zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,510
Oct 10, 2014 0:54:51 GMT
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Post by zztop11 on May 9, 2015 22:27:14 GMT
I'm due for a new GPS. Getting ready for a road trip. The one I use is fine but one in a while it is wrong. It can't be updated. So should I buy a new one or just down-load an app on my phone. My phone is a prepaid plan with internet use. But it's small. Wondering which is better. What do you use and do you like it? Also, what is your opinion about whether or not I should buy a free standing one.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 23, 2024 18:40:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2015 22:29:52 GMT
I'd advise downloading an ap and trying it around town. My sister prefers using her phone gps. I don't like it so I have a stand along gps. The screen is bigger for one thing but I don't typically like one device that "does it all"
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,311
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on May 9, 2015 22:40:16 GMT
I've used both phone and stand-alone. And, I prefer using the "Garmin Lady" to my phone. Not sure why.
Except that Garmin Lady really doesn't like me all that much (I always use my preferred, known shortcuts) and I like irritating her. LOL! RECALCULATING! Ha!
ETA: We actually have three GPS's, one in each car. This is how we refer to them - My car = Garmin Lady. Truck = Old Garmin Lady (1st one we bought). DH's car = Garmin Lady's Cousin (off brand, purchased on the cheap).
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Post by gale w on May 9, 2015 22:49:58 GMT
When we drove out west there were quite a few areas where there was no cell service but our satellite based GPS unit still worked. I usually use my phone though.
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Post by bc2ca on May 9, 2015 22:57:26 GMT
I prefer a GPS for travel, especially since we regularly travel a backroad route through the high desert that does not have any phone signal/data signal. Newer apps might have solved this problem - it's been a while since I looked at the options. I also prefer a bigger screen and to look at where I'm going, not just listening to voice directions.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on May 9, 2015 22:57:25 GMT
I have both and I've come to prefer my phone over my Garmin. I keep the Garmin as a back up. I also have a pay as you go phone, but it did come loaded with a navigation app based on Google maps. I tried Waze for a while, but it would overheat my phone, so that had to go.
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Post by cmpeter on May 9, 2015 22:59:18 GMT
I prefer the car gps because it's larger and easier to see also, the cell phone coverage issue.
But, it's easier and quicker to pull up and address/location on my phone. So, I use both gps when I have time to preload the locations and phone on the fly. For phone I like VZ Navigator (paid app from Verizon) or Waze if I am the passenger
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,153
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on May 9, 2015 23:07:20 GMT
I use the app on my iphone. Last gps I had was bought brand new, good name (although it escapes me right now.) We'd previously had and hadn't much of a problem with that brand. It took me some funky ways and wasn't always right (weird I know.)
I know use the phone app exclusively and ditched the gps altogether. I'd never go back. Phone app is always up-to-date without doing anything to it. Plus it was already on the phone so no additional cost. So far it hasn't steered me wrong.
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Post by txdancermom on May 9, 2015 23:14:16 GMT
I like the one on my phone - but I have never had a seperate one.
try the one on your phone around an area you know to see how it does, and if you like how it works.
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Post by *Scrapper*Stamper* on May 9, 2015 23:16:46 GMT
I'm due for a new GPS. Getting ready for a road trip. The one I use is fine but one in a while it is wrong. It can't be updated. So should I buy a new one or just down-load an app on my phone. My phone is a prepaid plan with internet use. But it's small. Wondering which is better. What do you use and do you like it? Also, what is your opinion about whether or not I should buy a free standing one. If you have a small data plan on your phone, an app is not cost effective. An app requires non stop data useage, and if you don't have enough data on the plan with it being pre paid, would it just stop working? If that's the case, I would buy a GPS system.
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Post by beachbum on May 9, 2015 23:49:51 GMT
I like my Garmin GPS - I like the larger screen, I like the lane assist that shows me which lane to be in, I like that it shows a graphic of the junction so I can see where I'm supposed to be going. Mine has lifetime map updates. Every once in a while it sends me a weird way, but so does the app on my phone, and my GPS doesn't use up my data.
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Post by gypsymama on May 10, 2015 2:39:38 GMT
i'm a waze girl but its much more useful when you're the passenger than when you're the driver. like melissa, my dh's phone overheated when he had waze
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on May 10, 2015 2:54:43 GMT
I'm due for a new GPS. Getting ready for a road trip. The one I use is fine but one in a while it is wrong. It can't be updated. So should I buy a new one or just down-load an app on my phone. My phone is a prepaid plan with internet use. But it's small. Wondering which is better. What do you use and do you like it? Also, what is your opinion about whether or not I should buy a free standing one. I have a prepaid cell too and the maps are hard to read on the small screens. I would download the app and try it around town, You can always buy a gps if you don't like the app. We have a gps and I love it. We bought it a few years ago but it works great and is still updateable. I like the gps screen it is alot bigger than the one on my phone.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 10, 2015 2:55:06 GMT
My phone overheats when I use Google Maps on long trips, and it REALLLLY runs the battery dead fast too. I have an onboard GPS in my Escape, but that thing is totally worthless! The voice commands are crap. The directions are crap. The only thing I like about it is seeing the map when I'm driving so I have half a clue what is coming up ahead. Half the time it doesn't know where the heck I am. It came with the car (bought used) or I wouldn't have paid extra for it. My friend has the same car and she told me she hates hers too. I probably should buy a separate standalone GPS but it seems so stupid to have to do that when I already have two in the car with me all the time!
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Post by sacteach on May 10, 2015 3:05:43 GMT
I use a combination of my car's GPS and the Waze app on my phone. I prefer the app, but use the car GPS as a backup. My car is supposed to have traffic updates from Sirius, but that rarely works, and I've found the traffic/timing on Waze to be VERY accurate.
I've never had issues with my phone overheating while using the app and I keep it plugged in while driving, so it doesn't really drain my battery.
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my3freaks
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,206
Location: NH girl living in Colorado
Jun 26, 2014 4:10:56 GMT
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Post by my3freaks on May 10, 2015 5:10:37 GMT
I use google maps on my phone. If I'm going a long way, I just plug my phone in as soon as I get in the car so it's not running my battery down.
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,947
Location: North Idaho
Jul 1, 2014 23:30:44 GMT
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Post by Nink on May 10, 2015 5:21:49 GMT
Last trip I went on I used Google maps on my phone. I was coming to a freeway interchange and lost cell coverage and the app shut down. When that happens you need to bring app back up and re-enter information, which you can't do while driving. I got a stand alone GPS first thing upon my return.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 23, 2024 18:40:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 5:41:58 GMT
We've had a Garmin for a few years. We're overdue for a new one. It always says something about updating the maps, but I'm not sure if we just need an entirely new one instead. Right now "Eloise" (DH gives her a name!) is always messin' with me, making me drive around in damned circles! It's time to ditch her!
As a sidenote: DD27 found a new housing complex on her cellphone GPS pretty easily while we couldn't find it on our Garmin. Still, I like the bigger screen and I like hearing "Eloise" (when she's not messin' me up!).
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Post by red88 on May 10, 2015 7:06:12 GMT
I use google maps on my phone. If I'm going a long way, I just plug my phone in as soon as I get in the car so it's not running my battery down.
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Post by *sprout* on May 10, 2015 11:20:41 GMT
We have both but prefer our phones (Google Maps).
It's funny to see people listing lost phone coverage as a downside to phone based gps. The first time DH and I went to Chicago (5 years ago), we used a stand alone gps unit (TomTom). We were driving downtown to our hotel when we lost the satellite signal. Thankfully, DH printed out a small map along with the hotel confirmation.
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Post by maryland on May 10, 2015 11:40:02 GMT
I was told the gps on our phones use data, so I don't use it much at all. But if I had a recommendation for a great gps, I would buy one.
I still rely on mapquest and print out directions. But I can only do that when my husband or kids are in the car so they can read it to me.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,706
Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
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Post by Dani-Mani on May 10, 2015 13:10:34 GMT
Separate. If the phone rings and I need to answer it it's kind of hard to use the GPS ...
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 10, 2015 14:33:25 GMT
I use google maps on my phone. If I'm going a long way, I just plug my phone in as soon as I get in the car so it's not running my battery down. I do this too but it doesn't solve the overheating problem. I have to wait until I get to a long stretch of being on the same road, turn the GPS off and set a clock timer on the phone to alert me about 10-15 minutes before I have to turn it back on to turn onto a different road. It's bad. I use the car GPS as a backup too, but I really don't trust it at all. Car GPS Lady has nearly left me ditched in a cornfield before, so I've got no love for her!
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Post by *sprout* on May 10, 2015 14:42:29 GMT
Separate. If the phone rings and I need to answer it it's kind of hard to use the GPS ... When I use my phone gps, I can make and receive phone calls (or at least in Google Navigation I can). When it needs to state a direction, etc GN will mute the caller and tell me. Then, the phone call resumes as usual.
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on May 10, 2015 15:09:14 GMT
Separate. If the phone rings and I need to answer it it's kind of hard to use the GPS ... When I use my phone gps, I can make and receive phone calls (or at least in Google Navigation I can). When it needs to state a direction, etc GN will mute the caller and tell me. Then, the phone call resumes as usual. Hmmm.. Didn't know you can do that. I had Waze and a caller talking into my ear yesterday at the same time (I am new to Waze). I vacillate between the two because using my phone drains the battery.
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Post by *KAS* on May 10, 2015 15:14:48 GMT
I had a TomTom that frustrated me so much I threw it in the trash. Kept sending me down dead end roads, or I would update it, then try and get directions and it was slow or told me the map was outdated. I HATED that thing.
I pretty much exclusively use Google Maps on my phone, but I don't have data limitations, so I'm not sure how much that would be a factor for you.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 23, 2024 18:40:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2015 18:11:12 GMT
I use Waze with no issues at all. I can take calls just fine too. It all runs through the speakers in my car via Bluetooth. No overheating issues
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Post by *sprout* on May 10, 2015 18:57:47 GMT
When I use my phone gps, I can make and receive phone calls (or at least in Google Navigation I can). When it needs to state a direction, etc GN will mute the caller and tell me. Then, the phone call resumes as usual. Hmmm.. Didn't know you can do that. I had Waze and a caller talking into my ear yesterday at the same time (I am new to Waze). I vacillate between the two because using my phone drains the battery. I've never used waze, but Google Maps/Navigation does do it. I discovered it quite by accident. I was driving home from an event in an unfamiliar area using Google, so I called DH to tell him I was on my way. While we were talking, Google muted DH and gave me the next direction.
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Post by *sprout* on May 10, 2015 19:02:26 GMT
When I use Navigation, I always plug in my phone. No dead batteries that way!
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Post by chaosisapony on May 10, 2015 19:08:39 GMT
I have a Tom Tom and prefer it to my phone. It's more accurate, easier to hear and re-navigates more quickly when I do something wrong. It's battery also lasts a lot longer and there isn't a problem with coverage like there is on my phone.
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