Why should I buy a Garmin over using my smartphone

[rbentnail]

I was recently in boondocks central Illinois where the smartphone was basically useless for navigation. A fair amount of the time it wouldn't load any maps at all let alone navigate from point A to point B. A gps is a necessity there. I find the same thing within 45 mins of my home, or in the NC/TN mtns or pretty much anywhere outside of a town here in central/western NC.

So my question is this: why not both? I use a very old Garmin nuvi 780 and it keeps going and going. I also mount my phone as it is more useful many times. For music I have an mp3 in my pocket; the battery lasts at least 10 hrs between charges. I do have some music on my nuvi so I can either plug my earbuds into the nuvi directly for tunes and turn instructions or use the nuvi's FM transmitter feature to my FM receiver mp3 for that too when I want to.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I have used my phone, GPS, and paper maps to figure stuff out on more than one trip. Again, I don't think phones are ready to take over full GPS function, but multiple tools make life easier.

 

[Rain Dancer]

What's a smartphone and GPS?

(OK, I have an ancient Garmin I use for work....)

 

[Punkinhead]

For those saying smartphones don't work without data coverage, that's not true. Several navigation apps offer offline maps and even Google Maps does too now. I recently did several days in eastern WV where phone coverage is spotty to nil and didn't have any trouble using Google Maps. Of course, you have to download the maps when you have coverage. I did it using the hotel wifi before taking off the first day.

 

[rbentnail]

For those saying smartphones don't work without data coverage, that's not true. Several navigation apps offer offline maps and even Google Maps does too now. I recently did several days in eastern WV where phone coverage is spotty to nil and didn't have any trouble using Google Maps. Of course, you have to download the maps when you have coverage. I did it using the hotel wifi before taking off the first day.

And that's part of the problem for me- I've stayed in motels where there was no wifi and no cell coverage. In fact, a big swath of eastern WV is a complete dead zone, even in towns. No luck luck there with the phone but the gps never failed to route.

For me, the choice is clear: both. Sometimes the phone is better, sometimes the gps is better. So why does it always seem to have to be a one or the other debate?

 

[HotRodZilla]

For those saying smartphones don't work without data coverage, that's not true. Several navigation apps offer offline maps and even Google Maps does too now. I recently did several days in eastern WV where phone coverage is spotty to nil and didn't have any trouble using Google Maps. Of course, you have to download the maps when you have coverage. I did it using the hotel wifi before taking off the first day.

So, per your post, that IS true. If part way through, you had wanted to change your route or look for something specific, you would not have been able to do it. Why? Because your phone didn't work. Being able to show a dead map does NOT qualify as "working."

You guys that live in huge metropolitan areas and are always close to some place with coverage may be just fine. Those of us that spend lots of time out in the middle of absolutely nowhere have different needs.

 

[N4HHE]

A smartphone is better for dynamic real-time results such as Waze. For everything else a real GPS with internal maps is better. Even better than a smartphone with downloaded maps.

Search online: there is an obscure search string to use in Google Maps to force the app to cache a map region.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

I no longer use a dedicated Gps. I use iPhones in otterboxes. If you do this, make sure to run a gps app like copilot, to ensure you are not dependent upon cell phone service for map continuity. There are times and places where a dedicated Gps is better. But stateside, those times and places are rare, for me. Whether I'm listening to radio, Pandora, or playlists, my nav programs and fobo give me seamless directions/warnings through my n-com's.

 

[Punkinhead]

For those saying smartphones don't work without data coverage, that's not true. Several navigation apps offer offline maps and even Google Maps does too now. I recently did several days in eastern WV where phone coverage is spotty to nil and didn't have any trouble using Google Maps. Of course, you have to download the maps when you have coverage. I did it using the hotel wifi before taking off the first day.

So, per your post, that IS true. If part way through, you had wanted to change your route or look for something specific, you would not have been able to do it. Why? Because your phone didn't work. Being able to show a dead map does NOT qualify as "working."

No, it worked just fine changing the route or searching for POI's while offline. It downloads areas - it doesn't just load routes. I downloaded the eastern half of WV plus a bit of Maryland and western VA and everything worked like normal. I could plan routes, find restaurants, etc, all while offline.

 

[jblanken64]

I tend to use the phone more. Normally run Waze with either a TuneiIn or Pandora station running for music. If I get to an area with no coverage, I can switch over to Navigon or HereMaps where I have the entire US maps loaded. And use stored music playlists. The weather concerns are an issue and I've yet to find a case or mounting box that I'd be totally satisfied with, so in the event of rain I just store the phone. I used to use a standard GPS (some 5" Garmin model, I can't remember which.) I found the maps and directions to be better with the phone, as well as the Bluetooth volume. The GPS never got as loud as the phone, no matter what settings I tweaked. And the phone's screen is very much brighter, which is helpful in bright sunlight.

 

[danh600]

Lots of good answers already.

I am a simple user. I don't take advantage of all the features so here is my list.

1. I can't see my phone in the sun! I have to stop find some shade and hope I can make out what it says.

2. I have to take my glove off to work the phone.

3. ATT has terrible phone service. Get very far out of populated area and no signal.

4. My GPS doesn't make ringing noises and try and let annoying people talk to me while I ride my motorcycle.

 

[Spork]

I have both:

I use the phone for

• City Navigation (mostly traffic and POIs)
• Music and Podcasts
• Phonecalls

I use the GPS For

• Most of the navigation (via basecamp)
• The GPS has the whole USA loaded, so significant detours are not a big deal.
• The GPS holds the signal better.

I tried the offline maps (via google maps) and a trip but, the phone had a hard time holding a GPS signal, once i deviated from the offline map, i was in trouble. I prefer a dedicated GPS unit for navigation for now, but I am toying with purchasing a Nexus 7 (gen 2) and using that as a dedicated GPS unit.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Y'all realize that a significant portion of WV and VA around Staunton is the US Radio Quiet Zone so we can listen to extra-terrestrials and global cell phone traffic.

Of course you did.

 

[rbentnail]

Hud said,


"Y'all realize that a significant portion of WV and VA around Staunton is the US Radio Quiet Zone so we can listen to extra-terrestrials and global cell phone traffic.

Of course you did."



rbentnail said back in post #24,

"In fact, a big swath of eastern WV is a complete dead zone, even in towns. No luck luck there with the phone but the gps never failed to route."

Of course I do

. Even went for a visit a few yrs back. Excellent visitor's center.

 

[Uncle Hud]

I got a short memory, bud.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I got a short memory, bud.

I'm counting on that...

 

[FJR-Pilot]

... I have been using my Samsung G5 but am wondering if the Garmin has any advantages other than being relatively weather proof ...

Like many of you I use both gps & smart phone. My galaxy s5 is waterproof (when not charging) but gps is not. If I do ride in the rain the gps has to go into a dry pocket. But as evidenced here neither device really replaces the other [yet].

For gps I use TomTom and Tyre-to-Travel PC software. I plan routes in Google Maps (easy peasy) and then drag and drop it into Tyre (also easy). There I make any minor adjustments between the two, and then drag and drop into the TomTom gps as an itinerary. Very painless process when compared to basecamp.

Tip for all of you that said you can't use your smartphone on your bike because of gloves ... Anyglove works well for me. Gets so-so reviews on Amazon but it works great on all my gloves - even these big thick Scorpion SG3's. I suspect a lot of the reviewers didn't follow the Anyglove application instructions? It does have to be reapplied periodically.

 

[Richouse]

I have always used my iPhone. It's in a lifeproof case to keep it weather proof. I bought the TomTom gps app and it does NOT need cell coverage to work. It has lifetime updates so it is always up to date. It works ok, it gets me where I need to go and even has a curvy road option. I just wish I could plan a route and upload the route to it, like using base camp. Does anyone know if you can load base camp routes to the iPhone Garmin gps app?

 

[FJR-Pilot]

... I bought the TomTom gps app ... I just wish I could plan a route and upload the route to it, like using base camp. Does anyone know if you can load base camp routes to the iPhone Garmin gps app?

Tyre? Look up 2 posts post ...

 

[Steel_Gin]

I go on one multi day trip a year with my bike and have used my phone for navigation using the Sygic app. (Off line maps) It has gotten the job done but there is a lot of room for improvement. On my last trip I decided that will be the last one using my phone as a GPS on long trips. I had to stop a couple times because another app took priority, it paused the navigation and hitting No or Ok with my gloved hand didn’t work.

I do my best to keep the apps on the phone down to just what I use and not install and uninstall apps whenever I feel like it. I’ve seen many times a poorly written program can really screw-up your phone and cause headaches even after it’s uninstalled. The issue I ran in to while on my long trip, I’ve never seen before or after, one app or another asking for permission to access data on my phone like it was installing for the first time. Maybe it’s poor programming in the navigation app or other programs or both. I did notice the phone ran much hotter than normal when the GPS app was running and a very possible source of my issues. Another thing it did, not every time but a lot, after I hear an instruction to turn Google play would start playing music and wouldn’t pause when the next instruction was announced. Lost count how many times I hit the pause on my Sena to stop the music from playing. Took a while before the light bulb came to disable Google Play to stop that from happening.

Like many here have said our phone will be able to do it all someday but we’re not there yet. My phone GPS works great buzzing across town to someplace I’ve never been before, beyond that it’s not a good multi-hour/multi-day reliable solution, yet. Programming standards need to get much tighter so everything plays nice together. Physically, heat is a big issue as well, which I think may have been more than 50% of the cause of the problems I had. Our phones are doing a lot when it’s sitting there waiting for a text or a call, then drop a processor hungry Nav app on and expect it to do everything else it normally does well is a pretty big order.

After trying it a few times, going economical using a Nav app on my phone to me isn’t worth the aggravation anymore. So this year I have a Garmin on my Xmas list and I have a feeling I’ll be using it a bit more than I expect since I have it and when I’m on four wheels.