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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 9:25:36 GMT -5
Yesterday a coworker showed me an app, this morning I bought it. It's called planimeter and I think it's going to be very helpful when I get out and wander the prairies here. It does a ton of stuff, including tracking your distance walked, location, great mapping. The best part for me is that you can put pins and notes on where you've been. Now I don't have to rely on this old brain to remember where I've searched!  Oh, and with all of the extra features (which I recommend), the total cost was less than ten bucks. AND you can get a refund if you don't like the app. I hope to get out and put it to use this weekend! |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,977
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Post by Tommy on Nov 1, 2018 9:42:06 GMT -5
That sounds great. We use Gaia for driving while rockhounding and it works great, and Runkeeper for simple hiking, but to date have not found a great solution for both - just wandering around. I'll give it a look.
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Post by woodman on Nov 1, 2018 9:56:14 GMT -5
Don't think it will work on my flip phone!! I carry a GPS for all my needs, phone does not work where I go anyway.
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Post by aDave on Nov 1, 2018 11:21:50 GMT -5
Does it work offline? I'm sure there are plenty of hounding areas where cell reception is nil.
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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 11:30:45 GMT -5
That sounds great. We use Gaia for driving while rockhounding and it works great, and Runkeeper for simple hiking, but to date have not found a great solution for both - just wandering around. I'll give it a look. Might have to check those out, too, thanks. Like I said, I haven't used it much but from what he showed me I think I'll like it. |
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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 11:31:45 GMT -5
Does it work offline? I'm sure there are plenty of hounding areas where cell reception is nil. Good point. It does say that you can save maps of where you've been in a file offline. |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,977
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Post by Tommy on Nov 1, 2018 11:33:36 GMT -5
Does it work offline? I'm sure there are plenty of hounding areas where cell reception is nil. Good question. That's what we appreciate most about Gaia - we can download satellite maps of the area we are headed to in advance then bring them up and the app tracks our location and waypoints while disconnected from cell service. Bulky maps can be deleted after the trip without losing any tracks data. Gaia is a battery hog though which is why it's not great for humans on foot wandering around all day. Probably could get a portable solar panel to wear on my hat I guess  |
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Post by aDave on Nov 1, 2018 11:51:01 GMT -5
Does it work offline? I'm sure there are plenty of hounding areas where cell reception is nil. Good point. It does say that you can save maps of where you've been in a file offline. Mike, I would be looking for something like Tommy mentioned - the ability to download and save maps in advance of the trip, especially if you know you're going to an area without cell reception. Some of the geocaching apps I've seen have this ability, so it is possible the app can do it. For those geocaching apps, when cell reception is lost, you're working purely off the phone's GPS and the map that was previously downloaded. |
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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 11:56:47 GMT -5
Good point. It does say that you can save maps of where you've been in a file offline. Mike, I would be looking for something like Tommy mentioned - the ability to download and save maps in advance of the trip, especially if you know you're going to an area without cell reception. Some of the geocaching apps I've seen have this ability, so it is possible the app can do it. For those geocaching apps, when cell reception is lost, you're working purely off the phone's GPS and the map that was previously downloaded. I'll try it out and try to post an update. |
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Post by oregon on Nov 1, 2018 12:08:23 GMT -5
Avenza and Google maps are two other good offline tools to use. Avenza has free access to most of all the old USGS quadrangles, Google Maps is good if you remember to save the data for offline use, you can get terrain and imagery to use.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Nov 1, 2018 12:23:20 GMT -5
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Post by fernwood on Nov 1, 2018 12:36:38 GMT -5
I was introduced to Avenza by the surveyor/tree marker prior to my land being logged. It is great. Allows for placing markers, tracking distance, notes and other features. Works both as an app or on computer.
When him and I walked my land, we were in some pretty thick stuff with limited cell phone reception. Because of the multiple satellites that they use, he had no problems doing anything. I had no cell reception, nor did he for calls, but he could access Avenza and do everything needed. One can also create maps, download to computer and print off.
It is now on my phone.
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Post by fernwood on Nov 1, 2018 12:51:02 GMT -5
The Forester kept showing me his phone. There were 5-7 satellites that showed up. He said that for somewhat accurate marking, he needed to see at least 4. That would get within a couple feet. When there were 7 showing, it would get to within less than an inch. If he only saw 5, he would move his phone around a little until more showed up. According to him it is the best out there. He is a friend of my daughter/son in law and has been to my place in the past, so I trust what he said.
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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 14:08:45 GMT -5
Avenza and Google maps are two other good offline tools to use. Avenza has free access to most of all the old USGS quadrangles, Google Maps is good if you remember to save the data for offline use, you can get terrain and imagery to use. I have Avenza, it's pretty good. I was able to download and save the map for the Oglala National Grasslands. The new one that I mentioned seems to have more usable features to be able to keep track of where I've been... |
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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 14:10:40 GMT -5
Thanks, I'll check that out too. Until I started rock hounding I pretty much stuck to the same old places like work, my kids' school, the grocery store, etc. and really had no reason to know where I'd been  |
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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 14:11:47 GMT -5
The Forester kept showing me his phone. There were 5-7 satellites that showed up. He said that for somewhat accurate marking, he needed to see at least 4. That would get within a couple feet. When there were 7 showing, it would get to within less than an inch. If he only saw 5, he would move his phone around a little until more showed up. According to him it is the best out there. He is a friend of my daughter/son in law and has been to my place in the past, so I trust what he said. Hmm, maybe I haven't explored all of the options with Avenza... Thanks! |
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Post by Peruano on Nov 1, 2018 14:14:21 GMT -5
You scared me when you said you might not have to use your brain. Too much dependence on gps or cell phones without depending on brain logic results in some folks getting into a whole lot of trouble. Use the technology but retain control if your battery goes down or your instrument is broken.
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Post by miket on Nov 1, 2018 15:46:25 GMT -5
You scared me when you said you might not have to use your brain. Too much dependence on gps or cell phones without depending on brain logic results in some folks getting into a whole lot of trouble. Use the technology but retain control if your battery goes down or your instrument is broken. Oh, that was a joke! I just meant to mark where I've been so I don't search the exact same areas over and over. 'Course, I've been out enough to know that there's no way to search every square inch of even the same places I've been, not to mention that rain, cows, people, etc. all stir up more Fairburns! |
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Post by Peruano on Nov 1, 2018 18:20:02 GMT -5
I have been known to mark a site with my gps when I see a big rock or one I can't carry on this trip - with the intention of coming back some day. The gadgets are wonderful, but many of my locales are right on the edge of cell phone coverage that I would not want to be without gps capability. I figured you were safe but its nice to remind some folks not to get too modern.
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Post by greig on Nov 1, 2018 19:10:24 GMT -5
A couple of my moose hunting buddies were using Avenza this year and loved it. I rely on a compass, but the area was so heavily mineralized in places that it is easy to get turned around, which I did. I walked a couple of miles south, when I should have been going west. At the same time, my radio failed so I could only transmit and not receive. I eventually figured it out, but the guys had a wonderful time every time I announced a new creek or swamp that I passed through.
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