GPS without internet
Jul 7, 2023 16:24:16 #
I had a post about whether to buy a Samsung or an Apple phone in order to be able to use the GPS function. I found that you can use it on an Android tablet (or IPad) without internet connection by download the maps first (when you are at home and have wifi) then you can use it locally. I don't often need the GPS for long distance travel so I ordered a Lenovo tablet for this purpose. I can also run my IRobot app on it and the TPLink remote light switching apps (althoug I can run this app on a PC). I can also run the Fluke Connect software to interface with my digital multimeters and current clamp meters.
So I think I will put the smart phone purchase on hold for now. The dumb phone works well as a phone.
So I think I will put the smart phone purchase on hold for now. The dumb phone works well as a phone.
Jul 7, 2023 17:42:25 #
BebuLamar wrote:
I had a post about whether to buy a Samsung or an ... (show quote)
Gaia GPS has even better maps to download than the regular android phones do. They have maps that show the geology, topography, roads, etc.... In some cases they even have maps that show who owns the land you are on.
Just like what you said, if you download the maps in advance you have GPS regardless of internet.
Jul 7, 2023 18:04:19 #
therwol
Loc: USA
BebuLamar wrote:
I had a post about whether to buy a Samsung or an ... (show quote)
A dedicated GPS device such as a Garmin will come with maps pre-loaded that cover a very wide area, such as an entire continent, and they can be updated from time to time. You don't have to pre-load much smaller maps every time you go to a new destination. I found that annoying when using a phone and not relying on the internet. You aren't ever tied to an internet connection unless you need to update your maps.
Jul 7, 2023 18:06:42 #
therwol wrote:
A dedicated GPS device such as a Garmin will come with maps pre-loaded that cover a very wide area, such as an entire continent, and they can be updated from time to time. You don't have to pre-load much smaller maps every time you go to a new destination. I found that annoying when using a phone and not relying on the internet. You aren't ever tied to an internet connection unless you need to update your maps.
You really should look at what Gaia GPS has to offer. I prefer it to Garmin because of the choice of maps and tje customization possible. It's a great product.
Jul 7, 2023 18:20:15 #
therwol
Loc: USA
btbg wrote:
You really should look at what Gaia GPS has to offer. I prefer it to Garmin because of the choice of maps and tje customization possible. It's a great product.
Okay. I'm always open to something new. The only question I have is whether it will work without cell phone service. Garmin will.
Jul 7, 2023 18:26:52 #
therwol wrote:
Okay. I'm always open to something new. The only question I have is whether it will work without cell phone service. Garmin will.
As long as you have downloaded the maps prior to being out of cell service it works great. Garmins are great for on the road. Where Gaia really excels is things like backpacking trips once you are off road. It shows features on the maps that I never had with Garmin including where there is fishing where there is interesting geology, in some cases it locates archeological sites, it has topo maps, forest service maps, blm maps, geology maps as well as road maps. You can stack maps on top of each other so that you can see just the features that you are interested in.
Jul 7, 2023 18:32:39 #
Jul 7, 2023 18:35:44 #
I just run Waze. It links to the GPS unit in whatever phone you have - and downloads maps as you go.
Of course - if you lose cell phone service along the way, you are SOL !!
Of course - if you lose cell phone service along the way, you are SOL !!
Jul 8, 2023 08:32:04 #
tomad
Loc: North Carolina
I always download maps I need from Google maps into my Android phone if I am traveling or going into rural areas where there may be no service. The only difference in using downloaded maps and real time Google maps is that there is no real time data with the downloaded maps, i.e., traffic, live alternate route due to backup, radar traps, objects in road, new road closures, etc.
Jul 8, 2023 19:30:25 #
Chopper Bill
Loc: East Tennessee
Garmin seems to this helicopter pilot who depended on them to make night flights in bad weather as far as 250 nautical miles offshore, as being the best. I own four of them; one for my trail edition 4Runner to guide me cross country and off road in the middle of nowhere, one for my Harley so I can go exploring in the mountains and when I'm ready I push Go Home and it gets me there guaranteed, one for my Minnie Winnie class C motorhome to travel anywhere even being warned of underpasses that are too low for me, and of course, one for my sweety-pie so I'm confident that she won't get lost no matter where she goes. I can download new maps any time off the internet and couldn't be happier with the way they work. However, I would like to see some improvements in their "Basecamp" software that can be used to plan long and convoluted trips. They also have products to cover dash cam and backup cam, so what's not to like?
Jul 8, 2023 23:18:58 #
I use WAZE on my i-phone. It routes you around construction, traffic jams and warns you of police just in case you recently robbed a bank.
Jul 8, 2023 23:51:14 #
btbg wrote:
You really should look at what Gaia GPS has to offer. I prefer it to Garmin because of the choice of maps and tje customization possible. It's a great product.
Gaia is good but I think Alltrails is slightly better. You might want to take a look at that also.
Jul 9, 2023 13:34:53 #
If I have a choice I don't like system that relies on an internet download.
Internet is great if you always have a signal but found you may not
about the time you need to change your destination.
Internet is great if you always have a signal but found you may not
about the time you need to change your destination.
Jul 9, 2023 16:57:39 #
Iron Sight wrote:
If I have a choice I don't like system that relies on an internet download.
Internet is great if you always have a signal but found you may not
about the time you need to change your destination.
Internet is great if you always have a signal but found you may not
about the time you need to change your destination.
I download a map from Alltrails (Gaia should work also) and save it to my phone. When I arrive at the trailhead I open the map and it syncs to the phone GPS and does a moderately good job of tracking my progress along the trail and also tells me when I have deviated from the trail. I am never connected to the internet ror phone service.
Jul 10, 2023 00:19:10 #
fantom wrote:
Gaia is good but I think Alltrails is slightly better. You might want to take a look at that also.
Thanks for the reply. I tried Alltrails first and like Gaia better. I like the way it layers maps for different interests.
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