MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: McGirr on January 07, 2013, 12:03:29 PM
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Do we really need all the new technology to go camping.
Ipads with maps, reverse cameras for backing up the car, camping apps etc. Sometimes the gps units are out and give you wrong directions.
Does it make camping easier plus the extra expense and another thing to fix if it breaks down.
All I have is a gps unit for work only finding streets.
I use a paper hema map and know where I am all the time.
Reverse camera dont need one.
Gee when I was young we camped everywhere in the bush with out all this technology and never got lost.
Camping to me is exploring and reading a map to find a certain place.
I laugh when the new wave of 4wd experts have the latest technology to tell them where they are and its signposted.
But each to their own I suppose.
Mark
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Probably not. But the only reason I have a GPS is because I'm hopeless with maps. That is one gadget I refuse to be parted with. Ok might not be useful in some instances, but that's what husbands are for ;D
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No we don't.
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No we do not need them, but it's very hard to read a paper map and drive at the same time. Sure saves a lot of fights.
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Got to have the gprs and tablet for geocaching. Like paper maps but use electronic one for convenience. Do you include fridge in the electronic category?
Regards
Crisp image
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Of course most people do not need all the technology.
But since I can afford to have it and I enjoy using it, it is going with me.
Bill
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Got to have the gprs and tablet for geocaching. Like paper maps but use electronic one for convenience. Do you include fridge in the electronic category?
Regards
Crisp image
More the technology on electronic maps, gps etc.
Mark
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Saying, "Hey look at my new 1:100000 topographical map" just doesn't get the same "Ooow and Ahhh" reaction as showing off a new tablet or GPS.
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Saying, "Hey look at my new 1:100000 topographical map"
Does it for me!
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Saying, "Hey look at my new 1:100000 topographical map" just doesn't get the same "Ooow and Ahhh" reaction as showing off a new tablet or GPS.
Im yet to see a paper map crash or blue screen....
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Use my GPS as well as bush to save money ,every time i have to drive to Sydney to remind me of the fixed cameras and Red light cameras when im consentrating on driving not poles.I also find them very helpful as when i drove to Darwin if i couldnt see around the road trains if the road was straight or not just looked at the screen for bends, woops dont go.
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Do we need a 4wd?
No, we can walk..............
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I say no to Technology ... unless at work or home. Although he does have a reversing camera and a fridge temp monitor. And then I have the panels ... but he reads the cycling readouts ... I do record the daily AH in my blog. I love my paper maps - GPS's are too hard for me to learn because I'm old. I only look to see if we have signal on the phones because I need to know it for my blog ... and I like to compare our two telco's.
Is a digital camera considered "technology"? If so, then I can't live without it. ;D
Kit_e
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Im yet to see a paper map crash or blue screen....
I have seen several paper maps crash (well tear anyway) and brown screen (Cup of coffee knocked over whilst resting the enourmous map on the bonnet of the car.
I still like paper maps as a backup but as Bill said, if I have it, can afford it and enjoy it I will use the modern stuff as well.
Bunyip
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I have seen several paper maps crash (well tear anyway) and brown screen (Cup of coffee knocked over whilst resting the enourmous map on the bonnet of the car.
I still like paper maps as a backup but as Bill said, if I have it, can afford it and enjoy it I will use the modern stuff as well.
Bunyip
X 2 for us, the iPad has been a revolution for trip logging and recording where gear is set etc for work purposes. I do like paper maps as a back up but they are easily damaged or wet, can blow away and hate fires!
As for the iPad, well they probably have 100 000 components that could fail at any time, but so far so good. Plus all he other stuff they can do, they become second nature after a while.
Jas
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I have been watching a show on 7Maaate that will apply to this.......
Dream Car Garage
The big guy is always testing the "modern dream car" and his catch cry is "Do you need a car like this.......probably not, but do you want a car like this......definately!"
:)
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We don't NEED it all, and even as a relatively young bloke (I like to think so) I remember going camping in my late teens without all this stuff... HOWEVER:
GPS/iPad - Makes it easier... still have paper maps in the car, but they don't tell me how far I am from somewhere or if I am on the right track....
Reversing camera - would not be without mine now, main reason is hitching up.. with the camera I can hitch up solo, which is good because my darling wife has skills in areas other than giving reversing directions.. :)
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I have seen several paper maps crash (well tear anyway) and brown screen (Cup of coffee knocked over whilst resting the enourmous map on the bonnet of the car.
Mine are all laminated when I get em at MMC :) Problem solved
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While idiots keep backing over kids I think reverse cameras should be mandatory. The rest of course we can live without. I was reminded by this recently watching some campers over the new year break at Bermagui go each morning and evening and buy bags of ice. Me I like my gadgets starting with the Engel.
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Nah, i hate tecknoiggly, too freeking duffikult to worc out stuf an al dat.
Two bee fare tho, must of mine familly's is only 2 IQ pointts above a chimpansy. Geez, even at impoort-ant stuf lick at meel time an sex, we behave worst than pharm aminals two, so nope, don't lick them tha artsee fartsee crap.
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Course we do - We love it all , - And my livelyhood and camping fun times relies on it ... So COME ON !!!! Mandrake
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I dont want to stir the pot here,
but it is ironic that some of you say we dont need technology, yet your 4wds and campers are less then 10 years old according to your signatures.
Do we need it, some things we do. EPIRB, SATPHONE, GPS, CODAN HF, digital UHF, Electronic traction control, common rail injection, DVD player/Ipod players in the cars.
However, I dont see the point of going camping and having microwave ovens, TV's and dont even get me started on game consoles.
I think we do need the convience of modern technology, but there has to be a line drawn in the sand for when you want to get away from it all.
Rob
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Ironic. This topic is ironic itself, as we have all responded using our computer, tablet, iPhone, blackberry etc. Technology has allowed all of us to share a common interest, how wonderful is that?????
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Nah, hate technology :cheers:
(http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii382/macca_04/IMG_0054_zps478dd006.jpg)
macca
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No we don't.
Agree, gadgets and things that beep, p*ss me off most of the time........
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Ironic. This topic is ironic itself, as we have all responded using our computer, tablet, iPhone, blackberry etc. Technology has allowed all of us to share a common interest, how wonderful is that?????
The topic was more do we need all the computers , tablets , iPhones etc to go camping. My idea of camping is to get away from it all, enjoy the places , swim in the creeks and sit around a fire.
Yes have phones for safety but you see a lot of people camping in mobile phone range on laptops , phones , tablets on face book etc. why not stay home.
I suppose it's great to know exactly where you are at a given point if you are in an isolated area but I think the majority of people are in areas where it's not needed.
A question for people who have all the fancy electronic maps, is it that better having that technology and what did you do before you had it. ( I understand if the wife has to read a map and give you directions ;D)
Maybe it's a man thing having the latest in technology ;D
I have been to the Cape 5 times and only ever had a paper map.
As I said more curious than anything.
Mark
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Mark
Have to aggree with you, I think in my case its just easier to use the electronic mapping, I get lost fairly easily, sometimes thats a good thing, and to me its less hassle, i do always take papermaps with me and do a lot of my pre trip planning on them. IMO a papermap is far easier to get a better overall picture of where you are going
On the other hand we do a lot of water skiing and free camp on the Murray and nothing p1sses me off more than half a dozen teenagers sitting round a fire with iphones in hand. I can still maintain the ban on TV's, DVD's, computers and game consuls (a benefit of being the boat owner) but lost control of the iphones
i guess its similar to my old ocean racing days you can sit down and plot courses on charts or you can just bang a few coordinates into a plotter, you still get there the same, one is just easier than the other plus you have the advantage of know exactly where you are instantly
Apart from safety no I dont really need it I just enjoy fiddling around with all the technology
macca
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G'day Mark,
Great topic. I think if you're referring to being connected to the Internet or a phone service then that's a different story, especially when it's only a short trip.
I enjoy the technology for a quick check of the news, but I'll also get an update from the radio.
Kids using a DVD player for long trips is just bloody easy. When at a campsite then it's different story.
What I don't agree with is when people try to recreate their home theatre system when away.... Well if they're camping near me.
Cheers,
Leigh
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Fridge and solar panel-fed batteries make remote camping 'possible', unless your family is prepared to live on dry / tinned food, powdered milk, etc - or remain within range of ice supplies.
Maps on IPad, especially set to satellite photos, can be great for selecting an alternative route 'on the fly'.
With a young family instant hot water and pumped water supply make life easier for the cook, but we don't miss not having them.
Quickly got used to just using side mirrors. I am better at giving reversing directions than the squeeze, so she is behind the wheel when we need to hitch the trailer, and I tell her where to go...!
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We use a GPS and we use paper maps, neither of which get used until we need to know where we are going LOL
We use our phones for Internet which we can live without but having the internet is such a large part of everyones life in our family so it is nice to be able to check in every now and then.
We use a fridge and solar panels because of obvious reasons!
We have a DVD in the back of the 4wd which doesnt get used that often really but when it does it is nice to see the kids enjoying a movie on those long trips. We could easily live with out it but mum and dad need a rest from car games every now and then too.
We have ipads, tablets, netbooks, laptops etc etc but we dont take them camping as a rule. Maybe on a big trip we will take one purely to back up photos off the camera.......oh there is more technology, the DSLR camera!
Thats about it really, so in the context of the thread I guess the answer is NO, we leave all our gadgets at home.......oh except the kids take their little nintendo game thingys......oh dear
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We have had a strict rule that no game consoles or phones come camping. It has lasted for 10 years and now our friends with younger kids follow the rule as well.
iPods have started to sneak their way in, but I have noticed over the last couple of years an increase in the general amount of music being played around campsites. Perhaps it is just my perception but I do not recall radios being on 10 years ago.
Bunyip
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I do like "back ground" music/news/sports.
I lke it sit down with a good book withe radio on in the back ground.
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I started camping with the Boy Scouts in the UK 55 years ago, and we managed pretty well without the technology we have today - so from that point of view we don't NEED it - but there is no way I would do the same sort of camping today. I like my iPad and my GPS, and having a radio (both broadcast and the HF/UHF communication sets) to ensure that I can access help in an emergency.
Can I survive without the technology? Yes. Would I plan a trip without the technology? Certainly not!
Bear in mind too that these days you need communications if your car breaks down: too many car problems are computer related these days and can't be fixed by a "bush mechanic" method.
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I love my gadgets, so anything that will help with comfort & convenience & meets the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) is good with me. As a newbie to CT and driving trailers in general I was looking at getting a reversing camera. Will this actually assist in any way with reversing the CT or just be a pain? Was looking at getting one anyway as my little one has a habit of letting himself out of the house in a ninja like fashion so can never be too careful!!
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I invested in a compressor to blow up the air matress - so yes the gadgets are a convinience