GPS for phone question

[Semper-guzzi]

I've got Google maps on my Galaxy Note 4. It works great but kills data. I've downloaded OSMAND but I think it sucks. I'll put in a destination and even tho I know a shorter way, this thing will purposely take me way out of the way. I'm probably using it wrong but whatever, the interface sucks too. What do you guys use for apps on your phone that doesnt eat data?

[bouts]

I use the Samsung Maps and Back Country Navigator. Download the map tiles before leaving and no data required during the trip. You can also import pre-established routes to BCN and follow them.  Works for me. Use an app call Stay Awake so the phone stays on. Downside is sunlight readability is low, and the phone heats up.

[charlie b]

I like Copilot, but, it costs money.

Tom tom was ok, but, they went to an annual fee thing.

[mtiberio]

Get T-Mobile, IF they work in your area. Unlimited data. I even had it when I hit the ground in Paris last week. No xtra charges

[Wayne Orwig]

I prefer OSMand+ (not to be confused with the free OSMand), but yes, the routing engine is weak. I usually only use it to display a map.

Try HERE maps from Nokia. It is FREE right now.

On long trips where I really do want to follow a route, I like CoPilot. It is not free.

I haven't used it, but there is a version from Tom Tom called Route 66 with a free trial.

[Nick]

I use a Garmin Zumo 390, but I have Co-Pilot for my phone, just in case.....http://copilotgps.com/us/

[O]

I like the Waze app for its ability to route around traffic jams, social reporting on speed traps, and ease of finding alternate routes.  I'm not sure, but I assume its also very data hungry though.

[sbaker]

Get a REAL GPS... Phone do not use the satellite system ... they use terrestrial based locators... NOT as accurate.... Especially if there is no Cell service where you are ... And YES there are lots of places where there is no or minimal cell service... Regardless where you are there is GPS service!

[Wayne Orwig]

Get a REAL GPS... Phone do not use the satellite system ... they use terrestrial based locators... NOT as accurate.... Especially if there is no Cell service where you are ... And YES there are lots of places where there is no or minimal cell service... Regardless where you are there is GPS service!

Too bad you are 100% WRONG!

My Android is seeing a good solid SATELLITE fix, 11 satellites out of a possible 21, indoors, on a rainy day. It is using GPS and Glonass, (plus it can get an assist from the cell towers). It is showing a DOP around 1.2 meters. Pretty good in my book. Better than my Garmin ever was.

I know people that get an old used phone from someone, and load free software on it, and never turn on the cell phone on it. Free GPS.

[Cage Free]

I like Copilot, but, it costs money.

Tom tom was ok, but, they went to an annual fee thing.
[/quote

I use co pilot on my phone and its free, well actually part of the data plan but no additional fee.

[Triple Jim]

Too bad you are 100% WRONG!

Well, maybe not quite 100%.  Software in a phone can be configured to use the location data from the cell system.  I have a tracking app for my phone that lets me choose whether to use location information from GPS, the cell system, or both.  When both, if the phone can't see enough satellites to get a location, it falls back to the cell system.  If I set it to use information from the cell system only, it will behave as described by sbaker.

Sbaker, if your phone is acting the way you described, you need to change some setup parameters, or get new software that uses GPS.

[Bisbonian]

I use Here as referenced earlier in the thread.

I have no data plan with my phone, wifi data only, so any program that uses cell data does not work for me.

I download the maps from the area I'll be in (normally the state or country) and use it offline. It's not perfect, but I have yet to find a GPS program that is.

And the cost has been $0.

[sib]

Get a REAL GPS... Phone do not use the satellite system ... they use terrestrial based locators... NOT as accurate.... Especially if there is no Cell service where you are ... And YES there are lots of places where there is no or minimal cell service... Regardless where you are there is GPS service!

How do people come up with these incorrect notions?  My iPhone uses genuine satellite-based GPS.  It is augmented with data from cell towers when t's available ("enhanced GPS"), but only for speeding up the satellite fix, not for determining GPS position.

[Rich M]

I like Copilot, but, it costs money.

Tom tom was ok, but, they went to an annual fee thing.

+1

Used TomTom on all my mobile devices before they went the anal annual fee... Guessing that got greedy.

Anyway, now a Copilot user myself and well worth the money spent..

[Triple Jim]

How do people come up with these incorrect notions?

See my post two up from yours.  It may be that he just has some incorrect settings and misunderstood why it was behaving the way it was.

[Wayne Orwig]

Well, maybe not quite 100%.

I guess you can't say it is 100% wrong. It is only 99.99%.

[Semper-guzzi]

Thanks guys. Copilot is awesome. Looks like the ticket. Thanks again.

I love how you can drag the routes and add way points easily. Really cool.

[homebrew]

I guess you can't say it is 100% wrong. It is only 99.99%.

It's irrelevant in any event, as neither method kills data (though using both kills batteries). There's something else going on here.

Semper, Google Maps shouldn't be eating that much data, even in navigation mode. If you tire of Copilot, check your Maps settings to see if there are ways to reduce the data consumption. I know the topo maps eat more than the regular maps; if that's on you might consider turning it off if you don't need it.

[Wayne Orwig]

Thanks guys. Copilot is awesome. Looks like the ticket. Thanks again.

I love how you can drag the routes and add way points easily. Really cool.

I plan routes on my PC using ITNconverter, then send the routes to CoPilot and load them. Works well.

[Semper-guzzi]

I guess eating data is the wrong word. It uses more than I would like. Google maps uses data to load the map tiles. I like the ones that have the maps downloaded on my phone. Either way, I like this new app. Case closed. Thanks guys.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  And to think I navigated for years using a compass, fathometer, and a chart.
 I even navigated across the desert with just a map and compass.  It doesn't hurt to have a decent pair of binoculars too.
 For years used a pair of Tascos with a built in compass that you could read as you looked at something.

[sbaker]

How do people come up with these incorrect notions?  My iPhone uses genuine satellite-based GPS.  It is augmented with data from cell towers when t's available ("enhanced GPS"), but only for speeding up the satellite fix, not for determining GPS position.

OK SIB.. When I put the phone in Aircraft mode. it looses it's navigation.. A "REAL" gps does works without and CELL activation, WIFI, BlueTOOTH etc. ... SO again I submit.... GET A REAL GPS...

Then there is the issue of a single point of failure.. If your cell, GPS, tunes, contacts and ALL on the same device, you have no backup...

[charlie b]

When you put your phone in aircraft mode it shuts off the GPS receiver, per FAA regulations.

All of the newer phones have GPS signals available when there is no cell service.  I have tested that many, many times.  In fact, to save battery life I will sometimes turn off the mobile data service.  CoPilot uses the std GPS data plus the NMEA as do standard GPS units.

They do eat power when the GPS software is active and the screen is on full brightness.  My newer phone is better than my older one, but, I can still only get about 3hrs off the battery when using it as a GPS.  ANd be sure to have a greater than 1A USB source.  2A even better.

[rocker59]

OK SIB.. When I put the phone in Aircraft mode. it looses it's navigation.. A "REAL" gps does works without and CELL activation, WIFI, BlueTOOTH etc. ... SO again I submit.... GET A REAL GPS...

Then there is the issue of a single point of failure.. If your cell, GPS, tunes, contacts and ALL on the same device, you have no backup...

My Galaxy S4 works off of satelites.  In fact, I've used it in the mountains in New Mexico when I was miles from the nearest cell signal. One of AT&T's mapping/directions apps.

That being said, I'd rather use a stand alone GPS for auto/moto use.  The phone is just to inconvenient and will eat lots of data and power when using Google Maps, which I prefer over others on the phone or computer.

[rocker59]

Will any GPS indicate that a road is going to turn into a muddy impassable mess because the state just built new bridges and the fill dirt 300 feet off both ends of said bridges will be like greasy squishy goo . If not , I don't want one 

  Dusty

nah.  there's still a little adventure left in life!

[fossil]

" Will any GPS indicate that a road is going to turn into a muddy impassable mess because the state just built new bridges and the fill dirt 300 feet off both ends of said bridges will be like greasy squishy goo . If not , I don't want one 

  Dusty"

Yes, at least here in Europe this is possible. Admittedly the data connection must be switched on, but then I can use an automatic traffic information system on my WindowsPhone. And there are many apps that can do this: the paid Garmin Navigon (which I like most), but also several free apps using OpenStreetMap.

And, of course, I can switch on the satellite reception (GPS together with Glonass) in airplane mode.

[charlie b]

That means that someone has to report that there is construction on the road.  Here it is pretty good on main routes.

But, get on some state or country roads and the construction/repair services are not always reported.  So, you find yourself facing a mile of wet, slick clay, or washed out road.

[Wayne Orwig]

Will any GPS indicate that a road is going to turn into a muddy impassable mess because the state just built new bridges and the fill dirt 300 feet off both ends of said bridges will be like greasy squishy goo . If not , I don't want one 

How does a paper map, or even a simple compass, fix this issue?

A smartphone at least has more potential to warn you.

[sbaker]

Can someone point me to an IOS application that will show the relative satellite stengths that the Unit is receiving?? I can't seem to find on.

[190 Octane]

Guess I'm a little late to this one, but as others have said Copilot works great.  It suggest alternative routs, you can drag routes, or insert new way points along the route all from your phone.  The best thing is being able to use RouteConverter to save/convert routes to trp files and import them into Copilot.