Phone GPS

No problem seeing a screen that's very close to you so that's not an issue unless both the driver and co-pilot want to watch the routing. You can use 2 phone if you like!
I have never seen any issues with my phone battery as it is plugged in while driving and it's still 100% when I arrive.
If you have never seen a phone that would give you speed limit info and warn you about it then you have never seen the WAZE app it does all of that.
GPS units have 2 be updated quarterly to even be somewhat up-to-date. Most of the maps can be as much as a year behind. I have watched closed roads open and Google have the correct information automatically in a few days.
NO stand-alone GPS has the traffic information available from Google and WAZE (both owned by Google) everywhere you travel and that's has saved by butt twice in my last 2 trips!

chiefneon wrote:
Howdy!

I use Co-pilot gps app also. It has a RV setting you can use. I use it on my tablet when towing out 5er and smartphone on our Smart Car.

Co-pilot gps app

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

. I do the same, for traffic updates I use Waze. Copilot uses no data or cell towers has height and propane tunnel restrictions for RV's, has automatic updates and with the IPad a much larger screen than My previous Garmins. After spending a small fortune on my previous Garmins and faced with another $400 bill for the new RV specific one I decided to try the Copilet app for $6.99 on sale and see no reason to go back to a dedicated GPS.

Howdy!

I use Co-pilot gps app also. It has a RV setting you can use. I use it on my tablet when towing out 5er and smartphone on our Smart Car.

Co-pilot gps app

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

rockhillmanor wrote:
I've yet to see a cell phone that will tell you your speed, alerts you if you are going over and what the speed limit is where you are at in real time, among all the other options a 'good' GPS offers. Just saying, JMHO :C

The CoPilot app on my Android phone does show speed limits and gives speed alerts. I do prefer our larger Garmin though, so CoPilot mostly serves as a backup in case the the Garmin fails. Oh, and CoPilot can also be configured with your RV size, etc.

Speed Limits | CoPilot

IMHO the screens on a cell phone are way to small to be looking at while driving. Most don't have all the options that a GPS will offer either. And if you want to use the phone there goes your routing info while you are driving. Not to mention how fast it will eat the battery!! Get a new GPS.

I have a GPS that I can talk to it to plan a route no more punching in individual letters of a road and city to get my route planned. And a real large screen area that can be seen from the dash. One of the drawbacks of using a cell phone. I've yet to see a cell phone that will tell you your speed, alerts you if you are going over and what the speed limit is where you are at in real time, among all the other options a 'good' GPS offers. Just saying, JMHO :C

Bill.Satellite wrote:
I have been using Google Maps and WAZE during my last couple of long RV trips getting from Denver to Athens, GA in 4 days. If you are traveling along an Interstate highway most anywhere in the US you are going to have cellular data. Momentary loses will not effect your travels or your navigation as many miles of data are already on the phone and the routing is done with the GPS satellites and not a cellular connection.
If you fear you will be in an area with no cellular for an extended period of time you can pre-download the maps covering the area you will be traveling. Loss of cellular will have no effect on your travels. The only thing you will lose is the live traffic data.


FOR ME, it's the traffic data that makes this the only choice for me. Yesterday was a perfect example. I had plans to visit a campground near Chattanooga, TN yesterday. The plan was to take exit 176 and then 1 mile to the campground. My GPS showed taking exit 161. When I looked ahead on the map, I24 was at a stand still for many miles and it I took the planned exit I would be sitting in traffic on the Interstate for an hour to go the next 15 miles. I looked at the road the GPS suggested I take it showed as a nice rural road. So the choice was 15 minutes of back roads or an hour sitting on the Interstate. We took the back road. Ahead of us and behind us were 2 tractor trailers so I knew I had made the right choice. It was a nice easy drive with a 55 mph speed limit (which I didn't do most of the time) and we were still in place and parked before cocktails after a 350 mile drive. I also looked at how much data the phone GPS's use and it is so little as to be dismissed. On a trip of approx. 250 miles Google Maps only used 7Mb and Waze used around 15Mb. This won't have any impact on anyone's data plan.

^^^^ Waze

My kids hooked me up to Waze and it just seems to be the smarter way to go - they (my Kids - 39 - 41) will not drive without it on.

Try it, reminds me of the old CB days, with everyone working together - now just an App.

I just put the Bluetooth in my ear - so it bothers no one but me - get all the instructions and drive on - if I need to look at a map I'll look at the one on the outdated GPS.

It's voice activated and works while moving - so Nice.

While I still use the GPS in the dash as a map - I almost always use Waze when I drive, just makes everything easier/smoother. (note - I need to have my phone plugged in as this will drain the Battery)

JMHO,

two travelers wrote:
Our GPS is starting to give us problems. Looking into new ones. Wonder does Google Maps have an option to give you voice directions, speed and time to destination on our smart phone? Can't seem to find this on Maps. Are there any other progams to consider?

YES, and by default they are ON
On mine with the phone in Portrat orientation

Top of screen is distance to next turn and an indicator right/left/straight. and the name of the road to turn on

Middle is map
Bottom is anticipated trip time.. not sure of miles w/o checking.

Voice is active by default but since I keep MEDIA silenced I have to remember to turn up the volume.. Uses speaker so it's fairly loud.

Bad thing... If you are in an non-coverage area and exit maps for any reason.. You are lost.. (Less you saved to device first)

Other bad thing.. EATS POWER,, I mean big time like 20 watts 1.5 amp charger will NOT keep phone charged while using it) Turn off screen to conservave power if you must.

When the battery gets low.. it tells you to turn far too late.

I used my apple maps app for a while. Main problem it doesn't know how big you are so it can't help you avoid low bridges. Get a new Garmin made for trucks or RV's.

I have been using Google Maps and WAZE during my last couple of long RV trips getting from Denver to Athens, GA in 4 days. If you are traveling along an Interstate highway most anywhere in the US you are going to have cellular data. Momentary loses will not effect your travels or your navigation as many miles of data are already on the phone and the routing is done with the GPS satellites and not a cellular connection.
If you fear you will be in an area with no cellular for an extended period of time you can pre-download the maps covering the area you will be traveling. Loss of cellular will have no effect on your travels. The only thing you will lose is the live traffic data.
FOR ME, it's the traffic data that makes this the only choice for me. Yesterday was a perfect example. I had plans to visit a campground near Chattanooga, TN yesterday. The plan was to take exit 176 and then 1 mile to the campground. My GPS showed taking exit 161. When I looked ahead on the map, I24 was at a stand still for many miles and it I took the planned exit I would be sitting in traffic on the Interstate for an hour to go the next 15 miles. I looked at the road the GPS suggested I take it showed as a nice rural road. So the choice was 15 minutes of back roads or an hour sitting on the Interstate. We took the back road. Ahead of us and behind us were 2 tractor trailers so I knew I had made the right choice. It was a nice easy drive with a 55 mph speed limit (which I didn't do most of the time) and we were still in place and parked before cocktails after a 350 mile drive. I also looked at how much data the phone GPS's use and it is so little as to be dismissed. On a trip of approx. 250 miles Google Maps only used 7Mb and Waze used around 15Mb. This won't have any impact on anyone's data plan.

cell phone has GPS and uses satellite positioning, it also use augmented location via cell tower

the problem arises(using google maps) when you no longer have a data signal connection to get the map data for your location, the phone has the co-orientates, but no map data to show you the location
there are GPS mapping programs that will download and store map data
but its NOT automatic, you have to choose the areas and have that program DL that data for the maps, before you travel to an area with no cell signal
for people that really depend on GPS, buying a dedicated GPS is a good idea

i like having a map app to show me where i am on the highway
but i prefer real paper maps for route planing
and i don't use turn by turn directions
tried a couple of times, did not like it
i trust my self and paper maps, a lot more than a computer giving me directions