GPS strikes again

Dutch_12078 wrote:
In addition to our Garmin GPS, I have the Co-Pilot app installed on my phone as a backup. The US and Canada maps are downloaded, so no cell/WiFi is needed except for updates. We also have a current dead tree atlas on board if needed.

I am a long time CoPilot user, both on the iPad and iPhone. On trips the GPS data is via Bluetooth from a BadElf receiver and when combined with CoPilot provides accurate positioning without cell service. The iPad larger screen is much easier to use with the maps for East Coast US, Canada and France that we download. Just finished 3 weeks in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland using CoPilot

I don't know about other GPS navigation units, but my Garmin LM3550 has a setting for how much detail I want to show on it's maps and whether I want flat mode or terrain mode. I have these set to maximum detail and terrain mode at all times.

With these two settings, you can zoom in and out to see all roads, canyons, mountains, lakes, rivers, cities, etc., around a route. Doing this, you can determine how much trouble you might be getting into by planning on, or staying on, a particular route - and then make adjustments accordingly.

At planning time, our Garmin also allows choice of two routes for every destination. Once started on a route, it also has a Detour icon that can be pressed at any time to have it look for a different way to your destination other than by using your current route from where you're currently at.

If you're going to use only satellite based or only cell tower based navigation instruments, you have to understand all their features, strengths, limitations, and weaknesses ... or pull out a paper map and/or Pay the Piper.

A tool is only as good as the person wielding it. I wouldn't willingly travel without one.

After the GPS told me to "Turn right, NOW!" when there was no road to turn onto, I have never trusted it. IMO, it is great for directing me to the address of a rummage sale in town, or telling me approximately how many hours or miles to my destination, but that is all it is really good for.

dodge guy wrote:
Well they did turn around. Had they not gotten a flat we wouldn’t even be reading this.

Which brings up a huge deal! How many people know that most new cars don’t come with a spare anymore due to weight and price?

Yes they followed the GPS when they should t have, but turned around to go back. So barring the GPS deal they did everything right. Maybe they should’ve had water and food, but they believed they were heading to a lake via an easy route!

Maybe that flat happened when they drove over that 18" drop off. You'd think they'd have been smart enough to turn around before they drove over that.

Well, I know that a lot of newer cars don't come with spares, but it might not occur to me that a rental wouldn't, simply because all my vehicles that I drive all the time do have spares. I could also be guilty of overlooking that fact.

Well they did turn around. Had they not gotten a flat we wouldn’t even be reading this.

Which brings up a huge deal! How many people know that most new cars don’t come with a spare anymore due to weight and price?

Yes they followed the GPS when they should t have, but turned around to go back. So barring the GPS deal they did everything right. Maybe they should’ve had water and food, but they believed they were heading to a lake via an easy route!

Sorry no sympathy here. And I don't think the GPS is to blame at all.

Taking a rocky dirt road in a rental car is just stupidity. The minute they saw the rocky dirt road is when they should have turned around. Blaming the GPS? I don't think so.

owenssailor wrote:
It is interesting how many people think that it is the young ones who are too reliant on electronics. Many of the reported GPS incidents involve people who are far from young.

Exactly what I thought when I saw that. Thinking back on the incidents most of the people who had problems were middle aged or older.

In addition to our Garmin GPS, I have the Co-Pilot app installed on my phone as a backup. The US and Canada maps are downloaded, so no cell/WiFi is needed except for updates. We also have a current dead tree atlas on board if needed.

pnichols wrote:

We prefer to travel independent of cell towers. Even recent disasters have shown the vulnerability of cellular systems. For an eye opener read articles to see how, and how long, cell towers are powered when external electricity to them is cut off. It's too bad that satellite phones and their services are so expensive and it's too bad that Google Maps - as excellent as it is - doesn't have a stand-alone version for laptops once they are fitted with large enough built-in storage capacity.

The google maps app for smart phones does have a feature to download offline areas which can be used when there is no cell phone access (or no data service). Google maps, the web site, is obviously reliant on internet connectivity by its nature.