Use mobile GPS?

GandL · 20 May 19, 12:09 PM

Hi all,

We have booked a flydrive with BA and therefore havent been able to book a sat nav. It advises can add when we pick the car up if available.

Now I am concerned that one will not be available and if it is it will be extortionate.

I am with o2 and can get travel add on for USA for 4.99 a day and then could use Google maps as our sat nav.

Has anyone done this? Does anyone have a better idea?

Thanks
Grace

GDiddy · 20 May 19, 12:45 PM

We did exactly this, as using your phone and Google maps is the cheapest and best option. Download the maps for offline use before you go. Consider getting a phone holder so you can mount it properly.

You really don't need a separate GPS.

Sew109 · 20 May 19, 01:00 PM

You don't need to use your data at all, download the google maps before you go. The positioning does not use any data you can turn the data off on your phone and the map and directions will still work only thing is you wont get traffic updates.Only thing I suggest is that you buy one of those phone holders with a suction cup before you go as we bought one in wlamart and it cost a fortune

support.google/maps/answ...DAndroid&hl=en

fiona88 · 20 May 19, 01:30 PM

I used google maps for 2 weeks in Florida 2017 and 1 week between vegas and the Grand Canyon last year and it worked great, even in the sticks.
I get data with my normal contract with o2, but I don't like using it for maps for the risk of going over.
I get a PAYG 3 sim for about �20 for 12gb of data with their 'roam away from home' which is included in that cost. as long as you have an unlocked smartphone that's a cheaper option than car sat nav with no risk of going over your data allowance and coming back to a �200 bill.

Sew109 · 20 May 19, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by fiona88

I used google maps for 2 weeks in Florida 2017 and 1 week between vegas and the Grand Canyon last year and it worked great, even in the sticks.
I get data with my normal contract with o2, but I don't like using it for maps for the risk of going over.
I get a PAYG 3 sim for about �20 for 12gb of data with their 'roam away from home' which is included in that cost. as long as you have an unlocked smartphone that's a cheaper option than car sat nav with no risk of going over your data allowance and coming back to a �200 bill.

Or download the maps and turn data off, try it at home it works I promise you

400ixl · 20 May 19, 01:48 PM

I would use Waze (also owned by Google) but is crowd sourced and gives better navigation. That si if you have the data add on.

Issue with Google Maps if you don't is that whilst you can offline save the base map, you need a connection to see your saved map locations.

If you don't have a connection then Navigator from the play store is a very good app play.google/store/apps/d...ctor.navigator and you just download the maps for the states you want before you go. You can add your saved locations and it integrates google search as well. Its a safer option if you won't have data.

20 May 19, 12:45 PM	#2
	20 May 19, 12:45 PM GDiddy I want to go now!
GDiddy I want to go now! Join Date: Sep 17	We did exactly this, as using your phone and Google maps is the cheapest and best option. Download the maps for offline use before you go. Consider getting a phone holder so you can mount it properly. You really don't need a separate GPS.

20 May 19, 01:00 PM	#3
	20 May 19, 01:00 PM Sew109 Imagineer
Sew109 Imagineer Join Date: Mar 15	You don't need to use your data at all, download the google maps before you go. The positioning does not use any data you can turn the data off on your phone and the map and directions will still work only thing is you wont get traffic updates.Only thing I suggest is that you buy one of those phone holders with a suction cup before you go as we bought one in wlamart and it cost a fortune support.google/maps/answ...DAndroid&hl=en Edited at 01:02 PM.

20 May 19, 01:48 PM	#6
	20 May 19, 01:48 PM 400ixl Imagineer
400ixl Imagineer Join Date: Mar 12	I would use Waze (also owned by Google) but is crowd sourced and gives better navigation. That si if you have the data add on. Issue with Google Maps if you don't is that whilst you can offline save the base map, you need a connection to see your saved map locations. If you don't have a connection then Navigator from the play store is a very good app play.google/store/apps/d...ctor.navigator and you just download the maps for the states you want before you go. You can add your saved locations and it integrates google search as well. Its a safer option if you won't have data.