- Joined
- Sep 25, 2009
- Messages
- 3,067
- Age
- 69
- Location
- West Des Moines, IA
- Bike
- 2022 Kymco AK 550
- 2024 Miles
- 002868
- STOC #
- 8058
With cell phones and tablets replacing so much computer stuff in addition to replacing land lines, and technology continuing to improve, I've decided to give up on a dedicated purpose designed GPS unit and rely on Google Maps on my cell phone. I can download areas I'll be traveling through locally on my cell phone so if there if I lose cell coverage I can still follow the maps. Most cell phones these days are now waterproof, usually down to 1 meter under water for a half hour, and also include a GPS radio to pick up the satellite signals. Plus, my Nuvi 550 (waterproof and mc glove friendly) is getting old and more difficult to fit all the map updates on the device. I did have a micro SD card for more storage but needed a special program and special process to get all the maps installed. The cost of newer GPS units is more than I want to spend when my cell phone can do the same job just fine. I've already tested this setup for voice turn-by-turn instructions on my last trip to WiSTOC and it worked flawlessly, almost. I say "almost" since when I reach a waypoint (or "stop point" as the Google Maps calls it) I have to tap a prompt to continue navigating. Other than that it works great even though I had my cell phone in the glove box on a charger the entire trip. The only thing I would change about this set up is to use a mount to put my cell phone up front and center on the dash where I can see the map and tap on that prompt. For the trip to WiSTOC I created my route on my computer and shared it as an email to myself, then saved it as a link on my cell phone home screen. I saved a few different routes and rides this way and put all into a "Maps" group on my cell phone home screen. Just open a route and tell it to start navigating. I've already sold the Nuvi and I am preferring to spend the cash on farkles or gas rather than on another dedicated device that duplicates the job my cell phone can do. I am looking at mounting options to work with a RAM ball base that I already have. The X-Grip is currently at the top of the list.
Any others out there have tips for using your cell phone for GPS functions?
Oh, and also along this line of thinking I've replaced my laptop computer (when the disk started going bad) with a Chromebook. I took inventory of how I was using my computer and found that I could do more than 90% of what I do with a Chromebook and end up with more than 4x the battery life and no heat and much lighter (more portable) and much faster than I had before.
Any others out there have tips for using your cell phone for GPS functions?
Oh, and also along this line of thinking I've replaced my laptop computer (when the disk started going bad) with a Chromebook. I took inventory of how I was using my computer and found that I could do more than 90% of what I do with a Chromebook and end up with more than 4x the battery life and no heat and much lighter (more portable) and much faster than I had before.