Gps app

[MCI]

I'm not the most techy 40yr old out there, so I will try to explain what I'm looking to do and hopefully someone can point me in the direction I need to go.

I have a cabin in the Chippawa National Forrest, no phone at the cabin and our cell phones dont work at the cabin either. My teenage son wants to take the wheeler and go riding alone. I worry he's going to get lost or if the wheeler breaks down he can't call my cell for help. When we drive my truck around; the gps in it works all the time.  I know I can put a GPS app on my sons phone so he can track his route in reverse to get back to the cabin. But what if he breaks down? 

Does anyone know if there is a gps app that I could "pair" up me and my son's phone so I can see where he is at?

kill 2 birds with one stone per say, he can use it to navigate himself on the wheeler and I can see where he's at incase I need to rescue him. 

Thanks for the help.

[Workstoomuch]

My family has LIfe 360 on our phones. It allows you to know exactly where that phone is at all times. My teenage kids were not to hip on the idea until my wife explained that you either have the app or you don't have a phone. It already saved a phone. My son dropped his phone in the middle of a bean field last summer.  We were able to use the app to drive a wheeler to within 10ft. Well worth it.

[MCI]

Do you know if the GPS tracker part works without cell service?

I think that is going to be my biggest issue, I don't know if I can track another phone from my phone without cell signal.

[BobT]

On 4/23/2017 at 7:11 PM, MCI said:

I'm not the most techy 40yr old out there, so I will try to explain what I'm looking to do and hopefully someone can point me in the direction I need to go.

I have a cabin in the Chippawa National Forrest, no phone at the cabin and our cell phones dont work at the cabin either. My teenage son wants to take the wheeler and go riding alone. I worry he's going to get lost or if the wheeler breaks down he can't call my cell for help. When we drive my truck around; the gps in it works all the time.  I know I can put a GPS app on my sons phone so he can track his route in reverse to get back to the cabin. But what if he breaks down? 

Does anyone know if there is a gps app that I could "pair" up me and my son's phone so I can see where he is at?

kill 2 birds with one stone per say, he can use it to navigate himself on the wheeler and I can see where he's at incase I need to rescue him. 

Thanks for the help.

There are a lot of apps available for that. Search your app store for "phone tracking" or something similar. Many give you the ability to share your positions so you both can see each other live. You might even have an app already on your phone. For example, I have Lookout Security installed on my phone and it includes the ability to find the location of my phone from another phone or PC. 

Edited April 26, 2017 by BobT

[Workstoomuch]

Yes, you do have to have at least a weak cell signal and battery for the GPS to work. I know that can be challenging at times in the woods.

[lematt]

Another solution is to get Handheld radios (FRS/GMRS) especially if there's weak cell signal.

[Big Dave2]

I don't know much about it but maybe satellite tracking might be an option? 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/SPOT-LLC-SPOT-GEN-ORANGE/1661065.uts?productVariantId=3609002&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03750221&rid=20&lsft=ref:212,loc:1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4KvPBRBeEiwAIqCB-U1B1VDAZZB5771da4q6PQrP_nm5K5-fi29AOxs0i6bnAO3O3wWVWxoC6R4QAvD_BwE

On 10/20/2017 at 3:18 AM, lematt said:

Another solution is to get Handheld radios (FRS/GMRS) especially if there's weak cell signal.

I would think you would be out of range quickly on an ATV in the Chippewa National Forest. 

[Big Dave2]

As far as an app to keep him from getting lost, you could try the Polaris Ride Command app. It is a really good trail map and I believe you can download the maps for the areas you ride in so it will still work even if you don't have cell signal.

https://ridecommand.polaris.com/en-us/landing-pages/AppLandingPage

[Tom7227]

On 10/21/2017 at 6:39 PM, Big Dave2 said:

As far as an app to keep him from getting lost, you could try the Polaris Ride Command app. It is a really good trail map and I believe you can download the maps for the areas you ride in so it will still work even if you don't have cell signal.

https://ridecommand.polaris.com/en-us/landing-pages/AppLandingPage

And that only requires that the person knows how to read a map, find their location, and then figure out how to get where they want to go.  IMO relying on a cell phone isn't a good idea.  If it's an area that you use frequently maybe you should buy a good topo map that is printed on tyvek type material, teach your son how to use it, and be sure it's on the ATV whenever it is used.

[PRO-V]

I would buy a handheld GPS and mount it on the wheeler. Only reliable thing to do in those woods. Most places you ride have little to no cell signal. If your really worried about him getting lost with that get him a Spot locator.