Best Sat Nav app

chrisinplymouth

chrisinplymouth

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I would like to use my iPad in conjunction with a garman Bluetooth GPS receiver as a Sat Nav. Can anyone recommend a Sat Nav app that preferably allows vehicle dimensions to be entered. I recently tried using google maps in north Devon and it was a nightmare, took me and a Land Rover down lanes that were no wider than the car. I know that no software is 100% reliable but some suggestions would be helpful.

Regards Chris
 
Your iPad should have GOS built in. No need for a separate receiver.

I use CoPilot truck on my iPad and Google maps when in the motorhome
 
Hi, you only have gps chip on your iPad if you have support for cellular data. I use Sygic truck but the speed limits could do with updating and don’t bother with the speed camera add on, it was dreadful. I use a combination of Sygic and via Michelin for routes in France and Google maps in uk. Just as sense checks of each other.
 
The GPS works without having a sim card as it takes its reference position from satellites. (No sim card in my Garmin) However, if you wish to use an app without offline maps you will need a sim card to download the data
 
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The IPad that does not have the ability to take the SIM card does not have the GPS fitted. I am not saying that it needs the SIM, it just does not have the chip in

www.lifewire.com

Which iPad Models Have Built-In GPS?

Not all iPads come with built-in GPS. Here are the models that do.
www.lifewire.com www.lifewire.com
 
Copilot worked for me on an iPad. The latest updates allow vehicle dims to be entered and it worked pretty well in France, Italy & Germany last year
 
Clickem said:
The IPad that does not have the ability to take the SIM card does not have the GPS fitted. I am not saying that it needs the SIM, it just does not have the chip in

www.lifewire.com

Which iPad Models Have Built-In GPS?

Not all iPads come with built-in GPS. Here are the models that do.
www.lifewire.com www.lifewire.com
Click to expand...
No problem Clickem just trying to clarify the point for Chrisinplymouth.

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I recently did an 1800 mile trip up to Scotland and around. I ran Sygic on my Tablet and Waze on the head unit. At no point was the routing different. The speed limits on SYGIC were crazy. In the end I opted for the Avtex dedicated Satnav and it definitely knows not to go down some narrow lanes. It uses Garmin maps with real time updates. Guy
 
ceejayt said:
I stand corrected 😀
Click to expand...
It is confusing.
My mapping app seems to know where I am but a WiFi only iPad uses nearby WiFi routers to approximate location.
What I found: -
“Location Services on the WiFi model is intended just to find your general location, so apps can tell you what is nearby. It isn't meant to tell you exactly where you are.”
 
I am nervous of google maps…. The roads it tried to take me this weekend would not fit a motorhome.

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I’ve tried most units/options and they all take some interpretation and common sense.
 
I know none of them are 100% but last weekend in north Devon google was hopeless, continually trying to take shortcuts to save a few hundred yards. It’s a shame as I really like the functionality of google maps, in part the ability to force it onto particular roads using waypoints.
 
I run Waze orGikgle maps on my head unit and. OoPilot on an iPad on a stand next to steering g wheel.

Good combo. Waze etc good at looking at traffic and issues etc but when there is a ‘shortcut’ and CoPilot differs I stick with CoPilot (truck version) as keeping me on bigger raids
 
Another vote here for CoPilot, I use the Caravan version, I think it's about £25 a year and for that you can set your vehicle dimensions and choose what type of roads you like to travel on, nice bold clear layout, on an ipad I would expect it to look great, it may add a few miles to your journey but it can stop those 50p/10p moments on narrow lanes that google seem to like sending you on!.

https://copilotgps.com/en-gb/compare-features/#pricing

<M>
 
Google maps is great for long distance motorway driving and modern cities but anywhere rural or in old towns it's a pain in the backside. It's the only one I use but I've learned to be very sceptical of its directions 🤨. I now pretend it's my wife giving me directions and treat them accordingly 😎
 
As previously mentioned Garmin do a Camper version, as do TOM TOM. The Avtex version is actually a Garmin and has loaded a few more POI's but essentially the same as Garmin. Guy
 
Guyadria said:
I recently did an 1800 mile trip up to Scotland and around. I ran Sygic on my Tablet and Waze on the head unit. At no point was the routing different. The speed limits on SYGIC were crazy. In the end I opted for the Avtex dedicated Satnav and it definitely knows not to go down some narrow lanes. It uses Garmin maps with real time updates. Guy
Click to expand...
There are only a handful of companies that actually do the mapping that these satnavs run from. Everyone, whether it's an app, a dedicated gadget or an in-dash unit buys their mapping from these companies. The big providers are TeleAtlas, Navtech and Google. They don't get information from the highways authorities or Ordinance Survey. These companies have cars driving around with cameras all over them to capture the state of the network. Apple have their own mapping in the US, but I don't know if they've got it elsewhere? And then OpenStreetMap which is crowdsourced.

For all of these map sources, there is very poor information about the width of the roads. The satnavs mainly rely on the mapping provider's road classification. Which means a road like the A149 in Norfolk will have a estimated high speed than something like the B655 near Hitchin.

Screenshot 2021-10-25 114315.png
Screenshot 2021-10-25 114655.png


Neither of these roads has a width or weight restriction on them. Which means your satnav can legitimately send you down either road. And if your campsite can only be reached down a narrow country lane, then it has to be able to create a route with that road on. What really ought to be happening is that when you put in your width as a wider vehicle, it should adjust the average speed as the road in Norfolk to be 20mph instead of the 30mph that a car would manage. Then it's much less likely to find a route that'll use that road. But they don't have good data to be able to do that. And the people that do have the better data aren't in a position to update the maps (except maybe Google, but they don't know about the type of vehicle you're driving).

For genuine width and weight restrictions, which you think would be easy, the mapping is surprisingly poor too. There's a width restriction near me that seems to be in the wrong location in every app I can find, meaning the satnav refuses to route me an area that I know I can get to. And when I was on holiday in Norfolk, there were several width restrictions in small towns that didn't appear on several apps or the motorhome specific satnav I was using.

Bottom line is, I'd prefer to use a normal car satnav. I'll check the route before I go if I think there might be an issue. And if I do come across a restriction, I'll be prepared to ignore that instruction and get it to re-route me on-the-fly.

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I've used a Garmin Camper 770 for the last 3 years which has been excellent, input the size, weight and away you go, its never took me anywhere that it shouldn't have.

I've just recently upgraded to the 890 Camper version, just because "I like to keep up" and so far that has been 100% spot on

I've sometimes had google maps and sygic on to compare and i'd have wrote the van off if 'd have stuck to those two

Al
 
Hi chrisinplymouth

Tomtom produce the GO Camper and they also make Truck based units ie the GO 6200 or GO6250 Professionals or the New Go Expert ( a truck Based unit). You should note that the new Go Discover ( a car based unit) and the GO Expert require linking to your phone for Traffic and do not allow you to add your own POI files. whereas the GO Camper and Professional units do not need a phone linked and allow the loading of 3rd party POI files.

The GO Camper and GO professional units have specific POI files included relevant to the use the intended devices for example the GO Camper has Acsi POI files on it.
 
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As a test, whose satnav will happily send them down here:
www.google.co.uk

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
www.google.co.uk www.google.co.uk

Because this summer, Sygic Truck, RoadLords, CoPilot and my inbuilt Zenec satnav all through it was fine. The restriction has been there at least 10 years.

My opinion is that satnavs that claim to know about width restrictions but are unreliable, are worse than those that don't pretend to.
 
Guigsy said:
There are only a handful of companies that actually do the mapping that these satnavs run from. Everyone, whether it's an app, a dedicated gadget or an in-dash unit buys their mapping from these companies. The big providers are TeleAtlas, Navtech and Google. They don't get information from the highways authorities or Ordinance Survey. These companies have cars driving around with cameras all over them to capture the state of the network. Apple have their own mapping in the US, but I don't know if they've got it elsewhere? And then OpenStreetMap which is crowdsourced.

For all of these map sources, there is very poor information about the width of the roads. The satnavs mainly rely on the mapping provider's road classification. Which means a road like the A149 in Norfolk will have a estimated high speed than something like the B655 near Hitchin.

View attachment 551084View attachment 551085

Neither of these roads has a width or weight restriction on them. Which means your satnav can legitimately send you down either road. And if your campsite can only be reached down a narrow country lane, then it has to be able to create a route with that road on. What really ought to be happening is that when you put in your width as a wider vehicle, it should adjust the average speed as the road in Norfolk to be 20mph instead of the 30mph that a car would manage. Then it's much less likely to find a route that'll use that road. But they don't have good data to be able to do that. And the people that do have the better data aren't in a position to update the maps (except maybe Google, but they don't know about the type of vehicle you're driving).

For genuine width and weight restrictions, which you think would be easy, the mapping is surprisingly poor too. There's a width restriction near me that seems to be in the wrong location in every app I can find, meaning the satnav refuses to route me an area that I know I can get to. And when I was on holiday in Norfolk, there were several width restrictions in small towns that didn't appear on several apps or the motorhome specific satnav I was using.

Bottom line is, I'd prefer to use a normal car satnav. I'll check the route before I go if I think there might be an issue. And if I do come across a restriction, I'll be prepared to ignore that instruction and get it to re-route me on-the-fly.
Click to expand...
That’s really helpful…. Thanks
 
Hi Guigsy

My GO Camper for a route from Thursford Green to Church Street between the Creakes suggest that I turn right at the junction you have posted and work my way around to Egmere Road via Knight Street etc If I set the destination as Friday Market West Walsingham it will direct me along Holt Road. Having visited and driven through Rochfort en Terre, a place I would recommend visiting , Holt Road would hold no fears. I stopped when I saw the road through the village then noticed the sign that said No Vehicles over 19t between something like 10-00am and 19-00pm. in July and August 😂😂

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