Off Road Navigation

[Leatherneck]

What are you using for off road Nav and why? Is it a dedicated nav or can be installed on phone or pad?

[chuckput]

I use a tablet with California Trail Maps (with Locus Maps as a base map) and a RAM Mount. I have a Lowrance Elite 5, but found it difficult to learn and use (there is something to be said for having a keyboard function). The tablet with the CTM is easy to use and inexpensive to purchase compared to the Lowrance. I have also added the OnX Off Road app and I am trying it out. It has some decent features. Haven't used it enough to really render an opinion yet.

[Leatherneck]

Chuck, will your CTM work when you come ride the Arizona Pease trail?

[chuckput]

No, CTM only works in California. I checked OnX and the Arizona Peace Trail is shown and marked.

[Skidmark]

I tried OnX and wasn't very happy about the subscription requirement. Never made it past the free trial.

[baja5]

I have been using OnX Off-road since Motion X stopped support. It works well and has tons of trail info when you click on a highlighted route. My only gripe so far is that the main menu goes away in portrait mode on my tablet. I emailed them about it and hopefully it will be fixed soon.

[Wolfin]

I picked up an old Garmin Nuvi 1490 for $15. It has lifetime maps and software upgrades so I did all of that to make it as current as possible. Then I used Garmin Base Camp to load the Arizona Topo maps on it. It won't follow a "Track" but it will show Waypoints. I plot the route on the Base Camp topo map and load the Waypoints into the GPS unit. I use it as a speedometer when I'm on the road and switch to topo GPS mode when I'm offroad. I have it mounted in a Ram mount above my windshield. So far, it's working pretty well.

[Leatherneck]

In case anybody is interested OnX Off Road is having 30% off. $20.99 for a year.

https://try.onxmaps.com/offroad-2020-bl ... qlEALw_wcB

7E29F8CF-E476-4BEA-92A2-04D462C29E45.jpeg

[bad_chopper]

i like onx off road, but have found the trail network to be lacking, and the base map shows roads that are not existent (old logging roads, fire breaks, and timber boundaries probably) A few things i really like about it: you can track your route and save it add way points different colors and track marking. you can use google earth to map our a route and with a little work with free conversion software convert the file and import it into onx and and it will show on your map. last thing i really like is you can select a certain route and or waypoints and text or email to friends with onx and they can see your route as well.

it makes it pretty nice if you have reception when you are out with friends and get separated you can send your location to every one or they can send theres to you. use on your phone or tablet, and it is easy to get an external blue tooth gps reciever

[Dougstr]

I use Sartopo.com. I pay for the pro option, $50.00 a year. It is an online service that tracks you using the GPS in the phone. It relies on a cell signal for updating so it isn't a great option for on the fly navigation. It allows you to put together maps in advance which of course you can print out. The software has access to a lot of different mapping systems which you can add as layers. It has a system for adding your own geolocated maps as well. I used it a lot working Search and Rescue in my former life so am pretty comfortable with it. It runs on my phone whenever I go out. I use it because most of the area I operate has at least an intermittent cell signal which updates my online map which my wife can view and know the general area I am in and the direction I was heading if I don't come home.

[chuckput]

OK Leather, when are we going to run the Arizona Peace Trail so we can try out these various navigation systems?

From what I have seen, the trail can be broken into shorter segments that could be done at different times. I have a friend who just did the trail in a SxS with a group. They spent several days and completed the entire length.

22343-AZPeaceTrail-WEB.pdf

[Leatherneck]

It’s in the works Chuck. Yes that trail is doable in shorter segments and I see a lot of ORUV’sand Jeeps doing it, time for us to do it.