GPS comment.

by BobnPi on 12/30/2010, 10:25 am

I've been playing with the GPS Navigation function on my Droid cell phone. So far, I've found it to be very much more accurate than my Garmin. Saves having something else to clutter up the TV as well. I'm going to purchase the mounting bracket for the Droid next time I have a chance. Giving my Garmin to my daughter.

by etrailer on 12/30/2010, 10:51 am

BobnPi wrote:I've been playing with the GPS Navigation function on my Droid cell phone. So far, I've found it to be very much more accurate than my Garmin. Saves having something else to clutter up the TV as well. I'm going to purchase the mounting bracket for the Droid next time I have a chance. Giving my Garmin to my daughter.

I've got a Droid X and have found the Google Navigation app to perform wonderfully. It's not always the fastest route, but I always get where I'm going without a hitch. If you have the latest version of Android (2.2 aka Froyo), you can use Google Voice Search and do it all via speech. No more typing in destination while driving.
http://www.google.com/mobile/voice-actions/

by Mopar_Earl on 12/30/2010, 2:37 pm

Works great till you get in a area with no cell phone service than no GPS. I was using my verzion phone with their GPS. I'll stick to my Garmin that doesn't need to be in range of cell towers.

Earl

by schrowang on 12/30/2010, 5:28 pm

I've just got the basic cell phone with no apps. I'll stick with my Tom Tom. Have never had a problem with it.

by scottz on 12/30/2010, 7:09 pm

A great app for the Droid is "GPS Status"; free, take a look at it.

by Admin on 12/30/2010, 8:45 pm

I'll just stick to reading road signs...... and my built in human compass. Not sure how it works but its never failed me.

stirthepot

by azandy700 on 12/31/2010, 1:50 am

We too have an android gps type mapping on our HTC. Works good. I am more used to the Garmin and do use that yet at this point. I make my kids map out our trips. Like with real paper maps. They think I'm stupid. Reading a map will be a lost art someday. I want them to learn it.

by Admin on 12/31/2010, 3:17 am

I make my kids map out our trips. Like with real paper maps. They think I'm stupid. Reading a map will be a lost art someday. I want them to learn it.

I will agree with that all day long. I've done the same with my little girl.

All through high school and a few years more I worked for surveyors. I was pretty much always the navigator when on the highway , I was the GPS , I had to have alternate routes picked out if a Turn was missed and usually an extra alternative for back up from the first one. A surveyors moto was " The faster you work the more money I make " That went for navigation to get to the job. This one guy I worked for in Memphis,Tn was a drill sgt at one time, talking about reading a map under pressure, wow, the dude was a hoot though.
I guess thats whats helped build up my built in compass. lol!

by etrailer on 12/31/2010, 3:32 am

Mopar_Earl wrote:Works great till you get in a area with no cell phone service than no GPS. I was using my verzion phone with their GPS. I'll stick to my Garmin that doesn't need to be in range of cell towers.

Earl

I'm not sure that these devices require a cellular connection to function as a GPS. I'm getting another device and I'll test the GPS function before I activate it on my cellular account. They can use cellular towers to assist the GPS system, but I think they will operate on their own as a GPS unit.

by scottz on 12/31/2010, 7:51 pm

etrailer wrote:
Mopar_Earl wrote:Works great till you get in a area with no cell phone service than no GPS. I was using my verzion phone with their GPS. I'll stick to my Garmin that doesn't need to be in range of cell towers.

Earl

I'm not sure that these devices require a cellular connection to function as a GPS. I'm getting another device and I'll test the GPS function before I activate it on my cellular account. They can use cellular towers to assist the GPS system, but I think they will operate on their own as a GPS unit.

Your right; my GPS function works fine even when I have no cell coverage. However, there is an option to "augment GPS" via WIFI connections; not sure if cell towers contribute.

by Mopar_Earl on 12/31/2010, 9:19 pm

etrailer wrote:
Mopar_Earl wrote:Works great till you get in a area with no cell phone service than no GPS. I was using my verzion phone with their GPS. I'll stick to my Garmin that doesn't need to be in range of cell towers.

Earl

I'm not sure that these devices require a cellular connection to function as a GPS. I'm getting another device and I'll test the GPS function before I activate it on my cellular account. They can use cellular towers to assist the GPS system, but I think they will operate on their own as a GPS unit.

scottz wrote:
etrailer wrote:
Mopar_Earl wrote:Works great till you get in a area with no cell phone service than no GPS. I was using my verzion phone with their GPS. I'll stick to my Garmin that doesn't need to be in range of cell towers.

Earl

I'm not sure that these devices require a cellular connection to function as a GPS. I'm getting another device and I'll test the GPS function before I activate it on my cellular account. They can use cellular towers to assist the GPS system, but I think they will operate on their own as a GPS unit.

Your right; my GPS function works fine even when I have no cell coverage. However, there is an option to "augment GPS" via WIFI connections; not sure if cell towers contribute.

My phone GPS does not work without cell service. It's failed me many times due to no service. It needs service to download maps in order to work. If you miss your turn or it thinks you're going the wrong way, it'll want to download info and if there's no service it won't function. Had the phone for a year, happen many times until I stopped using it and got a Garmin. It's a Verizon LG cell with Verizon GPS software that was 10 bucks a month.

Earl

by etrailer on 1/3/2011, 2:52 am

Mopar_Earl wrote:
My phone GPS does not work without cell service. It's failed me many times due to no service. It needs service to download maps in order to work. If you miss your turn or it thinks you're going the wrong way, it'll want to download info and if there's no service it won't function. Had the phone for a year, happen many times until I stopped using it and got a Garmin. It's a Verizon LG cell with Verizon GPS software that was 10 bucks a month.

Earl

The difference is in the software and hardware that's in the Android phones.

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