I'm looking at buying a Garmin so that I can use the OnX maps with it. Has anybody on here used this system before? If so, what Garmin do/did you have and what did you like or dislike about it?
I used a GPS with an Onx chip for a couple years, it can be really handy in areas where BLM and private are not always well or accurately fenced, especially when the landowner is also the BLM grazing leaseholder.
I will say that about a year ago I ditched the Garmin Rino and now I only use my cell phone with the app "Gaia" and I will never go back. better maps, full color, easy to use, and no extra gadget to lug around. It's superior in every way other than the Garmin's ability to ping your hunting partner's unit and see where each other are...that was kind of nice but not really needed.
Onx also has a phone app, but I've used both and Gaia seems like the better choice to me. maps and imagery are more detailed, interface is more intuitive
I had the Gaia app on my old phone and it was nice, but for some reason it seemed like it didn't want to work all the time where I needed it. I'm mainly wanting the GPS for the battery life without having to take an extra power pack to charge my cell phone. Plus, I don' t really want to have to download maps offline with my phone where I don't have service.
Yeah, you definitely need to plan ahead and download the maps before you go. I've never had a problem with gaia working, whether miles deep in a wilderness area or just around BLM lands as mentioned, and when I leave mine on airplane mode my phone lasts way longer than the Garmin ever did, but maybe some units are better with battery life. That was a Rino 655t
I have used Backcountry Navigator on my phone for past seven years I think, love it, last year I bought a Garmin Oregon to give it a try, man talk about a battery hog, couldn't tell when it was actually shut off or just in sleep mode, sent it back right away! To each their own, but I don't think you're going to save on battery weight etc with a stand alone GPS, also I will have a phone and a charger pack regardless, doubles as a camera and the possibility of getting a signal and being able to communicate with home is priceless! I download topo, Forest service and satellite imagery at home on the WiFi and I have way more map options that way than with a GPS.
I'll caveat the above with this though, I primarily use mine in the mountains, if I was wanting to find a place to hunt on private land, the onx might be a better choice, but I'd still have it on my phone!
I have a Garmin Oregon and the maps onx on it for MI and CO. I love it and my GPS doesn't burn through batteries. On a 8 day mountain hunt I might use 2 pair of lithium AA. I also use my phone in conjunction at times but far worse on batteries and it's more for pics and convenience, or contacting home if I get a signal. But it's like a backup. I haven't used any special map features yet on the phone, but I know what you all are saying about all the detail in one place...
I use a Garmin Montana and love it. I have onX maps for Georgia, Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas and Kansas. I use to carry folders of paper county landowner maps for all of these states. The Garmin has eliminated all of that. As I got older and my eyesight got worse I switched from my older Garmin to the Montana to get a bigger screen.
There is a great, like new, full featured Lowrance model GPS on the St. Jude's auction list. Last time I looked bid was $50
I use a garmin etrex 20. It works great. Don't have onx chip.
Have an old garmin and still use Gaia. Practice with whatever you choose so it is so much second nature, it will be easy to use in the dark-going and coming from your productive sites
Quote from: JakeD on June 14, 2018, 12:27:59 PM
I had the Gaia app on my old phone and it was nice, but for some reason it seemed like it didn't want to work all the time where I needed it. I'm mainly wanting the GPS for the battery life without having to take an extra power pack to charge my cell phone. Plus, I don' t really want to have to download maps offline with my phone where I don't have service.
Cell phone battery with OnX in airplane mode will outlast the batteries in a GPS by a good bit. I have a Garmin GPS and battery life in it sucks compared to using my phone in airplane mode with the app. Just download your maps beforehand and you are good to go.
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Quote from: Overspined on June 14, 2018, 03:35:15 PM
I have a Garmin Oregon and the maps onx on it for MI and CO. I love it and my GPS doesn't burn through batteries. On a 8 day mountain hunt I might use 2 pair of lithium AA. I also use my phone in conjunction at times but far worse on batteries and it's more for pics and convenience, or contacting home if I get a signal. But it's like a backup. I haven't used any special map features yet on the phone, but I know what you all are saying about all the detail in one place...
Did you have your phone in airplane mode ? If not it will burn battery searching for signal. My phone outlasts my Oregon batteries by a large margin, and lithium batteries aren't cheap.
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I use OnX on my phone. I actually bought a smartphone specifically for this app and the camera. The rest of the features to me are just bonuses.
I have a Garmin Montana with onx chips for Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho. All of them have been extremely helpful.
Do you find the onx property lines fairly accurate? Friends of mine got on a lease that is a little over a thousand acres, and onx is adding up to 750 acres. I got it mostly for property lines, and not sure if I should trust it.