I do much of my touring in outback Australia. Basically "one route on one road". On such trips there are only 2 routes: forward or backward. Thus, a paper map is fine. I use the strip maps from the Australian road association web sites and Hermes maps. However, on these travels I do meet travellers with the latest GPS and monitoring equipment. They say it tells them how they are performing and exactly where they are.

I always know where I am, and with "mile-posts" know within 10 km how far it is from my last town/roadhouse and how far to my next. More precise travel info is not needed for me.

In July-August I will just have a paper map on my trip from Cape York to Cairns. A GPS won't give me any better info to make my trip more enjoyable. Lots of folks on the road that will provide assistance if needed. Hopefully, I will not get into strife with a serious medical injury. If so, no mobile phone coverage won't be of any value. A satellite phone would be a nice back up - but on that track the RFDS has only limited landing locations...

Another issue is recharging mobiles/GPS units when there are no places (aka few and far between) for a few days... On some tracks I have been on there was no ability to charge a phone etc for 5 or 6 days - but with my map I knew where I was and how far the next place (ie "The Lost Cities" in Northern Territory) was.