GPS Navigator for the US

jumperabv3

What's the best way to use a Navigator which is really useful with issues such as avoiding tolls and skipping traffic?

Is it worth investing in buying a new GPS device? (we don't have one, me & my wife) ... or can we download an application these days that can do all the job for us and just use our mobile with a SIM for the US etc.? What will be your best advice?

By the way I've heard of a SIM card you can buy and top up and then you can use it worldwide ... anyone knows where can we buy it? We have plenty of time now (1 month) before we fly so we want to order and get everything ready in advance.

Thanks!

rustyboy21

I was going to buy a new sat nav the other week, which work out round £120 ish for EU maps, but then bought a new Nokia 625. It has here drive+ on it and you download the maps worldwide for use off line. This way you don't use any data whilst abroad.


Have tried it here and it works better than my sat nav in my Avensis. It uses the same software as BMW use. Well worth it from Amazon at £122. And you get a 4g phone to use too.

jumperabv3

rustyboy21 wrote: »

I was going to buy a new sat nav the other week, which work out round £120 ish for EU maps, but then bought a new Nokia 625. It has here drive+ on it and you download the maps worldwide for use off line. This way you don't use any data whilst abroad.


Have tried it here and it works better than my sat nav in my Avensis. It uses the same software as BMW use. Well worth it from Amazon at £122. And you get a 4g phone to use too.

Darn ... my wife bought for me THL T5S from eBay ... the package hasn't arrived yet ... !! (sent by 2nd class) ... if I refuse to sign for it? (it's a "SIGNED FOR" delivery) would I be able to get a refund from the seller?!

If so I'd like to buy this Nokia phone, but my wife is against it, she says it's a Windows phone ... lol ... who's right?!?!

jumperabv3

My wife just showed me with her Nexus device how she can download an app called NavFree and it also has maps of the US where you can use the GPS without data and drive as well ...

So I think I would stick with the THL device after all ....

silvercar

We bought a SatNav in the US for about £60. Worked out cheaper than buying a satnav here and buying US maps as an add on.

jackieblack

silvercar wrote: »

We bought a SatNav in the US for about £60. Worked out cheaper than buying a satnav here and buying US maps as an add on.

Ditto
Garmin with lifetime updates from WalMart, about £70-75

rustyboy21

jumperabv3 wrote: »

Darn ... my wife bought for me THL T5S from eBay ... the package hasn't arrived yet ... !! (sent by 2nd class) ... if I refuse to sign for it? (it's a "SIGNED FOR" delivery) would I be able to get a refund from the seller?!

If so I'd like to buy this Nokia phone, but my wife is against it, she says it's a Windows phone ... lol ... who's right?!?!

I love it. I had a lumia 900 before with windows on it and it was great, this is even better. If you like how windows works on your computer and have had experience of W8.1, then you will love it too.


I don't see what the issue is with Windows TBH, People use it everyday on their computers, but have a problem with it being on a phone. If you want to download , for arguments sake' Freddie and the giant chocolate orange' lol which is on Iphone and android, then you are out of look. If you just use your phone for Skype, FB,twitter, calling text, email photos etc then you are fine. I have downloaded a stopwatch, a kitchen timer, weather apps etc which are better than the ones on Apple.


Microsoft now own Nokia, so they will be going all out to get as many apps as they can. it is a lot easier than Ios to use and quicker too. Android is horrible IMO, had 2 phones and hated both. I have an Iphone 4s for work and hate it with a passion, the adverts that come up and annoy, just are not there with a W8 phone.

jumperabv3

Thanks for the information rusty ...
I'm now slightly confused what would be better, buying the Lumia or returning the THS ... though decision lol.

joaniemerc

jumperabv3 wrote: »

My wife just showed me with her Nexus device how she can download an app called NavFree and it also has maps of the US where you can use the GPS without data and drive as well ...

So I think I would stick with the THL device after all ....

Thanks for this tip. Just downloaded USA version onto iPad for California trip in two weeks. We have a USA sat nav which we last used 3 years ago. If we found that that wasn't working right, then we were going to buy one from a Walmart, use it then sell it on Ebay when back at home.

[Deleted User]

jumperabv3 wrote: »

What's the best way to use a Navigator which is really useful with issues such as avoiding tolls and skipping traffic?

Is it worth investing in buying a new GPS device? (we don't have one, me & my wife) ... or can we download an application these days that can do all the job for us and just use our mobile with a SIM for the US etc.? What will be your best advice?

By the way I've heard of a SIM card you can buy and top up and then you can use it worldwide ... anyone knows where can we buy it? We have plenty of time now (1 month) before we fly so we want to order and get everything ready in advance.

Thanks!

There's a lot to be said for using good old fashioned Rand-McNally maps when driving in the US.
Long-distance journeys are easily plotted and often offer up interesting detours which your satnav may not.
If you're driving in cities and get diverted by your satnav due to traffic problems etc you might well end up in less-than-savoury neighbourhoods if you're not familiar with the terrain.

[Deleted User]

joaniemerc wrote: »

Thanks for this tip. Just downloaded USA version onto iPad for California trip in two weeks. We have a USA sat nav which we last used 3 years ago. If we found that that wasn't working right, then we were going to buy one from a Walmart, use it then sell it on Ebay when back at home.

The only problem I have found with navfree is that it's impossible to delete your history so after a while the number of routes adds up and it becomes a bit of a drag.
But other than that for free it's brilliant.