Has anyone tried On X Off Road GPS app?

[RobS10]

We have a cabin in the Sierras with tons of roads everywhere. I used to explore a lot on dirt bike or quad in my younger years, but was always blind to where some roads went or how bad they were. Now that we have a new 4Runner and there seem to be some pretty well thought out GPS apps out there, thought I'd give one a try.

 

[RotaryDreamz]

I use OnX maps for hunting. I can't tell you how many times it has saved my behind when out backpacking in the sticks. I make sure I download the area I'm going to be hunting before I go on my trips.

I did not know OnX had a offroad version for enthusiasts, but I can see why they would. It is surprisingly accurate whenever I use it. It will show you public and private land access to certain roads, as well as road blocks or barriers. Exact GPS coordinates, Elevation ranges, and lifesaving water springs.

I can set my own permanent pins/notes on my maps if for some reason it's not updated, because a landowner just recently gated a road, new fire service roads that were created, or where I seen or took down some Big Game for records.

I highly vouch for OnX just because of my personal experiences. Good luck!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Does this actually use true GPS without a cell tower connection? When I was looking into getting a tablet and doing some of these types of apps years ago, the vast majority weren't reliable without a cell tower/data connection. But that was years ago, so I'm curious if they've gotten better?

 

[RotaryDreamz]

[MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION]
Can't speak for tablets, but as long as you have a smartphone you don't need a cell tower connection for true GPS coordinates.

Our phones are constantly being pinged to GPS satellites even without a cell connection. As long as your enable location services on your phone of course

If you're ever out in the sticks with no service, you will still be able to open up Google Maps and it will show you exactly where you're standing. But without downloading a map from cell connection beforehand, you won't be able to physically see where you are, if that makes sense.

I always download my maps before I go on my trips on both Google Maps and Onx maps.

 

[shadow247]

Does this actually use true GPS without a cell tower connection? When I was looking into getting a tablet and doing some of these types of apps years ago, the vast majority weren't reliable without a cell tower/data connection. But that was years ago, so I'm curious if they've gotten better?

I can confirm ON-X works great without Cell service. You just download maps ahead of time for the area to your phone. Then you have all the trails you need. I used it all over OK and AR for a trip. I had never been up there and led a group of 4Runners across the Talimena Parkway area, into MENA, AR, and then up to Ozark, AR. We spent about 70 percent of the time on dirt roads with 0 cell service.

 

[RobS10]

Does this actually use true GPS without a cell tower connection? When I was looking into getting a tablet and doing some of these types of apps years ago, the vast majority weren't reliable without a cell tower/data connection. But that was years ago, so I'm curious if they've gotten better?

It looks like it does need cell service for some aspects as it says you can download maps to use when you're out of a Service Area. Actually, Google Maps works the same way...
How to use Google Maps offline mode on iOS, Android - CNET

 

[Bluesky 07]

Does this actually use true GPS without a cell tower connection? When I was looking into getting a tablet and doing some of these types of apps years ago, the vast majority weren't reliable without a cell tower/data connection. But that was years ago, so I'm curious if they've gotten better?

I use a Garmin Glo for more accurate GPS tracking. It connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. Details here, though I didn’t find my iPad to so much better than my phone, especially since Gaia does CarPlay now, so I only use the phone with the Glo. I also wired up power so the Glo lives on the A-pillar but can be easily removed.

 

[jdm-v35]

It looks like it does need cell service for some aspects as it says you can download maps to use when you're out of a Service Area. Actually, Google Maps works the same way...
How to use Google Maps offline mode on iOS, Android - CNET

Actually if you use OnX maps correctly you do not need cell service. You download the areas you need prior to your trip and it works fine as long as your device(phone or gps enabled tablet) has gps signal. I use OnXhunt every year for my hunting trips without issue and without cell service.

 

[jdm-v35]

Does this actually use true GPS without a cell tower connection? When I was looking into getting a tablet and doing some of these types of apps years ago, the vast majority weren't reliable without a cell tower/data connection. But that was years ago, so I'm curious if they've gotten better?

Yes as long as your device has GPS signal such as iphone or sim card enabled ipads which have a gps antenna. The wifi only ipads do not have a GPS antenna.

 

[RobS10]

Yes as long as your device has GPS signal such as iphone or sim card enabled ipads which have a gps antenna. The wifi only ipads do not have a GPS antenna.

You can always download a map ahead of time to a WiFi only iPad, of use your cell phone as a WiFi hot spot.

 

[jdm-v35]

You can always download a map ahead of time to a WiFi only iPad, of use your cell phone as a WiFi hot spot.

You can download the maps to a wifi only device but it wont track your movement as you use the maps because it lacks the gps triangulation chip.

 

[RobS10]

You can download the maps to a wifi only device but it wont track your movement as you use the maps because it lacks the gps triangulation chip.

Doesn't GPS require a network signal no matter what?

 

[jdm-v35]

Doesn't GPS require a network signal no matter what?

No the GPS is a separate chip that uses satellite triangulation, but on ipads for example, the WIFI only version has Wifi only(no gps chip). The sim card ipads also have the GPS chip installed. These do not triangulate based on cell towers, they triangulate based on the GPS satellites which is the same as garmin etc. The only difference is the garmin already has all maps preloaded so you don't need to "predownload" them like you do on the phone apps.

 

[RobS10]

No the GPS is a separate chip that uses satellite triangulation, but on ipads for example, the WIFI only version has Wifi only(no gps chip). The sim card ipads also have the GPS chip installed. These do not triangulate based on cell towers, they triangulate based on the GPS satellites which is the same as garmin etc. The only difference is the garmin already has all maps preloaded so you don't need to "predownload" them like you do on the phone apps.

Thanks for the info. So using a phone as a hotspot for a WiFi only iPad won't work?

 

[shadow247]

Thanks for the info. So using a phone as a hotspot for a WiFi only iPad won't work?

Correct. Because the IPAD won't know where it is due to no GPS chip.

You could potentially run the app on your phone, and mirror the screen onto your IPAD.

 

[RobS10]

Correct. Because the IPAD won't know where it is due to no GPS chip.

You could potentially run the app on your phone, and mirror the screen onto your IPAD.

Can you mirror an Android to an iPad? Something tells me Apple won't allow that.

 

[jdm-v35]

Can you mirror an Android to an iPad? Something tells me Apple won't allow that.

I think there would be no point in going through all that trouble if you already have an phone/ipad with GPS. You should just use that screen instead. I just use my iphone for hunting using ONXhunt. I mount it with a phone mount to navigate when driving and have it in my pocket when walking.

 

[RobS10]

I think there would be no point in going through all that trouble if you already have an phone/ipad with GPS. You should just use that screen instead. I just use my iphone for hunting using ONXhunt. I mount it with a phone mount to navigate when driving and have it in my pocket when walking.

I have a Pixel 6 Pro, which has a pretty big screen, but no comparison to my iPad screen size.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Correct. Because the IPAD won't know where it is due to no GPS chip.

You could potentially run the app on your phone, and mirror the screen onto your IPAD.

As another alternative, devices like the Garmin GLO connect to a wifi-only iPad via Bluetooth and provide GPS positioning.

 

[Pedro367]

OnX is the bees knees. Offroad or Hunt. Both are amazing!