Chav Nav is Dead

[Bigmuz7]

If any of you posses an iPhone or a tablet .. Get the latest Google maps for it... It is simply superb
With Googles obsession for data ..it's mapping and guidance is beyond anything I've used in years.. And it's all free..no expensive contracts , maps or gadgets

They've simplified the U/I and it's a peach to use now and you can search for any land based place or object and it will likely find it and guide you to it

Stick it on an Ipad and use it in the car and wonder why the likes of BMW charge you £3k for a top notch Nav system of theirs when you can plonk your 10" iPad on the dash and have a no subscription service that's better than any dealer shit that costs an annual maintenance fee and a shit load to install ?

Enjoy people

[Swain Marine]

When I have tried to use google Maps on my iPhone as a sat nav it was useless because it needed a phone signal to download the maps and directions and my iPhone on Orange barely works as a phone half the time as the signal/coverage is so poor. Is it different on an iPad? Do you just need a GPS signal for or to work? Like you I can't understand how built in say navs I think it's the extras like that that the car manufactures make money on.

[ShinyShoe]

give waze a go. Open/crowd sourced mapping which means as a new road is built the othe users add it. Plus live traffic feeds from the crowd.

[Starovich]

depends on the model of ipad, wifi only don't have a gps and rely on cell towers for position. the 3g models do have gps.

Android devices you will need to look at them individually.

[ShinyShoe]

WiFi - why would it be talking to cells?

[Bigmuz7]

Yes .. My iPad has a data card in it, which will work same as the phone. There are times when response is slow in GPRS only locations , but it still seems to catch up after a few minutes. 3G areas are instant near enough.

For me those draw backs are minimal compared to buying bespoke units that ransome you for latest maps and hardware /firmware upgrades. And even then they aren't accurate.

[Starovich]

Tech Specs

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

If any of you posses an iPhone or a tablet .. Get the latest Google maps for it... It is simply superb

I use it on a Samsung Tablet, that has a data connection through Giff Gaff, far superior to my Tom Tom, but probably too expensive to use abroad.

[9D280]

High level observation:

Most free mapping apps don't allow you to cache the map. I have a selection of assorted map apps to allow me to cache enough foreign climes to get me from A to B as each will only allow a relatively small chunk of the planet to be stored on the phone.


I have a hilarious 10" satnav if I want - an old Dell D600 running Autoroute 2003 using a GPS dongle / Garmin 12 (the Serial connector has screws to stop it falling out! ) to tell it where it is. Needless to say it has it's limitations, but the maps came with the software. I could do the same with Landranger if I had noticed Memory Map's "Whole of Britain in OS 1:50K 2D / no extras" for £40" deal a couple of years ago

Free apps are fine in cities & places you have lots of WIFI & / or 3G+ phone signal to grab the maps in real time.

Try Google maps in the depths of Glensomethingorother where a signal is in utopian fantasy land- Phrases involving chocolate teapots come to mind!



A sizeable chunk of the cost of a satnav is the maps.

[John Kennett]

Since my old Garmin satnav died I've been using NavFree on my iphone. The mapping isn't quite as good as the Garmin (had a couple of minor duff steers) but it's good enough, it's free and it has offline maps.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Since my old Garmin satnav died I've been using NavFree on my iphone. The mapping isn't quite as good as the Garmin (had a couple of minor duff steers) but it's good enough, it's free and it has offline maps.

Yes John I also use Nav Free just back from Florida and use the USA version saved a fortune and found it very good

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Pikey Dave]

All you needed to know about GPS & more

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

All you needed to know about GPS & more

PD .. thas a whole forum whats the long and short of it .......

[Trimix]

I use a paper map.

Batterys dont go flat
Reception all the time
If you want zoom - bend your elbows
Massive display size or palm size - just fold to suit
Oh, and its so cheap you wont cry if you loose it

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

PD .. thas a whole forum whats the long and short of it .......

Maps,maps,maps,software, pois, e.g. just downloaded the latest Garmin G2 Vision anything you want is there, just about