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===== GPS Phone Apps =====

**GPS died\\
Reivers Dustin** \\
07/09/18  #23381

I'm interested in just using my iPhone for GPS.  All I care about is real time speed.  And maybe miles traveled.  Don't need max speed, ave speed, heart rate, etc.  I can't reach the phone when it's mounted, so this has got to be a set and forget thing.  It's possible that the whole idea won't work because of battery useage on a run.

My garmins have all died.  All my ex's live in Texas.  Somebody shot my paddle.  \\
rd

**David Hooper** \\
07/09/18  #23382

Reivers,

I use the SportsTracker app on my phone. It shows the real-time speed, if you’ve got a way to mount it so you can see it. It also gives the other data (miles traveled, avg speed, etc.) for the end of the run. There are both Android and iPhone versions. And it’s free.

Dave H.

**Duncan Howat**

07/09/18  #23383

RD  ON garmins web site, you look around for customer service, and you can send it in, telling them whats wrong, but they usually send you a new one back for not much cost,unless you send em your cheap watch pretending that you use it as a GPS in which case they may not send a GPS back. However I've done this several times with broken, abused  units. Also Bob Mc has the phone Number to call. I lost it. As far as knowing your speed, as fast as you are now, I'm not sure I-phones etc can read that high so don't worry about it. Just stay along side of me and  I'll give you read outs. Especialy  sat. D

**Dean Bumstead**

07/09/18  #23385

Use whatever Dennis M. uses.  His max speed is always two to three mph above everybody else’s.\\
\\
**njcooksey@ymail.com** \\
07/09/18  #23391

Strava works well on the phone.\\
Or there a rowing app called crew nerd that Greg Barton uses which has a big display.

**Reivers Dustin**

07/10/18  #23396

I love the look of "crewnerd".  even my weak eyesight could see what my velocity is with numbers that big.  I can't wear glasses while paddling.

I hate the idea of using cellphone GPS 1) sucks battery, especially where cell coverage is poor* 2) crappy GPS lock and update.

The trick shot here is to buy an avionics quality external GPS from Dual Electronics (XGPS160) which you then Bluetooth to your phone.  You stick this little gizmo on your boat (in a waterproof).  Then you stick your phone in a lifebox and Velcro that to your boat's dashboard.  The Dual Electronics updates at 10 readings per second so could probably provide stroke rate resolution quality of readings.

*at weak cell tower signal most cellphones boost transmit power (without asking you) and totally vampire your battery.  They also use cell tower signal to cheat up on location.  So if you do external GPS might wanna turn off cell connect or do some other power conservation on your phone.

Disclaimer:  I just want speed, distance paddled, maybe elapsed time.  Don't want bells and whiskers.  Sooo, I am not going to do this at all.  Just gonna contact Garmin and see about getting repairs.  boring reivers.

**waterbornewarrior** \\
07/10/18  #23397

Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but speed, distance, time.  Boom.  Also, currently “sold out.”  (And pricey when sold in…)

https://www.velocitek.com/products/makai

Don

**John Rybczyk**

07/10/18  #23398

There's this: https://www.velocitek.com/pages/makai.  Huge numbers, just the basics, no bells or whiskers. It's designed to be mounted on an SUP, so the display has to be large to be seen standing up.  I've been thinking about buying one for these old eyes, but it ain't cheap.

Karl Krueger used it for his Race to Alaska on an SUP last year.

John Rybczyk

**Dale McKinnon**

07/11/18  #23400

Just a headzup about cellphones and GPS. You do not need cell coverage in order to use the GPS function on your cellphone: https://www.cnet.com/news/can-dataless-smartphones-still-use-gps-navigation-apps/

**Reivers Dustin**

07/11/18  #23401

true.  In fact I have an iPod Touch.  This has GPS chip, WiFi chip, but no cellphone chip.  I used it for years with early TalkaTone and WhatsApp (before Facebook bought WhatsApp).  I just poached wifi.

I'm pretty sure GPS antennae and internal resolution would make for cheesy low speed accuracy, but proly works pretty good for speeds over 20mph.

rd
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