Replacing dedicated GPS device with Smart Phone

I still use a dedicated Garmin GPS on my bike. Its user friendly on the bike, provides turn by turn navigation and I can easily add a new waypoint on the fly.

My phone would be very hard to use. Its password protected and locks after awhile. Don't know how that would affect interfacing with a running app on the road.

Besides cost, I cannot see any advantage to using the phone for nav. If I want to change my route, I just stop and break out the laptop and re-build the route. Takes about 15 minutes, depending on changes.
 
The password protected iPhone will stay on in GPS map guidance mode if it is plugged into usb power.

My Garmin does not have BT voice guidance as my iPhone does, but it is BT to the iPhone for calls as the Garmin takes voice commands (meant for in a car, not on a motorcycle). Voice guidance over BT to Sena headset is a plus for the smartphone.
 
My use model is different than touring...

I have to do my homework before a ride, mapping out the route I must take to avoid traffic and as many intersections as possible. Once the ride starts, its all real time navigating whilst herding cars through traffic and hazards. I have to know all the streets, intersections, highway lanes/entrances/exits before I start the bike. Occasionally we can deviate on the fly, but we dont want to confuse our herd/train. Which is why I have the Garmin to show me where I am and whats around me (SA - situational awareness) and the iPhone to map the route as I wanted it base off the PC version of Google that is better at plotting a specific custom route, versus just the default route engine choices of fastest or shortest route.
 
Nashcat said:
I’m using Waze, [...]The phone needs to stay on the charger because 30 minutes of use will consume all your battery.

John
Click to expand...

Do you leave the screen turned on? I can go for both of my hour long commutes to/from work and only use 10%, as long as the screen stays off the majority of the time. I just listen for the voice... ... reported ahead. If it's something I am really concerned about I wake the sreen, but I usually know the location of where the officers.. er... I man hazards are on the road soonas I get the voice prompt.
 
This thread is really NOT about those who still use a dedicated GPS unit like Garmin or TomTom. I think most of us already know of the benefits and features of those units.
I don't think here is the place for a sales pitch about how great a dedicated GPS device is or how much better it may be nor how you may never consider primary dependence on something else for navigation.
This thread IS about those who are now, or are considering using a cell phone instead (with Google Maps or one of the other cell phone map apps) and how you are implementing or plan to implement that mode of navigation. Tips and hints and solutions using a CELL PHONE for nav.

I've been using a Garmin GPS unit of one one model or other for the last 14 years until this year. I believe the maturity of Google Maps on current model cell phones has come along enough to do all that I want or need. I am very familiar with the Garmin GPS and what I can do with it. I'm just ready to move on. I do think the dedicated GPS units are better in many ways, but not better in other ways. And a dedicated unit costs more than I want to pay at this time. Especially when I already have in my hand a device that will do everything that I need and more. A cell phone for navigation is not perfect, but neither is a Garmin or other make of GPS unit. That's why some riders have multiple units on their dash or handlebars. I like a simpler setup and prefer to use my cash for gas. I usually try to carry paper maps as my backup plan and I am very capable at referring to paper maps and then travelling a long way from what I recall from those.

One thing I don't recall if I mentioned when using my cell phone turn by turn voice prompts only (since my phone was in the glove box) on my way back from WiSTOC I didn't follow the exact planned route. I only had the starting point and the lunch stop indicated in the route and then deviated from the usual route a few times along the way there. Google Maps Nav mode did great at adjusting to the new route on the fly. Like my Garmin did before Google Maps tried to get me to take roads that would return me to the initially planned route but not for as long as the Garmin did. With the Garmin I could ride an alternate route for as many as 3-5 miles before it would stop telling me to turn around. With Google Maps it would only do that for a half mile or maybe a mile or two at most. Google Maps also did not annoy me with as many constant reminders that a turn was coming up. Maybe half as many prompts about a turn.

With my current phone, a Google Pixel 2XL, I have enough battery to follow voice prompts only for a 6 hour trip with power left for other things after that. Keeping the map on screen still gives me well over 3-4 hours of constant on-screen and voice prompt time before the battery gets down to 30%. I have tested this when a friend gave me a ride to pick up my Burgman 650.
 
I just remembered another feature about Sygic that I haven’t seen in other software. It will warn you of a curve in the route as you approach. Not every curve, but most curves that would have a speed warning sign. I noticed this feature on the roads near my house. My first thought was WHY? I can see the curve. Then I realized that at night, or riding in a dense fog, on a strange road, it just might come in handy. And yes, the curve warning can be turned off.

John
 
Your experiences with google maps on your phone mirror mine. I am sure that a dedicated GPS has its benefits, but to me arent worth the expense. Sure the 'continue' at each waypoint is a bit of a nuisance but I dont really notice now. As you know, if you want to go on a different route than google thinks you should go, then you just have to add extra waypoints. I will usually take a few minutes when I stop for fuel or a bite to program in my next few hours worth of riding. It really takes no longer than that and it dosent require many waypoints, solving the issue that some have with googles limit on waypoints. I traveled to North Carolina in September and I was a little curious if it would work good and I have to say, it worked flawlessly. I Lost my GPS signal 2 or 3 times, but Im not sure that any GPS would not have lost the signal in the heavy tree cover. I got an otterbox case for mine and removed the belt clip from the holster and mounted a ram ball to the back of the holster. I have a ram mount on my handleber riser with an outlet to plug in my phone. Once the phone is clipped in to the holster, I wonder if it would even pop out in a wreck... its in there solidly. I have been running this mount for a couple of years
 
One more thought for those who may be concerned about not keeping the phone on their person, in a pocket, in case of a get off...
Almost all cell phones made in the last 15+ years will make emergency calls even without a cell plan. If you have an old cell phone that you no longer use simply charge it up and put that in your pocket for doing just that. If it's a flip phone or text phone (with slide out keyboard) no SIM card is needed. Many Verizon phones also don't need a SIM card. Don't know about other provider phones. I have a text phone, an old LG Cosmos 3, with the slide out keyboard. I also have a few older smartphones on my shelf from when I replaced with the next model. Any of these can still be charged up and kept in my pocket for emergency calls and my Cosmos 3 phone holds a charge, still, for almost a week. I can also use any of these older smart phones in Airplane mode with just WiFi turned on and get the web or email since I use Gmail, all for free without a data plan.
 
rjs987 said:
This thread IS about those who are now, or are considering using a cell phone instead (with Google Maps or one of the other cell phone map apps) and how you are implementing or plan to implement that mode of navigation. Tips and hints and solutions using a CELL PHONE for nav.
Click to expand...
+1

rjs987 said:
With the Garmin I could ride an alternate route for as many as 3-5 miles before it would stop telling me to turn around. With Google Maps it would only do that for a half mile or maybe a mile or two at most. Google Maps also did not annoy me with as many constant reminders that a turn was coming up.
Click to expand...
This mirrors my experience with Apple Maps' turn-by-turn as well. I get a prompt or two that would take me back to the original route. But it quickly realizes that I've got a new plan and plots a new course. My nüvi would give me endless course correction prompts then 'Recalulating... Recalculating...' prompts. I think some of that is part programming but most of it may be that cellphones may have a lot more CPU these days than consumer GPS devices.

I've done a couple of test rides with my phone in my pocket in familiar areas. But I lose the advantage of lane assist (which is ok in familiar or well marked terrain) and seeing the road around the bend so it lives in a holder on a riser.

I keep a ziploc bag in the bike in case of rain. Truth be told I will not ride in the rain given any choice. BTDT IDLI. But throw a bag over the phone and mount then close the bottom and I'm good or as much as water will let me be. The bag doesn't interfere with touchscreen operation.

The auto-lock feature on most phones can be adjusted or disabled without affecting the requirement of a password. I'm in the habit of pushing the sleep button when immediately done using the phone and often leave the auto-lock on Never. IIRC the phone display stays on even with Auto-Lock enabled in the native Maps and Music apps whether or not externally powered. On any ride I want the phone charged by the bike anyway.
 
I have done several trips using only my phone. Im and Android guy so this perspective is for android (I hear enroute for Iphone is very good also). I use co-pilot, I have been in a love hate relationship with it since the beginning. It works but is not perfect. I find that is the case with everything though. I build all my routes in Motogoloco.com it uses google maps with their interface, you can save and export routes for any GPS known to man so you don't have to worry about the format. The site is great and I have no issue with it, make sure you put a few extra waypoints because your GPS may not calculate the same. It is difficult mapping in the winter because roads that are closed are blocked on google maps and it sends you a long way around to get to an open road, no fault of any mapping system though. When I export to copilot it works great. I download the offline maps so that part works great and I need no data service for it to work perfect. Finding a gas station along the route, a restaurant or hotel is not good with co-pilot. I usually switch to google maps for that. It would be nice to have something all integrated in one. I still want a GPS that I can tell I need gas in the next 50 miles and it will pull up all the stations ALONG my route with the best price highlighted. I'm sure someone will do that in the future. I use a Samsung S7 that is waterproof but what is misleading is once the charging port is wet it will not charge until it dries. I large ziplock bag fixes this problem but it is one more thing you have to bring with you. The last trip I used the ziplock bag 7 of the 9 days, after all the use the bag gets a little hard to see through. With the screen full bright & a full charge will not last much past an hour or so with bluetooth, data and screen time. I have never had an issue but it has frightened me several times. I also am nervous knowing my only source of communication is my map also, I would like to have separate systems since I don't really need my phone much while travelling. I am seriously considering a dedicated Garmin for mapping and music streaming of MP3. phone will only be a phone and backup of GPS if needed. I have had the charging on the phone quit in extreme heat, again I have never been without but it does get scary in the middle of nowhere and your phone is overheating and wont charge.

My issue with google maps is the limited number of waypoints since I like to route my trip prior to leaving. I just don't want to mess with that many google maps.
Waze is great for riding in populated areas as it will give you the most accurate traffic updates, road hazards and police activity but I find it pretty much useless for planing a long trip.
 
Last edited:
The fact is there is not much a GPS unit can do that a smartphone can’t do. To me it’s about the interface and which ones safer to use. The less looking down at screens and pushing buttons the better. It’s hard if not impossible to pair more than one device to my SENA so every time it will be the phone. I thought about selling my Garmin but it was already there hardwired in so I will leave it be unless and until (a glove friendly) car play becomes available. I have one in my car and love the interface, much safer with the phone plugged into it so you never need to look at it.
 
Last edited:
Getting a Sena and pairing to my phone was one of the best things I ever did. Easy peasy. It greatly reduced looking at the display not to mention the convenience factors.

I haven't used Waze though it's installed. I'll have to give it a try. After verifying something in Maps (in the comfort of home) I left it on and moved to something else. Then I got an alert to a hazard and a course correction. I didn't know this was a feature. That was a nice surprise.
 
ST Gui said:
...After verifying something in Maps (in the comfort of home) I left it on and moved to something else. Then I got an alert to a hazard and a course correction. I didn't know this was a feature. That was a nice surprise.
Click to expand...

My truck at work has an android tablet running google maps and I get reroute suggestions, because of an accident or other slowdown a couple of times a week. It works really slick
 
ST Gui said:
The GPS chip in the phone is the same as the GPS chip in— your GPS. They're the same thing in principle.

The difference is your GPS comes with maps installed. The iPhone comes with a Maps app that needs cell towers for continuous guidance. However map apps can be had that work 'offline' such as Google Maps. That is they reside on the phone just like your Zumo and don't need cell towers to feed them data.

Either is not better than the other for everybody. As a phone is more important to me than a dedicated GPS and I don't need one all that much my phone will do just fine.
Click to expand...
My comment.. I use an older phone as my GPS device. We upgrade often these days and an old phone still works as GPS eve if it you are not paying for the cell phone signal. The GPS signal and the wifi work fine. In that case an old phone can be a 'dedicated' gps device.
 
For me, it's all about creating the route. I need something that can add waypoints easily. Using the computer and Google maps, I can easily create a custom route, send it to my phone, and also save it in case I loose the signal. As far as waterproofing, a plastic bag over the phone works, or you can purchase a fitted waterproof clear cover.
 
My current phone happens to already be waterproof down to 1 meter depth for a half hour at least (IP67) so I won't need added water protection in any kind of weather. Many other phones may need added water proofing assistance. This is one of the details that prevented me from using my phone in the past for routing and navigating. I've already used my phone on a trip for turn by turn instructions. It uses the regular phone BT connection to "talk" to me when giving directions. On that trip I put my phone in the glove box where I have a 12v socket and phone charger plug and just listened to the navigation. I haven't yet installed a mount so I can locate the phone where I can see it but that should be happening this spring. My gloves have that special area on the index finger and thumb to work with a smartphone screen so I'll be all set once that is set up.
 
I use Navigator (Map factor) on android IP 67 cell phone.
No need data connection, all the maps I use already downloaded before I need them (I mean I have downloaded the maps of the area I am used to go, then the more space you have the more areas you can download ).
You can download free open source maps (updates very frequent and reliable if those who put the informations are serious) or pay and use Tomtom maps
You can set yourself precisely the profile of navigation you want (fast, discovery, no toll roads,etc...)
you can prepare on your computer your road with the soft you are used, export it under GPX format on any repository of your phone then once on your phone "click" on your folder and open it with mapfactor then ask navigate and it will make the route with all the turning points you have chosen.
Of course you can make your route directly on the phone but not very convenient due to the size of the screen and the size of my fingers.
As far as I know traffic information possible if you pay for but I have not subscribed to this service.
unconvenient: If you don't go threw a turning point who had pointed during your choice of route you can unselect it going threw "traject info" and uncheck this point, otherwise the system will maintain directions and intructions so that you go threw this point.
 
I use a cheap x mount from ebay with a built-in 2amp USB socket for charging. I also use TomTom Go app on the phone, as it has a bike route plan option (scenic mode) It's around $20 a year for unlimited miles, but you can try it for 50miles free each month,

I did use Sygic for ages as I found this an awesome app, but switched to TT when I got enough credit via google rewards to pay for it, and because it had the scenic route plan mode.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom