Google Maps? Locally stored maps?

[HadEnough]

Planning to go "wherever" in the USA and am concerned I'll lose signal (and therefore navigation ability using Google Maps) as I get into some much less populated areas.

I have Verizon.

Is this a legitimate concern?

What's the latest everyone is doing to navigate in the middle of nowhere?

Coming from boats, this is a core requirement of mine; not getting lost or stranded in the middle of nowhere.

[Johno02]

Found this with Google
Garmin acquires DeLorme

[Johno02]

Looks like the computer-based non-satellite maps are going away. Some may be availiable for professional use, but most are too expensive for average consumers, and don't work that well for our use anyway. I will just keep my old copy of S&T, and DeLorme running as long as possible.

[Johno02]

Found this with Google
Garmin acquires DeLorme

[Johno02]

Haven't heard anything about Garmin taking over, but really would like to know. Is Eartha still there??

[JaxDad]

Naio wrote:
I just tried out copilot, but it doesn't show even paved roads if they are small, let alone gravel or dirt ones. Not very useful for my kind of travel.

I think you might have missed a step. You have to download the map files for the area you to get anything but the most basic information.

In my area Co-pilot shows the most 2 bit of goat paths even.

The other (free) option is "Here maps" which is much like Co-pilot in that you download the map files and access them from your device's memory.

[HadEnough]

Knew Delorme sounded familiar. I go to Maine frequently and love that company's headquarters.


Unfortunately, it looks like they were bought by Garmin and the store is permanently closed! Did Garmin buy them then gut them?? What a terrible loss if so.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLorme

[TyroneandGladys]

Use Google maps to plan a trip and to check the GPS directions. Before GPS I would print out the directions,broken down by days,and carry in a 3 ring binder. Still carry a road atlas as a back up.

[2gypsies1]

We'll stick to Delorme. It does everything we want.

[Naio]

I just tried out copilot, but it doesn't show even paved roads if they are small, let alone gravel or dirt ones. Not very useful for my kind of travel.

[rekoj71]

The $9 app is Co-Pilot. (pick the USA version) It stores the maps on your device. You can get all of the USA and Canada stored on your SD card or internal memory and it will use less than 2.5Gigs, and has lots of POI's also.
It works almost as good as the dedicated GPS's out there.
I like Google maps but yes on some long stretches it blanks out, but the C0-Pilot app is great. Do a search on this forum and you will get lots of info on it too.
It also uses less battery than using Google as it doesn't need data, and I can use my data to stream music from Pandora or similar in the background while it's running.
You can also put in several preferences like avoiding highways, and it even has an RV setting that can help avoid low bridges.
It has a free trial before you have to pay.
There is also a newer more dedicated RV version (I don't have that one though) but it really only has some more customizable RV height and length inputs, but would be a good one also

[Naio]

I would love to find a phone app that lets me choose the route! Google and Mapquest let you do 'avoid highways', but that only works once in a while, and it still doesn't let you choose WHICH back road you want.

[GordonThree]

2gypsies wrote:

GordonThree wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

Google Maps: Once you have a beginning and ending route, can you add vias to go the way YOU want to go? How?

You'll need a desktop or laptop to do this. It's a Google product called "My Maps"

You plan your route however you want on the computer and when you save the map, it will show up on your phone or tablet.

...but how do you add vias instead of going the way Google Maps sets. We enjoy secondary roads most often not the most direct route or the shortest route?

On Delorme you just put the cursor on the road you want to take and click on 'add via' and the map is recalculated. Can you do that with Google?

Not that I know of, the Google Maps app is just a point to point navigation aid, not really a trip planning program. I don't use it that much, since I have Garmin built into the truck. Next truck might be a stripper model, so I'll have to brush up on cell phone navigation.

If there's a road or town you want to avoid, you can use voice recognition to do so. For example "Ok Google navigate to Orlando avoid Atlanta Georgia." or "Ok Google navigate to XYZ campground avoid interstate 75"

It does look like Google allows you to detour to gas stations and grocery stores while navigating:
http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/20/google-maps-now-lets-you-add-a-stop-along-your-route-check-gas-pric...

[2gypsies1]

GordonThree wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

Google Maps: Once you have a beginning and ending route, can you add vias to go the way YOU want to go? How?

You'll need a desktop or laptop to do this. It's a Google product called "My Maps"

You plan your route however you want on the computer and when you save the map, it will show up on your phone or tablet.

...but how do you add vias instead of going the way Google Maps sets. We enjoy secondary roads most often not the most direct route or the shortest route?

On Delorme you just put the cursor on the road you want to take and click on 'add via' and the map is recalculated. Can you do that with Google?

[HadEnough]

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll look at some apps first.

Really not too enamored with buying more stuff. I like to live as minimalist as possible.