Oldfeller is the expert on getting cheap phones to do things....but on this weekend he was using his phone sparingly to navigate so he wouldn't be using up his data.

I used a combination of my Garmin GPS and my Iphone while traveling....they both have their good and weak points.

You can buy used Garmin GPS units on eBay pretty cheap.  MMRanch is using one he got for $ 5.00 and it works just fine.  It is not a waterproof version - but he has gotten it wet several times and it keeps right on working.  I doubt if he has had any map updates so as roads change...the stored information might be out of date.  Be careful to find out what maps are loaded on the GPS if you buy one....as the data for the US is too big to fit all at once, and you need to have the data for the area you are riding in (don't buy a GPS from CA if you are riding in TN).  If the seller has a lifetime map subscription....have them update it for the region you live before sending it to you (I don't believe the lifetime subscriptions are transferable).  The lifetime map update is something like $ 80....or this place is supposed to provide it for free.
http://www.mygpsmapupdates.com/garmin/free-garmin-map-updates

I have a Gamin Nuvi 500 and it is made for motorcycles and is waterpoof....I bought it used for $ 125 and I did spend the $ 80 for the lifetime map update.  It works fine for traveling from place to place provided the map lists a name for the town....if you are trying to find instersections without names it is a bit more cumbersome.  Storing routes is possible....but is time consuming.  You can go to Google Maps and get coordinates - but the map is in decimal degrees and the Garmin uses Hours/Minutes/Seconds for coordinates - so you have to do a conversion.  You can get this information and store it in the Favorites.....so you can access it while on the move.  (If you come to the July event MMRanch and I can walk you through the good, the bad, and the ugly about using a Garmin).

I have an Iphone that is supplied by my work, and it has unlimited data....so using it for navigation is OK.  I used it a bit over the weekend....and it actually is more convenient than my Garmin as long as you can get a connection to a cell tower.  When you are setting up a route it needs to have access....once underway you can lose the internet signal and it will continue on the route as long as you can get a GPS signal.  You can't change the route if you lose the cell signal, and when you arrive at your destination you can't set up a new route unless you have a cell signal.  The cell phone method is pretty handy as you can just scan a map and touch the screen and set a "pin"where you want to go - or you can search a town name....or you can do a search for a business/campground/park/etc. and tell the phone to take you there.  An added bonus for me is that I have a Sena SMH headset with bluetooth....and the phone can tell me the route directions in my helmet!

So....for on the cheap.  You can likely buy a used GPS unit pretty cheap.

I think using gps can at times be self defeating,If I'm going somewhere new I find it's much better to use mapquest,to get there,but I usually take the "the long way home"which means I just point the bike in the general direction and go.Even number RTE's go north and south,odd go east and west, If the sun is out your bike is casting a shadow,to the left-east ,right-west etc. How lost can you get? If it's overcast carry a compass,long trip a map and compass.K.I.S.S. A gps used to find my house will take you to a town in the next county 17 miles SE(nearest post office) and then N 20 miles adding 25 miles to your trip, mapquest gives you turn by turn and a direct route. beside I live in the mts. and there is no cell phone that works at my house ,even this computer is on a dish.If your traveling interstate you can get free maps at most welcome centers.

Thanks gang.  I did a little shopping and found a little garmin nuvi 300 in really good shape for $25. Looks like it's small and compact for the limited space on my bike and I'm hopeful it'll do the trick.

stewmills wrote on 06/22/16 at 09:03:56:


I found out something lately that might help you out.  Before going to a place like Deals Gap.....which is not located in town and for some reason doesn't have a working mailing address.  You can then save those locations in your GPS with a name....(like Deals Gap, Wayah Road, etc.) that will help you find the place while you are out riding and then you don't have to use a map or try and enter the data on the fly.

Unfortunately Google Maps and most other places list the GPS coordinates in Decimal Degrees.......while the Garmin uses Degrees/Minutes/Seconds.  You will have to do a conversion before you can load them into your GPS.  It is easy to do with a converter you can easily find online.....but it is horribly confusing when your Garmin won't let you enter the coordinates that Google displays (took me a while to figure out what was wrong).

old_rider wrote on 06/22/16 at 11:23:49:


Yep....and those coordinates won't load up in your Garmin.  You will get the first 2 digits in, then when you get to the 3rd digit it can't be higher than 5...the Garmin won't display the numbers 6-9 for you to push.

Here is a site that will convert the coordinates for you:

https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/dms-decimal

The coordinates for Deals Gap in Deg/Min/Secs are:
35 28 0.3786
-83 55 12.903

GPS starts here if you are using a phone to do it.   You need to constantly charge the phone if using it as a GPS on your handle bar.


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You need a good cradle.   Pick one that will NOT drop your phone -- I use a variant of this type of butterfly band cradle.    I also use a safety string made up of heavy upholstery thread (strong nylon thread) sewn through the phone cover/case so if the phone gets loose it has the string and the USB cable to hold it to the bike until I can grab it.




Next, learn how to download maps from Google Maps.   Having the map inside the phone's internal memory means you don't lose GPS functionality every time you get out of range of a cell tower.

Rig up some ear buds in your ears before putting on your helmet -- you do want to be able to hear the turns coming up, etc.

Lastly, you will use up some data up doing this trick.   To minimize this, start your guidance route while sitting in a burger joint using their wifi to get you all powered up, updated and running.   Don't cancel your route until you get there.   This totally minimizes the amount of data you use, while keeping you all googlized on the map quality.   Example: on the last trip I used 150 meg of data between calling my wife repeatedly and navigating here and there.

If you do lose your map due to messing about with clumsy fingers -- go find you some wifi, a bathroom and a senior drink at a Hardees or a Burger King and get it all back together again.