Update: The Dual GPS Cradle now has a cheaper version available without the navigation software NavAtlas (which I found worthless anyway). It is called the XGPS251 and has been price cut to $100 as of Christmas 2010. Two things to note, it may not work well with the latest iPod Touch release (the one that now includes a camera), and the protective coating over the cradle always deteriorates after merely a month’s use. I don’t know if this still holds true for the newer XGPS251, so your mileage will vary. All in all, if you are looking for a solid GPS solution for the 1st and 2nd generation iPod Touch, the Dual Cradle is really your only viable option.
March 22nd will go down in history as the day everything changed. A day that will forever alter the course of humanity and change the world forever.
The day that I could finally geocache exclusively on my iPod Touch.
After 4 LONG months of waiting, Dual Electronics finally released their long overdue GPS Cradle for the iPod Touch. This cradle not only powers the iPod with GPS capabilities (using a u-blox GPS chip), it also adds a second battery and a microphone to the iPod’s functions, making it possible to finally use apps like Skype and the native Voice Memo. I gave it a cursory try by doing a test recording and it worked perfectly. I still sound like a weenie though, so I won’t be doing podcasting on this anytime soon.
However, now it was time to see whether its selling point, the GPS function, was worth the long and frustrating wait. Dual had missed at five release dates, then added insult to injury by raising the initial retail price of the cradle from $180 to $200, before finally making it available exclusively at the Apple store. Dweebs.
Previously, I had been using the Garmin nuvi 500, which attempts to be an all in one solution GPS that you can use for your car as well as for walking and cycling. While I found over 200 caches with it, it was at times so frustrating to use that I was ready to toss it on the ground and then back the car over it. The interface was clunky and lagged behind my finger taps, making entering addresses and coordinates an agonizingly painful experience. It is possible to upload GPX files to preclude the need for manually inputting coordinates though, but when I would select a geocache to navigate to, the Garmin would sometimes randomly reboot itself. Maddening. There was no way to search live for caches either, and besides that, I preferred to do all my paperless caching on my iPod, which was leaps and bound more intuitive and user friendly. In addition, the square-like build of the Garmin made it awkward to hold, more often than not the thing would slip and fly out of my hands like a wet bar of soap.
Like I said, it had been a LONG 4 months.
Prior to getting the GPS cradle I had bought Navigon to use for road navigation, instead of opting to use the included NavAtlas app Dual provides, partly because Navigon is by far the best navigation software available for the iPod/iPhone, and partly because my primary geocaching app Geosphere was able to seamlessly pipe coordinates for a specific geocache directly into Navigon. No muss, no fuss.
Once I was outside, it took a few minutes for the cradle to finally get a lock, but when it did, it pegged my location perfectly. I keyed in the address to work and Navigon mapped the same exact route I always took, while the Garmin mapped a route that was admittedly more straightforward, but also included a bazoolion traffic lights too, which was precisely why I avoided it. +1 for Navigon. :-D
After work, I had time to take a drive and finally see how well this cradle would fare for geocaching hunts. I chose a location at a state park, fired up Navigon, and off I went. Eventually the checkered flag would put me in the parking lot adjacent to the geocache, which amazingly enough was as close as I could get by car. The Garmin always had trouble with this, at one point even mapping me across a nonexistent bridge instead of just logically placing me by the closest road. Seriously?
Anyhoo, I walked out with my iPod and my Garmin, and alternated between using Groundspeak’s official geocaching app and Geosphere. Neither app I think currently has the ability to officially recognize the GPS chip now attached to the iPod, making the compass function more or less useless, but fortunately the map overview more than compensated for that shortcoming. It tracked my movements precisely as I walked around and I was able to easily pick the right direction as I headed towards ground zero. Despite the precision, neither app was able to indicate a better than +/- 49 feet accuracy, which again I think is due to the limitation of the software not recognizing the GPS, since the actual accuracy proved to be FAR better than 49 feet.
Once I got to within 3 feet according to Geosphere, a short peak around and there it was, hanging from one of the branches of a nearby tree. My iPod had made its first ever exclusive geocaching find!
After I spotted the cache, I retraced my steps and then walked towards ground zero again to see how the Garmin nuvi compared in terms of accuracy. I was absolutely amazed and THRILLED to see that my GPS cradle proved to be even more accurate than the Garmin:
The two opponents side by side. Note the GPS powered iPod shows a distance of 9 feet to the cache while the Garmin indicated a distance of 33 feet. You can just make out the cache itself behind the iPod.
My GPS powered iPod had me closer to the cache than the Garmin by a total of 23 feet. Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe we have a new champion.
Although this was my first trial run with the GPS cradle, I have to say I am extremely pleased. It was more than I could have hoped for, and at long last, I could finally enjoy geocaching using nothing more than my iPod. Yay!
The cradle itself seems to be of a sturdy build, albeit with a polished ceramic look that makes it feel like if I dropped it the cradle would shatter into a million pieces on the floor. And of course I had already dropped it too, but it happily took the licking without a scratch. Then again, it ought to withstand a nuclear blast for the money I paid for it.
Overall though, I am thrilled with the purchase, in fact I think the GPS chip itself is more powerful than the chip used for the iPhones. Good job, Dual!
Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a Garmin Nuvi I need to go dump on eBay. ;)
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Geocaching with the iPod touch and Dual Electronics GPS cradle: http://bit.ly/cfjx5S
That’s awesome to be able to use your iPod. GeoCaching really intrigues me and I’d love to do it – it reminds me of using a metal detector to find treasures on the beach. :)
Great feedback. I just got the Dual GPS craddel for my iPod and just unpacked it. Great to read that it works well with the Geocaching App. – too bad the compass wouldn’t work. I”’ give a try tonight. Considering the accuracy, I’ll still use my Garmin eTrex Vista, but the iPod will be a good complement.
The nonfunctional compass is really due to the developers not having updated their software to officially recognize the plugged in GPS. Some apps seem to have no problem though, including the one I’m using for road navigation, Navigon.
Heather, careful, once you start you’ll get addicted in no time. ;-)
Yes, be careful, once you start with Geocaching, it will become an obsession in no time… But it’s a healthy obsession!
On the Geosphere forums, it is said that the next software release will unlock the compass so the cradle can make full use of the App. It is looking better all the time.
I’m actually beta testing the compass feature in Geosphere now, so the feature will hopefully soon be ready once I confirm that it’s completely functional.
Great write up, Lincoln. I bought the Dual cradle as well and used it along with the geocaching.com application this past weekend to find some caches. I looked at the web site and videos for Geoshpere and wish I had seen them before buying that application. I would have bought Geoshpere instead and saved a couple of bucks :). So how are things working out with the compass feature with your iPod Touch and the GPS cradle?
The compass feature in Geosphere is still being beta tested, but I gave it a try yesterday and it worked well. Only thing is the dial tends to spin like a top when you’re standing still, but hopefully the developer may be able to fix that too. All things considered, it’s definitely possible now to geocache exclusively on the iPod.
How is your map experience in field w/ Geosphere? Need to cache maps on Touch or nothing shows once you leave network (wifi) area. I use and love Geosphere. Did first Geocaching w Dual cradle this week. This after 2+years w/Garmin Vista HCX. Great accuracy, within 3 ft of one micro. Others are saying to turn off wifi in field to speed up gps lock when using Dual Cradle. If I travel to a location that I haven’t previously viewed maps while online, no maps though. Will be trying my Mifi in the field for that soon. (Sometimes cached maps get emptied somehow between outings….)
Yeah it’s a matter of finagling the map view around until you’re relatively sure you have enough cached material to work with when you’re out on a hunt. I usually don’t have a problem as I tether my iPod to my phone whenever I need internet access. :-D
As for the map view, it’s awesome, though I noted that the Groundspeak app uses a directional arrow that connects your current location to the cache site while Geosphere doesn’t. I’m a bit ambivalent about that though, as the lack of a directional arrow made it easier to view the map. I had some fun watching my blue dot move around as I drove around to get as close as I could to a few caches.
Thank you so much for this review, but I have a question…if I want to use my iPod exclusively for geocaching, I can’t just use the Geocaching app?
I have a mifi from Verizon I use to give me wireless on the run, so internet isn’t a problem. But I need additional apps to work with the gps?
No you don’t need any additional apps. I personally use Geosphere for most of my caching as it’s more versatile, but the Groundspeak app should work just fine by itself.
Cool.
My GPS cradle came today. Did some test runs with it, but I’ve already found all the caches within 100miles, so I’ll have to wait to this weekend to do my first cache with it.
Was using the Trimble app for the Blackberry, but that was limited by cell coverage…and my crappy Blackberry.
Thanks for this post. It’s what made me buy the cradle. Duo should pay you a fee!
LOL I wish, but for now I’ll gave to be content with getting added traffic from their links.
Let me know if you need any tips on using too. As an added suggestion, I would recommend finding a pouch or a case that will fit the cradle/iPod to minimize wear and tear. I actually sent mine back for a replacement because the protective coating cracked and was starting to peel off. I think it was partly due to the pressure from my thumb when I go to pull it out of the car mount, so this time around I’m making sure to be a bit more careful.
In addition, even though they don’t mention anything about it, when you turn the GPS on for the first time, it might be a good idea to do it in an open field so it can quickly calibrate its lock on all the satellites. This was recommended for my Garmin so I figured it couldn’t hurt to do it with the cradle too. One guy returned his because he never got within 50 feet of any of the caches, so it made me wonder if he got a lemon or if it was because he didn’t give the cradle a chance to calibrate in an open field.
Good luck, and have fun!
Thanks for the review! Nice and thorough. I live in Canada and the Dual is not available yet. We can get the TomTom and the Magellan models. I am looking into getting a friend to pick one up for me- but do you have any opinions on whether the Dual is a better pick over the other two? And- did you have to purchase maps, or are they included- from my reading, I think they are.
Connie: It really depends on your needs. The cradle comes with a basic navigation app with the maps included, but it’s not very good from the reports I’ve heard. You’re better off getting a paid app, and they can be expensive (upwards of $80). However, Navigon offers regional apps that are cheaper ($20) but you may have to dig around to see if there’s one made for Canada.
If your intention is simply for road navigation and nothing else (except geocaching), I would get a standalone unit, preferably TomTom as Magellan doesn’t seem to have as good a reputation, and then a cheap handheld unit. What people generally do is get a GPS specifically for the car, then a handheld for hiking/caching and an iPod for paperless caching to log their entries.
In my case I’m an ubergeek who thrives on using location based apps available on the iPhone/iPod, and I wanted an all in one solution where I could use the iPod for basically everything, from email, blogging, instant messaging, to finding geocaches and points of interest, to locating great places to eat while I’m traveling, none of which would have been possible without the GPS cradle. if this describes you to some extent as well, I would definitely recommend the cradle, unless of course you use AT&T and can get an iPhone instead. :-D
Lincoln, I just found your blog and enjoyed all your posts. I had been considering the Ipod Touch for some time along with the “competition” from Samsung. But the biggest reason I had held off was the lack of a GPS feature/choice with them. I had convinced myself to go ahead and bite the bullet when the 4th Gen models come out and was surfing and hoping somebody had took on the issue that Apple should have when I came across your blog. So, your story with your first geocaching with the cradle put me over the hump. Is there any issues with the cradle working with the 4th gen Touch? I am not currently a geocaching “practioner”? But I did want to have gps available for travel without buying “another” device (phone, gps, touch, etc.) Am I correct that Tom Tom and Magellan both offer a software app to use with the cradle? And correct that you advise the Tom Tom as the better choice? Have you determined the best place to buy the cradle for price? That’s enough Q and A for now. Thanks.
I was actually going to go to the Apple Store to try the new iPod on the cradle, but they still hadn’t gotten the new iPods. The dimensions are the same, so it should fit, but even then the cradle will obstruct the camera, so whenever you might want to take a pic you’ll have to pull the iPod out of the cradle each time. Just something to consider.
Any third party app, including TomTom and Magellan should work with the cradle by the way. I personally use Navigon, which is the only app that offers real time traffic stats for the iPod Touch (as long as you’re connected to the Internet). TomTom has been vastly improved and offers a more intelligent routing algorithm, so if you’re willing to live without live traffic updates, I would probably suggest you use TomTom then. Still research and see what you’d like before committing.
In addition, while the GPS cradle works, the support for it left much to be desired. There’s two primary things you need to be aware of before deciding whether to buy the cradle. For one, the coating protection is godawful. Within a month the coating on the cradle will start chipping off and there’s little you can do to stop it. Thankfully it doesn’t affect the device itself, but it will get scratched up very quickly and worse for wear much earlier than you’d expect.
Secondly, you are forced to install nonfunctional road navigation software that takes up more than 2GB of space on your iPod. I say nonfunctional, because it no longer works since Apple upgraded its OS to iOS4. This happened in June, and several months later, Dual still has not offered a fix, and probably never will. To add insult to injury, the cost of the software is rolled into the cost of the cradle itself, which originally was to retail for $180, but now retails for $200. So basically you’re paying $20 more for software that doesn’t even work.
It’s a shame, the hardware itself is an engineering accomplishment, but the software support for it had been the worst I’ve seen in a while.
If the reason you’re considering the iPod is because you don’t want to use an iPhone on AT&T, if you can stand to wait I would suggest waiting till the iPhone 4 comes to Verizon, which may be this January by all reports.
I’m glad now that I returned my Dual Cradle. I have been considering the Magellan Tough Case (I think that’s what they call it) that was recently released. Seems kind of odd that Dual hasn’t release and IOS 4.xx compatible version of the software yet.
That Tough Case looks pretty good, in fact I think I may have that reviewed as well.
I have a toughcase currently and thought it would be great. Magellan and Groundspeak advertised it. I brought it into the field and found several geocaches and a wherigo with my ipod touch. Currently I would say it is NOT for geocaching. The coords do not update when walking. In geoshpere you must turn the Location on/off to update coords. When I found a cache it was at ground zero so it isn’t a bad gps, but after emailing Magellan about it they said they never “tested” it for geocaching or even OUTDOOR activities. If my problem is resolved I would say it is a wonderful addition. I bought a universal gps adapter for my car and it was great going to the cache. I am sadly disappointed right now, and hoping that the situation will be resolved shortly.
Dillon, thanks, you confirmed my own experience after receiving a ToughCase for a pending review, which I’m actually publishing tomorrow. While it worked for road navigation it hardly updated when you’re simply walking around. I found you had to restart whatever geocaching app you’re using to “reset” the GPS into finally updating your location. Makes geocaching virtually impossible to do.
I’d have to recommend the Dual GPS Cradle for geocaching and true GPS use, especially now that they’ve finally dropped the pricing to around $100, making it far cheaper than the ToughCase. I don’t know if they improved the coating on it though or not (which always deteriorates after about a month of use.)
[...] came the long awaited GPS cradle for the iPod Touch that I had been pining to get my hands on for months. This was one of the most CRUCIAL purchases I [...]
Lincoln,
Just discovered your blogsite while searching for a GPS solution for my iPod Touch 4G. I read your writeup on the Dual GPS Cradles and was wondering what you thought of the
Dual XGPS150 Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver. With the ability to stick it on my arm, or iPod case, it seems to resolve the issue of blocking the iPod’s camera.
I haven’t used it, but there’s no reason why I wouldn’t expect it work after successfully using Dual products for almost a year. Expect that you may have issues germane to Bluetooth though, such as occasional signal interference or interruption depending on where you go. I have that issue on my bluetooth transmitter in my car, but that’s normal and goes with the territory.
Very good blog about the Ipod and the GPS craddle. What is the latest status on the compas feature. Is it stable now?
The compass us much more stable now, though I haven’t used it on the iPod lately as I’ve since upgraded to the iPhone. :D
For those that may be interested I recently picked up the Bad Elf (www.bad-elf.com) GPS dongle for the iOS devices and it works like a charm. I used it yesterday on a 9 cache run from North Carolina to South Carolina and it never skipped a beat. I was using it with my iPad and I still have 65% battery life and that’s after leaving it on non-stop for 8+ hours. I’d highly recommend anyone looking for a GPS device for their iOS device to consider the bad elf GPS.
Hi,
I have a ipod touch 4 gen, on to which I have loaded the groundspeak geocaching app. Do I need anything else? I have tried saving cache’s for offline use, but then when trying to use them itstill thinks I am at my home location. Any ideas? Am I missing something?
Antony
Antony, the iPod by itself doesn’t have GPS capability which is why it can’t detect your current location. You would need a GPS add on such as the GPS cradle I mentioned in the post. Once that’s added you’ll be able to use the iPod for geocaching.
Antony,
I too have just an iPod with the groundspeak app. Although I plan to get a GPS unit for it eventually, right now I use it for paperless geocaching. What I will do is download the caches I plan to work on to a uniquely named saved list (ie. Around Home) either by a pocket query or individual download/save. When I’m out in the field (and in offline mode)I then can click on the “saved” button on the home screen and click on the list to bring up all the caches in that list. I can’t navigate to them or generally view them on a map but I can look at the description, hint, and several of the logs. It seems the app doesn’t download a map for offline use except a high level one that is centered from your last known location and extends out to about 25 miles on all sides.
Hope this helps
Joel