Dedicated GPS or Mobile Phone GPS?

[2Tired4]

Do you prefer carrying dedicated GPS device or do you prefer to carry your cell phone that has this function? Please, go into details on this.

[Bella Rae]

I am not very knowlegeable on this, but I prefer my dedicated GPS. Every time I tried to use my phone for a GPS, I had all kinds of problems. It also drained my phone battery quickly.

[oldsarge]

I too prefer a dedicated GPS system. A dedicated GPS will have tons of features and abilities for mapping, storing and saving way-points, project way-points, plot routes and a variety of other things. It's water proof and most of them float. I want my phone separate from the GPS so I can keep it packed away and stored until I need it. I don't want the risk of dropping it in water and loosing my communications and navigation.

I have friends who geocache with their phones and don't seem to have to much of an issue. On occasion they will be "ify" on accuracy, slow to acquire and maintain signal. The biggest complaint I heard was battery life.


Don't forget...have a map & compass too, GPS can fail.

[briansnat]

Dedicated GPS hands down. The GPS is built to handle the rigors of outdoors use. The phone isn't.

Not to mention that the phone batteries die pretty quickly when using the GPS. Then you're stuck out there with no GPS and no phone.

Even if the dedicated GPS's batteries die you can just pop in a fresh set.

[ejdixon]

Originally Posted by Bella Rae

I am not very knowlegeable on this, but I prefer my dedicated GPS. Every time I tried to use my phone for a GPS, I had all kinds of problems. It also drained my phone battery quickly.

Same here, especially when it's really difficult to get a signal to begin with.

[Refrigerator]

Technology as it is today I agree.

[Bojib]

Another vote for dedicated GPS.

The phone is nice for finding the car again in a large parking lot, or geocaching around some urban areas. Once I leave the pavement, I prefer the ruggedness of an actual GPS unit, for reasons mentioned above.

[Johnny]

No phone can beat the dedicated GPS thingy when it comes to remembering routes, geo-caching and other specially dedicated features. I vote for a hard core GPS device.

[IndianaHiker]

Dedicated battery life, and durability of the phone is always an issue if out for longer than a day hike. However that being said never go without map and compass and know how to use them.

[pastywhite]

There are some amazing GPS apps for smartphones these days with features, in many cases, better than dedicated GPS. However, due to battery and signal issues the dedicated GPS units are probably a better choice.