Should I buy a GPS for a backpacking trip?

[blazingwolf]

Originally Posted by clutch

does basic gps work without cell coverage?

Yes. Google Maps and Bing will not show maps as they need a data connection. Igo 8, Garmin and other stand alone apps will work just fine.

[dna550]

I tested Google maps and the internal SCH-i910 GPS walking around last Sunday. it was entirely accurate and you can switch to a satellite view.

Of course, I did have a good radio signal to stay connected to Google and the battery strength was not an issue.

Would I depend on the SCH-i910 and a Verizon Wireless signal in a remote wilderness area?

Not if my life depended on it!

[Phantom27]

I would never rely on a GPS in a remote wilderness area. I'm a compass / map kind of guy. A GPS is great but I don't believe in putting your life in the hands of an electronic device in the wilderness. I was just thinking how cool it would be to use the Omnia in the wilderness for the coolness factor ("Look what my phone will do!!")

[phullofphil]

Originally Posted by Phantom27

I would never rely on a GPS in a remote wilderness area. I'm a compass / map kind of guy. A GPS is great but I don't believe in putting your life in the hands of an electronic device in the wilderness. I was just thinking how cool it would be to use the Omnia in the wilderness for the coolness factor ("Look what my phone will do!!")

It will work, and yes a compass is the way to go but having a real gps that you know will work can help as a back up or on occasions when compass is giving false readings or for a novice. I have never got lost in the wilderness just lost things i went looking for in my younger years. But at the very least get gps program with a blank canvas. It will tell you where you start so no matter where you go you have a strait line reference back to POI. Some have options that allow you to calibrate any map or picture that you want to two reference points on the map. besides Stealing downloads that is about all there is thats free.

[pinyon]

I use my Omnia with Memory-Map and have topos for the western united states. There are other solutions and I generally have "real" maps along as well, but I love having the pda mapping. I liked the bigger screen on my old Axim, but not enough to take it instead of the Omnia.