iPhone + Navigon vs a real gps

[IntrepidRunner]

Can an iPhone accept GPS downloads typical of that done at organized DS rides?

What kind of cable will be needed?

[Jeff@TheQuadShop]

Originally Posted by IntrepidRunner

Can an iPhone accept GPS downloads typical of that done at organized DS rides?

What kind of cable will be needed?

I've been to lots of dual sport event's but never to one that give you GPS tracks. In fact, some don't allow GPS's as they don't want you recording the track and coming back and riding it or distributing it as most of the land is on private property.

[EmmEff]

Originally Posted by IntrepidRunner

Can an iPhone accept GPS downloads typical of that done at organized DS rides?

Using MotionX-GPS, you can drag and drop GPX files in from iTunes or they can be imported directly from an email attachment.

What kind of cable will be needed?

The events I've been to have been basically a guy with a notebook running MapSource (for Garmin) and the appropriate serial and USB cables. Being able to sync through iTunes on somebody else's computer is a non-trivial task as it requires authorizing the machine, etc. It's not a viable solution, IMO.

[IntrepidRunner]

Originally Posted by EmmEff

Using MotionX-GPS, you can drag and drop GPX files in from iTunes or they can be imported directly from an email attachment.

The events I've been to have been basically a guy with a notebook running MapSource (for Garmin) and the appropriate serial and USB cables. Being able to sync through iTunes on somebody else's computer is a non-trivial task as it requires authorizing the machine, etc. It's not a viable solution, IMO.

Really great input EmmEff! Jeff, around California, receiving GPS files for DS rides is common.

EmmEff, I agree, syncing through somebody's else's machine is not a viable solution, but importing GPX files from an email is perfect! that's what I'll do.

The a DS ride organizer sent me the following requiremetns for a naviagation device. Do you think an iphone running Motion-X will comply with these requirements?

· You can mount it on your handlebars where it is easily visible from a seated, riding position.
· You can upload at least two of the following three items into the unit: routes, waypoints & track logs. Of these track logs are probably the most valuable.
· The unit will also display 2 of the above 3 items on the screen. Track logs being the most important.
· Unit must be able to accept a .GPX file (we email out .GPX files about a week before the event).

[IntrepidRunner]

I have bad near vision and need to have items near my face to read. My distance vision is OK with glasses. Could a wrist mounted iPhone case work during a DS ride? To navigate, I would simply look at the display on my wrist.

This wrist case would not easily allow a PowerLet cord, so the iPhone must run on batteries. How long will an iPhone battery last when receiving GPS signals?

[IntrepidRunner]

Could a saddle mounted iPhone work for off-road navigation?

http://www.steahlyoffroad.com/enduro...ne-pocket.html

[EmmEff]

Originally Posted by IntrepidRunner

The a DS ride organizer sent me the following requiremetns for a naviagation device. Do you think an iphone running Motion-X will comply with these requirements?

· You can mount it on your handlebars where it is easily visible from a seated, riding position.
· You can upload at least two of the following three items into the unit: routes, waypoints & track logs. Of these track logs are probably the most valuable.
· The unit will also display 2 of the above 3 items on the screen. Track logs being the most important.
· Unit must be able to accept a .GPX file (we email out .GPX files about a week before the event).

Yes, I think so. I've not used MotionX-GPS on my bike, but it fits those criteria. It obviously accepts a GPX and will show tracks and waypoints. Not sure about the support for routes since I've never tried it, but perhaps somebody else will chime in on that.

[IntrepidRunner]

How long will an iPhone 4S be able to receive GPS signals while running on the battery?

[Mr Dual Sport]

Originally Posted by IntrepidRunner

How long will an iPhone 4S be able to receive GPS signals while running on the battery?

I turn off the data use on my phone (have maps downloaded using Gaia) and turn wifi off. With the phone options set like that I can record tracks for 12 hours straight with Gaia running in the background and have about 40 to 50% of the battery left depending how often I look at the screen.

[abhibeckert]

Originally Posted by IntrepidRunner

This wrist case would not easily allow a PowerLet cord, so the iPhone must run on batteries. How long will an iPhone battery last when receiving GPS signals?

With the screen on and at full brightness to combat direct sunlight, around 2 hours.

With the screen off, I've done a 6 hour ride and still had a bit of juice left, maybe 8 hours max?

This was using MotionX GPS set to it's most power hungry (and most accurate) track recording mode. Different apps will probably drain the battery at different speeds.

Also, as the battery gets older and depending on your usage/charge cycles and the luck-of-the-draw physical properties of your individual battery... you will notice the battery life go downhill over time. A new device gets much longer battery life than a two year old one.

If you've got a strong phone signal, your battery will last longer. My 6 hour test was mostly in poor or no signal areas. Removing the sim card (assuming it's a GSM iPhone) will probably give significantly better battery life, but I haven't tested. Airplane mode disables the GPS receiver unfortunately, which is stupid in my opinion.

You can buy battery packs that double the battery life of the phone, according to (possibly biased) claims of the companies that sell them. And I reckon you could charge the phone while riding... keep in mind, a flat lithium-ion battery charges *much* faster than an almost full one. So if you're down around 10% and charge it for 5 minutes while having a break from riding, it will actually get quite a lot of charge in. Pay attention to how many watts the charger puts out. Look for "iPad compatible" if you can, they're beefier and will charge an iPhone quicker than an "iPhone compatible" charger.

[max384]

Originally Posted by IntrepidRunner

How long will an iPhone 4S be able to receive GPS signals while running on the battery?

It probably differs with the 4S, but my 3GS will last two to three hours with screen settings on bright with the Navigon app open and all others closed. The navigation apps are real power hogs (well, likely the internal GPS within the phone is what is really hogging the power).

I put a DC cigarette lighter adapter in both of my bikes. I got the one they sell at Radioshack for like $8. I then use a little bit of silicone caulking around the base where the wires come out to waterproof it and use heat shrink wrap where appropriate. It works great and only takes about 30 minutes to put in, if taking your time and being tedious with it (though, of course, I'd imagine this could vary depending on the bike).

Anytime I have the iPhone on the mount, I have it on the charger. This way, I can keep the screen as bright as I want and don't have to worry about battery life. If I wasn't going to put a DC adapter on the bike, I wouldn't even consider using the iPhone as a navigation device. They eat battery life too quickly and the last thing I want is to drain the battery on my phone and then be left with a dead phone when I really need it.

[John Smallberries]

This may be the final answer in the phone/nav/music search:

http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/...xperia-active/

A fully waterproof Android phone...looks indestructible.

[motoroberto]

How do you get motion-x to plot a route? I downloaded it and imported some gpx files (to my iphone 4s), but when I ask it to follow a track or go to a destination it just shows a 'crow flies' line and total distance without directions.

[abhibeckert]

Originally Posted by max384

The navigation apps are real power hogs (well, likely the internal GPS within the phone is what is really hogging the power).

The GPS chip does use a bit of power, as do the accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope (all of which are used by most navigation apps), but the real power killer is the screen (if it's on) and the CPU/GPU (which must also be turned on, and is working pretty hard especially if it's applying error correction to the GPS signal - which it usually is).

Your 3GS battery life seems a bit better than I get from my iPhone 4. Probably the retina screen is a bit more power hungry and pushes the GPU harder.

[abhibeckert]

Originally Posted by motoroberto

How do you get motion-x to plot a route? I downloaded it and imported some gpx files (to my iphone 4s), but when I ask it to follow a track or go to a destination it just shows a 'crow flies' line and total distance without directions.

MotionX GPS doesn't do routes, it only does tracks. It's not designed to be used for street navigation.

You can convert routes to tracks... see various other threads. ;-)