SatNav on Android phone versus standalone SatNav unit?

mealmond

I have a Samsung Galaxy S and use Co-Pilot with the speed camera app from the pocket gps website, use it every day and have not used my Tomtom since.

I am more than happy with all products.

patman99

Googlemaps has found addresses that Garmin, Tomtom and Navman said did not exist, and whats more, I haven't found a satnav yet that allows me to search for a company, then with 2 clicks, compute a route and guide me to their front door.

Humphrey10

No idea about that specific smart phone sat nav app, but I've got the TomTom app on my iPhone and it works fine, just as good as a standalone one (well, except for the screen size - you can get bigger screens on stand alone ones I think). It doesn't need a phone signal to work, it uses GPS just like a sat nav (although it can use the phone signal to improve the location accuracy), and has accurate maps. You can pay extra for traffic updates and stuff but I didn't bother.
The app was much cheaper than buying a sat nav too.
I know a couple of people who use the google maps one, they are happy with it and have had no problems.

You need to work out what your requirements are, then check if the sat nav app you are considering meets them, eg I got the TomTom one because it uses postcodes (not all do), I like the clear diagrams it has of junctions, and the directions are clear (better than some other sat navs I've used). It also has settings for walking or cycling routes, which is useful now I can't drive!

Fifer

CHR15 wrote: »

Mobiles tend to take much longer to get their first GPS fix than a standalone unit.

How long does your Desire take Chris? Mine seems very quick to fix.

Esqui wrote: »

Main downsides to using a phone:

- It drains the battery a lot: you'll need a car charger
- It doesn't come with a mount: you'll need to get one
- If you have no phone signal, you won't be able to plan your route/reroute if you go the wrong way/see the map

A satnav nees a charger/supply too, so not really a downside. And many phone based satnav programes don't need a phone signal.

real1314 wrote: »

I think you can get the voice commands for free from android marketplace, but I've never seen the need.

You can and if you use a Parrot bluetooth carkit, they mute whatever music or radio programme you are listening to and feed through the car audio system. It works very well.

Hammyman

Satnav on my phone works OK but it takes an age to get a lock on the satellites, drops the signal now and again and takes a while to cope with rerouting if you miss a turn.

When my Tomtom got nicked, I thought I could use the one on my phone. A few weeks later, I went and bought another Tomtom.

richardvc

I have a Nokia 5800 with Ovi Maps and it has been excellent - better than expected but now I am after a Desire and hope that the Sat Nav is as good hence why I am reading this !!

CHR15

Fifer wrote: »

How long does your Desire take Chris? Mine seems very quick to fix.
.

Difficult to quantify, sometimes only a matter of 30-40 seconds, sometimes I would have driven 10-15 miles before it found a lock. It has to be taken into account it will take a little longer if you are moving but still it could take over 5 minutes when stationary.

My GPS in my Desire has given up the goose now though, simply will not find a single satellite. My phone is rooted running HD software but I have tried a multitude of different software versions and market apps.

I can't be bothered sending it back as I know they will simply say "water damage" and request payment.

I use my old HTC HERO for CoPilot now

Fifer

CHR15 wrote: »

Difficult to quantify, sometimes only a matter of 30-40 seconds, sometimes I would have driven 10-15 miles before it found a lock. It has to be taken into account it will take a little longer if you are moving but still it could take over 5 minutes when stationary.

My GPS in my Desire has given up the goose now though, simply will not find a single satellite. My phone is rooted running HD software but I have tried a multitude of different software versions and market apps.

I can't be bothered sending it back as I know they will simply say "water damage" and request payment.

I use my old HTC HERO for CoPilot now

I wonder if your GPS has always been faulty? Mine always locks quickly.

ritesh

richardvc wrote: »

I have a Nokia 5800 with Ovi Maps and it has been excellent - better than expected but now I am after a Desire and hope that the Sat Nav is as good hence why I am reading this !!

Just saw this thread and agree that Ovi Maps on Nokia 5800 is very good. Infact I stopped using my HTC Desire because of this reverting back to my Nokia 5800, but that's just me.

DCFC79

The google map app on the phones isnt perfect but if it means i can save money by not buying a sat nav then ill stick using my phone as a sat nav. The screen is a tad small for the desire but i can live with it. With the sat navs it doesnt cost anything to use whereas with the phones it uses your phones 3g signal(unless you cache the route) which can be costly if abroad.