Traveling with only an IPhone, school me!

[OoPEZoO]

I picked up two of these from Burnsmoto.com and hooked them up in my tank bag. I keep my iPhone plugged in all the time and use the 2nd one for long days on the road when I need to recharge my Sena SMH-10. Works great

[Surfer]

The cheap ram mount works well. If it rains, I zip tie a baggie over it.

GPS - copilot USA was $15 or so and doesn't need a data connection, all maps are stored on the phone

Starwalk - +1

Also, leafsnap is cool - take a picture of a plant, and they try to identify it.

Photos - Camera Awesome, upload straight to smugmug.

Iwant - yelp reviews of restaurants, sorted by distance and rating


Also - Turn off "shake to shuffle" to the music player. I didn't know it existed until I started changing songs every 5 seconds.

[lopaca]

Just so you know, cell coverage in Canada is not what it is here. We rode to Alaska 2 years ago. Through Canada, there was little if any cell coverage, particularly once you leave the Vancouver area. Once we got into Alaska it was fine. Maybe it is better now.

[trophymoto]

I use an iNAV everyday. I keep my 4s in an inside jacket pocket safe and sound.

[SJSharkfan]

OK, so I got my phone and downloaded some apps.

Camera is.... Underwhelming. I tried some of the camera apps. I'll be bringing my old mini dslr which is low on MP but has a great zoom.

I like the Lifeproof case. I'm going to see if the handle bar mount will work on my bike. I have 12v power in my tank bag for charging.

1 week 'til I take off for Alaska. Can't wait.

[John Smallberries]

I use a Cardo Scala G4 bluetooth headset with my Etymotic Er6i earbuds wired in. I use the iPhone for all-in-one music/nav/phone and am generally happy. A few things I've learned:
- Voice dialing sucks. If you state a name "call Bob", the iPhone has no inherent check. It can easily misinterpret and simply dial someone else with no warning. My fix is to have two phone numbers (even if they are identical) for every entry. That way, if it gets the wrong person, it at least asks "home or mobile", giving you the chance to cancel.
- heat: keeping the iPhone from overheating, dry and available for touch commands is a tough combination. I've tried several and have settled on the Touratech yellow-rubber-band mount and a sandwich bag in the rain. Crude, but effective.

I've considered upping the stakes with a Zumo a few times, but I am really happy with the single device idea. I've got nearly 3 years of riding this way. I only with the iPhone was inherently waterproof, so I could stop worrying about a case. I may try the Liquipel waterproof coating service, if I could live without my phone for a few days.

[EIGHTLUG]

A nice solar powered charger is a great asset. The solar panel doesn't actually charge your Iphone or whatever device it is that you've plugged in, it charges the solar unit's battery. Charge the solar unit during the day and you will be able to power your iPhone or tablet in the evenings in your tent.

[nvdlboy]

Originally Posted by OoPEZoO

I picked up two of these from Burnsmoto.com and hooked them up in my tank bag. I keep my iPhone plugged in all the time and use the 2nd one for long days on the road when I need to recharge my Sena SMH-10. Works great

I hooked one of these USB chargers directly to my secondary fuse panel - worked even better than the Powerlet cable I have for charging my iPod. I went with this set up because I bought the Powerlet cable long before the iPhone came along and the old cable doesn't work with the iPhone. The cable is long enough that it easily reaches from my underseat fuse panel to my tank bag.

[Iball]

If you're going up there to ride for 3 weeks, please take a PLB with you.

http://www.rei.com/search?query=pers...ocator+beacons

Yes, even the cheapest one is expensive but really - how much is your life worth if you need it?
Or if someone else you find along the way needs it?

[Domiken]

Originally Posted by cobrags

I have had problems with iPhones giving me "TEMPERATURE" warnings(shuts down until colded off) while in tank bag.

Me too

[worwig]

Originally Posted by EIGHTLUG

A nice solar powered charger is a great asset. The solar panel doesn't actually charge your Iphone or whatever device it is that you've plugged in, it charges the solar unit's battery. Charge the solar unit during the day and you will be able to power your iPhone or tablet in the evenings in your tent.

I disagree with this to an extent on solar.
I haven't actually seen the iPhone battery, but generally, phones like that are going to be in the 6 watt hours per day range. A reasonable solar panel size to carry on the bike is about 1 watt, 5 watts is getting a bit too large. So you are going to need more then 6 hours of perfect sunlight, during the main riding part of the day. This will inefficiently charge a secondary set of batteries just to charge the phone, so you may be near 50% efficiency. Meaning, you really need 12 hours of perfect overhead sunlight. Impractical to impossible. If you can carry a large 5 watt panel, then you are going to be in a practical range needing a bit more then 2 hours of perfect light.
Or you can just hook up to the motorcycle battery which is easily in the 150 - 250 watt hour range and pull the 8 watt hours for the phone. Which will be replaced in about 2 minutes of motor running.

[SJSharkfan]

Originally Posted by Iball

If you're going up there to ride for 3 weeks, please take a PLB with you.

http://www.rei.com/search?query=pers...ocator+beacons

Yes, even the cheapest one is expensive but really - how much is your life worth if you need it?
Or if someone else you find along the way needs it?

I'll be traveling with a friend and we'll be bringing a SPOT II which has an emergency locator function. Between the two us we'll have

2 iphones
1 "real" gps
1 spot tracker
2 "real" cameras

I think that will cover it.

[mwood7800]

Plb? Why not have mommy follow in the car

[cug]

Originally Posted by mwood7800

Plb? Why not have mommy follow in the car

Because she doesn't know how to fix a pinch flat ...

Other than that:

[triplenickel]

Originally Posted by mwood7800

Plb? Why not have mommy follow in the car

You are so hardcore brah.