G.p.s. Questions

[BobsTrail]

The built in system is not all that bad, it has it's own logic and takes a while to learn. I often get mad at mine.

But, it works for city and highway driving. I use it often since we moved to a new area. Just takes some getting used to.

Off Road it's time for saved offline maps on another device.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Thanks guys, you have told me what I need to know..I don't really understand the point of having an in dash navigation system since all acceptable navigation suggestions involve another device .......I might as well continue to place my old Garmin on the dash of my $48,000.00 vehicle..

I am in the same boat as you. We just suction cup the Garmin hand held on the dash when we are on trips because we are used to it and seldom navigate with the in dash unit.
When traveling I like that I can take the Garmin in a hotel room and set the next days destinations to get time and mileage estimates. I do like the in dash gps for local travel just to see what roads etc are coming up.

 

[RCFJ]

Thanks guys, you have told me what I need to know..I don't really understand the point of having an in dash navigation system since all acceptable navigation suggestions involve another device .......I might as well continue to place my old Garmin on the dash of my $48,000.00 vehicle..

I think for you this might be a great option. Factory in dash GPS units are downright awful, aftermarket may be better. But you really cant beat a phone and google maps/gaia gps

 

[Lawman]

I suppose the in dash unit is okay for getting to where you want to go if you are close but for destinations more than an hour away it often sucks...For example my 4 hour drive to my daughter's house from my house would add at least 30 - 45 minutes to the trip if I followed the Toyota Navigation..I have never known the Garmin to send me on a route that would make much difference..

 

[Lawman]

@OP. Why not just get a new Garmin? I have a very nice one, with lifetime free updates via my laptop - it's easy. I love the thing, haven't even turned on my OEM one.

I can move it to the wife's car. The OEM will not allow any input while driving -- I hate that.

There are lots of ways to mount it - I have mine snapped into the left-center AC vent.

Oh I'm quite happy with my old Garmin..I had it updated a couple of years ago..I only wish my Toyota Nav worked as well..

 

[MossJenks]

okay..Can you explain to me how it works? Do I need to have a cell signal when using the nav system? Do I need to download maps of the area I will be going to? Can I use it for going from Texas to Missouri? Overall explanation of how it works might help me..
Thanks

Sure. So when you're in cell phone range and have a new destination in mind, you just enter the place name or address - or select a spot on the map. Or even select the destination with your voice. Hit the "directions" button and you'll get a layout of the route and optional routes along with driving time and ETA. Then hit "start" and voila! it starts telling you where to turn. Reroutes you around traffic, shows where the road is backed up, keeps your ETA updated as you go, etc. etc. You don't need constant cell service as you go. Once you select your destination and start navigation it downloads a map of your entire route and the surrounding areas so you're set even if you're driving in and out of coverage areas. The phone's GPS is completely independent and can always find it's location on the map (unless you're underground).

If you're going to be out in the sticks changing destinations then you'll want to download maps in advance which is pretty simple. For example, last spring I was in the French Alps and wasn't sure what coverage with my American phone was like so I downloaded an area a couple hundred miles on a side just in case. In the event it was unnecessary - the French cell network is great. Here's map download instructions. This is iPhone/iPad specific but Android is almost exactly the same. edit: oh, there are Android instructions at the link - I just didn't see the button.

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?co=GENIE.Platform=iOS&hl=en

I've never seen a system that could match Google for turn-by-turn directions and traffic rerouting. Maps are always up to date (if you download they update themselves when needed), traffic rerouting is fantastic and gives you plenty of warning for turns and even for roundabouts gives you a little diagram and tells you which exit to take out of the circle. I use it constantly in the US and have also used it to navigate in Singapore, London and all over north-western Europe.

If you have a cell phone you already have the system (maybe on an iPhone you have to download it for free - Google's app is way better than Apple's) so you might as well give it a trial run before you decide on anything. My 83 year old mother and my 16 year old son both use it - you can too!

 

[unsub1]

One of the first things I did was get a Kenwood stereo unit with Garmin navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (to access maps from my phone). I also have the aforementioned iPad setup with Garmin GPS so I'm definitely not getting lost anytime soon. Couldn't be any happier for my big excursions around the country, on and off road.

And my wife ALWAYS has her paper atlas in the seatback pocket! (but she's mine)

 

[Lawman]

Sure. So when you're in cell phone range and have a new destination in mind, you just enter the place name or address - or select a spot on the map. Or even select the destination with your voice. Hit the "directions" button and you'll get a layout of the route and optional routes along with driving time and ETA. Then hit "start" and voila! it starts telling you where to turn. Reroutes you around traffic, shows where the road is backed up, keeps your ETA updated as you go, etc. etc. You don't need constant cell service as you go. Once you select your destination and start navigation it downloads a map of your entire route and the surrounding areas so you're set even if you're driving in and out of coverage areas. The phone's GPS is completely independent and can always find it's location on the map (unless you're underground).

If you're going to be out in the sticks changing destinations then you'll want to download maps in advance which is pretty simple. For example, last spring I was in the French Alps and wasn't sure what coverage with my American phone was like so I downloaded an area a couple hundred miles on a side just in case. In the event it was unnecessary - the French cell network is great. Here's map download instructions. This is iPhone/iPad specific but Android is almost exactly the same. edit: oh, there are Android instructions at the link - I just didn't see the button.

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?co=GENIE.Platform=iOS&hl=en

I've never seen a system that could match Google for turn-by-turn directions and traffic rerouting. Maps are always up to date (if you download they update themselves when needed), traffic rerouting is fantastic and gives you plenty of warning for turns and even for roundabouts gives you a little diagram and tells you which exit to take out of the circle. I use it constantly in the US and have also used it to navigate in Singapore, London and all over north-western Europe.

If you have a cell phone you already have the system (maybe on an iPhone you have to download it for free - Google's app is way better than Apple's) so you might as well give it a trial run before you decide on anything. My 83 year old mother and my 16 year old son both use it - you can too!

Thanks for thorough explanation...That will help...I can download my destination before I leave home and it will still direct me even if I go through areas with no signal..Is that correct? Also, TING is my cell phone provider and I pay depending on the amount of data I use..If I make a 10 hour drive to a single downloaded destination will I be using data for the complete 10 hours if I have a signal?

 

[Lawman]

One of the first things I did was get a Kenwood stereo unit with Garmin navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (to access maps from my phone). I also have the aforementioned iPad setup with Garmin GPS so I'm definitely not getting lost anytime soon. Couldn't be any happier for my big excursions around the country, on and off road.

And my wife ALWAYS has her paper atlas in the seatback pocket! (but she's mine)

I envy you tech savvy guys..

 

[MossJenks]

Thanks for thorough explanation...That will help...I can download my destination before I leave home and it will still direct me even if I go through areas with no signal..Is that correct?

Yes, it, it will have already worked out the route. If you explicitly download other areas you'll be able to navigate in those areas as well. As mentioned, these areas are quite large and you can have many of them.

Also, TING is my cell phone provider and I pay depending on the amount of data I use..If I make a 10 hour drive to a single downloaded destination will I be using data for the complete 10 hours if I have a signal?

Yes and no. As mentioned you can download all the maps you need on WiFi at home then turn your cell signal off and not use anything. If you have it on and you already have the maps downloaded it'll still use a little to keep itself up to date - you could minimize that by turning off traffic data but it'll still use a little.

But it doesn't amount to much data really. It's just coordinate and meta data. It will eventually add up but it's really small compared to pictures and video. You're not loading pictures of maps but rather the data underlying those maps then the software builds the map you see. So you're not downloading colors, empty spaces, etc. etc. To put in another way: a picture of a dead straight road uses more and more data the farther it goes. But the map data just says "Highway 6 through Custer County is a straight line for ten miles going north east". That's not precisely how it works but hopefully you get the picture.

For example I use Google Maps every day to and from work to route me around traffic, I'm in California on business right now and navigated 60 miles through the bay area yesterday, I have all features on and I frequently use it to look up restaurants and stores including checking their hours. Out of curiosity I frequently look up maps of other places in the world down to street level and occasionally satellite imagery. So far in May I've used 60meg. Someone more miserly about their data would use far less.

I also use both Backcountry Navigator and GaiaGPS on my phone and have all of Colorado downloaded for both down to the finest topo data available plus overlays that show pubic vs private land, US Forrest Service Motor Vehicle usage maps (tells me what trails are open and which aren't), all sorts of backcountry points of interest - heck there's so much I don't know what it all is. Hard to beat a smart phone. Pretty awesome having a radio-enabled, Internet linked super computer in your hand.

Did I mention it'll talk to the truck too?

 

[Lawman]

Yes, it, it will have already worked out the route. If you explicitly download other areas you'll be able to navigate in those areas as well. As mentioned, these areas are quite large and you can have many of them.



Yes and no. As mentioned you can download all the maps you need on WiFi at home then turn your cell signal off and not use anything. If you have it on and you already have the maps downloaded it'll still use a little - you could minimize that by turning off traffic data.

But it doesn't amount to much data really. It's just coordinate and meta data. It will eventually add up but it's really small compared to pictures and video.

For example I use maps every day to and from work to route me around traffic, I'm in California on business right now and navigated 60 miles through the bay area yesterday, I have all features on and I frequently use it to look up restaurants and stores including checking their hours, I frequently look up maps of other places in the world down to street level and occasionally satellite imagery. So far in May I've used 60meg. Someone more miserly about their data would use far less.

okay so if there is 1000 MB in 1 GB about how much data would you think you might use in 10 hours?

 

[MossJenks]

okay so if there is 1000 MB in 1 GB about how much data would you think you might use in 10 hours?

That I couldn't tell you for sure. I never watch mine that close (other apps use WAY more data on my phone). I just tried to Google that and got a wide variety of answers - most that exceed what I see my phone reporting. Makes a big difference your usage. If you take a trip for 10 hours to somewhere, then the next day be out and about sight seeing and looking up new destinations on your phone you'll use way more than you will if you just navigate to one far away destination for 10 hours.

 

[MossJenks]

I'm getting ready to buy a new truck and would like to get one with a good GPS

Going back to your original question, here's your strategy as I see it:

1) Built in navi sucks so don't waste your money on it at the dealer. And with your level of tech savvy, the last thing you need is a super complicated entertainment system too. I don't know what it adds up to exactly on a Toyota but I bet you save a grand easy.

2) Give Google Maps or something like it a try. See what your data costs are. Grab a teenager to help you figure it out if you need it! Be patient with it and take you time to learn it. It is super easy but certainly a bit more complicated than a dedicated unit. Have your old Garmin as backup in case you get lost in the system some how.

3) I think if you really give it a chance you'll love navi on your phone, but if not then go shop for a new Garmin or something. You can afford to buy more than one with the money you save in step 1!