I am curious as to why a stand alone GPS still seems to be so popular. What with smart phones and tablets being readily available I would think that the stand alone units would sort of fade away. I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone for using whatever works for them. We all have our preferences.I am just wondering if I am missing some info that I could get with a GPS that I am not getting with my Droid phone.RichH

Was thinking of getting a stand alone because i hate my iphone gps and i hate when people call and text which i get way to much. My iphone has gave me wrong directions or would take me the long way. Im tech savy too and i love it just hate my phone for direction, i like everthing else that i can do with it.

the required data package to use a Phone as a GPS is the problem. the cost of a data package will be expensive.

The DW (aka the navigator) thought her smart phone was just fine, but after two years of it she now wants a tablet with cell connection.The phones are too small for detail. Then if you set them down for a moment and pick it back up, you always touch something, either a button or the screen that you shouldn't have and then it takes you several minutes to get back to the screen you want and meanwhile you've gone by a turn. It all gets much worse if the driver is trying to use a smart phone in traffic.Buy something like the Garmin 760 with a large screen and mount it so the driver can see and listen to it if they want. Why create stress trying to use a phone as a GPS.And a GPS for truck or MHs like the 760 will help keep you off of roads you might not want to be on with a large MH - single lane roads, small bridges, low overheads, weight restrictions, etc. A cell phone won't do that.And using the phone as a GPS with Google maps drains the battery rather quickly.Get a phone to talk on and do emails or texts, get a GPS if you want a GPS..........Bill

I got a GPS when my phone carrier started charging for voice GPS. And as mentioned above, the screen is too small to really see the details and I certainly wasn't going to pay for the ability to add voice directions.My phone's screen also fades out after a few minutes if I don't touch the screen or a button - so while driving, it can be a pain.But I've never been a fan of multi-use electronics. If you use your cell phone for music, GPS, camera, and phone, and the screen goes bad - you have nothing. With a separate GPS, mp3, phone and camera, if the screen on the phone goes bad, I can still use all the other functions.

My Tom-Tom was given to me years ago by our kids....to use on our cross country trips. A simple "better use it or else" situation. No problem...I use it as intended.Just got a 'droid tablet with google maps. Experimenting with it, some routes are different than the Tom-Tom...but OK. It is also "bluetooth"...my radio is "bluetooth"...so I gotta figure out how to connect them. IF they are compatible. Right know, experimenting with the tablet, after a certain amount of time, the screen DOES go off...but at every turn, comes back on. Not aware that VERIZON charges for "voice gps" on the tablet...just air time.

GPS Why not a smart phone? | Good Sam Community

156 Replies

NinerBikes
Explorer
Feb 15, 2016
WILDEBILL308 wrote:
NinerBikes wrote:
WILDEBILL308 wrote:
Yes but in Texas today it was 72.:B
Bill

That's it? That's all you got? It was 83 where I was in the city of Los Angeles today.

What do I need? I am in Texas and you are in Los Angeles. :D
You wine about how bad Texas is but you are in Los Angeles. :R
Bill

Probably a compass and a map.
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Feb 15, 2016
NinerBikes wrote:
WILDEBILL308 wrote:
Yes but in Texas today it was 72.:B
Bill

That's it? That's all you got? It was 83 where I was in the city of Los Angeles today.

What do I need? I am in Texas and you are in Los Angeles. :D
You wine about how bad Texas is but you are in Los Angeles. :R
Bill
NinerBikes
Explorer
Feb 15, 2016
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
With my eyesight I am on a quest to find the correct pair of pants...

With pockets big enough hold a smart phone with a nine inch screen.

Will a roof top six foot yagi offer offer db gain to access a cell phone tower 120 km distant?

Long Range WiFi

Sounds like you either need some serious watts, or some repeaters in between?
NinerBikes
Explorer
Feb 15, 2016
WILDEBILL308 wrote:
Yes but in Texas today it was 72.:B
Bill

That's it? That's all you got? It was 83 where I was in the city of Los Angeles today.
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Feb 15, 2016
Yes but in Texas today it was 72.:B
Bill
NinerBikes
Explorer
Feb 14, 2016
SCVJeff wrote:
road-runner wrote:
Well this was an interesting read. 13 pages(so far)Lots who are bragging about belonging to the Flat Earth Society. Those who are trying to justify buying a overpriced stand alone GPS map system.
And I think what's interesting is all of the put-downs for somebody be judged as backwards for not doing it the "correct" way. Why on the flat earth should somebody have to justify doing it the way they like the best?
He's from Texas. All he knows is flat earth.... :)

There might be a ripple,or a bump on Flat Earth, Texas... It's called Hill Country for a reason. I think I once thought Big Bend NP was a pimple on Texas's azz, the one time I went there. I was severely disappointed. I also had a hard time discerning the difference between Tijuana and El Paso too. The land is harsh, the people are alright with me. I would not want to break down in a modern common rail diesel car anywhere near Central or West Texas, it'd be h*ll getting it. fixed. I forget who wrote and sings it, but there was a country song that claimed the best sight of Texas is in the rear view mirror. And if you really want to get a Texan hot under the collar, just call his home state Baja Oklahoma. :B

I bought a new car in 2015, that came with GPS maps. Primitive, compared to Google Maps. No comparison. And the dealership wants another $240 for map upgrades every 3 or 4 years. Screw that. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 works fine, stuff it in a smart phone holder that clips onto the vent opening, and call it good.

Or go old school and pull out the big DeLorme's map book by state.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Feb 14, 2016
SCVJeff wrote:
He's from Texas. All he knows is flat earth.... :)
LOL :B
SaltiDawg
Explorer
Feb 14, 2016
I don't think anyone has advocated buying a phone to use as a car GPS.

The fact of the matter is that if one already owns a phone then that becomes an option!

To concern yourself with replacement cost is not germane to a GPS discussion if you already have a phone, unless you attach an additional risk due to use in your car

The Data use and cost for my two Apps in my car are not even noticeable

My car is a 2015 Honda Odyssey Elite with NAV. I never use that NAV, and regret having paid for it. I suspect if I did not have the cell phone, I'd go back to my Garmin NUVI.

YMMV
SCVJeff
Explorer
Feb 14, 2016
road-runner wrote:
Well this was an interesting read. 13 pages(so far)Lots who are bragging about belonging to the Flat Earth Society. Those who are trying to justify buying a overpriced stand alone GPS map system.
And I think what's interesting is all of the put-downs for somebody be judged as backwards for not doing it the "correct" way. Why on the flat earth should somebody have to justify doing it the way they like the best?
He's from Texas. All he knows is flat earth.... :)
road-runner
Explorer III
Feb 14, 2016
Well this was an interesting read. 13 pages(so far)Lots who are bragging about belonging to the Flat Earth Society. Those who are trying to justify buying a overpriced stand alone GPS map system.
And I think what's interesting is all of the put-downs for somebody be judged as backwards for not doing it the "correct" way. Why on the flat earth should somebody have to justify doing it the way they like the best?

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GPS Why not a smart phone?

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