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GPS on mobile phones

rainman	29 Oct 09:12
Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	Hello there, I've been new at this, so i don't know many applications for cycling. For now I'm using my iPhone for mapping my routes. I still think that I'm not that active cyclist to have some GPS device. Longest ride I have done using my phone was around 8 hours but with nokia type of phone. Now when i got the iPhone i'm still using the same application as on nokia, that is www.sportypal.com , but I have big issue._the battery life, with nokia i was able to go on long distances with one batery, but now after 3 maximum 4 hoirs my battery is death. Now I saw this mapmyrun, but with this my battery is getting empty even faster. Any solution ?

rainman

29 Oct 09:12

Joined: 29 Oct 2009

Posts: 4

Bike:

Hello there,

I've been new at this, so i don't know many applications for cycling.
For now I'm using my iPhone for mapping my routes. I still think that I'm not that active cyclist to have some GPS device. Longest ride I have done using my phone was around 8 hours but with nokia type of phone.
Now when i got the iPhone i'm still using the same application as on nokia, that is www.sportypal.com , but I have big issue._the battery life, with nokia i was able to go on long distances with one batery, but now after 3 maximum 4 hoirs my battery is death. Now I saw this mapmyrun, but with this my battery is getting empty even faster.
Any solution ?

dudley	02 Nov 05:58
Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile	just a thought....use a map?!
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

rainman	09 Nov 10:13
Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	Map it's too oldschool, now with the new gadgets everyday i really think that map is not needed.

ArthurScrimshaw	09 Nov 12:03
Joined: 16 Oct 2009 Posts: 21 Bike: My Profile	maybe when your battery runs out!
My Latest Route: Oct 2009 Binsted to Whiteways and Bignor Hill Loop

Sadoldsamurai	09 Nov 13:51
Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Bike: My Profile	Hi, currently using viewnaster with both 1:25k and 1:50k installed on Nokia eXpressMusic. It's a great tool for recording where you've been, it's ok for keeping to a route you've uploaded..but it's crap to just go out and ride with, the screen just isn't big enough for the 'bigger picture'. I was gaily pedalling along the pennine way in the Cheviots, I could see where I was on the map, but not in relation to back home..so when my wife rang and said how much longer are you going to be (because it's your turn to make lunch and it's 1:30pm..) the fact that I realised I was 10 miles further North in relation to back home than I thought..sort of threw me..So now I rpint off a map of the full route just incase..to give me some 'perspective'. But regarding the battery life, I only access the screen to check I am actually on the bridleway not some quadbike track..and the battery usually lasts for the average 5 hour ride..I have read a couple of posts on various sites from guys who have rigged up recharge dynos on their bikes..but no one ever discloses the technical details.. Anyone got any suggestions? PS Viewmaster tiles are cheap, excellent details/spec etc. and the support is absolutely first class, lots of handholding in the most simple terms for incompetent newbies..
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Brandon Ford to Ilderton Off Road

Sadoldsamurai

09 Nov 13:51

Joined: 09 Nov 2009

Posts: 4

Bike:

My Profile

Hi, currently using viewnaster with both 1:25k and 1:50k installed on Nokia eXpressMusic.
It's a great tool for recording where you've been, it's ok for keeping to a route you've uploaded..but it's crap to just go out and ride with, the screen just isn't big enough for the 'bigger picture'. I was gaily pedalling along the pennine way in the Cheviots, I could see where I was on the map, but not in relation to back home..so when my wife rang and said how much longer are you going to be (because it's your turn to make lunch and it's 1:30pm..) the fact that I realised I was 10 miles further North in relation to back home than I thought..sort of threw me..So now I rpint off a map of the full route just incase..to give me some 'perspective'.
But regarding the battery life, I only access the screen to check I am actually on the bridleway not some quadbike track..and the battery usually lasts for the average 5 hour ride..I have read a couple of posts on various sites from guys who have rigged up recharge dynos on their bikes..but no one ever discloses the technical details..
Anyone got any suggestions?
PS Viewmaster tiles are cheap, excellent details/spec etc. and the support is absolutely first class, lots of handholding in the most simple terms for incompetent newbies..

My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Brandon Ford to Ilderton Off Road

rainman	10 Nov 04:49
Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/09/07/dahon-biologic-freecharge-iphone-ipod-charger-dahon-dyno-hub-charger-for-bikes-delivers-free-green-power/ Here I have found this one, it looks really good and solid, but will be out on the market next march.

Sadoldsamurai	10 Nov 06:23
Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Bike: My Profile	Hi Rainman. Thanks for the info.. Looks good, in that it might offer on the hoof power..but..will it be up to the job..i.e. stay the course when wet/muddy etc. One wonders why Hope don't do one, as there must be loads of geeks out there.. I have sent the link to What mountain bike to suggest that they consider a review...
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Brandon Ford to Ilderton Off Road

Stargazer	10 Nov 08:02
Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 18 Bike: My Profile	Another vote for the old paper option! Won't break when You fall off and a small plastic bag to keep any water out.
My Latest Route: Aug 2011 Chester Circular Via Kelsal Hill

Gearnshaw	10 Nov 12:34
Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 1 Bike:	I got iPhone and it's great been able to just press a button and you have found were you are and the nearest greggs! But like you said battery is a killer, I even got a sat nav for when I cycled 200 miles for charity and same agen battery but I think old school is the best option but make sure you have the iPhone when really needed but I do love using gadgets and next year I'm doing 800 mile trip and making solar pannel charger just because I'll need my phone and I'm a geek like that!!!

Gearnshaw

10 Nov 12:34

Joined: 10 Nov 2009

Posts: 1

Bike:

I got iPhone and it's great been able to just press a button and you have found were you are and the nearest greggs! But like you said battery is a killer, I even got a sat nav for when I cycled 200 miles for charity and same agen battery but I think old school is the best option but make sure you have the iPhone when really needed but I do love using gadgets and next year I'm doing 800 mile trip and making solar pannel charger just because I'll need my phone and I'm a geek like that!!!

Sadoldsamurai	12 Nov 05:33
Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Bike: My Profile	Hi Gearnshaw, I e-mailed one of the MB mags with a suggestion that they do a peice on sat nav and power issues, with not much int=erest, but they did point me to the blog of a guy "currently travelling from Alaska to South America via the Great Divide Route with one (solar panel) providing enough charge to power an iPod, as well as charge a laptop, camera batteries etc, as well as power an internet connection to update his â€“ literally jaw-dropping â€“ blog (see it here: http://whileoutriding.wordpress.com). but the site is currently inaccessible, perhaps he's resorted to postcards and a map?
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Brandon Ford to Ilderton Off Road

Sadoldsamurai

12 Nov 05:33

Joined: 09 Nov 2009

Posts: 4

Bike:

My Profile

Hi Gearnshaw,
I e-mailed one of the MB mags with a suggestion that they do a peice on sat nav and power issues, with not much int=erest, but they did point me to the blog of a guy "currently travelling from Alaska to South America via the Great Divide Route with one (solar panel) providing enough charge to power an iPod, as well as charge a laptop, camera batteries etc, as well as power an internet connection to update his â€“ literally jaw-dropping â€“ blog (see it here: http://whileoutriding.wordpress.com). but the site is currently inaccessible, perhaps he's resorted to postcards and a map?

My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Brandon Ford to Ilderton Off Road

rainman	12 Nov 06:01
Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	The blog is working, great adventure. Big BRAVO for this guy.

MadGutts	31 Mar 07:39
Joined: 31 Mar 2010 Posts: 15 Bike: My Profile	Hi Guys, i too use a new fangled techy soluion... but all mobile phone devices will have the same problem - battery life... When your phone is doing its normal thing - ie being a phone, there are 2 power modes... in call- uses loads of battery, and on standby, using virtually no battery. For those of you non-techie types, battery life is worked out in "call time" and "Standby"... Now then with phones doing ever more these days, there on all the time - backlit screens and gps circuits draw far too much power for the little phone batterys to keep up with.. Where as dedicated Sat Nav devices have bigger batteries and some even have power save modes which turn the screen off... but again, an 8 hour ride is even going to kill them eventually. I personnally use a HTC Touch Pro II smart phone, so yes its a phone with a crap battery, but its windows based and charges via a usb socket. So recharging is easy and you can get solar powered chargers for phones too - not sure how good they are though. And of course theres to old windup rechargers which seem like a good idea - would be good if the workings from a windup charge could be fitted to the bike wheel :D So heres a solution they you may find fairly useful, unfortunatly it does mean adding some weight to your bike, but if you need it, then a simple power supply might be the answer... You can buy lead-acid batteries which are sealed so theres no chance of them leaking, and they come in various shapes and sizes. I use a Yuassa NP12-12 which is a 12volt battery and can give 12 amps for an hour... the nest thing you need is a USB charger that fits into a cigar lighter in you car, and a socket for one of these that can be attached to a cable. then the other end of the cable to the spade terminals of the battery. and thats it! using the normal USB charging lead then should give you more than enough power for a days cycling - maybe more! Hope this is of some use, and all the parts are available from Maplins but you may want to look on-line for the batteries as they can be expensive - but remember to look for a 12 volt battery - not 6! as the car chargers need car voltages. Happy Cycling Mad
My Latest Route: Apr 2010 Witney to Ferryman Inn, Bablock Hythe

MadGutts

31 Mar 07:39

Joined: 31 Mar 2010

Posts: 15

Bike:

My Profile

Hi Guys, i too use a new fangled techy soluion... but all mobile phone devices will have the same problem - battery life...

When your phone is doing its normal thing - ie being a phone, there are 2 power modes... in call- uses loads of battery, and on standby, using virtually no battery.

For those of you non-techie types, battery life is worked out in "call time" and "Standby"... Now then with phones doing ever more these days, there on all the time - backlit screens and gps circuits draw far too much power for the little phone batterys to keep up with..

Where as dedicated Sat Nav devices have bigger batteries and some even have power save modes which turn the screen off... but again, an 8 hour ride is even going to kill them eventually.

I personnally use a HTC Touch Pro II smart phone, so yes its a phone with a crap battery, but its windows based and charges via a usb socket. So recharging is easy and you can get solar powered chargers for phones too - not sure how good they are though. And of course theres to old windup rechargers which seem like a good idea - would be good if the workings from a windup charge could be fitted to the bike wheel :D

So heres a solution they you may find fairly useful, unfortunatly it does mean adding some weight to your bike, but if you need it, then a simple power supply might be the answer... You can buy lead-acid batteries which are sealed so theres no chance of them leaking, and they come in various shapes and sizes. I use a Yuassa NP12-12 which is a 12volt battery and can give 12 amps for an hour... the nest thing you need is a USB charger that fits into a cigar lighter in you car, and a socket for one of these that can be attached to a cable. then the other end of the cable to the spade terminals of the battery. and thats it! using the normal USB charging lead then should give you more than enough power for a days cycling - maybe more!

Hope this is of some use, and all the parts are available from Maplins but you may want to look on-line for the batteries as they can be expensive - but remember to look for a 12 volt battery - not 6! as the car chargers need car voltages.

Happy Cycling

Mad

My Latest Route: Apr 2010 Witney to Ferryman Inn, Bablock Hythe

bloomp	20 May 06:14
Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 69 Bike: My Profile	Hi Rainman, From sadoldsamurai's post i googled this : http://techblips.dailyradar.com/story/dahon_freecharge_turns_pedal_power_into_usb_power/ how neat is that lol. Dyno bikes are really big in Amsterdam - must check this out when over there for a look round later this year. Bottom line is: always have a hard copy map of your route and always pre-plan to know your options at every checkpoint. NEVER have a checkpoint that leaves you with no option but to "keep going". Always leave a copy with someone who at least doesn't hate you :-). Carry a spare battery!! Always carry a spare rubber tube, you know it makes sense lol
My Latest Route: Sep 2010 Middlesborough to Thorpe Thewles Circuit

bloomp

20 May 06:14

Joined: 14 Apr 2010

Posts: 69

Bike:

My Profile

Hi Rainman,
From sadoldsamurai's post i googled this :
http://techblips.dailyradar.com/story/dahon_freecharge_turns_pedal_power_into_usb_power/
how neat is that lol. Dyno bikes are really big in Amsterdam - must check this out when over there for a look round later this year.
Bottom line is: always have a hard copy map of your route and always pre-plan to know your options at every checkpoint. NEVER have a checkpoint that leaves you with no option but to "keep going". Always leave a copy with someone who at least doesn't hate you :-).
Carry a spare battery!!
Always carry a spare rubber tube, you know it makes sense lol

My Latest Route: Sep 2010 Middlesborough to Thorpe Thewles Circuit

bloomp	20 May 06:36
Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 69 Bike: My Profile	Also this may be of interest: http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-378123.html shimano does it again ;-)
My Latest Route: Sep 2010 Middlesborough to Thorpe Thewles Circuit

Outrunner	26 May 03:01
Joined: 26 May 2010 Posts: 57 Bike: My Profile	7dayshop has a Solar charger http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_3&products_id=108418

JTeighty	27 May 07:56
Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 8 Bike: My Profile	Just buy a battery pack/case thing. You can get one for around Â£20 and it gives at least an extra 4hrs.
My Latest Route: Oct 2009 Hendon to Brighton via Redhill

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