Kansas City Tacoma Crew - 816/913

I thought about mentioning GPS signal booster antennas, but I ultimately can't get on board for relying on a phone app for navigation in tight situations. It's nice to have, but I'd never use it alone.

 

If I’m in the truck, i’ll use Gaia. If I’m on foot, I’ll use a dedicated GPS device.

 

Going into a remote location, you should always have multiple ways to navigate. I’d never rely solely on one device.

 

Yeah, I understand. I just want to record my truck routes (on tablet or other) and if I come up to something like a monolith or a plane crash that's a short distance from the trail, that I can use an actual GPS device, input the coordinates, and have it take me to the location while leaving my tablet in the truck.

I don't generally plan on going on multi-day hikes or situations where I may get lost in the wild. Though it is smart to prepare for that regardless.

 

Indeed. I'm a map nerd, so I may have a number of types of maps I take with me regardless of travel method.

Do you find that Gaia tracks you well enough in mountains and other obstructive terrain? I'm curious because I've lost connection in places that I figured would be fine, that's kind of why I started moving away from it.

 

So Gaia would probably fit the bill for 95% of what you do. A good powered GPS receiver or antenna would be good for that setup. Gaia is awesome and I'm not bashing it at all. It's just important to remember how delicate our phones are.

 

I’ve run it all over colorado / Utah / Arizona / New Mexico and others and I dont know that I’ve ever had an issue with the GPS and Gaia. I have my phone mounted on the dash right about the head unit.

 

And how much phone batteries tend to suck. Although if you run in airplane mode, it helps significantly.

 

Huh, well I guess I'll chalk it up to my proclivity to attract electronics gremlins then. Maybe I should revisit how I use Gaia.

 

Running in airplane mode is also a good way to get lose GPS signals lol

 

GPS still works in airplane mode. At least on iOS.

 

My ignorance is embarrassing... I need to update my info for mobile devices and navigation lol

 

Oh, I know. I swapped to AT&T because of my friend grabbing service before I did out in MOAB, but now I'm thinking it was my shitty phone. Since going to MOAB, I have disliked the idea of using a phone or tablet as a dedicated GPS device.

Mine's in the same spot. I've got a couple straight lines on my map due to losing connection and showing up in another spot. I think me constantly taking it out of app to take photos messed with it several times.

Will have to try airplane mode on the tablet once I get it set up. Side note, ram mount cradles for tablets are going for like $65 on Amazon. Jeez louise.

 

Wait.. at&t had service that was better than something? Thats amazing.

Ram mounts are not cheap but definitely worth it

 

do you carry the paper maps with you, that's what i use
the sun might work well out in the sandhills, barren of trees

 

It was a ruse, I tell ya! A ruse!

I'll probably give them a year before I swap back to Verizon. Always have to move to certain spots in rooms at home for consistent service, didn't have that big a problem with Verizon.

 

I have one of these that’s always with me

$22 Michelin North America Road Atlas 2020: USA, Canada and Mexico

https://www.amazon.com/dp/2067237187

I also have maps for the various national parks or i get one at the entrance.

 

Verizon has been the most consistent for me, especially once you get out of the cities.

 

Yeah, after a month of AT&T, I seriously regret leaving.

But hey, least I'm saving $30~ bucks on my phone bill right now.

 

Too bad your phone is a paperweight lol