GPS on mobile phones
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65623
Printed Date: 11 Jun 2026 at 10:17pm
Topic: GPS on mobile phones
Posted By: Eastender
Subject: GPS on mobile phones
Date Posted: 01 May 2011 at 1:42pm
|
Hi all,
I do my fishing around the bottom end of Waiheke, mainly flicking SP's around reefs/wash/work-ups. Got a good depth sounder on my boats centre console, but no GPS/Plotter.
I'm keen to get something to help me find submerged structure without having to zig-zag around looking at the depth sounder all the time, but don't really want to spend the coin on a new GPS, as I need my money for gulp pottles!
Looking at getting a new apple mobile phone, has anyone had any experience with the gps app on these? Suitable/accurate to use on the water?
I won't be using it for navigation, just saving marks and finding structure. This would kill three birds with one stone - boat gps, another form of marine communication, as well as being new work phone.
Have done a quick forum search about this but no dice.
Cheers,
Nat
|
Replies:
Posted By: Silent Assassin
Date Posted: 08 May 2011 at 1:08pm
| If you get a iPhone forget about the standard map app. What you need is to purchase a app called Navionics and it will turn your iPhone into a chartplotter with all NZ Charts included for the princely sum of approx $15. If nothing else it's a must buy simply as a backup system. Only prob is iPhones eat the battery when using GPS so you want to have the ability to charge it onboard. |
Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 08 May 2011 at 8:03pm
|
Consider a Motorola Defy, while not perfect and there are better phones it does have one feature which no other smartphones offers, that is IP67 certification which means its dust proof and capable of withing standing immersion down to 1m. So if it gets splashed, dunked or dropped into a ice slurry it should continue working fine. Much better for the marine environment imo. Another good App to get for GPS is Viewranger, but I agree Navionics is better for on the water. |
Posted By: Eastender
Date Posted: 08 May 2011 at 9:17pm
|
Thanks for the info, that saved a lot of mucking around. Navionics on a Motorola it is.
Cheers.
 |
Posted By: Gareth27934
Date Posted: 08 May 2011 at 9:33pm
| I wonder if the defy floats? If not then it won't be at 1m for long. Anybody got one and want to weigh it and measure it's volume? |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 09 May 2011 at 10:11am
|
The Navionice app is the same chart running in my lowrance Chart plotter, except it cost about $375 dollars less!
The GPS is accurate and does not rely on cell phone coverage, if all you do is use it to locate sub marine features it wont chew the battery , as opposed to useing the tracking function and having the application continueally running.
I used mine on a recent trip across the Tasman and have geo tagged photos, which like Hansell and Gretels bread crumbs provide a track of where I had been.
The tide features in the navionics I phone application are a fantastic addition that surpasses what my lowrance is capable of. I havent used any other phone with an inbuilt GPS so cant comment on what they can do, however if they are half as good as the Iphone..... ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: Jofly
Date Posted: 09 May 2011 at 8:34pm
|
Been using my iPhone today for the same reason. Pretty bad on battery that's for sure. I turned the app and gps off fairly quickly to save battery. It is possible to get a usb battery pack so that's not a problem. Waterproofness is. One drop in a puddle of salt and it's gone. I used a ziplock bag which is no real protection but at least you can sort of still use the touch screen. Magellan (the guys that make the gps stuff) makes a waterproof case with strengthening gps and extra battery power for the iPhone as well. Anyway, long story short. Since I have'nt bought a sounder for my rig yet (very new) I will be going for a sounder/plotter combo. Just too much fiddeling with the phone in my opinion. Hope that helps. |
Posted By: Haydan
Date Posted: 10 May 2011 at 8:21am
| Also consider an Android phone I would rate them as just as good as the iPhone but not quite as trendy (Note - Less battery life in the cheaper android models (Sub $500 mark). They also have the navionics program avaialble for $17 |
Posted By: Eastender
Date Posted: 10 May 2011 at 9:16am
I've got room on the centre console dash to fit a mobile phone holder, this should hopefully prevent it ending up in the drink and give me a good view while underway.
There is also a 12v outlet on the dash, so I should be able to charge the phone as I go.
Thanks for all the comments, good to hear other peoples knowledge/experience.
Cheers
|
Gareth27934 wrote:Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 10 May 2011 at 1:11pm
|
Locally sourced Defy only work on the Telecom network, but Parallel imported ones work on Vodafone or 2 Degrees but not Telecom. Never really thought about using a normal smartphone with a waterproof case.... but I guess it would allow them to be used more safely. Something like this looks ideal and would allow the use of phones which are better then the Defy. http://www.paddlerzone.co.nz/products/accessories/bags/aquapac_mini_phone_waterproof_bag - http://www.paddlerzone.co.nz/products/accessories/bags/aquapac_mini_phone_waterproof_bag
Nah, they seem to sink. So still no good if dropped over the side. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj-F2aMGxWA&feature=related - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj-F2aMGxWA&feature=related |
Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 11 May 2011 at 1:20pm
|
I wonder - with GPS on a phone - I presume it can tell you the gps co-ordinates where you are. How would you get from there to another spot? (for which you have gps co-ordinates).
Related to this - I know that, on a gps chartplotter, you can follow the line on the chart to the new location. but on a tiny phone screen, I cant imagine being able to follow a line on a chart. An alternative, would be to have a compass built in to the gps unit, so it could display the direction to the new spot. Gps handheld units sometimes have a compass - the latest models, more expensive ones. The most expensive, have a 3-axis compass, that shows direction even when tilted off horizontal (pretty much normal in a boat). Using this, you follow the direction indicated by a com[pass arrow, to the new location.
|
Posted By: Eastender
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 7:50pm
Cheers
|
Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 9:56pm
|
Smartphones are basically miniature computers, so they should be able to support any software feature which dedicated GPS can... I actually suspect they would offer more features because anyone can write applications for them. The main difference would be the smaller screen on the smartphones, although the screens are larger then on many handheld GPS devices and people manage to navigate with them. |
Posted By: Gareth27934
Date Posted: 12 May 2011 at 10:46pm
| A lot of the older gps don't have compasses in them either. They just look at where you are now and where you've been and tell you to be moving in straight lines while picking a direction.... When you're used to them it's easy. They do sell these little plastic things with liquid and a needle in them.....Doesn't take batteries and is waterproof.... |
Posted By: Haydan
Date Posted: 13 May 2011 at 8:53am
| I find following the line on my phone fine, my galaxy also has a pretty good compass in it. The worst part is trying to unlock the phone to see where I'm at, once the bag its in gets wet its hard to use the touchscreen |