With cell navigation the phone uses GPS for location and heading/speed, but navigation is often off-loaded to remote servers, along with getting traffic data. I've run into this as well driving in the more rural parts of the States.
2000 miles roundtrip to pick up a part instead of having it shipped.
- Thread starter atikovi
- Start date
No. It's Global Positioning System and the system uses satellites as part of the system.
When I use a smartphone, I like to flip between apps, such as Audible, Youtube music. Especially when I am in extreme West Texas. Regardless of downloading offline data sometimes these apps malfunction without cell signal. Waze, Google Maps also malfunctioned, meaning the Satellite signal didnt help either.
I commend you on the antiquated Garmin, thats pretty old school cool but I tossed mine long ago.
This is one of those things that, to me, had made smart phone navigation better than stand-alone GPS(the other is that the maps tend to be up-to-date, whereas a stand-alone generally needs to be plugged into your computer to update and even then updates aren't always free). I know some stand-alones can get traffic information, or at least use to be able to, but Waze, Apple Maps, etc tend to use real-time data from other users and also allow users to report specific hazards or speed checks. And, yes, they've gotten me out of some serious jams.
I also like that the arrival time updates in real time based on traffic/road conditions. When making a longer trip, I will typically put in the destination even when it's somewhere I could nearly get to in my sleep, such as visiting my parents 5 hours away. As a prime example of that, too, a few weeks ago we made a trip to see them knowing that the I-64 bridge in Louisville(Sherman Minton) was closed. The detour I would normally take in that situation would be I-265 in Indiana(at New Albany) around to I-65 south across the Kennedy/Lincoln bridges and then back onto I-64 East in downtown Louisville. Apple Maps routed us all the way around I-265, across the new Lewis and Clark bridge(which I'd not crossed before) and then continued around I-265 back to I-64. I tried to second guess thinking about how far out of the way it was, but a bit of poking on my end(my wife was driving) showed a serious backup in downtown Louisville that would have taken us an extra hour compared to the route we actually took.
Which is all good and well until the GPS you bought 10 years ago with 12 year old maps and hasn't been updated(either because a lot of people don't bother or because the unit is no longer supported or they charge a fortune for updates) tries to route you over a road that doesn't even exist anymore...
I have an old Garmin or TomTom (can't remember 'cause I haven't touched it in a decade) that has "lifetime maps"
I laugh at people using their phone for navigation, and this issue that it doesn't work in areas without cell service, just buttresses my opinion.
I remember being a passenger one time with a guy who had the phone in his lap and was always glancing down at it for the next directions. Scary ride. And what happens if you get a call right before you enter the mixing bowl in an unfamiliar city? Take the call and miss the directions?
I bought a new Garmin big screen a few months ago as my current 10 year old model was having issues in hot weather. It's got free updates for life like my old one and they come out every few months. I still like and use the old one when it's cooler since it's more compact. And I do have Google Maps on the phone but it's so clunky to use, I'd never have it as the only navi.
You don't need to glance down at it for directions because it speaks the directions, right over the car stereo if you have one new enough for Bluetooth streaming. If you take a call it'll speak the directions over the caller.
And newer cars with Android Auto / Apple Car Play will display the nav right on the cars entertainment system. Really cuts down on distractions.
But seeing the route is often necessary when there are a bunch of exits, streets and turnoffs all in the same location.
If you have a newer car it likely already has built in navigation.
Rarely, in my experience. When it is, it's a poorly-marked side street in a rural area.
Yeah. My last car didn't and I just changed out the head unit. My current car had a factory upgrade available from Mazda, so I put it in myself. I'll never own another car without it again.
If a route was created before the person loses cell service, the GPS will still route them perfectly fine minus traffic updates. If a person is trying to start a route from an area with no cell service, they can still pull up Google maps and see exactly where they are but will not be able to make a route until they get into cell service. Google maps allows offline map downloads as well of a large area.
If a call comes in when using GPS, the GPS can still be displayed on the phone's screen during the call.
When connected to the car's speakers or earbuds. Non-hands free cellphone use is illegal when driving.
So you've never driven I95 through the Springfield mixing bowl?
Who drives with the phone up to their ear? That's illegal in this state.
Yes, I have. I don't find it to be that complex. Every exit is marked with a BGS, big green sign, and Google tells you exactly which one to use.
It's when Google is telling me to make a left turn at some road that doesn't have a light off some 4-lane rural highway (with a center turn lane) where I need to look at the screen.
