|
|
28-03-2015, 06:55
|
#1
|
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,750
|
Best GPS Android App?
I don't really want to download and try them all. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good technical GPS app which will allow us to see screens like a regular handheld GPS gives, plus satellites in view, EPE, etc.?
Any other favorite non-mapping GPS apps in Android?
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 07:18
|
#2
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Wandering the US Gulf Coast
Boat: 78 Pearson323 Four Winds
Posts: 2,212
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
Take a look at GPS Essentials. Been using it for a few years.
__________________
Life begins at the waters edge.
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 07:23
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlantic ICW 29N/81W
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 36CC, now sold
Posts: 823
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead
I don't really want to download and try them all. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good technical GPS app which will allow us to see screens like a regular handheld GPS gives, plus satellites in view, EPE, etc.?
Any other favorite non-mapping GPS apps in Android?
|
I downloaded 'GPS Test' which gives satellite data and basic lat/long position. I downloaded it ages ago as a simple backup for the handheld VHF in the grab bag so that if we have taken off in the RIB/come liferaft we can at least pass our position info to potential rescuers. I have not tested this other than locally but it was one recommended on one forum, maybe here even, a year ago. No doubt there are other better ones now? I also have 'Marine Navigation' the free version which has basic mapping like roadmaps included (at least for USA) but you can pay and get marine charts downloaded for many areas. Since then I haveaquired a notebook with inbuilt GPS and may put something more sophisticated on that as yet another on board backup. who knows if the trusty paddlewheel log might fail and we need to get STW and SOG info to keep to our ground track?
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 07:43
|
#4
|
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,750
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
Thanks. I use a Sony Xperia Z3 phone (it's my second Sony Z) which is completely waterproof, so quite a decent subsitute for a handheld GPS in a pinch, with the right app. On top of everything else, your phone is one of the things you are most likely to have on your person in case of a sudden emergency.
I like this phone so much that I have recently acquired the analogous 10" tablet, which is also completely waterproof. I'm using it with GoFree, but will add some other functions by and by. I'm also planning to get all my manuals and technical documentation onto it.
Thread drift, but one of the giant advantages of Android devices over IPlods is that you can actually put files onto them -- they have USB ports and you can simply transfer files from a PC.
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 07:48
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: U.S., Northeast
Boat: Currently boatless
Posts: 1,643
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
I use GPS Status ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...sim.gpsstatus2) and I like it. It's clean and simple and seems to accelerate the initial fix.
__________________
... He knows the chart is not the sea.
-- Philip Booth, Chart 1203
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 08:03
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlantic ICW 29N/81W
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 36CC, now sold
Posts: 823
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
My phone is really a 'phablet' a Samsung Galaxy note 2 ( now a note 4 is the latest) I asked T mobil USA about a 4G device for internet access like wot we had when we lived on board but that ( from 'Clear')was taken over by Sprint and no longer affordable or even on a PAYG basis like it was from 'Clear'. T mobil gave us a deal with a new 'free' Samsung notebook that overall reduced our monthly unlimited talk text and data contract cost as well as giving us the notebook with the ability to use it as a wifi hub to all other nearby devices.
Sorry about the Fred Drift
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 09:34
|
#7
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 6,252
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin3
I downloaded 'GPS Test' which gives satellite data and basic lat/long position.
|
+1
I have used it for a few years. Quite like it.
__________________
CRYA Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor Evaluator, Sail
IYT Yachtmaster Coastal Instructor
As I sail, I praise God, and care not. (Luke Foxe)
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 09:38
|
#8
|
running down a dream
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Florida
Boat: cape dory 30 MKII
Posts: 3,105
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
I also recommend GPS status which gives you a compass and GPS stats.
__________________
some of the best times of my life were spent on a boat. it just took a long time to realize it.
|
|
|
28-03-2015, 15:14
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Brighton, UK
Boat: Westerly Oceanlord
Posts: 513
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
Another vote for gpsstatus: I liked it so much I bought the pro version. It displays all your sensor data, so will also show pressure if your phone has a pressure sensor.
|
|
|
29-03-2015, 07:44
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Ensenada, BC, Mexico
Boat: 1983 Freedom 39 Deck Salon
Posts: 22
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
For charting in the US, I like MX Mariner Pro. Still looking for a good solution for Pacific Mexico.
|
|
|
29-03-2015, 07:55
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: On our boat
Boat: Robinhood -- 36
Posts: 21
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
As a backup Chart Plotter, I use Plan2Nav by Jeppesen. I have been using it for about 4 years from Maine to Michigan to the Caribbean and it does a great job, and best of all, it includes both offline and realtime syncronization with Active Captain.
|
|
|
29-03-2015, 08:06
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 6,252
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
Quote:
Originally Posted by muttnik
Another vote for gpsstatus: I liked it so much I bought the pro version. It displays all your sensor data, so will also show pressure if your phone has a pressure sensor.
|
This is great. I did not realize my SIII has a barometer.
If it only has a trend bar, it would be prefect.
__________________
CRYA Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor Evaluator, Sail
IYT Yachtmaster Coastal Instructor
As I sail, I praise God, and care not. (Luke Foxe)
|
|
|
29-03-2015, 11:40
|
#13
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: home town Wellington, NZ and Savusavu Fiji
Boat: Reinke S10 & Raven 26
Posts: 1,228
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
You might also like to try the Navionics app. It turns your phone into a Chart Plotter. I find this brilliant.
__________________
Grant Mc
The cure for everything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. Yeah right, I wish.
|
|
|
29-03-2015, 13:32
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Boat: 31' Cape George Cutter
Posts: 3,270
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
I use GPS Status as well. What may not be known is that the various sensors need calibration to achieve their best accuracy (just like electronic compasses on a boat). GPS Status has calibration routines that allow that. It makes a big difference.
Also, many cases for tablets have magnets for holding the cover closed, and these can affect the compass a lot, so best thing is to calibrate and use without a cover with magnets.
Greg
|
|
|
30-03-2015, 00:48
|
#15
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
|
Re: Best GPS Android App?
I second MX Mariner Pro, US and NZ charts free to download but about $8 for each of four UK chart regions. GPS Essentials is good for keeping a record of your travels (at sea or ashore)
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|