GPS or smart phone

AtomicChicken wrote:
I rather use my Garmin for GPS duties over my smartphone.

As mentioned before the standalone GPS unit's screen is easier to read. Also, unless you cache your route data ahead of time if you loose your cell signal you're out of luck with the smartphone.

I also like the fact that my Garmin is JUST a GPS unit and nothing more. It's simpler to use/navigate and it won't get interrupted by other tasks (like incoming calls).

I agree and the dedicated GPS is designed for that single task in it's display, lettering, etc. resulting in a better interface and readability than something like a smart phone. One smartphone real plus is some of the find location apps which IMO are better than the resident GPS capabilities so each has a use in navigation.

Larry

Speedogomer wrote:
If you do buy a GPS unit, buy a Garmin. I've used Magellan, TomTom, and Garmin, and Garmin is hands down the best of the 3. TomToms are an unintuitive mess, and Magellan's routing is terrible.

Maybe it depends on which models you bought?

I RV full time and my TomTom is 6 years old and still getting me to where I want to go successfully!

I think a lot has to do with buying the very low end low priced models of GPS's. You get what you pay for.

The TomTom I bought was the most expensive. I didn't buy it for that reason. I needed the largest screen and the capability of speaking my directions in as apposed to typing them in and of course the speech for directions.

Does anyone remember using just a road atlas and those pre-planned printed route maps called the "Trip-Tik", from the AAA Motorclub? Before smart phones and GPS, I used to get those from AAA every time I went somewhere. I thought that they were the neatest thing to have when traveling long distances in unfamiliar areas. Now we have choices between numerous high tech (and former military-only gadgets) like GPS units and smartphones to get us around. Amazing world we live in.

Now I use a stand alone GPS dash unit, which has a rear view camera linked to it. I use the smart phone like others have described.

I like to use a GPS for navigation. I only have a 2gb data plan for my phone and my two kids and wife chew through that pretty efficiently.

JoeyM wrote:
I carry both. The smartphone "google maps" app is great, but you need to find another app to keep the screen on continuously: on android I use "Keep Screen On". If you do, you must keep the unit plugged into power. As others have said, you must be in cell tower range to update maps as you move. There are free apps that allow you to pre-download maps, "CoPilot" is one of them, but the maps are 6-8 years out of date. My neighborhood was annexed 6+ years ago and it still shows up in the old city it used to be in.

I don't have that problem. My screen stays on all by itself while using GMaps. And, I got a speedo program that does an overlay over it so it shows speed and whatever else I want it to show.

I vote BOTH! I start with GPS, but it's not always accurate. As in: I KNOW there's a Red Robin in X City off Y Highway but I need to know the exit to take. GPS doesn't even LIST RR in X City. So I go use Google on the iPhone, get the address in X city, then put the address in the GPS.

Doesn't happen often but enough to say I need both.

I carry both. The smartphone "google maps" app is great, but you need to find another app to keep the screen on continuously: on android I use "Keep Screen On". If you do, you must keep the unit plugged into power. As others have said, you must be in cell tower range to update maps as you move. There are free apps that allow you to pre-download maps, "CoPilot" is one of them, but the maps are 6-8 years out of date. My neighborhood was annexed 6+ years ago and it still shows up in the old city it used to be in.

If you do buy a GPS unit, buy a Garmin. I've used Magellan, TomTom, and Garmin, and Garmin is hands down the best of the 3. TomToms are an unintuitive mess, and Magellan's routing is terrible.

We prefer to use our smartphone. We have a hand held GPS but pretty much hate it.

blw2 wrote:
I've been using an app called WAZE on my phone more and more. I love it!

Me, too. I've used GPS units in the past. When my last one finally died, I switched to Waze and have been happy.