Free GPS device and free GPS tracking of your vehicle and/or yourself

[e9999]

been having fun with some new toys.

Thought I'd pass on a few thoughts in case you don't know already.


1. You can get a free GPS device. How? Just get a phone that provides free GPS maps and positioning. I got a Nokia Nuron from TMobile. It has free Ovi maps downloading (you don't need a data plan) and works as full GPS positioning device. So basically you have gotten a free GPS. It's great. Importantly, I was able to download the maps and store them on the SD card before going to Europe, and then use them there without incurring data charges for downloading there (would have been very expensive if roaming, as in hundreds or thousands of $$, watch out). The maps are more current than on my commercial GPSes too.
(OTOH, know that this particular phone is inexpensive and a great deal given the GPS feature but it's not a great or full-featured smartphone. In particular the web browser sucks. But there are others I'm sure.)

So, great to have around as a backup for your big GPS device in the truck. Note, importantly, again, that this works even without phone cell coverage (but you want to download the maps of where you'll go first, it's very easy.) So it'll work in the middle of the desert as a GPS device.


2. Free GPS tracking of your vehicle. Easy. (Don't tell me you didn't know you are now tracked by Big Brother every where you take your phone...) Download a free app to your phone that does tracking of the phone. There are a ton out there. I did try 3dtracking on my Nokia which runs Symbian 60 OS. It's all free and you can track your phone -and therefore truck- and see the track on google maps via the web. IOW, your can see where you are in case you break down and can send in the cavalry. Of course, you may want to stop the tracking when needed...
Plus: free.
Minus: you need cell phone contact for the info to be sent to the server, of course. It's no satellite phone. So, not good for tracking in the middle of the desert. But eh, it's free and works wherever there is cell coverage... It's already something.

HTH

E


and yes, I'm still thinking about getting a SPOT someday. But not foolproof either apparently.

 

[george_tlc]

Good thoughts - but the cell phone tracking is mostly useless (or at least for me). Anywhere where I'd worry about breaking down has no cell coverage, it can be somewhat surprising/enlightening to find how little coverage there is in MANY 'barely remote' areas - certainly most of the norcal areas I go to have 0 coverage.

I bought a Spot a year or two ago and upgraded to the newer unit early this year. Between all the rebates and screwed up extra rebates it's cost me $100 to get a Spot 2 and I got to sell the old Spot (so even less that $100). I've used Spot quite a few times from mountain top areas to reasonably tree covered areas and EVERY position I've sent out has made it to the Spot messaging system. So, maybe not foolproof but I've yet to see it not work. I think a LOT of problems that have been reported are due to folk not following the simple instructions for using (orientation and leaving it for at least 10 - 20 minutes to ensure reliable transmission).

With Spot we have a simple approach to sending updates when camping to my wife back in town. Every morning/lunch/dinner we send 1 message - it's either a "we're OK" or "we're OK and going to move" - since Spot 2 allows 2 different messages to be sent (in addition to help/sos). This way my wife knows whether we're camped and going to stay in that area or if we're going to be moving on.

cheers,
george.

 

[e9999]

of course, if I break down and there is cell coverage I could call. If I am able that is. But picture me going off the road and being knocked out in the wreckage hidden in the brush. My phone is still dialing my position every 5 mins. She might find me. (If she wants to )

yup, it could happen, I can tell...

or I could be kidnapped by some evil pot growers where there is cell coverage...


it's a free GPS so I like it, what can I say...


(what? Spot needs 20 mins to send a reliable msg?)


(edit for typo)

 

[george_tlc]

(what? Spot needs 20 mins to send a reliable msg?)

That's the whole point - IF you want reliability then you need to allow it to send several messages. Typically I've seen it work reliably with a single transmission (takes less than a couple of minutes). But, if you want to be sure (remember it only transmits), then you want to give it a chance to send several messages in case of environmental issues or maybe a bunch of folk all transmitting at the same time etc etc.

I typically just turn it on, put it on the roof of the 80 etc, have lunch or whatever and then turn it off. It draws very little power since it only draws when transmitting. You can send many hundreds of position updates.

Over the 20-30 minute period it sends several position updates - but mostly sleeps during that time. Spreading out a few transmissions over time improves the probability of getting the message through - the system will ignore repeated received messages during a single session.

Anyhow, that's why I think some folk have issue with it - they expect instant updates and for it to work inside underground steel bunkers

For me, it works very well for its intended purpose, to send a few messages per day so folk know you're still alive and ok and if you need rescue then it will transmit over and over again until the batteries finally give up the ghost.

Given most of my 4wding experience is from oz and being in REMOTE areas for weeks at a time and often in a single vehicle, I'm ecstatic with any system that can give updates reasonably reliably whenever needed. No cell phone coverage out there

cheers,
george.

 

[little_joe]

Nice to see another Nokia user! I have a 5800XM. This is not a mobile phone that relies on internet for GPS - it has a built-in genuine GPS receiver that works regardless of cell/wi-fi coverage, which makes it quite different than your typical iShiny or Google Maps which rely on network-based location.

Ovi Maps is a great tool, and that it's free is amazing. My wife and I use it regularly. The 3 different primary views - satellite, terrain, and map - is a wonderful feature for having the most topical view for your needs (e.g. hiking, wheeling, navigating onroad). +1 to preloading maps, I have a good chunk of the east coast, southeast, and great lakes loaded up; and just used the UK map for a business trip.

If your Nokia supports it, check out MyWorld, a free app from My World GPS Tracker - Homepage with real-time online tracking on the internet (which does require a radio/wi-fi connection to be up-to-date).

I also use TTGPS on the 5800 in conjunction with OpenStreetMap online and on my laptop.

 

[hankinid]

I upgraded to a Garmin 'Garminfone' via TMob a month ago. Like the Nuron, I have gps independent of a network connection. With a network connection, I've the option for either gps or Google maps; with or without a connection I have nav options available. The phone comes w/ a suction cup mount for the windshield, as well as an adhesive-backed 'puck' for states where windshield mounts are a no-go. I used the puck and stuck it on the top of the dash, just to the right of the gage cluster. Phone will recharge while on the mount.

So far, I've downloaded Garmin topo's for states west of a N-S line from the east site of MT down to the Mexican border. Phone works the same as a GPS device using MapSource, next step is to get a cable to allow the phone to link to a netbook via Garmin's N-Route.

GPS locations are dead on relative to a Garmin 60CSx, main no-phone-coverage areas are generally in the Owyhee Mts.

Garminfone came out with good reviews for the phone and no issues with the gps...not selling too well as Gamin modified the standard Android GUI. Its market is nichey, people who want gps capability equal to a dedicated gps unit...that's me. It's ability to take Garmin topo's made the upgrade a no-brainer.

If you're with T-Mob, a lot of the new phones give you gps without a network connection.

Steve

 

[e9999]

well, I was on the freeway in L.A. yesterday. (Dang freaking place... Freeways slowed down, accidents etc. On a sunday night. Who wants to live there?) With the 100. So, trying to find on the NavSys where the next traffic jam is and how to circumvent it. No luck. Then I remembered that i had the GPS app on the Nokia phone. Lo and behold, a quick search on the phone gives us the location of the intersection needed (can't do that on the 100 NavSys while driving) and the phone has great drive directions (spoken) plus even traffic info for crying out loud... Actually was way more helpful than the 100 NavSys in that case... Nice! The thing does indeed even have satellite photos you can download with resolution at the tree level. Amazing...

 

[esh]

How is a cell phone ever free?

I have been playing with my Android phone (a G1 running Cyanogen's Froyo) and OruxMaps or MapDroid, both work pretty well. Orux is pretty DIY to get what you want for map data, similar to how OziExplorer is/was DIY to do custom stuff like dual pane sat images/topo.