Outdoor gps tracker how to#
Outdoor gps tracker portable#
Outdoor gps tracker software#

Outdoor educators still teach map and compass skills for good reason. No matter what else you carry, be sure to bring a compass as a backup. And your handheld GPS will still be there to provide your location with pinpoint precision. Simply dialing 9-1-1 is the best way to initiate a call for help, as long as you have a cell signal. Sure, GPS units may include SOS beacons and other communication methods with the outside world, but EMS and search and rescue agencies are built to receive calls through their call centers. novak.elcic/Shutterstock Cell phone, map, and compass still play an important backup roleĮmergency communication is the best reason to continue carrying a cell phone into the wilderness. Whether you want to share maps using wireless data transfer, snap geotagged pics of your favorite locations, or communicate with other groups via two-way radio, there’s a GPS unit that can do it. GLONASS can boost performance in mountainous regions, while Galileo improves navigation in urban environments.įinally, the added features could make life easier in the backcountry.

Some handheld devices interact with additional systems including GLONASS, Galileo, and others. Although it is widely considered the most accurate, GPS is only one of several systems that rely on different satellite constellations and communication pathways.

Outdoor gps tracker software#

Preloaded and available third party trip planning software and map availability varies among brands and models as well.Īlso, check out the positioning tech that is used. Consider map features such as topographic maps, geocaching functionality, and preloaded map packages. CapabilitiesĪlthough the basic functions are similar from one GPS tracker to the next, look for the subtle differences. To solve this challenge, find your sweet spot on the weight to screen size spectrum. Large screens are the main contributor to weight and bulk. For instance, a touchscreen GPS offers a larger screen size ratio than one with push button controls, but push buttons work while wearing gloves in cold weather. Who wants to carry a heavy, clunky device all day? With GPS units, the balancing act among display, interface, and advanced features plays out in the physical dimensions of the device. Size and weight are major concerns for hikers. For longer expeditions, some units offer as much as 100 hours of battery life. If your trips are limited to weekends, 20 hours of runtime will be enough to get in and out of the woods on a single charge. But for weekends or extended backpacking trips, battery life takes on greater significance. Battery lifeįor mostly day hikes, virtually any handheld GPS unit will do, since they all provide at least 10 hours of runtime. Here’s a quick breakdown of how you can sort through the noise and narrow your choices. Nearly 30 years later, there is no shortage of devices to choose from.

Outdoor gps tracker how to#

A08/Shutterstock How to choose a handheld GPS unit Current models include such advanced features such as wireless data transfer capability, pre-installed maps and trip planning software, geocaching capabilities, two-way radio, digital camera, and more. Whether you are still at home planning the hike, traveling your planned route, altering your course on a whim, or saving key locations to revisit at a later date, a GPS unit can do it.Īnd, taking their cue from the smartphone trend, GPS makers continue developing intelligent outdoor capabilities beyond navigation. It easily provides point to point navigation, records and displays trip data, and can sync with your computer for trip planning, analysis, management. As you walk, it can track your route, making it a cinch to exactly backtrack to the car or another previous point on the path. What does a GPS unit doĪ purpose built GPS unit is capable of precisely displaying your position anywhere on earth.

Outdoor gps tracker portable#

Accessories like rugged phone cases and portable charging systems can help mitigate some of these shortcomings, but this requires more gear and more weight. And, if it slips from a sweaty hand onto a rock or into a puddle, the phone will end up useless. Heat, cold, humidity, and precipitation place additional stress on phones. On the other hand, in order to perform navigational functions, a cell phone must constantly run apps, which quickly drains the battery.