Phones for GPS

si. d

I noticed recently that people were singing the praises of the Garmin GPS. My problem is i'm too tight to fork out for one of those, but neither my memory nor the google maps printout stuffed down the front of my shorts cut the mustard.

Since i'm due a new phone I was considering getting an upgrade and gaffa taping one of the new 'GPS equipped phones' to my stem. But i've heard you need a GPRS connection, subscriptions, internet downloads etc. all of which sound expensive.

Anyone have any experience with these, or should I just give up on this venture?

Merci Beaucoup.

cjcp

ITB will be along shortly...

whyamihere

si. d wrote:

Since i'm due a new phone I was considering getting an upgrade and gaffa taping one of the new 'GPS equipped phones' to my stem. But i've heard you need a GPRS connection, subscriptions, internet downloads etc. all of which sound expensive.

Lies. Damned lies.

I can only speak for the Nokia range, as that's all I've used (have an N95, used a 6210). GPS is free, and is always free. Assisted GPS where the phone uses your network signal to roughly work out your position, may not be, but I think it is on Orange at least (I never noticed a charge). Using the Nokia maps application, there will be massive data charges if you don't download the maps using your computer and load them onto the phone, because if you haven't then the phone will download them all as you go. So download them using the Nokia tool and load them to the phone, then it's free.

Navigation is a paid for service, but the Sportstracker app that displays ride data is free.

Kieran_Burns

I have a HTC touch HD with IGO8 installed. GPRS is built in and you can use Google maps to find yourself as well.

I get unlimited 'net browsing, 600 mins x network and 1200 texts per month for £35 and the phone was free. You can get a handlebar mount for the phone as well so basically I'm sorted (and the screen is stonking!)

itboffin

cjcp wrote:

ITB will be along shortly...

Hello

Right then old been you'll be wanting a Nokia phone with wifi and a full data contract in fact Vodafone have just dropped their data charges.

Nokia because they're bullet proof and easy to use plus Nokia Sport Tracker (Free) only works on Nokias :shock: the beta version of said software now has maps but better than that it now works with HRM, so not only do you get all the usual stuff avg. max alt. dist. pace n things but you can upload to their special website, this is where the wifi comes in, you could use gprs but you'd die of bored waiting for the uploads.

You can also take pics during the ride and add them to your workout, export to KML, XML & GPX formats to upload to bikehike.

Best of all there's already an SCR community http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15038168

All that for free - get in

itboffin

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I have a HTC touch HD with IGO8 installed. GPRS is built in and you can use Google maps to find yourself as well.

I get unlimited 'net browsing, 600 mins x network and 1200 texts per month for £35 and the phone was free. You can get a handlebar mount for the phone as well so basically I'm sorted (and the screen is stonking!)

Oh that's so 1984 :P

itboffin

I think there are enough of us now to do real-time SCRing or Weekend Socials come on people take the plunge go 'live' or are you afraid we'll see you real speed

alfablue

Nokia here as well. Got an n82 free on a £25pm contract with Orange. Nokia Maps is free, you pay for voice guided navigation though (you buy a licence for 1 or more years). As Why says, you download the maps you need to the phone from the pc (no cost).

You can use "asisted GPS" which gets network data to get a faster GPS fix (costs just pence), or use it unassisted.

Sportstracker is a great free utility for logging your rides and uploading them to the web where they display overlayed on Google Maps, with various stats.

Any photos you might take are tagged with the gps coordinates and can be uploaded to the web site with the workout.

If you don't want to pay for voice guided sat nav and just want to track your rides using Sportstracker, there are no ongoing costs. It certainly has quelled any desire to fork out for a Garmin.

You can get a waterproof "Boxit" handlebar mount if you want to view the data as you ride (records standard computer stuff, plus altitude), and the latest version displays a map. This mount will only fit the slimmer candy bar phones not the chunky sliders like the n95.

I think Nokia has (or is very soon) released a phone that will add a Polar heart rate monitor strap to use with Sportstracker. It gets better and better

I have also found the phone to be great for in car sat nav, and for when exploring cities on foot, just search for the pub/restaurant/gallery etc from the points of interest, and off you go.

Have a look at the Sportstracker web site

itboffin

I have a handlebar mount but after my last N95 bounced off when I hit a pot hole I now keep it in my jersey pocket.

Reported the serious pot holes to fillthathole.org.uk not to be confused with fillmyhole.com :shock:

Kieran_Burns

itboffin wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I have a HTC touch HD with IGO8 installed. GPRS is built in and you can use Google maps to find yourself as well.

I get unlimited 'net browsing, 600 mins x network and 1200 texts per month for £35 and the phone was free. You can get a handlebar mount for the phone as well so basically I'm sorted (and the screen is stonking!)

Oh that's so 1984 :P

cue sound of conversation whooshing by overhead

whyamihere

Did Winston Smith have an HTC then?

si. d

I'm sold, Nokia 5800 it is then.

Thanks for the heads up, really appreciate it.

Bassjunkieuk

si. d wrote:

I'm sold, Nokia 5800 it is then.

Thanks for the heads up, really appreciate it.

Before you rush out tomorrow morning, make sure that one supports Sportstracker. I'm sure it was one I was considering when I changed phones but avoided it as:

1. It didn't support sports tracker, at least according to the ST website, despite it being a nokia with GPS
2. I'm cheap, I wanted the smallest line rental each month with a free phone - hence I got a 6220 on Virgin, £18 a month with a free phone!

Slow Downcp

I should really work out how to use my N95 properly. Upgraded to it 18 months ago because of the gadgets, since used it for phone calls, the odd text, and a few photos :oops:

itboffin

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

si. d wrote:

I'm sold, Nokia 5800 it is then.

Thanks for the heads up, really appreciate it.

Before you rush out tomorrow morning, make sure that one supports Sportstracker. I'm sure it was one I was considering when I changed phones but avoided it as:

1. It didn't support sports tracker, at least according to the ST website, despite it being a nokia with GPS
2. I'm cheap, I wanted the smallest line rental each month with a free phone - hence I got a 6220 on Virgin, £18 a month with a free phone!

Hey Bass they all support ST you just have to download it from nokia research beta site

Make sure you get wifi

itboffin

Slow Downcp wrote:

I should really work out how to use my N95 properly. Upgraded to it 18 months ago because of the gadgets, since used it for phone calls, the odd text, and a few photos :oops:

I helped provide Nokia, skype, iphone and others with their European Wifi connectivity the N95 is quiet possibly the best phone yet made but you have to get it unlock and upgraded to the latest nokia firmware, the wifi is amazing and real voip becomes an option.

sipgate.co.uk bag yourself an 0845 number the burds love it :P run skype, jabber, sports tracker and more and more and more.

wgwarburton

Hi,
N78 for me, seems a cracking 'phone- music, FM transmitter, gps, works as a broadband modem for a laptop, FM radio, etc... Smaller and faster than my clunky old N73, micro-SD slot, Jack socket for headphones, useable camera (doesn't have a xenon flash or optical zoom)... you can even use it to ring people up!

I wouldn't want to carry a pile of gadgets (GPS, iPod, phone, USB modem, memory stick...) This thing seems to cover the bases...

Cheers,
W.

alfablue

The Nokia n79 Active comes with a bluetooth Polar heart rate monitor strap, and there is talk of a cadence sensor in the pipeline. The phone has been launched but not in our shops yet as far as I know, soon, hopefully.

FCE2007

Sony Ericsson have entered the fray and the supplied Tracker software is actually very good (imo).
Also the Nokia E75 and N97 will be along soon.

Slow Downcp

itboffin wrote:

Slow Downcp wrote:

I should really work out how to use my N95 properly. Upgraded to it 18 months ago because of the gadgets, since used it for phone calls, the odd text, and a few photos :oops:

I helped provide Nokia, skype, iphone and others with their European Wifi connectivity the N95 is quiet possibly the best phone yet made but you have to get it unlock and upgraded to the latest nokia firmware, the wifi is amazing and real voip becomes an option.

sipgate.co.uk bag yourself an 0845 number the burds love it :P run skype, jabber, sports tracker and more and more and more.

Yet another thing to add on my seemingly endless list of taks to do this weekend - "learn how to use phone applications" :?

I may be back later for advice :oops:

s-worksenduro

Alternatively, the iPhone or T-Mobile G1. I'm counting down the days to being able to upgrade my N95 to a G1. Far too slow for me. You press a button to enter a menu and you have to wait an age for it to catch up.
iPhone and the G1 (on flext) have free unlimited data, which is also usefull for surfing the web on the move. They use Google Maps which will let you plan out your route on the go, as well as having GPS to tell you where you are.
I am no longer a Nokia fan, but go into the shops and try them out and see what is the best phone for you to use

Rich158

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I have a HTC touch HD with IGO8 installed. GPRS is built in and you can use Google maps to find yourself as well.

I get unlimited 'net browsing, 600 mins x network and 1200 texts per month for £35 and the phone was free. You can get a handlebar mount for the phone as well so basically I'm sorted (and the screen is stonking!)

I've tried using my Touch Diamond with GPS Tuner, the software is fine if you're walking but I've found the gps fix is too slow for biking, something that appears to be a problem with Nokia phones as well.

My main problem however is that from fully charged the phones lasts less than 1 hour with the gps running :shock: the screen is difficult to see in direct sunlight, and it's not waterproof. I have tried a better battery, but that makes the phone larger so it doesn't fit the bike mount. Using a phone is fine if you want to occasionally check you're on the right route, but as a constant guide I've found it next to useless

I'm now savig up for a Garmin, there's nothing like the proper tool for the job

TiBoy

I have Nokia sports tracker running on an old Nokia 5500 sport, the advantage of this phone is that it is water a shock proofso you can strap it to your stem and not worry about it. It needs an external gps which cost me a bout £10 from ebay. Its free to run the software but costs about 10p to upload to the website (unless anyone can tell me how to do it for free). I'm a big fan but will proberbly get a Garmin when I have the money.

Not all the Nokia's will run sports tracker as I also have the new 5800 which Nokia have not released the sports tracker for it yet.

alfablue

I have no lag with my n82, works perfectly. Have you got the latest firmware on your phone?

Every time I stray from Nokia I regret it because of un-intuitive software.

alfablue

Rich158 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I've tried using my Touch Diamond with GPS Tuner, the software is fine if you're walking but I've found the gps fix is too slow for biking, something that appears to be a problem with Nokia phones as well.

Again, no prob on my n82, gps keeps up as well as on my Tom Tom.

As for battery life, I get about 4 hours whilst using gps, but I take an AA battery charger with me (about £5 from Maplin), with one or more rechargeable AA's depending on whether a day ride or multi day tour.

I think some older n95's using older firmware had some issues with gps, but my phone is faultless.

dodgy

I have a 5800 and have been playing with Sports Tracker for a while now, the software isn't available on Nokia's site (unless it's gone up in the last week or so), I had to get a leaked beta (which works perfectly) from the S60 blog here http://s60blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/SportsTracker_S60v5_S60BLOG.COM.sisx

Dave.

alfablue

The software is still in beta, but it is now working very well as a beta!

the official download site is here:

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/download.do

dodgy

The 5800 is a S60 v5 device, there isn't any software on Nokia's site for it yet (again, unless they've only just put it up).

Beeblebrox

Can anyone give opinions on the N85?

I've been searching around for deals and they seem to be recommend elsewhere, but would like to know their bike suitability.

Jus13

Currently using an iphone with either 'map my ride' or 'RK-Free' apps. Both do pretty much the same thing and there are others available in the i-tunes store depending on what you want.

So far they both seem to be pretty accurate and you can also listen to your music while they run alongside. Just bought a Herbert Richter holder for the iphone (only about £15) which will go on the bars so I can see speed and distance at a glance without having to take my hands off.

No problem with battery life, and as with most apple stuff - very easy to use.

Jus

pneumatic

Never mind 1984, what about 1948?