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Phone protection, charging and trips |
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25-Jul-2015 10:47:19 AM
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Any recommendations for a rugged case for an iPhone 5 - to protect from weather and rough conditions with a solid attachment point / lanyard?
Also advice for charging on a multi-day trip? — solar charger, external battery pack, phone settings...
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25-Jul-2015 3:32:14 PM
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I bought one of these and lugged it into Frenchmans in February. It packs a few recharges and doesn't weigh much, a lot smaller and more convenient than solar and can charge 2 devices at once:
http://www.buzzgadgets.com.au/anker-astro-slim3-6000mah-2-port-ultra-slim-battery-with-built-in-micro-usb-black.html just 154g.
Supplied by a local (Melbourne) supplier (BuzzGadgets) of a US product, delivery was quick, and the local support and service was excellent (I had an issue, they managed it locally, tested in their lab inc return postage no questions). Thumbs up.
I also see they have a newer 6400maH device listed there now.
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25-Jul-2015 3:35:43 PM
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I'm involved in developing a charger - one that requires no solar energy, or external battery system and another with the same tech that has it's own battery for the stored power. It will easily do what you want. I will let you know when it will be commercially available. We are past the prototyping stage and in production at the moment. Should know by the end of August.
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25-Jul-2015 3:54:44 PM
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I also use an Anker re chargeable battery pack. It's from the UK not the same as the one in the link above but have found it awesome. If not using the phone much and keeping blue tooth off I can eek it out and the Anker will do three re charges so can pretty much go a week without hitting up a power point.
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27-Jul-2015 11:52:56 AM
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I've got a Griffin Survivor case for mine; it's a rugged rubber and plastic affair with a screen protector and belt clip. The only box it wouldn't tick is that the lanyard eyelet is on the belt clip, which is detachable but sturdy.
re: charging, I've found that the battery on my iPhone 5 is simply too unreliable for a multiday trip (it barely holds charge for a day in the snow, even when switched off), so I have an old Nokia non-smartphone which is smaller and lighter, and which has replaceable batteries. I've got three batteries and I simply rotate them as required. You can get SIM adapters to change the iPhone's nano-SIM back to a full-size SIM card for the Nokia.
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27-Jul-2015 1:45:22 PM
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As I understand it, all phones are subject to going flat faster in the wilderness as they expend energy trying to contact distant towers. I've had phones that would easily run a day or two in normal use go flat within a day when mostly out of service.
Use airplane mode. And turn bluetooth and wifi off anyway.
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27-Jul-2015 2:22:32 PM
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And data, and sync...
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27-Jul-2015 5:19:32 PM
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Mine dies pretty quickly in the cold even when it's in flight mode and switched off in my pack. The low temperatures slow the reactions in the (already-flogged-out) battery.
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27-Jul-2015 10:44:36 PM
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Flight mode saves battery, as does turning down your lighting and switching vibrate off. Even if you have a charger that will help. As does using a camera other than your phone ;)
I have a lifeproof case and by all reviews it's the best on the market for durability - however after only a year mine is totally wrecked; not sure if it was me or the kids.
That said, it was tough and waterproof when new.
I'm considering the above mentioned griffin case next.
For lanyarding I used a 30mm sling clove-hitched around the case and a strip of gaffer tape across the back to add piece of mind... Then kept it in a cargo pocket on my shorts.
Have fun!
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28-Jul-2015 9:15:59 AM
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Also check quadlock - http://www.quadlockcase.com/
Local Melbourne co (you can tell from the web site video) that is competing well internationally.
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