Best phone for geocaching?

SWMBO

Following a very successful taster day, we'd like to take up geocaching. I'm looking for a new phone anyway, plus one thing to carry rather than two, so I want a phone that can handle the gps and access the website for details. I'm leaning toward an iPhone since we already have iPod touch and can share apps. What phone would you get, or is there not much between them for this perpose?

Deedee73

I Cache by Iphone --- top tip, print off a map of the caches before you leave, will save your battery! Happy Caching

Bernie

...have extensive topics on the subject of all sorts of kit.

The wife and I have been caching since 2001 and, in short, phones are nowhere near as good as dedicated handheld GPS units - even the cheapest entry level units.

I do have Trimble GeoNavigator software on my Nokia 5800 phone and it is excellent for impromtu caching and as an immediate information source. While the integral GPS of the Nokia is fine for car/walking about, for caching, I enter the co-ords directly into my Garmin unit for actual cache hunting.

So, phone stuff is useful but is definately a second-best solution.

...and don't forget the weather can be a factor. My GPS has been dropped umpteen times including into water and is still working fine.

:beer:

numptyange

Bernie - Can I just ask which Garmin you have please?
Thanks

jammy_dodger

i have a samsung galaxy that i use for impromptu caches but have a garmin etrex h that i put coordinates into , i have dropped it a few times and it withstands the weather dont fancy having android out in the rain , id go for a gps , just my thoughts ..happy caching

JJ_Egan

Smartphones may suffer from the well known water damage condensation warranty failure .

jje

tofu

With that (and outdoor navigation in mind, although I still have an old Garmin Etrex as a backup), I opted for the motorola defy. As far as I know, it's currently the only waterproof android phone. If you already have an iphone, I'd say try it out first, but be aware that it doesn't like rain or sweat very much.

T_T_2

Welcome to the world of geocaching. I hope you are enjoying yourselves!

Just to share some of my experiences with a couple of different smart phones used for caching.

Devices

My partner uses a Nokia 5800 that she got 18 months ago from T-Mobile and it works a treat. Very reliable.

Strangely, my new ZTE Blade (Orange San Francisco) which I got 2 months ago is not quite as reliable but works well all the same.

Operating Systems

Naturally my partner's phone runs on the Symbian OS. As there are no free caching apps on the ovi store she just uses the onboard compass and enters the coordinates in manually.

The downside is that storing caches can be time consuming and tedius and there is no ability to call up nearby caches at the touch of a button.

My phone runs on Android (originally 2.1 but rooted to 2.3).

There are a number of free (and very good) geocaching apps on the Android Market. I would recommend C:geo.

Best of luck with you chosen device and happy caching!