SatNav or Google Maps?

[weemalkie]

I sold my Garmin Camper LMT D 760

Now only use Google maps on 8 in Lenovo GPS tablet .. tethered to the phone for data ..

you can download Google maps for the area you are travelling and use without data , but you don't have the excellent live traffic updates and re routing ,so I don't bother.

This may be a stupid question but if your phone loses its signal when you are driving then I presume that google maps won't update with the possibility of missing turn offs etc.

 

[ChrisL]

This may be a stupid question but if your phone loses its signal when you are driving then I presume that google maps won't update with the possibility of missing turn offs etc.

It's possible to download areas of google maps in advance to work offline should you loose your data connection.

 

[LesW]

Just been looking at this! But as far as I can see, you need something running either MAC or Windows, which I don't possess. Would be delighted if anyone knows a way to transfer S4S onto a Garmin without...

I don't think this is possible.

You have to download a file then install it to your satnav unit, how do you update your satnav without a PC?

 

[scotjimland]

This may be a stupid question but if your phone loses its signal when you are driving then I presume that google maps won't update with the possibility of missing turn offs etc.

I've used Google Maps on many trips abroad.. and it's never been an issue.. but if you were venturing somewhere where the mobile signal may be weak or non existent, as pointed out by ChrisL and as I said in my last post .. you can download the map for that area ...

you can download Google maps for the area you are travelling and use without data , but you don't have the excellent live traffic updates and re routing ,so I don't bother.

I can only suggest you try Google Maps.. As I mentioned earlier, I found it so good I sold my Garmin Camper as I no longer used it ..

How to keep using Google Maps even when your phone is offline

These simple steps will help you keep using Google Maps offline when you don’t have an internet connection.

blog.google

 

[Guigsy]

This may be a stupid question but if your phone loses its signal when you are driving then I presume that google maps won't update with the possibility of missing turn offs etc.

I think it needs a signal to create a new route. But it pre-stores the next leg of the route as you go. I've never had it fail due to lack of signal. It does occasionally say there's no traffic data off you have no signal for a long time. Often (if you're on WiFi?) it'll ask if you want to download the whole route when you set the destination.

You can also download and store areas of the map. So if you do have a patchy signal, there's less data required to keep it going. And if you have an area at home, it'll slightly reduce the amount of mobile data required.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[V and B]

I think it needs a signal to create a new route. But it pre-stores the next leg of the route as you go. I've never had it fail due to lack of signal. It does occasionally say there's no traffic data off you have no signal for a long time. Often (if you're on WiFi?) it'll ask if you want to download the whole route when you set the destination.

You can also download and store areas of the map. So if you do have a patchy signal, there's less data required to keep it going. And if you have an area at home, it'll slightly reduce the amount of mobile data required.

Wondered why it never seems to lose signal, now I know!

 

[Joie de vivre]

Google maps and navigation is 10 years ahead of the dedicated ones.
Street view.
Satellite view.
All Pois.
Customer Rewiews.
Free.
Fast.

I'm amazed anybody pays for a device in 2024

PS the dimensions on other units can't be trusted, they WILL stitch you up sooner or later

I just bought a Garmin Camper 895 and am seriously disappointed with it's level of information and the fact that it can't seem to reroute going forward. It tries to get me to do a U turn and go a ridiculously long way backwards first. Pity google didn't let you put dimensions in. That would fix the whole problem and I'd still have £500!!!

 

[LesW]

.

 

[LesW]

Google maps and navigation is 10 years ahead of the dedicated ones.
Street view.
Satellite view.
All Pois.
Customer Rewiews.
Free.
Fast.

I'm amazed anybody pays for a device in 2024

PS the dimensions on other units can't be trusted, they WILL stitch you up sooner or later

Just looking at a non toll route from Dresden to Prague travelling south of 'Pirna', and can see that there is a tunnel that is not shown on Google Maps at all, the B172n, (satellite images seem to show it still being built), but is on my Garmin Camper mapping as it is on Via Michelin maps.

Not the first serious omission of a road I have encountered on Google Maps, so be aware it's not 100% accurate.

 

[scotjimland]

Pity google didn't let you put dimensions in.

there isn't enough data for all roads for a reliable way of doing that accurately ...

in the UK we have four classes... M, A, B, C, and unclassified..

Google will always take the fastest route using the road classes in preference order.. ie. M. A. B. C... then unclassified if no option..

if your destination is a CL and it on an unclassified road, then it has no option but to use that road... same with any sat-nav ...

why it is important to always check the last few miles of your route using Google street view satellite view or paper map ..
.
and yes,. you could have saved £500 .. I sold mine for £100

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Joie de vivre]

there isn't enough data for all roads for a reliable way of doing that accurately ...

in the UK we have four classes... M, A, B, C, and unclassified..

Google will always take the fastest route using the road classes in preference order.. ie. M. A. B. C... then unclassified if no option..

if your destination is a CL and it on an unclassified road, then it has no option but to use that road... same with any sat-nav ...

why it is important to always check the last few miles of your route using Google street view satellite view or paper map ..
.
and yes,. you could have saved £500 .. I sold mine for £100

Aww, grim!

 

[Nirvanauk]

I use google maps but just tried Waze. It worked fine but have read that it sucks power out of the battery.

 

[Guigsy]

I use google maps but just tried Waze. It worked fine but have read that it sucks power out of the battery.

Any app that has the screen on continuously will drain the battery. None of the satnav apps are significantly different in that regard. So plug it in while you're driving?

 

[Nirvanauk]

Any app that has the screen on continuously will drain the battery. None of the satnav apps are significantly different in that regard. So plug it in while you're driving?

Yes but evidently waze uses much more than other apps.

 

[Guigsy]

Yes but evidently waze uses much more than other apps.

I can't say I've noticed a difference. They all seem to eat about 20% battery per hour when going through wireless android auto... which I rarely test because I normally remember to plug my phone in. Why wouldn't you?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

how do you update your satnav without a PC?

I've never updated one in my life?

Just looking at a non toll route from Dresden to Prague travelling south of 'Pirna', and can see that there is a tunnel that is not shown on Google Maps at all, the B172n, (satellite images seem to show it still being built), but is on my Garmin Camper mapping as it is on Via Michelin maps.

Not the first serious omission of a road I have encountered on Google Maps, so be aware it's not 100% accurate.

I always assume nothing is.

So plug it in while you're driving?

All mine plugged in permanently. sat -nav, 2x front cameras ,2 x rear cameras, head unit ,

which I rarely test because I normally remember to plug my phone in. Why wouldn't you?

yes my wife doesn't? plugs in when flat .not uncommon to have a phone, note book, tablets x 2 another phone for audio books, all being charged at once.

 

[Frank Fox]

If you are going the non-satnav route, dont go Apple maps as itonce gave me directions to a pothole five times in a row! So its either Google Maps or Waze for me.

 

[Helgamobil]

Thank you for all the advice - still thinking of returning to SatNav (not sure which one) to save phone data use when abroad. Several hours/days driving is going to soak up a lot of our Gbs.

 

[chaser]

Thank you for all the advice - still thinking of returning to SatNav (not sure which one) to save phone data use when abroad. Several hours/days driving is going to soak up a lot of our Gbs.

I am late into this thread but have you tried herewego maps free download,no ads downloaded maps and then works completely offline.

 

[Guigsy]

Thank you for all the advice - still thinking of returning to SatNav (not sure which one) to save phone data use when abroad. Several hours/days driving is going to soak up a lot of our Gbs.

Google Maps uses about 5MB per hour of driving. If you drive 8 hours a day for a month, you'd use about 1GB. Compared to streaming video, it's nothing.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Helgamobil]

Google Maps uses about 5MB per hour of driving. If you drive 8 hours a day for a month, you'd use about 1GB. Compared to streaming video, it's nothing.

Thank you for that response - I had been researching and found a figure (more than once) of 40Mbs of data per hour - and several other figures being flung out there. Hard to know which is accurate!

 

[scotjimland]

Thank you for that response - I had been researching and found a figure (more than once) of 40Mbs of data per hour - and several other figures being flung out there. Hard to know which is accurate!

you can download Google maps for the area you are going ..

Download areas & navigate offline - Android - Google Maps Help

You can save an area from Google Maps to your phone or tablet and use it when you're offline. Tip: You’re unable to download offline maps in some countries or regio

support.google.com

 

[Guigsy]

Thank you for that response - I had been researching and found a figure (more than once) of 40Mbs of data per hour - and several other figures being flung out there. Hard to know which is accurate!

Technically, 40Mb would be 40 megabits, which is 5MB or 5 megabytes...

Even if it was 40MB/hour, 40MB is about a minute of HD video, or about 20 average web pages.

You can reduce the amount of data Google Maps uses by storing the maps for offline use. I think it still needs some data to plan new routes though. And it obviously needs data to get real time traffic information.

 

[Sunlovers]

If you had a head unit with Apple Carplay, you could have a large display on your dashboard.

Hi Guigsy, in response to your above quoted reply, how would you go about setting that up? We have Apple Carplay in our moho, through a Pioneer head unit. I can use Apple Maps etc which show up on the Pioneer screen, but the size is a bit limiting and it's obviously flat on to the dash which makes it awkward to see at times. Would a larger tablet (ipad) mirror up the information I wonder? Keen to hear how you would set this up.

 

[Guigsy]

Hi Guigsy, in response to your above quoted reply, how would you go about setting that up? We have Apple Carplay in our moho, through a Pioneer head unit. I can use Apple Maps etc which show up on the Pioneer screen, but the size is a bit limiting and it's obviously flat on to the dash which makes it awkward to see at times. Would a larger tablet (ipad) mirror up the information I wonder? Keen to hear how you would set this up.

You could just use an iPad instead, then you wouldn't need AirPlay. I installed a 9" Sony head unit, which makes it pretty easy to follow with a quick glance.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Sunlovers]

You could just use an iPad instead, then you wouldn't need AirPlay. I installed a 9" Sony head unit, which makes it pretty easy to follow with a quick glance.

ahh, but none of our old ipads have inbuilt GPS, so it still needs to be tethered to an iPhone to get the positional data across.

 

[TravellingSmurff]

I've always used waze or google but got stuck once near Oxford.
I can't remember who but somebody on here told me about Magic Earth It has a setting for Van where you can set the dimensions etc
So when you search somewhere, you select the Van picture and it should choose the route that takes that into consideration.
And it's free.
I've only used it once so far

 

[Guigsy]

Someone ought to do a standardised test on these. I.e. get it to give you a route though a series of known problem locations. And the effect of changing your vehicle size. It would be good to confirm inputting your dimensions isn't just a placebo effect.