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I'm looking for a phone to make a dedicated GPS for survival/backpacking. Does anyone have an idea on what the best battery life phone with an accurate GPS would be. It wouldn't be used for a phone, only GPS, maps, and for storing some relevant ebooks. I'm trying to keep it under like $300 so I'm looking for something a bit older.

I'm not sure on the technology or what gives a phone good battery life or GPS accuracy but I'm hoping some nerd here knows. Thanks.

I'm looking for a phone to make a dedicated GPS for survival/backpacking. Does anyone have an idea on what the best battery life phone with an accurate GPS would be. It wouldn't be used for a phone, only GPS, maps, and for storing some relevant ebooks. I'm trying to keep it under like $300 so I'm looking for something a bit older. I'm not sure on the technology or what gives a phone good battery life or GPS accuracy but I'm hoping some nerd here knows. Thanks.

(post is archived)

[–] • 2 pts

Shit just a normal GPS unit is long long battery life.

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

Like a Garmin you mean? 15-20 hours on I think. Thing is the mapping apps seem way better than these expensive gps units now. That’s why I wanted to go with that.

[–] • 0 pt

Older Garmin maybe. 60csx is a classic. Doesn't do ebooks though but perhaps newer ones do. Although maybe we are too used to having one tech do everything.

[–] • 2 pts

A phone is a terrible device for backpacking GPS. Get an actual GPS design for that.

[–] • 1 pt

You could use a raspberry pi

They make all kinds of things out of them. You could make a cell phone, cell phone with a GPS, cell phone gps, am/fm radio... Or skip the phone part and just go gps. You get to use whatever battery packs you want too so battery life is in your hands.

DIY this way also lets you add other things to the pi

. Faster to buy a GPS

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Looks like a fun project for sure but I’m not trusting anything I built in the wilderness! Maybe I’ll get my pi out and build some shit this week

[+] [deleted] • 1 pt
[–] [deleted] • 1 pt (edited )

The problem with that is the battery life.

My dad hunts for long periods of time. He won't use On X Hunt, a cool map app, because of battery life. He chooses to use those shitty looking ones from 2006.

I suppose you could get a solar charger.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

If you want a Satellite locator with a 2 way page function its a much better survival tool. Factory Refurbished $199.99 SPOT X provides 2-way satellite messaging so you can stay connected to family, friends and colleagues whenever you’re outside of cellular range, including direct communication with Search & Rescue services in case of life-threatening emergency. SPOT X even provides you with your own personal mobile U.S. number so others can message you directly from their cell phone or other SMS devices at any time.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

I want to stay "not lost" to begin with. I would like one of those though. Will it cost me thousands if I press the button to get rescued?

[–] • 0 pt

They are designed to be used in life threatening situations or medical emergency. If you need help you get help what it costs is not something you need to worry about.Its designed to save your life and get help to you.

[–] • 0 pt
[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

Those all seem pretty plausible. Could happen to anyone. Maybe a smart idea to have one on me just in case.

[–] • 0 pt

From what I’ve kinda found outside of an actual dedicated Garmin type of GPS. People seem to recommend a Samsung galaxy tab A for price and battery life So seemingly a Samsung phone would be a good bet. I think the important part is that you shouldn’t need wifi for it to work and I believe that’s called assisted gps. Which is supposed to be slightly less laggy and more accurate. I’ve been looking into this myself for navionics software.(boat maps)

[–] • 0 pt

Learning to Navigate with a Map and a compass is the best low power option. Check your position with the GPS and then turn it off. Plot your track and bearing with the compass and make a move. Travel using the compass bearing..and your map..check your position with the GPS then turn it off and mark a new bearing or line of travel.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

That makes sense to me. Now if I switched it on and off as needed would I be better off with a GPS unit or phone that has additional utility if needed. I know it takes most phones way too long to boot up and back down; I wonder if GPS units are better at that.

[–] • 0 pt

GPS needs to ''see'' the sky and the more satellites it can see the better your accuracy will be..deep in the bush..you are going to have issues..so be aware..boot up time for a garmin to a useable fix should be less than 1 minute in ideal conditions in dense bush you may not get a usable fix you may need to move to a clear spot. If you can't see the sky neither can your GPS. GPS signals are Circular/Helical in nature...they loop as they reach the earth...you need a reasonable view of the sky...A compass bearing does not care..

[–] • 0 pt

Battery Power and life of any phone in a survival situation are going to be suspect, that said I think a dedicated GPS is the best thing..Garmin E Trex, Summit, are all good options and have removable /rechargable batteries. Some have barometric altimiters as well. I like Garmin products and they have lots of good stuff for less than your budget..second hand is also a great option. Survival..you need a second tool..to be safe and a map and compass..or even just a compas on your watch..is the best thing..learn to use them with no pressure..I learned to use a map and compass 40 years ago and still can navigate reliably with a contour map anywhere..I love the GPS..its much more grab a fix and go...then turn it on again to check progress than leaving it on all the time to navigate point to point. Your mileage and situation for usage may vary. Batteries are not a really long term viable option without a solar recharger or one of those water boiling...usb charger things..tech is out there. 3 days is the most you would hopefully be out there..so you need to look at something that can last for at least 3 days in cold temps( not easy)..Anything longer than 3 days of unforced wilderness exposure and you are usally in trouble. If you want to be found easily..get a SPOT messenger. If you dont want to be found..don't get anything except a map and compass.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

Thanks for the detailed reply. That makes a lot of sense to me. I'm currently learning to use a map and compass. The main reason I wanted a GPS or phone with GPS on it though is for a detailed map and contour lines but it doesn't look like I will get those with any sort of reasonable battery life.

[–] • 0 pt

If you are going to learn to fully uuse contour lines then you need an altimeter in your GPS. ( Its possible to navigate using the altimeter and contour lines) eTrex® 32x Rugged Handheld GPS with Compass and Barometric Altimeter PART NUMBER 010-02257-00 Explore confidently with the reliable handheld GPS 2.2” sunlight-readable colour display with 240 x 320 display pixels for improved readability Preloaded with TopoActive maps with routable roads and trails for cycling and hiking Support for GPS and GLONASS satellite systems allows for tracking in more challenging environments than GPS alone 8 GB of internal memory for map downloads plus a microSD™ card slot eTrex 32x adds a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter Battery life: up to 25 hours in GPS mode with 2 AA batteries There are Suunto watches with built-in Altimeters and Compass and some smartwatches also. Align the Map to the ground, then align the compass to the map. Place one edge of the compass on the desired line of travel (from where you are to where you want to be) Rotate the compass bearing ring until the Easting Grid of the compass align with the Easiting lines on the map. When your eastings are alingned then your compass bearing to the destination is the number on the the top of the bearing ring. Pick up the compass and using the Mirror and the compass shoot a bearing to an object along the desired line of travel..repeat this as often as required. (Point to point) Its that simple...40 years ago...never forgot it the rest is practice. Dense bush makes it hard..you will need to find a high spot to shoot a bearing from and then trust your compass to take you there.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

This looks like the one for me and it just takes AAs. Actually excited to go use a compass. I'm going to get out and do it a bit this weekend.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

A sextant and compass do not require batteries

[–] • 0 pt

I do not know anyone who knows how to use a sextant..the only time I ever saw one used in anger was on a C130 Flight to Alaska, the co pilot took a sun sight with the sextant while I got to sit in his seat and trim the aircraft...awesome

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

A map though. I can download contours and everything on a phone

[–] • 0 pt

A paper map does not require battery power, it needs to be of the right scale and prefferably waterproofed so you can mark your bearing , and lines or travel repeatedly..having a notebook to record things is also incredibly useful

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

With this I was thinking more along the lines of not having a planned trip or knowing where I am going. I will definitely start grabbing maps when I go camping and hiking.