best phone for navigation

[minkyhead]

ive seen more and more folks using smatphones with memorymap installed
and they seem to work very well ]
ive got a contract buisness phone due for renewal in febuary so im tempted to give this a go rather than pay 500 quid for a sat nav

the other thing ive noticed is the screens ar far clearer on the phones and bigger too
so small sat navs are out as i need reading glasses to see them
where as some of these phones are much clearer and easier

on the last few rideouts some of the lads abandoned the sat nav and used the phone which was far better at getting us where we were going ??

i hoping i can get a waterproof phone that will perform as a sat nav also

so id like if poss some reccomendations for a phone that is good for this purpose ..waterproof battery life ease of use ect ect

suggestions appriciated ta

[TomBoyNI]

I believe the only proper waterproof phone is the Sony Xperia Z range.

Of course you can get a waterproof case for most things.

Sony runs android and just this week the Nokia Range of 'Here' offline mapping has been made available for android for free.

You other obvious choices are a windows phone and an iPhone.

Battery is the killer for them all as GPS software zaps the batteries to death.

[nethen1]

Mines a HTC one M8 Minky.
it's not waterproof. Neithers the case I bought but it seems ok enough till now. Never dropped in a river yet.... :sick: . The Sony mentioned is the oonly waterproof one I know of.

Using memory map, all maps pre downloaded I stick it aeroplane mode to stop it seeking signal as this constant searching batters the battery.
it as you know has lasted all day without an extra charge.

I think iphones have a much wider range of armoured / waterproof covers. But personally I prefare Android phones as it's easier add data / music / pics.

Screenshot_2015-01-20-18-21-42.png (834.96 KiB) Viewed 2845 times

Screenshot_2015-01-20-18-21-35.png (541.95 KiB) Viewed 2845 times

good luck ,

[chrisinflight]

Hi Steve, I use a Nokia Lumia with free app Navicomputer and offline BikeHikeMaps. I don't use a simcard with it. It's not waterproof. You will need constant power from the bike as they do drain battery's with gps and the bright screen.
Cheers

[Kenbo]

I use my Samsung S3 in the car (not waterproof) but I use a downloded sat nav app "Sygic" I payed about £30 for life time use, free updates, full European maps.(world wide maps are avalible) I use the road book function so I only see direction arrows and my speed (I can use full mapping if I want) and I dont need to be connected to the web to use the mapping. This the third phone I used this app on at no extra cost
(and it has heads up display in the road book mode)

Just something else to think about

[beddowsm]

Will be interested to see what the advice is.

Im in same boat Minky. Contract due for renewal in a month. Want a waterproof phone for same reason. So far Sony Z3 in the lead on my short list.

[nethen1]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/bes ... of-phones/

some great info on here.

If all apps / programs, bar a pre downloaded map are switched off and aeroplane mode selected, most phones will last a day riding easy.

Power banks are also cheap option if your worried it'll run out.
If you run flat in emergency, most will charge your phone from flat to full
(you'll need at least a 2600mah powerbank)

cheaper than a new blower or a posh garmin, buy a gorllia / otterbox / love mei etc etc armoured waterproof phone case, available for most phones.

I use memory maps, 20 quid has most of UK os 1:25 explorer and
Nav free, free sat nav, worldwide, just downlaod the bits you want 1st.

TRF use viewranger for os mapping? i think, no idea on this, never used it.

Wikiloc is good too and freeeeeee

[Dabchick]

I've just got myself a Samsung Galaxy S5, waterproof to 1.5m apparently, and the battery life is vastly better then the S3 it's replaced - on an hours ride using Google maps I got through about 4% of battery life (that's without it being on charge, obviously, before I'd fitted the USB socket to the bike). I used to have to charge the S3 every night, now it's every third night with the S5.

I just mount it using a cheap mount like this as it doesn't need much more protection behind the Tenere's screen. I'd probably take it off charge should the heavens open though. I tried a larger case that gave the charging connection more cover from rain but it looked like I had an iPad strapped to the bike, or t'other way round and it didn't fit entirely behind the screen.

I haven't looked at the Sony but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Galaxy

[PHILinFRANCE]

STEVE !!!!! ACT YOUR AGE AND GET A MAP...................LIKE I DO :laugh:

[minkyhead]

STEVE !!!!! ACT YOUR AGE AND GET A MAP...................LIKE I DO :laugh:

i got pleanyy of maps phil but i need me glasses for them as well
plus i get around a bit and its nice to track where ive been ..ive got one of them c62s you have but i cant see it fromwhat i can tell neither can you :laugh: ..doh :whistle: :laugh: