dpb

Nah, much easier to just go to airplane mode for the navigation, 2 prods on mine

Also don't get disturbed by someone calling you

lozgti1

I prefer a map. But I'm old :-)

Makes your brain work though. Lol

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

Buying a car with satnav in is great but after a few years you need to pay for the update disc, which is cheeky

My audi only allows the first 4 numbers of a post code, you then pick the street name, completely stupid,

I use Google maps when not in my car, but it can throw up some funny routes, you can get navfree which you can download the maps too for offline use, that's prob one of the best I've used

Granted that worked better on my ip4 than when I got my HTC one back in the day, I'm. Now on an s6 but don't need to use nav everyday

dpb

I have the original Tom Tom. Couple months ago made fatal mistake trying update it , on computer , where upon it wiped the sd cards maps .
So paid 25 for the Sygic app ( worldwide maps) , apparently it's the most down loaded app of it's type ~I'd never heard of it. The maps even come from TomTom themselves !

I'm not upgrading to a new hi an dry , for chance to have inbuilt gps lol

DYK

I use co pilot but its for HGV,but I have found for non phone satnav snooper is better than Tom Tom.What I get a little ticked of by is why HGV satnavs are way more expensive,I mean I know it has to work a different route than would for a car,weight limits bridges etc,but is a big difference in price and considering HGV satnavs have been around for a while now,they haven't really reduced in price.snooper and Tom Tom will pay £300.00 and upwards.Even the co pilot phone satnav £26.99 for car £120.00 for HGV.mehh

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

I use Google maps and it's always superb. The only complaint I have ever had with Google maps was in Germany as I missed lots of turns due to saying a junction was 300m then go to nothing as you drove past your turn

In the UK or the US I can't fault it

dpb

Any good in Africa ?

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

If you can afford the data and Google maps have been there it may be

dpb

Certainly couldn't afford the data

JackClark

I picked up a sim in SA for a tenner that covered me for data for 2 weeks. My bill for an 8 day trip to France was £18 including an expensive phone call and as much data as I could use.

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

Just use 'Here - Maps for life'. Download them to your iPhone (or Android) and then just use GPS. That's what I'll be doing for a 2 month visit to Brazil. Best of all is it's free

dpb

I just can't imagine you can rely on telephone mast , everywhere !

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

Why would you need to?

dpb

Indeed

WokaImp

Google Maps/Apples Maps uses your mobile data allowance and only works when you have mobile internet connection. There is also a massive lag when updating your position on the map. "left in 400m"..." *map suddenly updates itself* "Damn! U-turn...turning is 100m behind us now!"
Not to mention if you go abroad then using Google Maps/Apple Maps costs a fortune since it uses your roaming data connection to download map and location data.
Great if you're in a pub...awful when driving. I learnt the hard way when trying to buy a duck from Wales. As soon as I lost mobile signal in the valleys I was screwed!

Dedicated TomTom uses GPS, no data mobile signal required. You obviously have the £100 or so upfront cost for this GPS unit.

The 3rd option is that you can download the TomTom app for I think about £20. This uses GPS on your phone. No mobile signal required. Maps are downloads to your phone so they can run offline. This essentially acts like a full blown TomTom for a fraction of the cost.
I have this running on my Android phone and it's great! It even works in Wales valleys!

EDIT: GPS uses the GPS satellite network, which is independent of the Mobile network and mobile masts.
GPS will work in the middle or nowhere, like up a mountain, in a desert or in a tree in Australia while tormenting a Koala.
Google and Apple Maps require you to be near civilisation and in range of a mobile signal mast.

silver-sub

Very helpful information.

hodgy0_2

Yes, this is my experience too

I have a few Nokia smartphones knocking about that do not have SIM cards, All the maps/apps I tried needed an active data connection to work, whether 3/4g or WIFI then fine


SIM-less and relying in GPS alone, then useless even when the Maps were "downloaded"

Also inbuilt nav systems seem naff to me and make a dashboard look like a cheap hifi

Dash mounted Tom Tom does me pretty well tbh

riiidaa

iTrader: (2)

A pro sat-nav installer I used to banter with back in my car audio days used to refer to them as lick-and-stick satnavs.

google/apple maps have their uses but I'd never rely on them alone, much prefer proper gps based sat-nav apps with offline mapping first and foremost, and mobile data for the bells and whistles.

Nav-free (aka NavMii)
TomTom ££

hodgy0_2

The downside is obviously the amount of cables you have running up and down the dash/centre console (with phone USB charging too)

The inside of my car looks like a fvcking cabbies (doesn't help that it's an Audi A4)

abre

Navigon (part of Garmin) from the App Store works well on the iPhone, doesn't require data for normal operation only when you're downloading map updates, which I do using WiFi at home so it's free, cost for the maps upgrade option was reasonable when compared to in-dash upgrade costs.
Yes the app price is a little more than I like and you buy it as a region specific app, but I've never been lost using it even in the mobile free zone of Australia's red centre... and it's better than my Pioneer unit in the car, hands down.
Only issue I've ever had with it was this year in Italy where voice directions were a little too close to the junctions but the display info was spot on, but I think that was the phone not the app as for the past 8 years in Italy it's been perfect...

dpb

Mines just one power lead up to the old tomtom window sticker , which iv adapted with Velcro for the phone to stick to

StueyBII

I used google maps exclusively these days. However it does occasionally send people down the wrong route It tried to send me down a one way street only a year or so ago but on the whole its ok.

dpb

I'm sure it works awesome in Cheshire mate , why wouldn't it

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I bought a navman about 8/9yrs ago, still going strong.

dpb

Even more dodgy to use phone as sat nav now I should imagine

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

same, I use Waze which is fantastic, just treat it like you do your standard sat nav. Set it before and don't touch it whilst you're driving.

dpb

what if you have to re route

tony de wonderful

Yes I was thinking that. I don't even open texts or emails now while driving given the latest crack down.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

the nav does that for you, Waze is also voice activated and worst case you pull over and do it ...