GPS - IPhone Vs Android

[Squawk 2650]

Evening all,

Due a mobile phone upgrade and wondered if I'm better off using an iPhone or android (Samsung galaxy) to assist in some GPS nav? Are there many pros and cons purely in terms of GPS nav with the two devices? I've tried googling it but unfortunately they seem to come out as a tie.....


S

[Wrist Watch]

It's not so much about the smartphone manufacturer as it is about the manufacturer of the GPS receiver chip that these smartphones use. As far as I know, both Apple and Samsung utilise GPS chips from Broadcom albeit slightly different models.

That said, I have experience using air navigation apps on iOS and never had any problems (taking into account the accuracy of a smartphone GPS cannot be sterling). The receiver was never meant to be used in that way (the device needs to be just under the windscreen to receive proper signals), but then again, it works just fine.

If you're going to buy a new smartphone, base the decision on your preference with regard to the operating system and device specifications that you would find useful. Both Apple and Samsung will serve you equally well in the air.

There are also external GPS receivers that are more accurate and approved (intended) for in-flight use. They usually connect to smartphones via Bluetooth. Look up Pooleys (or other) web shop for that.

[paco]

There's not much to choose between them - I love my Galaxy, but I will say that apps that are designed for the iphone generally do not have the same facilities or work so well on Android, when there is an equivalent.

Phil

[dublinpilot]

When it comes to using your phone for GPS navigation, I don't think that the operating system is the big issue. The two big systems (EasyVFR by PocketFMS & SkyDemon) both have apps for both.

The EasyVFR by PocketFMS app is identical on both operating systems, and I believe that the SkyDemon system has only slight differences.

The quality of the GPS receiver won't be much different too, but one thing to note is that on Apple devices you can't put it into flight mode and use the GPS receiver. You can on Android. But that's not really much of an issue.

The more important things to consider are:

1. Screen size (the bigger the easier to see and use)
2. Power! Phones batteries aren't really designed for having the screen on in outdoor lighting for a long time, with the GPS running. The battery probably won't last much beyond 90 minutes. So you really need some sort of external power.

dp

[Scoobster]

Best external receiver...

Can I just hijack this thread off topic for a couple of responses..

If one is buying a GPS for the first time for a backup which external GPS receiver would be the best ? I know the 'best' is subjective and Garmin has been mentioned several times but I am none the wiser.

I have used Skydemon on Ipad but don't own an Ipad and I thought an external 'dedicated' GPS might be better.

I know of Airbox Aware, Clarity, Bendix King etc but haven't test driven anything..

Thanks!

Scoobster

[Squawk 2650]

Thanks everyone, really helpful.

Scoobster if you have a smart phone they are quite a good substitute.


S

[ChickenHouse]

In principle the two system worlds are quite similar, so not much on either side to push the other out, but - to my current knowledge:

- advantage iPhone & apps: for most users easier to use and more intuitive on the GUI, a bit more serious appearing apps with quite some choices to pick from, more advanced A- of the A-GPS functionality even though the same GPS chip technology
- advantage Android: you are able to switch off mobile networking while using GPS, which I believe is the biggest issue with iPhones and the reason why I prefer iPad, where you are able to switch off BT and WLAN to get it mobile networking quiet

I do carry iPhone backup with navigation apps, but due to the mobile network issue would never treat an iPhone an all-day navigational aid (and some apps are not available for iPhone, but only for iPad, i.e. Jeppesen Mobile VFR & Jepp FD). With the latest smartphone generation battery drain also is not really an issue, your bladder lasts less.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

Android: you are able to switch off mobile networking while using GPS

You can do, yes. If I turn off the mobile networking on the Android device I use at work whilst sitting at my desk its error goes from sometimes less than a hundred metres to putting me in a field 2km from the office.

It does better outdoors with a decent view of the sky, provided you switch it on and stand still for 15 minutes before expecting much in the way of reasonable results (that's with wi-fi and phone network both turned off). Then the error can go down to single figures of metres, which is fine for VMC navigation.

[Scoobster]

If getting a dedicated GPS Unit.. Is there any recommended one?

Though it is rather subjective.

Scoobster

[PA28181]

+1 for Garmin Aera 500, great unit.

[Denti]

Actually you can switch off the mobile networking on an iphone without going into flightmode, it won't stop the phone service though, just the mobile data network. On the ipad the same disables the mobile service completely while keeping the GPS, WLAN and BT running except if you switch those services off as well.