Does the iPhone 4 access the 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S ?

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Level 1

116 points

Does the iPhone 4 access the 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S ?

I want to know the answer to this question, as I am considering several options to use OS !:25K maps like Viewranger for walking in the UK countryside.

The options I am considering are:

1. Satmap

2. Garmin Montana

3. Memory Map Adventurer 3500

4. An android phone such as HTC Desire with ViewRanger map app system

5. iPhone with ViewRanger map app system

(The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.)

This is the system that Garmin accesses.

I know you have to have line of sight with several satellites to get a fix

I need very acurate and fast fixes of position, even though walking, one doesn't want to be hanging around to get a fix for any length of time.

Battery life and waterproofing are also to be considered, as the unit would be switched on all day.

I have Viewranger maps on my iPod Touch which doesn't have GPS technology inside. So I could transfer my App and maps to an iPhone or an android phone.

Apple do not seem to make it clear if they use the above mentioned system. If they have, then I apologise.

I would be interested to hear from any UK walkers that use the iPhone with 1:25K mapping, and how they get on with it?

Thank you, in advance for your replies

Posted on Sep 20, 2011 12:03 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 22, 2011 3:14 AM in response to Alan Mather

I need very acurate and fast fixes of position

All GPS systems use the same satellites and are comparable in terms of time to get a position fix and accuracy.

In fact, the iPhone which uses A-GPS (assisted by cell towers to get a faster initial fix) are likely to be faster than many standalone GPS system which don't have the benefit of being able to connect to cell towers.

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Answer 2

Alan Mather Author

Level 1

116 points

Sep 22, 2011 4:22 AM in response to Julian Wright

Julian, are you using your iPhone in the open country for navigation?

The new Garmins are using both the US satellite System and Russian satellite systems, ie 48 satelites available and are 20% faster at getting fixes.

There are few and far between cell towers in the National Parks of the UK.

The main diferences in manufacturers units, is the in built technology used to access the gps systems.

I don't think that Apple are in the same league as Garmin, Memory-Map or Satmap.

As I see it, they are just beginners in this field.

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Answer 3

Sep 22, 2011 4:31 AM in response to Alan Mather

The iPhone is a multifunction device. There has never been a multifunction device that does any of its functions as well as a dedicated device for a single function. For example, the iPhone's camera (or any android camera) is not as good as even a basic point-and-shoot digital camera. The GPS is not as full featured as a dedicated GPS device. The phone is not as easy to use as a dedicated mobile phone. The iPod is not as flexible as a dedicated iPod. The calendar is hopelessly primitive compared to a Palm, even a 13 year old Palm. The web browser is the best in a cell phone, but still doesn't compare to the web browser in a laptop or tablet computer (or iPad).

The GPS receiver in the iPhone is a standard receiver, and is as accurate as the Garmin, but it doesn't have the maps you will want, and works with the US satellites only, not the Russian. Fortunately, there are map apps available that will do what you need. Search the App Store and look at the reviews. Whether they are as good as Garmin's you will have to determine by reading reviews and possibly comparing them yourself.

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Answer 4

Sep 22, 2011 4:53 AM in response to Alan Mather

It sounds like you've already made up your mind that you want a Garmin and that the iPhone is somehow inferior at accessing the standard GPS satellites all GPS units use, so I'm not sure what you want people here to tell you.

As far as being a beginner, compared to Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola etc. Apple are also beginners in the mobile phone field, yet have surpassed all of them in just 4 years. Not sure what difference that makes. It's the quality of the end product that is important, not how long the company has been doing it.

My iPhone has met all my needs when cycling in the countryside, quickly and accurately telling me where I am, and logging the route I take for later perusal at home on the computer. Having the GPS on all the time does drain the battery quicker than not having it on, but the same is true of my dedicated tomtom GPS unit in the car.

If you're not interested in all the other functions an iPhone provides above and beyond the GPS and mapping apps, then a dedicated GPS unit may be better suited to your specific needs. Nobody can tell you what will be best for you though. An iPhone does a lot more than a standalone GPS unit, but is unlikely to have the more specialist GPS features.

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Answer 5

Alan Mather Author

Level 1

116 points

Sep 22, 2011 8:05 AM in response to Julian Wright

Julian,

I haven't decided, yet, which way to go.

Lawrence

I have an iPod Touch and invested in the ViewRanger mapping system for it believing it had a gps system built in.

It appears to have, as it has logo that tries to aquire satellites in the top left hand corner. But it doesn't work and after much digging I finally found, on the forum, that there is no active software in the Touch.

So I have viewRanger map system that I could transfer to any phone with gps, including Apple.

The other option is to cut my losses on the ViewRanger system and go for a dedicated gps unit that meets my needs. And this is the way I am leaning to as no one has yet convinced me to do otherwise.

The problem with Memory-Map is it is PC dependant, The maps are supplied on CDs for download from a PC to the units SD card. No maps are supplied on SD cards!!!

And although I have an Intel Mac which can riun Windows, this system involves a lot of messing around. There is no proper Mac support.

So Garmin is the front runner, with all maps available on SD cards, and with the new models due out this month, with 48 satelite and a claimed 20% faster aquisition. Acuracy should also be improved. And Garmin is Mac friendly!!

I'm not knocking iPhone

But, as you say it is a jack of all trades and master of none.

I have a Touch which I use as a PIM, and a very good one it is too.

I use Nikon cameras for photography.

And a Blackberry phone

Ive been using Mac computers sind early 80's, and would never go back to PC.

Horses for courses.

And Apple isn't as acurate as Garmin, etc. I've seen reports that the positioning can sometimes be out by 100,s of metres

I haven't seen any claims by Apple on the acuracy of their gps.

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Answer 6

Sep 22, 2011 8:45 AM in response to Alan Mather

The iPod touch does not have GPS, nor can any app add that functionality. GPS is hardware, not software.

The iPod touch gets its approximate location using the known location of nearby WiFi networks. That's why it is inaccurate or doesn't work.

GPS is as accurate in Apple devices that have GPS. It uses the same system, the same satellites. However, sometimes physical factors (such as not having line-of-sight with satellites), will limit its accuracy, which is no doubt what the reports you've seen are. This is true of all GPS systems. All GPS systems are as accurate as each other. They work off the same systems & satellites.

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Answer 7

Alan Mather Author

Level 1

116 points

Sep 22, 2011 3:36 PM in response to iinami

iinami wrote:

what exactly would you like to know about ViewRanger maps?

I have viewRanger maps and like them, on my iPod Touch. I am using them, without a gps function, as a mapping and library system.

I would like to hear the experiences of someone in the UK using these maps on an iPhone, out in the sticks, using the gps function.

Is there anybody out there?

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Answer 8

paulcb

Level 6

19,245 points

Sep 20, 2011 1:46 PM in response to Alan Mather

ALL GPS devices use the US positioned satellites.

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Answer 9

Alan Mather Author

Level 1

116 points

Sep 22, 2011 1:20 AM in response to paulcb

I would invite any UK iPhone/ Viewranger map users to comment on their experiences using gps as a walking aid, as this is the objective of this thread.

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