Gps using phone

cruisaderhilton · Senior Member

Gps using phone

Cupie · Guru

I've been successfully using Google Maps on this trip.

Though G Maps and my Garmin GPS wanted to take me in different directions as I went south thru Sydney from Narrabeen Lakes. I ignored them both & just followed the A3. An interesting trip, what with both of them rabbiting on over the radio & SWMBO chipping in from time to time. Takes a partially deaf driver to handle that I suppose.

I have never used Siri on my very old iPhone 6S. Might be worth a try though.

-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 29th of April 2019 07:15:39 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have been using Google Maps for some time now with success. I now have a iPone x and use GM on that also with great success. I link it via bluetooth to my Collie sound system.

I will ask Siri when next in car and see what she says. Just out of interest.

dabbler · Guru

The issue with navigation using smart phones is mobile coverage. This can be overcome with pre-planning and downloading the maps that cover your route but that approach doesn't alway you to explore alternatives once underway. I recently spent 2 weeks in Western Qld between the two flood events and was constantly frustrated by both my in car GPS and phones not really able to scout ahead when roads were closed. You can always spend some cash and buy a Hema App if your phone has the necessary memory.

drtooheys · Senior Member

cruisaderhilton wrote:
i was thinking of getting a new gps ,but now going to use iphone5 by using Siri ,just tell here where you want to go and she plots a course,so far she has not missed directing me to wherever I need to go ,do any of you use her as well .

For you to use the SIRI part of that, because it is an iphone 5 it must be plugged into a power source for it to work, which isnt a problem with a normal car charger. It only started to work without being plugged in from the 6s model.

elliemike · Guru

I was recently doing the rounds of the car yards looking at a new car (Shopping Trolley) for us. I noticed in a lot of them now they dont even offer built in GPS they require you to plug your phone in (USB) and use the Google or Map apps off your phone. This comes up on the Car Radio, Console and uses your phone maps on the screen. Not much use out in the country.

https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/in-car-sat-nav-or-smartphone-which-is-better/

-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 30th of April 2019 08:03:49 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

If you touch a phone in the car it can be very expensive & loss of licence. The government is introducing cameras to look into your car to fine you if you touch a phone.

A dedicated GPS you can touch as much as you like so it might be better to have a GPS simply from this aspect.

Mutley · Senior Member

dabbler wrote:
The issue with navigation using smart phones is mobile coverage. This can be overcome with pre-planning and downloading the maps that cover your route but that approach doesn't alway you to explore alternatives once underway. I recently spent 2 weeks in Western Qld between the two flood events and was constantly frustrated by both my in car GPS and phones not really able to scout ahead when roads were closed. You can always spend some cash and buy a Hema App if your phone has the necessary memory.

You don't need mobile coverage to use the GPS function in a smart phone dabbler. I've used it in all kinds of out of the way places, including Haddon Corner. It uses the same satellite as a dedicated GPS does, not phone towers.

Cheers,

Mutley :)

Chris61 · Senior Member

cruisaderhilton wrote:
i was thinking of getting a new gps ,but now going to use iphone5 by using Siri ,just tell here where you want to go and she plots a course,so far she has not missed directing me to wherever I need to go ,do any of you use her as well .

Have a look at the app, Sygic. It is an offline GPS that runs on your phone. It works when you have no signal. Get a phone holder and a 12v usb charger. I have used it on an iphone, although I now have a Samsung S8. It is as good as any GPS, has unlimited free updates every three months. It has a free trial for 7 days and then still works without sound. It is around $30 when on special that can be used on 3 devices.

dabbler · Guru

Mutley, you need maps in order to navigate. That might be through using an app that includes maps or it might be because you downloaded the revelant maps when you have coverage. GPS by itself is just part of the equation. As I mention in my post, changing routes without coverage or downloaded maps is a real issue. My recent experience involved looking at routes into regions 500-700km from the maps I had downloaded as road closures severely planned routes. Once I had coverage (Windorah) all was well.

Gus1949 · Senior Member

We used Google Maps when we went to Italy last year downloading the areas we were to travel to. Worked brilliantly. Also extremely useful when walking around cities and towns, impossible as the little blue do let you know exactly where you were and what direction you were walking. Impossible to get lost.

Kebbin · Guru

Muttley a free app will be needed to run the gps but no sim card required.

dabbler · Guru

We've used Google maps in Europe too and never touched our paper maps. It's really great if you are using public transport and as Gus says, just knowing where you are and your orientation can save lot of grief (you still need to remember the bus arrives on the other side of the road though).

Hylife · Guru

No mobile signal = no Siri.

In the absence of a mobile signal with data (not all towers offer voice AND data) or WiFi, 'Offline' Google Maps must be Pre-downloaded or you wont have them either.

Google offline maps are only valid for 30 days.

Mutley · Senior Member

dabbler wrote:
Mutley, you need maps in order to navigate. That might be through using an app that includes maps or it might be because you downloaded the revelant maps when you have coverage. GPS by itself is just part of the equation. As I mention in my post, changing routes without coverage or downloaded maps is a real issue. My recent experience involved looking at routes into regions 500-700km from the maps I had downloaded as road closures severely planned routes. Once I had coverage (Windorah) all was well.

We have just used android on our Samsung mobiles & bingo, there it is dabbler. No other apps, just what came with the phone from the factory & well and truly out of our carrier's coverage (Optus). I get everything needed to navigate, even when extremely remote.

dabbler · Guru

mutley, it's probable you had already downloaded the required maps while planning your trips. It's a different story when you need to change routes to an unknown (to the App) region. As others have mentioned, no map = no navigation. An easy test is to switch Airplane mode ON, make sure GPS is ON then try to get directions from A to B where you have never been in the region of A or B. You can.also check your current set of downloaded maps with Google Maps (the icon that's three horizontal bars top left, go to offline maps).

jade46 · Senior Member

You can download Google maps "ofline" while at home by state and then don't need mobile access. I use it on a 10" tablet bluetooth thru the MH stereo. Allways up to date.

-- Edited by jade46 on Thursday 2nd of May 2019 06:27:02 AM

dabbler · Guru

Here's a link hot off the press ..errr ...keyboard. It explains methods for both Android and Apple devices. The important things to note are downloaded Google maps have expiry dates (don't last forever without your intervention), greater detail requires more maps to cover the same area and the process requires internet access. https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/how-to/download-entire-maps-for-offline-use-google-maps-0179273/

Dick0 · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
If you touch a phone in the car it can be very expensive & loss of licence. The government is introducing cameras to look into your car to fine you if you touch a phone.
A dedicated GPS you can touch as much as you like so it might be better to have a GPS simply from this aspect.

What is the source on information that the Government is introducing cameras to look into your car to fine you if you touch a phone...please explain!

Mutley · Senior Member

Dick0 wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
If you touch a phone in the car it can be very expensive & loss of licence. The government is introducing cameras to look into your car to fine you if you touch a phone.
A dedicated GPS you can touch as much as you like so it might be better to have a GPS simply from this aspect.
What is the source on information that the Government is introducing cameras to look into your car to fine you if you touch a phone...please explain!

Mate, I've seen the cameras!

There's one up near Lake Frome on the Arkaroola Rd, another one up on the Savannah Way near Hells Gate, and I think I saw one on the plenty Hwy near Jervois lol! (tongue firmly in cheek!)

laurieoz · Senior Member

jade46 wrote:
You can download Google maps "ofline" while at home by state and then don't need mobile access. I use it on a 10" tablet bluetooth thru the MH stereo. Allways up to date.

-- Edited by jade46 on Thursday 2nd of May 2019 06:27:02 AM

Can you please explain how to down load each state (I can only down load parts of each state)

Mutley · Senior Member

dabbler wrote:
mutley, it's probable you had already downloaded the required maps while planning your trips. It's a different story when you need to change routes to an unknown (to the App) region. As others have mentioned, no map = no navigation. An easy test is to switch Airplane mode ON, make sure GPS is ON then try to get directions from A to B where you have never been in the region of A or B. You can.also check your current set of downloaded maps with Google Maps (the icon that's three horizontal bars top left, go to offline maps).

dabbler, I am an old fashioned paper map person. We all know that when you set off on a trip, you'll always forget something. In our case, on such a trip, we forgot the HEMA Atlas. So, I had a brainwave out in the boonies & had a crack at navigating by using my Samsung (I was too tight to buy another atlas at Wanaaring). It worked better than I could have ever imagined. It was never used during the planning stage, as I relied on paper maps. We have done it several times since.

Example: the signage on the Morgan/Yunta mail run is next to non existent & the HEMA maps definitely do not correlate to the topography on the ground. We got through, but the hard part for me was accepting that my paper maps were incorrect. The Samsung was a very useful tool that day & I hadn't even considered using it in my trip planning stage.

I'm struggling to understand why you would need more apps than came with the phone from the factory to navigate?

dabbler · Guru

mutley, I can assure you I haven't made up a story. Follow the link I provided and/or one of the tests I suggested. I've owned several Samsung devices and many smart phones & tablets. NONE of them included maps (I mean mapping data not a mapping app). I'm also not saying you didn't navigate without a comms signal but it's simply not the way smartphone navigation apps operate for everyone I have encountered. Your particular Samsung might have included some map data although it's not a current feature. Please try the tests I suggest to see if you really can navigate without downloaded maps or online access and read the link I provided,so you are prepared next time you travel without your road atlas. People wouldn't publish comprehensive articles on navigation without comms coverage unless it was necessary.

dabbler · Guru

laurieoz, a Google map is restricted to.a max of 1.7gb I think, far too small for a state wide map to include enough high level detail for any real use. By default, a Google map is for the region you are viewing. Zoom in and the area is small, detail is high. Zoom out and the area is large and detail is low. Google map website help explains this in more detail.

jade46 · Senior Member

laurieoz wrote:
jade46 wrote:
You can download Google maps "ofline" while at home by state and then don't need mobile access. I use it on a 10" tablet bluetooth thru the MH stereo. Allways up to date.

-- Edited by jade46 on Thursday 2nd of May 2019 06:27:02 AM
Can you please explain how to down load each state (I can only down load parts of each state)
The App is called " Offline maps and Navigation" Attached is the link. Work through it and you will find downloads for each state
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navigation.offlinemaps.gps&hl=en_AU

You can look at a site on Wikicamps hit the Get Direction button and it will enter the address into the App and away you go. No more typing in addresses

-- Edited by jade46 on Friday 3rd of May 2019 07:32:54 AM

laurieoz · Senior Member

jade46 wrote:
laurieoz wrote:
jade46 wrote:
You can download Google maps "ofline" while at home by state and then don't need mobile access. I use it on a 10" tablet bluetooth thru the MH stereo. Allways up to date.

-- Edited by jade46 on Thursday 2nd of May 2019 06:27:02 AM
Can you please explain how to down load each state (I can only down load parts of each state)
The App is called " Offline maps and Navigation" Attached is the link. Work through it and you will find downloads for each state
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navigation.offlinemaps.gps&hl=en_AU

You can look at a site on Wikicamps hit the Get Direction button and it will enter the address into the App and away you go. No more typing in address

I have google maps on my Iphone - I can not download " Offline maps and Navigation" onto the Iphone

Is there a way to download " Offline maps and Navigation" onto a I phone?

As I said I can download parts of states for offline but not the whole state

Laurie

jade46 · Senior Member

If the above link doesn't work I can't help. I don't do Apple so can't advise.

dabbler · Guru

laurieoz, this link has both Android and Apple processes. https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/how-to/download-entire-maps-for-offline-use-google-maps-0179273/

laurieoz · Senior Member

dabbler wrote:
laurieoz, this link has both Android and Apple processes. https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/how-to/download-entire-maps-for-offline-use-google-maps-0179273/

Thanks -this is what I have done but I was after a way to down load the whole state on Iphone like Jade46 said you could do with Android

Laurie

dabbler · Guru

As I mention above, you can't download an entire state in any detail