. Go to iTunes store and check out the iPad/iphone apps. Iphone apps will work on Ipad. The screen clarity is incredible.

 

[TexasHunter]

RDM416,

Great minds think alike. I too had the same idea. I was at Best Buy one day and realized I could buy an iPad and get 18 months no interest on an old BB account I had set up years ago. So I jumped in and bought the 3G/64gb model. I have recently opened a new hunting lease here in TX that is both remote and very rugged. I have wanted for some time a GPS with a large screen to mount in my Polaris Ranger but up to now had no luck finding a serious off road GPS. I would have settled for one of the car units with a 4 - 5" screen but they don't have the off road features we need. And the hand helds with the off road features are virtually unreadable due to the small screen. I have had two apps for a while on my iPhone, so I got way out back on our new ranch (read - no cell signal at all) and opened the iPhone apps. Low and behold they worked great w/o cell coverage. But the screen on the phone was just too small. So next trip, I take my new iPad loaded with TOPO Maps (an App Store app) and Motion X GPS (another App Store app). I love the TOPO app maps. They are exact copies of USGS Quad Sections. The app allows you to zoom in and out, locate your position, drop and label pins, switch to Google satellite view (which is cached as long as you have opened it previously for the same area while on a network) and a number of other features. You do need to pre load the necessary Quad Sections from TOPO but they are free, quick and easy to download. The only downside to this app is that it doesn't show your trail as a true GPS does. Not to worry, the MotionX app does everything a typical off road GPS would do. It requires that you pre download a map of the area your going to off the network and this process is a bit cumbersome. It offers numerous types of maps including Google and Bing road and satellite and it's own topo (which sucks compared to the USGS maps). You have to keep the app running in the foreground to keep track of your trail but if you stop, you can switch to the TOPO app and switch back to MotionX and it will keep going. Maybe the upcoming iOS release that supports multitasking will fix this and we can keep both apps open at the same time. I made a 23 mile trek around the new ranch which took about four hours and the iPad had no problem with battery life. Of course, I could have plugged it into the cig lighter on my ranger. I bought a mount and pedestal from RAM Mounts that holds the iPad on the Ranger dash super securely. I was using a Griffin cover but I have gone to the Otterbox Defender. I've also bought another GPS app from GAIA on the App Store and will be testing this next weekend which is the opening of the TX deer season. Our lease is 12.5 square miles (8000 acres) and the cell coverage is almost zero except around camp if your lucky. The 3G iPads are the only ones with the GPS chipset so don't buy the cheaper wifi model. All in all, this is a great solution and probably the only reason I would have bought an iPad.

 

[rtv900]

+1

I agree. I too am viewing this via my iPad. I really like it.

I have a 3G/64Gig version too. The WIFI does not have GSP. I use it for GPSing with my boys and about a month ago I loaded up ballistics software on it.

The Otterbox Defender case is the way to go if you are going to use it at the range or in the field.

Its has a ton of possibilities and uses. I have not met anyone that has had any regrets getting one.

 

[rtv900]

RDM416,

Great minds think alike. I too had the same idea. I was at Best Buy one day and realized I could buy an iPad and get 18 months no interest on an old BB account I had set up years ago. So I jumped in and bought the 3G/64gb model. I have recently opened a new hunting lease here in TX that is both remote and very rugged. I have wanted for some time a GPS with a large screen to mount in my Polaris Ranger but up to now had no luck finding a serious off road GPS. I would have settled for one of the car units with a 4 - 5" screen but they don't have the off road features we need. And the hand helds with the off road features are virtually unreadable due to the small screen. I have had two apps for a while on my iPhone, so I got way out back on our new ranch (read - no cell signal at all) and opened the iPhone apps. Low and behold they worked great w/o cell coverage. But the screen on the phone was just too small. So next trip, I take my new iPad loaded with TOPO Maps (an App Store app) and Motion X GPS (another App Store app). I love the TOPO app maps. They are exact copies of USGS Quad Sections. The app allows you to zoom in and out, locate your position, drop and label pins, switch to Google satellite view (which is cached as long as you have opened it previously for the same area while on a network) and a number of other features. You do need to pre load the necessary Quad Sections from TOPO but they are free, quick and easy to download. The only downside to this app is that it doesn't show your trail as a true GPS does. Not to worry, the MotionX app does everything a typical off road GPS would do. It requires that you pre download a map of the area your going to off the network and this process is a bit cumbersome. It offers numerous types of maps including Google and Bing road and satellite and it's own topo (which sucks compared to the USGS maps). You have to keep the app running in the foreground to keep track of your trail but if you stop, you can switch to the TOPO app and switch back to MotionX and it will keep going. Maybe the upcoming iOS release that supports multitasking will fix this and we can keep both apps open at the same time. I made a 23 mile trek around the new ranch which took about four hours and the iPad had no problem with battery life. Of course, I could have plugged it into the cig lighter on my ranger. I bought a mount and pedestal from RAM Mounts that holds the iPad on the Ranger dash super securely. I was using a Griffin cover but I have gone to the Otterbox Defender. I've also bought another GPS app from GAIA on the App Store and will be testing this next weekend which is the opening of the TX deer season. Our lease is 12.5 square miles (8000 acres) and the cell coverage is almost zero except around camp if your lucky. The 3G iPads are the only ones with the GPS chipset so don't buy the cheaper wifi model. All in all, this is a great solution and probably the only reason I would have bought an iPad.

Are you using "topo maps for iPad" or iTopo maps" or TopoPointUSA?

 

[TexasHunter]

Topo Maps for iPad

 

[RDM416]

Texashunter,

Thanks for your input on the IPad, it sounds like you have it figured out to do pretty much exactly what I wanted. I have a Droid phone and there is a map app available that will let you cache google earth maps of specific areas and pull them up later with no cell phone signal. It works great, but the screen on my droid is too small.

I have been putting off buying an IPad, but you have pushed me over the edge now. Thanks alot for costing me money

 

[TexasHunter]

Your welcome RDM416. Have you priced search and rescue ops lately ;-)

 

[rtv900]

Topo Maps for iPad

Thanks

 

[kweidner]

Thanks for the otter box heads up. Awesome mine just came in. Just what i was looking for. I love it.

 

[TexasHunter]

Update Guys,

I spent most of November exploring our new lease with my iPad and hunting. I think the go to app is GAIA topo maps. I used it extensively and it has real USGS maps, saves tracks, saves points and generally works like we need it to. The key to keeping the tracks alive is to go to the iPad settings and turn auto-lock to never and set auto-brightness to off. Then the app stays up and running and keeps all your track info up to date.

Merry Christmas to you guys.

Dale

 

[kspheasanthunter]

Hey guys, I was reading your posts as I just bought an iPad2 and the information was great. I do a lot of hunting in central Kansas and was wondering if anyone knows if there is an app to overlay the walk in/public hunting areas on the topo maps. I don't have my iPad with me, so I haven't downloaded the topo maps, but I was hoping there is someone smarter than me that would know how to over lay the Kansas walk in map onto the topo map. Also, since we hunt a lot of private land too, does anyone know if you can highlight areas and input text such as number of birds seen/shot, type of feed/cover/water in the area, etc. Thanks for any help

 

[dariuszczyszczon]

Texashunter,

Thanks for your input on the IPad, it sounds like you have it figured out to do pretty much exactly what I wanted. I have a Droid phone and there is a map app available that will let you cache google earth maps of specific areas and pull them up later with no cell phone signal. It works great, but the screen on my droid is too small.

I have been putting off buying an IPad, but you have pushed me over the edge now. Thanks alot for costing me money

Which app is that for your droid phone? I bought my wife a Samsung 10.1 tablet and would like to try that?