RV GPS App

Sounds like what people are saying is that these apps work as good as the actual GPS's and are about the same size screen, from a large cell phone to an Ipad size. They are always up to date for a cost of $9, which is cheaper than a GPS. The only 2 possible downsides that I see is that sometimes you don't get cell phone service in some places and the second is what happens if you get a phone call do you lose you GPS?

Gjac wrote:
Sounds like what people are saying is that these apps work as good as the actual GPS's and are about the same size screen, from a large cell phone to an Ipad size. They are always up to date for a cost of $9, which is cheaper than a GPS. The only 2 possible downsides that I see is that sometimes you don't get cell phone service in some places and the second is what happens if you get a phone call do you lose you GPS?

With Copilot you don't need any service - voice or data - on your phone as you download the maps directly onto the phone's memory and you always have it - data or not. As to getting a call - the phone rings, you answer the call, and then go back to the app where it starts at whatever point on the route you are currently at. If the GPS receiver circuit on your phone is on, it stays on unless you shut it off.

The only time that you need a data connection with Copilot if for traffic reports and routing around traffic. If you have cell data, the traffic uses very little of your data. I tested this on two trips and less than 3 mb of data was used for the traffic connection on a four hour trip. The only time you will likely need traffic reports is on an interstate and these are usually well covered by all of the carriers for service.

1775 wrote:

Gjac wrote:
Sounds like what people are saying is that these apps work as good as the actual GPS's and are about the same size screen, from a large cell phone to an Ipad size. They are always up to date for a cost of $9, which is cheaper than a GPS. The only 2 possible downsides that I see is that sometimes you don't get cell phone service in some places and the second is what happens if you get a phone call do you lose you GPS?

With Copilot you don't need any service - voice or data - on your phone as you download the maps directly onto the phone's memory and you always have it - data or not. As to getting a call - the phone rings, you answer the call, and then go back to the app where it starts at whatever point on the route you are currently at. If the GPS receiver circuit on your phone is on, it stays on unless you shut it off.

The only time that you need a data connection with Copilot if for traffic reports and routing around traffic. If you have cell data, the traffic uses very little of your data. I tested this on two trips and less than 3 mb of data was used for the traffic connection on a four hour trip. The only time you will likely need traffic reports is on an interstate and these are usually well covered by all of the carriers for service.

I can see where you can view the maps with out cell service but don't you need cell service for the GPS to tell you where to go?

The gps app co pilot is not connected to the cell network at all unless you have a traffic subscription. The program is on the phone. Maps all on the phone. Uses the phones gps chip. It works exactly the same on a tablet. I use it often with cellular data turned off. Cellular data is not related to gps. Remember this is not like apple maps or google maps that use the cell network. It is a self contained program.

Gjac wrote:
I can see where you can view the maps with out cell service but don't you need cell service for the GPS to tell you where to go?

The GPS on a phone has nothing to do with any service. It is a receiver built into the phone just like the receiver built into a standalone GPS unit that sticks to the windshield. It gets the signal directly from the positioning satellite for GPS. As long as the GPS is turned on using the phones settings menu and there is battery power (or a plug) to the phone, the GPS works.

There are GPS apps like WAZE that are not loaded on your phone and loss of a cellular connection would likely cause an issue if you lose the signal for an extended time. Any app that fully loads the program to your phone will work with or without cellular.

Thanks everyone for explaining this to me. I was planning on getting a smart phone and a Garmin 760 GPS but from what I learned here you can do both functions with the smart phone and the copilot app. Do you need the android system or can you use the I phone also with the copilot?

Gjac wrote:
Thanks everyone for explaining this to me. I was planning on getting a smart phone and a Garmin 760 GPS but from what I learned here you can do both functions with the smart phone and the copilot app. Do you need the android system or can you use the I phone also with the copilot?

There are apps for both of them.

http://copilotlive.com/us/