Using a stand alone smart phone as a GPS

[Gjac]

I still have a dumb phone but have been reading threads on here about how folks are using their smart phones(I phones and Androids) and downloading the Co Pilot APP for $10 and using it for a GPS. From what I understand the Copilot app lets you customize the RV height and wt like the RV specific GPS's. This seems like a much cheaper solution than the Garmin 760 or the Rand GPS. My kids are always buying new phones for the latest technology so my question is can I use their old I phone 5 model as a standalone GPS in my MH with the co pilot APP and not use it as a phone without going through a phone provider? I do plan on getting an I phone for my wife and I will keep my old flip phone. So my next question is when you buy an APP can up use it on multiple devices or do up buy one for each device?

[Gjac]

Thanks for all the comments. I did not get a clear answer on my second question. If you have more than one device can you down load one APP and use it on multiple devices? For example if you have an I phone and an I pad can you download Copilot once and use it on both devices or do you have to pay for it twice in order to use it on both devices?

[sdianel_-acct_c]

I'm using Copilot now that I downloaded to my iPhone 4s. Works great. Voice directions are clear. You are right about the RV and height input. It works for us as a couple because I have it near me and relay the directions to the driver. I don't want the driver looking at any GPS or iPhone screen when he's driving. Guess if he was driving by himself he would have to. In that case I would buy a mount and mount it near him so he could hear it clearly. You do not have to have cell service to use the GPS feature. We used it in the mountains with no problem.

[msgtord]

Just finishing up a trip around northern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Very little Sprint data service to run a map program. Good to have a Garmin.

[valhalla360]

That or just pick up a tablet if the size is too small.

[riven1950]

We use our android smart phones with straight talk service quite a bit for GPS now. Of course you have to have Verison service, usually not a problem here on the East coast. You can enable the voice commands and don't really need the screen. Pretty accurate. Regular GPS stays in the pouch behind the seat most of the time now.

[Bill_Satellite]

WAZE does eat up data while in use unlike many of the other apps. I use the phone a lot while in my toad as the local information is much more detailed and accurate than any GPS. The phone has built in Google Maps and directions so you just speak what you want, it does a Google search, shows you the business and asks if you want to go online, call or get directions. Select directions and drive.
For the motor home, I use a stand alone Garmin.

[gwalter]

I use Waze on my iPhone and get turn by turn directions by voice, plus any live updates on traffic conditions as I go. The gps of the phone is very accurate.

[8iron]

A smartphone does not need cell service for the GPS to work. It has a dedicated GPS chip for this. A lot of the free or cheap apps need data to load maps but the higher end TomTom or Garmin apps have pre loaded maps that work just fine without cellular access. I use my 3G ipad with TomTom app that works much better than my Ford Nav or stand alone TomTom gaps unit.

[DesertFiver]

There are several gps apps for iPhone and Android that DOES NOT require data to work... you download the states you want and keep them on the phone. TomTom and Sygic are two of them. I have used both and they are pretty good. NO DATA :C

[wildtoad]

My biggest problem in using my IPhone for mapping while driving is when I don't have cell service. It doesn't work too well.

[bgum]

Use your IPhone as a hotspot for your IPad. That screen is about 7 times larger than a Garmin.

[gcloss]

Save your $10 and put it towards a good GPS. I've tried a few apps for my cell phone and find them to be horrible. Like others have said, not data service no GPS. A dedicated GPS is the only way to go.

[Fizz]

I have both. The smartphone is great for having it on you when walking around, terrible for driving compared to a Garmin.

Example:

On a Garmin...
Turn left on main st in 500 yards.
Turn left on main st.
Keep left (or right depending on your next turn)

Smartphone...
Turn left ....THAT'S IT NO MORE

[2oldman]

I've tried it and didn't care for it. Small screen, hard to read, difficult to mount and keep steady. Much prefer GPS.

[rockhillmanor]

can I use their old I phone 5 model as a standalone GPS in my MH

Put the phone on your dash board of your MH and get back to us if you can see it to read the directions! :B:W

and not use it as a phone without going through a phone provider?

You will need to have a provider for the data. No data access, no GPS info transmitted.