MnGCA

RINO SHAWN

I've been noticing more and more cell phones coming out with GPS navigation. Does anyone here own one? I am assuming you can only navigate "destinations" by typing in the address you want....is this how they work??
Also, do they work from the same system are handhelds work from (meaning they need a clear view to the sky?) or do they do there calculations from cell towers (which might mean they would work indoors)

Any input would be appreciated

Shawn
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Everyone has a photographic memory..some, like me, just don't have any film.

Dances With Beehives · Geocacher Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Posts: 671 Location: Chaska

Not sure how they work....this guy found one of my parents caches with his phone though, then logged it right then and there.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LUID=7fa5c566-be43-4850-8d17-7e62d4b7bd8f
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...formerly 'dachebo'.

IBcrashen · Geocacher Joined: 17 Dec 2002 Posts: 244 Location: Duluth

You dont even need to use your gps if you have a phone that can do this

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=148800

Sounds like most people who try it like it.

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

There was some link on geocaching.com that talked about using your phone to find caches. It's a third party service and requires a phone from Nextel, Sprint, or some other that has GPS.
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Sad state of affairs.

Grey Wolf and Wild Rice · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:47 pm Post subject:

Nextel's will give you you position in coordinates, but they do not update automatically like a GPS reciever does. You can find caches, but in a very crude manner.....ie: no goto....just compare the coordinates to where you need to go to.

It uses satelites...not cell towers. Works best with the back facing skyward.

Newer models may do more. Mine is about 3 years old. In cell phone life....that's ancient.

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

http://www.geocachenavigator.com/
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Sad state of affairs.

5savages · Geocacher Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 204

I used my verizon phone with VZ Navigator to find France Geo Beacons but I wouldn't recommend it.

From my log:

Grey Wolf and Wild Rice · Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:

RINO SHAWN · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:28 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone!

I have determined from what you all have posted that I am no longer bummed out that the new phone I recently got had everything BUT gps navigation. Sounds like it is not overly useful.

So what CAN you do with a gps phone?? just basic routing from addresses?

what I have concluded so far from your inputs are:

still needs clear view to the sky/ uses satelittes
very slow to update
cannot enter coordinates
does have the ability to view current coordinates (although slow to update)

Sounds like there is no good substitute to just carrying a handheld GPSr

(I have considered adding GPS software to my Pocket PC PDA phone using microsoft streets and trips and a bluetooth reciever....but am afraid I will still be in the same situation of not being able to enter coordinates..and therefore not very useful for geocaching)

So far with my pda phone, I have mp3 music, camera, internet access with a slide out keyboard, large SD card with Rand McNally mapping software, lots of geocaching info from GSAK that I keep updated,....basically can do everything all in 1 package EXCEPT GPS

shawn
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Everyone has a photographic memory..some, like me, just don't have any film.

Marsha and Silent Bob · Past MnGCA President Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 6261

Grey Wolf and Wild Rice · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:41 am Post subject:

5savages · Geocacher Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 204