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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3009
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Quote: Originally posted by dutra  | | New member here. Last time down in Baja my phone was not getting service past Mexicali and again past San Felipe. My question is what is the best GPS
device to use driving Baja? And will the GPS work the entire time? Thanks! |
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Some basic decisions need to be made
Like
Baja only or Baja & USA?
Do you want to make trails and share them or just view where you are on the device map?
Now days stand alone GPS devices are less in favor and phones and tablets are the most favored.
For a stand alone GPS that makes trails Garmin is popular with the Montana leading the list -expensive. works everywhere you are.
For a new person to GPS follow the advice already written about.
What I use is a vintage Lowrance that cannot be found these days I has the best maps available for Baja and poor maps for the USA and they make
trails.
I also use an 8" android tablet which works for Google maps, Maps.me, Earthmate/InReach, and many others recommended by others. Unlike the Lowrance a
tablet/Iphone apps will work in the US and Baja with appropriate downloaded maps.
And yes I still have My iphone with the same apps to use as needed.
To repeat bigger is better.
Let me close to remind you that in Baja you cannot depend on cell service so choose an app the works with self contained maps for offline use.
Example Google maps can be loaded for offline map use (and Google Translator can be loaded for offline use). Other apps mentioned can also be used
without cell service. Choose one and ask.
Learn how to use your choice before you head south especially if you can find a test place with no cellular service.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9262
Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by PaulW |
Learn how to use your choice before you head south especially if you can find a test place with no cellular service. |
Yes, test before your Baja trip. This is good advice.
To test w/o cell service, just put your phone in airplane mode.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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You don't need to over think this. A GPS that has Baja highways in it will work all over Baja and it will have the major dirt roads that are used by
the public on a normal basis. If you want dirt roads and trails you'll need to load an app that has them like CartoGrafia.
Most race teams use a Lowrance that's used for fishing and modified for their use. They have a large screen making it easier to see.
I use a simple Garmin NUVI 52 I bought on ebay. I'm old school so I don't need a lot new fancy stuff. I've been all over Baja off road and I don't
mind getting lost. I would recommend a GPS of your choosing, David's maps loaded or in paper form and a Baja Almanac.
David K did a number of maps with KM markers that is a good reference when driving in Baja.
If you have a particular place you want to go off road I suggest you view it on Google Earth to get an ideal of the trails in and out. Another source
of maps is www.murdocknav.com/index.htm it contains a lot of race maps from way back to present. I don't recall for sure but it may also have the course
notes.
Have fun and stay safe.
[Edited on 9-11-2020 by TMW]
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Yes
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| Quote: Originally posted by dutra | Thanks AK!
Mainly to keep me going the right way on the main highways.
[Edited on 9-10-2020 by dutra] |
Point truck south to go down and point it north to head home. 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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dutra
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 9-10-2020
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by PaulW |
Learn how to use your choice before you head south especially if you can find a test place with no cellular service. |
Yes, test before your Baja trip. This is good advice.
To test w/o cell service, just put your phone in airplane mode.
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Just looking for Baja only, I don't care if I get lost in the US lol. Thanks guys for the replies. I think I got it covered with HERE app. Had no idea
that the maps will work with airplane mode on.
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1697
Registered: 2-2-2010
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Another option is a garmin loaded with e 32 maps http://cartografiagps.com/en/
Excelent for all of Mexico.
I see TMW mentioned cartografia before me. Anyway this is a great app. I upgraded my old nuvi to a large screen drivesmart and couldn´t be happier.
[Edited on 9-11-2020 by chippy]
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defrag4
Senior Nomad
Posts: 536
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google maps is sufficient if you have service or remember to download the map ahead of time
maps.me app for offline turn-by-turn mapping (again download the map ahead of time)
gaia GPS for offline offroad navigation
[Edited on 9-11-2020 by defrag4]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I downloaded (free) Gaia into my Android phone and the maps looks really nice, the GPS picked me up fine. Now, with Nomad help, I will try to figure
out how to download sat imagery for the areas of Baja that interest me to explore.
There is still a 1541 Spanish Captain buried somewhere in the desert!
https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/searchin...
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9262
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Here is how they say to do it. https://youtu.be/xaM39xMqpwU
Looks like this might be a little more involved to get a very large area compared to Back Country Navigator.
For BCN I have satellite imagery for all of Baja at the max zoom. Satellite is much better than topos.
[Edited on 9-12-2020 by JZ]
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JZ
Elite Nomad
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You have to download the maps ahead of time to use when you don't have cell service.
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advrider
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E-32 maps are some of the best I have used. I have a Garmin 650 with E-32 maps that I use along with my phone. The way the E32 maps shade the roads
make it nice to use on bike.
I still have a hell of a time loading routes on my Garmin, but not an issue with the phone. As many have said decide what you are going to use and
figure it out while you are home.
I will tell you that the learning curve for a phone app is much smaller then Garmin any day of the week.
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John Harper
Super Nomad
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Don't you have to subscribe to GAIA to download maps? I've tried, but it when I hit "Download Maps" it goes to a subscription screen. I seem to
only have the basic GAIA Topo and to download other sources, again the subscription page comes up.
On Google Maps, you can download maps without a membership fee.
Please correct me if I'm wrong. It happens. Just be aware you may need to subscribe to get what you need.
John
[Edited on 9-12-2020 by John Harper]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I think you are right, John.
On advice from another Nomad map guru, I loaded the Gaia app onto my phone... the free version. The topo maps and GPS location spotting seems
perfect... but when trying to upload satellite imaging, nada trabaja! I am only just learning to use it, however.
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John Harper
Super Nomad
Posts: 2289
Registered: 3-9-2017
Location: SoCal
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | I think you are right, John.
On advice from another Nomad map guru, I loaded the Gaia app onto my phone... the free version. The topo maps and GPS location spotting seems
perfect... but when trying to upload satellite imaging, nada trabaja! I am only just learning to use it, however. |
Yes, I think so too, Dave. My buddy has GAIA on his phone, and he swears he did not subscribe but has apparently downloaded other maps (FS Topo) than
just the Gaia Topo that comes standard. I'll try to find out more next time I see him. Every time I try to access another map source it just goes to
the subscription screen.
I mapped a dayhike in the Sierra in July. It did not overlay the topo map until I got cell service (or wifi) access. It did log my route, but just
a blue line on a blank screen. It did log mileage and elevation changes quite well.
John
[Edited on 9-12-2020 by John Harper]
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1106
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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I have an ancient Garmin Nuvi that I have used all over Baja and all over the Yucatan. We splurged and bought the lifetime map updates for Mexico and
it works really well. Saved my butt first time I crossed north at Mexicali East when it turned out Discover Baja maps/directions were outdated. Dirt
roads show up, too. Another thing I find that works well with the Garmin is to zoom in as close as possible on Google Earth to a location I am
traveling to and enter the GPS coordinates into the Garmin.
[Edited on 9-12-2020 by BajaMama]
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9262
Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama | I have an ancient Garmin Nuvi that I have used all over Baja and all over the Yucatan. We splurged and bought the lifetime map updates for Mexico and
it works really well. Saved my butt first time I crossed north at Mexicali East when it turned out Discover Baja maps/directions were outdated. Dirt
roads show up, too. Another thing I find that works well with the Garmin is to zoom in as close as possible on Google Earth to a location I am
traveling to and enter the GPS coordinates into the Garmin.
[Edited on 9-12-2020 by BajaMama] |
I've had many Garmins. Times change. Technology improves. Avoiding getting stuck in the past keeps one from growing old before their time.
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1697
Registered: 2-2-2010
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama | I have an ancient Garmin Nuvi that I have used all over Baja and all over the Yucatan. We splurged and bought the lifetime map updates for Mexico and
it works really well. Saved my butt first time I crossed north at Mexicali East when it turned out Discover Baja maps/directions were outdated. Dirt
roads show up, too. Another thing I find that works well with the Garmin is to zoom in as close as possible on Google Earth to a location I am
traveling to and enter the GPS coordinates into the Garmin.
[Edited on 9-12-2020 by BajaMama] |
Hey jz have you ever checked out e32 maps? You might want to quit bashing garmin if you haven´t? I now use BCN thanks to you but its not the only
game in town. Having both is 2x better.
I've had many Garmins. Times change. Technology improves. Avoiding getting stuck in the past keeps one from growing old before their time.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9262
Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by chippy |
Hey jz have you ever checked out e32 maps? You might want to quit bashing garmin if you haven´t? I now use BCN thanks to you but its not the only
game in town. Having both is 2x better.
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Bought the e32 maps like 10-15 years ago.
All the major dirt roads are in BCN and Gaia. For the less traveled ones, it's better to use your own collection of tracks.
Sorry, these standalone GPS's only make sense for boats. One boats they are integrated with depth and fish finders, and radar systems. Plus they
have really bright screens for bright sunlight. Otherwise they are dinosaurs.
My thing is I don't think it's good to suggest to ppl just getting into this to use this older tech. I would never tell someone to use a 4 year old
Phantom 3 drone, let alone a 10 yo GPS. Especially when a phone app is like $15 vs. hundreds of $'s for a standalone GPS + the maps.
[Edited on 9-13-2020 by JZ]
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1697
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To each his own amigo. I´m very happy with what I use now and thanks again for walking me thru BCN.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17336
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ |
All the major dirt roads are in BCN and Gaia. For the less traveled ones, it's better to use your own collection of tracks.
Sorry, these standalone GPS's only make sense for boats. One boats they are integrated with depth and fish finders, and radar systems. Plus they
have really bright screens for bright sunlight. Otherwise they are dinosaurs.
My thing is I don't think it's good to suggest to ppl just getting into this to use this older tech. I would never tell someone to use a 4 year old
Phantom 3 drone, let alone a 10 yo GPS. Especially when a phone app is like $15 vs. hundreds of $'s for a standalone GPS + the maps.
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Jizzy, you are a 13-year-old boy stuck in a middle-aged man’s short body 
When I go away on vacation, I ditch the technology. Technology is for work. Why ruin a vacation staring at a screen? 
When I go to baja, I use a paper map. In cities I sometimes use my phone to navigate. Once in a rare while I might use gps for bushwhacking in the
backcountry, but only if paper map reading fails.
My iPhone is a 6, it fits in my pocket (my wife has the latest iPhone, it does not fit in my pocket, I don’t wear cargo shorts,  :lol
I don’t have a drone. I don’t ever want a drone. If a drone comes near me, I throw rocks at it. Rock throwing is fun and cathartic. Do you have
insurance for your drone to cover damage by rocks?
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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