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?

[Fizz]

A lot of bad info posted here by people who don't know what they are talking about.

I don't need or use a cell phone
I bought my Nokia 520 just for the GPS. For less than $100 I got a GPS that is more accurate than my Garmin and boots up a lot quicker.

From the product description...
GPS feature: Cellular and Wi-Fi network positioning, A-GPS, A-GLONASS

GLONASS is the Russian version of GPS with its own satellite network, makes for a super accurate positional fix.

My cheap little 520 has GPS, 5MP camera, MP3 player, true FM radio (no internet needed) and a phone I never use.

[Paul_Clancy]

strollin wrote:

Paul Clancy wrote:
I have one co pilot license on multiple iPhones. And it does NOT require a data connection to work. I do prefer my garmin for larger screen and clearer spoken directions. Also the garmin has voice recognition. So copilot is used as a backup. It could easily be my main device if needed.

Are you sure about the only one license on multiple devices with CoPilot? I have CoPilot on my Android phone and whenever I get a new phone I need to contact CoPilot to have them decommission the old phone and recommission the new. I could pay for an additional license if I wanted to use it on multiple devices.

IMO, there isn't much reason to need to see the screen when driving with a gps. I often use my phone for gps, I turn the screen off and stick it in my shirt pocket and can follow the spoken directions without ever needing to look at the screen. I haven't used my Garmin stand alone gps in quite a few years since my phone is a much better gps.

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

I really, really wish people wouldn't spread this false information. The GPS data comes from satellites and is NOT dependent on cellular data access. Some apps require a data connection in order to constantly refresh the map data while other apps store the map data locally so don't need a data connection.

CoPilot is an app that stores the map data locally so it can be used even when there is no cellular connection available.

BTW, standalone gps units from Garmin, Magellan, etc... store their map data on the device which is why they don't need a cellular connection.

I'm sure. All devices using the same itunes account can have the same apps installed. It's the way the Apple world works.

[mileshuff]

docj wrote:
With all due respect this is not correct. Try loading an app such as Satellite Check-GPS status and you will find that your phone can track and display all the available GPS satellites.

You are correct that the S4 does have satellite GPS capability...sort of. Perhaps its a poor implementation, poor antenna etc. Any time I'm out in the middle of nowhere, far from cell phone service I find the GPS functionality fails completely on 3 S4's I have. This is with GPS satellite turned on in settings. I also have a Garmin GPS as well as GPS in each of 3 vehicles. All of them easily get GPS signal. The S4 does indeed receive GPS but with difficulty. Works if I'm out in the open on flat ground. The others work even when I'm in rugged mountains. None the less, you are correct, the S4 does have true GPS.

[docj]

mileshuff wrote:

8iron wrote:
A smartphone does not need cell service for the GPS to work. It has a dedicated GPS chip for this.

What phones have such a chip? Every smart phone I've owned including my current Samsung S4 rely on cell towers for position, not GPS satellites. Without phone signal the GPS stops working.

With all due respect this is not correct. Try loading an app such as Satellite Check-GPS status and you will find that your phone can track and display all the available GPS satellites. The phone can lose its ability to provide map routing if you haven't downloaded to it local maps for your area. In that case it is navigating using map data provided via the phone link and interruption of that will cause it to stop navigating. BTW, there's no way that use of phone towers would enable the phone to provide the precise position data displayed in Google maps which can often locate you to within ~100 feet or less.

[8iron]

mileshuff wrote:

8iron wrote:
A smartphone does not need cell service for the GPS to work. It has a dedicated GPS chip for this.

What phones have such a chip? Every smart phone I've owned including my current Samsung S4 rely on cell towers for position, not GPS satellites. Without phone signal the GPS stops working.

clicky

[mileshuff]

8iron wrote:
A smartphone does not need cell service for the GPS to work. It has a dedicated GPS chip for this.

What phones have such a chip? Every smart phone I've owned including my current Samsung S4 rely on cell towers for position, not GPS satellites. Without phone signal the GPS stops working.

[pkunk]

Gjac wrote:
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?

I have Copilot on my iPhone & my 1st gen iPad. Bo extra license was needed-it just showed up. The maps on the iPad are larger than any GPS and it works well.

[bearwayne]

I use the app MotionX GPS Drive on my iPhone. It has the ability to download your route ahead of time via wifi. If you go off your route, then you may not have the map of your location available. Turn by turn voice navigation with street names costs $10/year. There are a variety of voices available.

I have used this app for about 3 years and it has been updated several times with new features. The recent one will tell you about construction, accidents, or police activity, and also traffic camera ahead. It also allows for the reporting of those incidents (by a passenger!). That feature requires data access. I have Verizon and have not had any issues with data access. I previously had another carrier which was terrible and maps were very slow to load and if I made a wrong turn, the app had trouble recovering if the maps didn't download fast enough.

I love this app! I have never used a dedicated GPS unit. Unfortunately, this app does not have an RV mode. It's very easy to use. Customer service is very responsive to support issues. It uses Bing maps. And it's much better on an iPad.

[wa8yxm]

I use 3 different GPS units
1: Garmin Street Pilot, programmed for S.E. USA.
2: Microsoft Streets & Trips (Several versions over the years) on a laptop
3: Samsung Galaxy S-III with Google Maps.

All 3 have advantages

The Garmin and the Samsung have much better volume on the voice direction (LOLA as Robin Williams called her) than S&T

S&T on the laptop has a much better user interface (Genuine keyboard) and much larger screen.

Garmin and S&T both work "offline" I can be anywhere, and plot a route, WI-Fi or Cell Signals not withstanding, IF I have an internet connection S&T will download construction info at least for the time being.

All maps on the Garmin and on S&T are stored internally.. NOTHING is remote save construction info.

The smart phone is good provided I set it up when I have a data connection, Once the route is set it can follow it connection or not, But if I try to update or change the route in an area of NO SIGNAL,, there is NO JOY.

It also EATS the battery.

[dave17352]

I just used my Droid RAZR for a 2k trip it worked fine even with no phone reception. Also when going through denver it rerouted me through a big a## traffic jam with its live Google updates. At first I didn't know what was going on as it was trying to reroute me but once I figured it out it probably saved me a hour easy.

I just upgraded my phone to a Samsung note 3 the screen is almost 6 inches and is great. Plenty big with voice directions.
The only thing I don't like about using the phone verses stand alone gps is when calls or texts come through it can be irritating.
Google maps cost me nothing.

[strollin]

.

[strollin]

Paul Clancy wrote:
I have one co pilot license on multiple iPhones. And it does NOT require a data connection to work. I do prefer my garmin for larger screen and clearer spoken directions. Also the garmin has voice recognition. So copilot is used as a backup. It could easily be my main device if needed.

Are you sure about the only one license on multiple devices with CoPilot? I have CoPilot on my Android phone and whenever I get a new phone I need to contact CoPilot to have them decommission the old phone and recommission the new. I could pay for an additional license if I wanted to use it on multiple devices.

IMO, there isn't much reason to need to see the screen when driving with a gps. I often use my phone for gps, I turn the screen off and stick it in my shirt pocket and can follow the spoken directions without ever needing to look at the screen. I haven't used my Garmin stand alone gps in quite a few years since my phone is a much better gps.

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

I really, really wish people wouldn't spread this false information. The GPS data comes from satellites and is NOT dependent on cellular data access. Some apps require a data connection in order to constantly refresh the map data while other apps store the map data locally so don't need a data connection.

CoPilot is an app that stores the map data locally so it can be used even when there is no cellular connection available.

BTW, standalone gps units from Garmin, Magellan, etc... store their map data on the device which is why they don't need a cellular connection.

[Gjac]

Paul Clancy wrote:
I have one co pilot license on multiple iPhones. And it does NOT require a data connection to work. I do prefer my garmin for larger screen and clearer spoken directions. Also the garmin has voice recognition. So copilot is used as a backup. It could easily be my main device if needed.

Sounds like the biggest down side to using this App is the screen size and viewing it from the drivers seat. I noticed the Android phones are bigger than the I phones, are these big enough to see from the drivers seat?

[FlatBroke]

I have an ap just for measuring the speed of my boat on my phone, no speedometer. If i forget and leave it on it drains the battery fast.

[Paul_Clancy]

I have one co pilot license on multiple iPhones. And it does NOT require a data connection to work. I do prefer my garmin for larger screen and clearer spoken directions. Also the garmin has voice recognition. So copilot is used as a backup. It could easily be my main device if needed.