Smart phone as GPS

bill12 · Guru

Smart phone as GPS

Cruising Cruze · Guru

The phone you've got a while back Bill ( I bough the same one on your advice )
Has GPS in there

Cheers John

bill12 · Guru

Yes, but does it work on its own or thru the phone system? Mine,s gps won,t work if the sim is not in.I don,t want to pay for using the gps.Bill

oldbobsbus · Guru

Bill, You should be able to test that by turning your data off first then try the GPS function..

I have a Samsung Ace and yes it definitely needs to be connected to data to work..

Checkout this review , the first thing I didn't like about it is that it doesn't work on the Telstra 850mhz network which is their 3g network outside of the cities..

I also believe you would need to be connected to data for the GPS to work the same as the one you now have.

5" screen is getting large and I would find it awkward to carry around in my pocket..

moblet · Senior Member

I use a Nokia E72 (2008 vintage I believe) which I got used off eBay. The maps and voice guidance files can be downloaded for free from Nokia and the GPS is not dependent on the phone network. I don't have a sim card in the phone as it's not tuned to the Next-G frequency, but use the phone for GPS, FM radio, camera, MP3 player, Skype, etc.

One pro and one con I can report:

- The maps have almost all the forestry roads on them

- The phone sometimes takes ages to find the GPS signal and sometimes loses it easily

To test your current smartphone I'd remove the sim card and see if the GPS still works.

pdg051 · Newbie

Hi Bill12 If you buy a samsung S4 you can download NAVIGON app with all the australian maps for free and then you don't have to be on the net to use it works for me 10/10 pdg051

Hydeeeho · Senior Member

i Have an iPhone with the Tom Tom app installed and it works a treat, and you do not data for it operate as it works like all GPS's as it works off satellites, I have just got my iPad working as a GPS as well