Sat Nav through Iphone in USA

maggiesoup

I have Google maps built into my iPhone 5 here in the UK. We're off toEast Coast of USA next month and I wondered if I could buy an app and use my iPhone as the sat nav?

The car hire people in USA want about $20 a day for hiring their sat nav which seems a little bit of a rip off as we're hiring for about 10 days and could probably buy one for that but not planning to return so would be a waste of money.

I'm not very tec savvy so not sure if I need to have the equivalent of 3 or 4 G as we have here too?

Thanks.

glentoran99

Yes you can buy an app and you don't need to use 3G etc to use it, You wont be able to use google maps without using data but there are sat nav apps available that store the maps locally on the phone, You can get world wide maps on a sat nav so you don't need to return to the USA to benefit from buying one, Ive worldwide maps on my TOM TOM

Moto2

Have a look at 'Here maps'

Download the required maps over wifi before you go

bagand96

As you say, you'd need a data connection (3G or 4G) to use Google Maps (or any maps app that uses the internet to download maps in real time). Depending on your phone contract this may be very expensive abroad.

You want an app that downloads the maps and saves them on your device therefore not needing data.

I use CoPilot Premium which is an excellent fully featured satnav just as good as any Tomtom or Garmin. The USA maps are £3.99 which is an absolute steal. It also has the option to download maps by state therefore saving space on your phone's memory. Download the app and the maps on WiFi before you go and you're all set.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/copilot-premium-usa-offline/id441125930?mt=8

pollypenny

Download the Ulmon Pro app and then down load maps for areas through which you will be travelling.

All free. Saved us getting lost in New Jersey a few times.

Kernow666

buy a cheap sat-nav off ebay ?

bagand96

Kernow666 wrote: »

buy a cheap sat-nav off ebay ?

Why when the user already has more than sufficient hardware? There's some good free options from users here. Even my suggestion for CoPilot which needs paying for is £3.99.... hard to imagine getting a USA Satnav for £3.99 on eBay....

C_Mababejive

I would suggest that instead you use a tomtom with the USA maps on it..more accurate and responsive,less flaky.

codo

We are just back from a trip to California. We bought USA maps for our Tom Tom before we left and it caused us problems. On a number of occasions it would give directions and as you took the turn it specified it started to replan the route and we were driving blind until it decided it knew where to go.
I had google maps on my iphone and fortunately had a 3 sim with all you can eat data so I started using that in tandem with the sat nav and found the google maps more reliable but you need to make sure you can charge your phone as you use it as it eats battery. Our hire car had a number of usb ports which would connect the phone to the car radio system but didnt charge it. Fortunately I had a car charger for the phone which allowed us to used it all the time.