Paper maps vs GPS

[strollin]

I read people stating constantly in these forums that they don't trust GPS and want to always verify with a paper map.

Can those of you that believe that's true, please explain why you feel a paper map will be any more accurate than a GPS?

I don't know how maps are made exactly but I believe that the map data comes from the same source whether for a paper map or GPS. It seems to me that the process of producing a paper map would be a longer process than putting the map data into a GPS so it follows that the data used to print a map is probably older than the GPS data. Not only that, but often the GPS data can be periodically updated.

Why then should someone trust a paper map more than a GPS?

[Rick_Jay]

I think it's wise to have both a GPS & paper maps. I predominantly use the GPS and save the maps as a back up and to preview the route before I travel.

One key advantage of the GPS is that regardless of where you are, if you ask it to find the nearest Hospital or Police Station, it will not only find it, but show you how to get there. Quickly. If medical issues are a concern, this is important.

Also, one time when returning home in a very thick fog, my GPS showed me I was approaching an intersection way before I came across the stop sign popping out of the fog. If there was a sign showing the intersection before that, I didn't see it. I wasn't travelling that fast, either. By setting the scale according to your travel speed, the GPS gives you a "heads up" as to twists, turns and intersections coming up in the road. I find this very helpful when driving at night in unfamiliar territory.

Lastly, and probably for what I use the GPS the most. When leaving the campground for a day excursion in the minivan I set the campground as "Home". Seems those brochures and internet web sites are great at telling you how to get to THEIR location, but not too good on getting you home. It gets even more confusing when taking in several sites during the day and returning at night. The GPS gets us back very nicely. Just one less stress in life.

And yes, you do have to use some common sense. To the person who said the GPS wanted him to turn onto a road which led him to a river in Connecticut... that's probably because seasonal/limited run ferries can be found here in the northeast. Again, in settings, tell it to avoid Ferries.

~Rick

[strollin]

MrWizard wrote:

The things I've read so far as to why some people feel paper maps are better have to do with the route the GPS chooses. When using a paper map, you need to choose your own route and there's no guarantee you will choose any better route than the GPS.

I disagree..
Most people when looking at a map will choose the main highways and streets to go when traveling
Now in an unfamiliar town, trying to find that restaurant they were told about, they may choose the wrong street to travel on, when using the map, but the GPS is just as likely to choose that street as they are

The GPS will also choose the main highways and streets unless you set options that tell it not to.

[strollin]

2oldman wrote:
They both have value, but the one thing where GPS shines is that it's near impossible to read a paper map while driving. Harder than texting.

Not only that but you don't ever have to figure out how to refold a GPS!

[MrWizard]

The things I've read so far as to why some people feel paper maps are better have to do with the route the GPS chooses. When using a paper map, you need to choose your own route and there's no guarantee you will choose any better route than the GPS.

I disagree..
Most people when looking at a map will choose the main highways and streets to go when traveling
Now in an unfamiliar town, trying to find that restaurant they were told about, they may choose the wrong street to travel on, when using the map, but the GPS is just as likely to choose that street as they are

[fla-gypsy]

I have a navigation app on my iphone I never use. My wife is quite the navigator with a paper map, well except for that one time she had it upside down

[2oldman]

They both have value, but the one thing where GPS shines is that it's near impossible to read a paper map while driving. Harder than texting.

[am1958]

The primary benefit of a GPS over a paper map is that with a GPS you always know exactly where you are. With a paper map you only know exactly where you think you are. Now, just because you don't like where you are with the GPS doesn't make it any less accurate.

I use my iPhone as my GPS and I select satellite view so I can see exactly what is ahead rather than an abstract graphic representation of features. That way I don't end up on cart tracks.

As to accuracy of the two... You can get maps with a scale of 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 which is 1 inch to the mile and 2 inches to the mile that have every last twist and turn of every contour. Learn to read the contours and you get far more information than the normal GPS will give you - even with the satellite view. But if you want detail you can get GPS' that you can upload maps to and you can put the one and two inch to the mile maps on it. Then you get the benefit of the detail of the paper map without ever wondering where you are.

I have an old Garmin GPS 3+ that shows such features as Detroit and I-75 but after that information becomes a little sparse. Yet I use it every time we go hiking. Before we leave I turn it on, lock to the satellites and mark my location as 001 and turn it off... If I get lost then I'll turn it on and follow the little arrow back home, but I'll use my eyes and brain to decide how to get there when following the arrow. These stories of people driving into lakes and getting stuck in the woods are stories of people who simply didn't use their brains.

[MrWizard]

Using the GPS to locate a store, has station, restaurant, inside an unfamiliar urban city area is one thing, likely to way more accurate
Than blindly following a route thru open rural countryside

[rk911]

djgarcia wrote:
GPS---
What is everyone's 1st. choice of GPS's???

for planning a route Street Atlas, hands down. otherwise to just get from point a to point b I use the goggle maps app...free and with turn-by-turn voice directions.

[fj12ryder]

sdianel wrote:
it's not about accuracy, it's about flexibility. Rather than following the GPS which may take you over 2 lane windy mountain roads, you can stay on major highways by using an Atlas or take shortcuts that others have recommended. I also use online mapping like Google Maps and Mapquest. Online maps and GPS's have 2 options - shortest or fastest routes. Sometimes you need a combination of both. Also RV settings on GPS's use truck routing which takes you out of the way sometimes resulting in more mileage.

This is exactly why you should plan your trip out, and not blindly leave it up to the GPS to route you around. The GPS is a tool, a wonderful tool, but it can be misused just like any other.

[strollin]

The things I've read so far as to why some people feel paper maps are better have to do with the route the GPS chooses. When using a paper map, you need to choose your own route and there's no guarantee you will choose any better route than the GPS.

Every GPS I have ever used lets me preview the route and most let you edit the route as you see fit. There's no reason that I can see to need a paper map.

I haven't used a paper map since 1996 when I started using a Delorme Tripmate GPS puck with AAA Map-n-Go software on a Windows 95 laptop.

[jplante4]

The prudent navigator will not rely solely on a single source of navigation information.

[wa8yxm]

Paper maps are not "More accurate" necessarly but lets say the errors are easir to deal with

For example.. Years ago I had a minor "incident" as a result I needed to pick up a couple of USED auto parts.. So I drove to a junk yard using Microsoft Streets and Trips and my GARMIN GPS as the location source.

Computer showed me running through fields and over fences a good half mile from where I really was.. I do not know if this was GPS error or map data error but using the MAP I of course knew I was on a ribbon of blacktop.. Not some farmer's field.. and I got to where I was going.

But then I used that low-end Garmin E-Trex with nothing more than GPS coordinates to find the destination more than once. (no map at all,,, Just Brain).

Paper maps may be better at giving you Routing though.. The reason is they let you see more of the route at one time, and have indications of what kind of roads/goat trails you are routed on... Blindly trusting the GPS ROUTING can get you in serious trouble.

Also you may remember that tv commercical

TURN RIGHT (Drivr turns into flower shop) In 800 Feet.

[hermy]

Our personal experience has taught us to always double check- always. We check the GPS route, verify on the map that it is what we truly want to do and if it is- go. But I'll bet that about 50% of the time we will have issues with part of the route and will modify it. This is particularly true in rural areas where the mapping can be a little sketchy. It has often tried to send us down roads that don't exist in real life- but apparently are platted on a map somewhere. Even our own home address- the GPS is about a mile off. Like Ronald Reagen told the Russians- trust... but verify.

[GordonThree]

Not sure if everyone knows this or not, reading all the anti-gps posts lately, I'm wagering a lot of people don't know this little tidbit.

You don't have to do what your gps tells you to do. If you don't like the looks of the road the gps wants you to turn onto, ignore the command. The gps isn't going to call in a drone strike on you for ignoring it.

If you're traveling to a destination 100s of miles away and the gps wants you to take the next exit off the interstate onto a dirt road leading into farm fields, just ignore it, you won't hurt its feelings.