Hey guys, I'm completely clueless about GPS' as I've never looked into buying one and none of my friends have one.
How does the GPS work if I don't need to pay anything to use it? Don't I need to pay to use it like I do when I use my mobile phone to make calls?
I want a GPS dedicated device. I just read that I can use my Android smartphone as a GPS, but I want to buy a GPS just in case my smartphone stops working…
I'd REALLY appreciate any help!
What's the advantage of using a smartphone versus using a GPS-Dedicated device?
Cheap. It's a phone too. Live updating maps if you have a sim.
just in case my smartphone stops working
By buying a Lumia phone when it's on sale, you have a second smartphone for this situation.
Hi ThePensioner
a GPS uses a Global Positioning Satellite to telegraph its position (very accurately) to satellites in the sky, and the software then gives you directions with where you want to go
it does not need any internet or data or anything like that, it is truly stand alone. it will work in areas where you have no mobile reception.
Occasionally the GPS manufacturer will update the maps software (because of our ever changing roads) and they may try to charge you if you want to upgrade the maps.
however many GPS units are sold with free lifetime map upgrades.
They are very easy to use, when you turn them on it will all make sense what you need to do to get it to direct you to your location.
They can be bought from ~$50 up to many thousands, I use a $50 one and it does the job fine, i much prefer it to using my smartphone!
also, GPS's can have live traffic antennas inside that will tell you if their is traffic ahead, and suggest an alternate route !!
Any other questions let me know
a GPS uses a Global Positioning Satellite to telegraph its position (very accurately) to satellites in the sky, and the software then gives you directions with where you want to go
Actually it does not SEND anything to the satellites. It listens to numerous fixed objects in the sky (geostationary orbit satellites) and triangulates its position on the ground.
You aren't paying for this service as it was paid for by the US military and later released to the general public to use worldwide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System
Thanks so much for your replies!
I don't mind spending a bit extra cash on a GPS because it's such an important device. What are some recommended models?
I don't like the idea of paying for upgraded maps…
go to Dick Smith and look at either Tom Tom or Garmin. you dont need a huge screen.
Look for a model that offers free updates.
we use a Tom Tom, maps are years out of date but it still works fine - most roads dont change. dont bother about a high end expensive model.
And ask dick smith staff how to use it (parents had problems with theirs as they didnt know how to use it, they went to the store they bought it from and the staff member showed them how easy it was.
more expensive ones may have live traffic, I dont need that, no need to pay for extras.
By spending more on a GPS would I be getting better reliability? What better features would I be getting?
I'm still not sure of the advantage of using a smartphone over a GPS-Dedicated device.
The advantage of using a smartphone is they can be a hell of a lot cheaper and they are a phone, camera etc etc.
The nokia lumia was recently selling for $19, maps are free.
Additionally, you are not locked into one version of the GPS operating system. Smartphones have dozens of free and paid flavours to choose from. Some keep track of traffic/speed camera sites. Phones can also work out where you are from triangulating your position from phone towers and wifi access points. This can be useful in locations where the view of the sky is obscured, e.g. in the city when surrounded by skyscrapers.
To clarify, you can do this with a cheap smartphone without having to use it as a phone — not paying for a SIM and phone plan.
Additionally, you are not locked into one version of the GPS operating system.
And thats a big plus.
I would hate to buy a dedicated GPS and find that thee and me did not get along, what a waste of money that would be.
I have tried several versions of GPS on my phone before deciding on https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skobbler.f…
Turn by turn voice Nav and it cost nothing
Just buy a cheap one, a dearer one will most likely have a bunch of features you will never use. I've had a couple of TomToms and find them good (never had any other brand so haven't got anything to comare with). The TomTom Via 225 looks good for around $126 (Dick Smith and Good Guys) and has free lifetime map upgrades.
Be warned most shops that sell them generally have staff that no nothing of the features of the units so do the research yourself before you go to a shop (You will probably find a cheaper price online anyway). When I went to buy mine I first went to Harvey Norman and was ignored for 15 mins by disinterested sales staff then when I finally dragged one away from his scintillating conversation with another work colleague he couldn't tell me any features about the various GPS units so I went to Dick Smith and luckily found a very competent and knowledgeable young sales guy who spent 15 mins going through the various features and options for me. Turns out they were cheaper than HN on the unit I ended up buying anyway!
A dedicated GPS for the car is much better than a mobile phone GPS. When you are not driving, the mobile phone GPS can be useful. In Australia, TomTom usually does better than Garmin in the reviews. You could look at Choice Magazine for free at your local library. There are TomTom models that offer free lifetime map updates, and this represents a big saving. Regardless of what you buy, do not leave it in the car, put in a bag and take it with you when you leave the car. Heat kills a GPS, and it can become very hot inside a parked car in the sun, even in wintertime.
"A dedicated GPS for the car is much better than a mobile phone GPS"
Why? List reasons please.
You already gave a few reasons why they are not.
It is more than a matter of personal taste, it is a practical thing. Look at the Choice Magazine reviews, and also consider that the dedicated GPS usually has a decent screen, voice directions, and is easier to see when mounted properly. I have an older TomTom and an aging android phone with Garmin and TomTom GPS maps on my phone, as well. I have a choice, and believe that my choice is sensible when driving. There is no contest in real life, and Choice backs me up on this. If I am going to be in a strange area, I will update the GPS before leaving home. I like google maps as well, but the phone has to have a data connection, and you might find this hard to believe but there are mobile phone black spots. I have a friend who lives at Hill End NSW. Also, most smart phones are not cheap. ThePensioner who started this forum also has an android phone and he wants information about dedicated GPS items. My TomTom is an older model, he can see current models at a number of shops and read the Choice magazine reviews as well. Before the flames start, I am aware that the phone GPS works off line as well, as I have one. The heat that can kill a GPS in a car can also damage a mobile phone. This cannot be taken as a suggestion that phones are a better choice. If you do not believe that heat would kill a mobile phone, try leaving your phone in a parked car on the dashboard in the sun. I cannot see that I listed any reasons that mobile phone devices are better than dedicated GPS devices when driving. Please list the reasons I gave if I am wrong about this.
The reason the phone is better better you'd take your phone with you.
Taking a dedicated GPS with you to stop it melting is a PITA , one to many devices.
Why would I care about mobile black spots? I don't have or need data connected to use the maps or GPS.
Smart phones are cheap, as little as $19
A $5 bracket from ebay ensures my phone is positioned in an easily viewed spot.
You take your phone with you also to avoid heat damage if left on the dashboard. I have an aging Samsung Galaxy S3 phone, and I doubt that any $19 phone can be considered to be a smart phone, but if you believe that, fine. You stated that I gave a few reasons. What were they? Try telling anyone with a Samsung Galaxy S 6 or an iPhone 6 that your $19 phone is also a smart phone.
"You take your phone with you also to avoid heat damage if left on the dashboard."
Yes, that is what I said, so 1 device in my pocket Vs your 2
"You stated that I gave a few reasons"
That was one, I only need carry on device Vs your 2
The other is the cost, you buy a separate device when reality is that your phone does the same job, if you are smart enough to use its features
"Try telling anyone with a Samsung Galaxy S 6 or an iPhone 6 that your $19 phone is also a smart phone."
I don't consider anyone who pays near $1000 for a phone, especially if they don't know what a smartphone is or use the GPS mapping function smart so I doubt they could be convinced of much at all.
Will google convince you that a $19 phone is smart?
"smartphone
noun
noun: smart-phone
a mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a computer, typically having a touchscreen interface, Internet access, and an operating system capable of running downloaded apps."
Yep the $19 Lumia ticked all those boxes.
I've been involved in geocaching for many years which requires a GPS…however I've always managed to get away without buying a dedicated GPS and using PDA's, tablets and smartphones with inbuilt GPS. So a dedicated GPS that does nothing else than tell you where to go seems a bit of a waste and just one more gadget. The only worry about running out of battery is not an issue in a car as you can just charge it off the cigarette lighter socket (with the appropriate adaptor).
I love google maps as it's continually evolving, has live traffic updates, gives me clear route choices with timings based on current traffic and doesn't chew too much data. But if you are really worried…pack an old fashioned map, or stop and ask for directions.
We bought a 7' GPS from a seller on aliexpress.
HD 7 inch GPS navigation with 800MHZ Wince 6.0 Bluetooth+ AV-IN+256MB DDR3+8GB flashroom, included a sun shade as well for $67.50 US dollars
We have had this for about 3 months now, its brilliant.
We keep it on in the car, as it alerts to school crossing area's, red light camera's.l
I can't recommend this any higher, brilliant for the price. One gets to choose what country you want downloaded on to it, and if you contact them yearly, they will send you the new version of maps. It runs with the Primo Igo maps.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/HD-7-inch-GPS-navigation-with…
Very nice to deal with. I am going to India in the next year or so, and they said they will give me the india map for nothing. We want to use it there for the pedestran option
you will see my review on the site as well
I am very impressed with the effort and constructive details provided by all posters. A + to everyone. Just to clarify please, if using a smart phone, does it use data? Or do you just switch on the app and away you go?? Sorry if I am a bit thick on these things.
Yes; they use data when using or updating but only minimal mbs. I have a plan that includes about 1GB a month but I have never exceeded that although I use frequently for emails etc. (Not a Facebook victim) I have a Samsung Galaxy SIII (following a SII). My mobiles came with 2 different GPS apps plus Google maps loaded already. They often update and I use either depending on how I feel at the time; use very minimal mbs. Simply comes down to personal preference; they have similar features and very easy to use. I often use them. On the very odd occasion i have found they can make small errors, certainly not big ones. One thing that annoys me with the voice guides is the propensity to make annoying instructions like "turn off at the third exit" when approaching a roundabout, in lieu of "make a right turn." I would be sore to have a mobile phone without a GPS these days and I see no point in buying a separate GPS unit. These units do not appear to have anything better. If you own an ipad downloading the Tom Tom app or similar may be preferable for larger visual maps, is yet another alternative. That is what I was considering before I purchased these phones years ago, but now I simply cannot justify the expense.
With the Lumia and nokia maps you can download all maps while connected to wifi and there is no need for a data connection while travelling. I think they can still use data if you want to get real-time traffic updates but this should be configurable. Not all Navigation software can do this.
I use it and it's adequate. I had a dedicated GPS while oversea's which had a lane guidance and landmark features which I found invaluable.
You have highlighted another advantage of Windows Phone GPS app over the dedicated device: one can download offline maps and use it overseas while dedicated GPS only provided Australian map, overseas map have to be purchased if needed.
20% off GPS on JBHIFi atm .
i picked up tomtom via 280 just today https://www.jbhifi.com.au/gps-car-audio/tomtom/tomtom-via-28…
not the cheapest but i dont want to spend more than that and it's pretty good review . Cheers
Having done research on the GPS for nights together, I would recommend using a GARMIN over anything. The GARMIN NUVI65LMT comes good when on offer at dicksmith. I picked it for just above A$140 (normally A$229). I also have a NAVMAN EZY600LMT which I don't use and is still boxed new.
Better to go with GARMIN to avoid any future regrets. I have 2xNAVMAN & 1x GARMIN but what I prefer using is the GARMIN.
Having said that I'm used to using the NOKIA Communicator for GPS navigation which is lifetime free maps but as I mentioned it giving company to my NAVMAN EZY60LMT in office desk. Will be giving it back t my brother sometime.
Thanks so much for your replies!
Could someone PLEASE help me with the positives and negatives of buying a GPS-dedicated-device over buying a smartphone? How much would the cheapest GPS-ready-smartphone be?
I'm looking at this dedicated unit now as it has lifetime maps: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/gps-car-audio/tomtom/tomtom-via-28…
Is it really true that GPS-dedicated-devices give a more accurate location and have a stronger 'GPS signal' than smartphones?
I cannot prove this to the satisfaction of the smart phone only set, but I would be very surprised if this is not true. The dedicated GPS can even show a map of the satellites above your position, certainly mine can on one of the screens available. As confusedhuh states below, the GPS app on a mobile phone can make the phone hot, also the position on the dashboard could contribute to this, and it chews up mobile phone battery like nothing else does. Sure you can charge your phone using the adapter for the car, but you shorten the life of the battery. Certainly go for a model that offers lifetime map updates. Garmin is the king in the US reviews, but TomTom wins hands down here. The model you are looking at is probably a good choice.
"The dedicated GPS can even show a map of the satellites above your position, certainly mine can on one of the screens available"
Geez mate, so can a smart phone with a simple free app such as this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chartcross…
I also get glonass sats as well as GPS sats , so twice as many as most dedicated GPS
It is as accurate as my hand held Garmin
It is as accurate as my full blown chart plotter in my boat
I determine accuracy by using the app above and checking Lat. Lon. numbers
Getting a dedicated GPS or using a phone based one is a personal choice I believe. Accuracy is always up for debate.
Personally, I had the TomTom app on my phone for a few months and liked it however my phone used to get really hot (iPhone 5S) and when going on long journeys such as 3 or 4 hours with the hot Sydney weather it would make the phone really hot. Also, at times my wife would want to take it (while we are driving) to reply to a txt or change music and it would take off the navigation screen. Hence I decided to get a dedicated GPS device.
I got this one : https://www.jbhifi.com.au/gps-car-audio/tomtom/tomtom-go50-g…
Its got all the normal bells and whistles i.e. free maps, lane assist etc and you dont have to pay for anything else to use it - the only thing is speed/red light cameras (cost you about 40 bucks a year) if that's a concern.From my experience its pretty accurate.
Personally I like to keep a dedicated GPS unit.
Hey guys, I was about to buy my first GPS unit, but I was told in another thread that I can buy a cheap smartphone that can function as a GPS in my car. Buying a 2nd smartphone sounds great because it means I'll have a backup smartphone in case my current smartphone stops working when I'm out and away from civilisation.
I was told Lumia are good, however, I've got no idea which smartphone to buy that'll function as a GPS unit… Why is Lumia so highly recommended?
What smartphone models are recommended?
I'd really appreciate any help!
I'm still trying to find the downside of using a smartphone as a GPS instead of a dedicated GPS unit like this: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/gps-car-audio/tomtom/tomtom-go50-g…
if you just need basic maybe phones are ok (but ios dont give you voice guidance, i think?) if you want full feature you can buy tomtom apps but cost like $50
dedicated has more features ie speed camera, parking spaces, etc.
also can tell you to change lines on motorways ahead of exits.
bigger screen
cheaper so you are not afraid to throw it around
etc etc
I've got no idea which smartphone to buy that'll function as a GPS unit… Why is Lumia so highly recommended?
Is it? Some people do like HERE maps better than Google Maps, but it's also available on android and iOS now.
Any phone with GPS function will be fine and that can have Google/Here Maps installed.
don't forget gmaps needs data.
not sure about Here maps
here maps is offline, and does turn by turn navigation.
However, i only tried it walking in EU cities, not in a car.
Nokia's here maps are available offline, so you dont even need a sim card for it to work…
I use this FREE app on my $30 craptastic samsung phone and on my much better tablet https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skobbler.f…
I have used it issue free for several years, I have tried others but revert back to this.
It does turn by turn talking navigation
It tells you when speed cameras are coming up and turns the screen red and goes back to normal when past it.
It gives speed warnings when over a preset limit
It even has the facility to bring up attractions and restaurants based on location using 4 square and TA, which I have used with good results
It is FREE to install and first country is FREE
The world costs something silly like $7
I have used it in Australia and even used it in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam on my own driving adventures and with Taxis.
The cab drivers there were very impressed with it as was I as there was no mistake as to where places are.
Wow, thanks so much for your replies!
Davros, so you don't know of any downsides of using a smartphone as a GPS instead of a GPS-dedicated device like this one: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/gps-car-audio/tomtom/tomtom-go50-g…
Replied to your PM but no, I see no reason for an additional device doing essentially the same thing.
The benefit of a dedicated GPS is a better GPS antenna, which will give you better/faster "fixes" in difficult signal areas.
For a car unit, for city navigation, I'm not sure the advantages are worth it though.
If anything it'll be the opposite
GPS satellites do not hover over the cities, they are everywhere.
In country areas with clear sky (no tall buildings or concrete) you will get a better fix than in the city where tall buildings bridges, tunnels can affect your fix.
Saying that, I have never had any issues with my $30 craptastic or my better quality tablet.
At worst you will lose a fix for a second or 2 and then it pick it straight back up again.
In your other post you already decided what you want to do. Why don't you just do it?
I want a GPS dedicated device. I just read that I can use my Android smartphone as a GPS, but I want to buy a GPS just in case my smartphone stops working…
You already have a phone. Have you installed one of the many FREE GPS options and at least tried it out? Then you can make an informed decision.
You seem to be going around in circles asking the same questions and starting new threads and posts about the same topic. I'm not sure what other help and opinions we can offer you. It seems you want someone else to make the decision for you.
Thanks SO much for your help!
Buying a 2nd smartphone seems like the best way to go as it'll give me a backup phone in case my main smartphone stops working.
Also, even if I lose reception on my smartphone it's not possible for the GPS to go offline because it uses a different system than the phone satellite, right?
Also, even if I lose reception on my smartphone it's not possible for the GPS to go offline because it uses a different system than the phone satellite, right?
They both use the same satellite system. The advantage the phone has is it can also calculate where it is by using the inbuilt wifi radio and triangulating its position from wifi access points, and using the inbuilt telephone radio can triangulate its position from mobile phone towers. So if you are in the city in a basement, you definitely wouldn't be able to see the satellites in space, but you may have reception to the ground based radio sites. This is free. Mobile phones are constantly banging away at the phone towers to let it know where it is so it can switch to the closest/strongest tower. This doesn't use or require a data plan. A dedicated GPS wouldn't normally have wifi and mobile phone coverage.
The only other thing to consider is that if your main phone stops working, you'll have to swap the SIM over too.
Thanks so much!
I'm not clear on how the phone can calculate where it is by using the inbuilt Wi-Fi radio if I've disabled the Wi-Fi on the phone or if I don't have mobile internet?
Turn ON the wifi radio. You don't have to "connect" to anything. It will still send out signals and receive signals from all wifi hotspots and access points in range. They are constantly talking amongst themselves to work out what is in the area, the signal strength etc. This is just overhead in "getting a signal". There is no data or cost involved in this. You know when you look at your wifi settings and it gives you a list of all the potential access points in your area to connect to, even your neighbours and the locked ones? This is the process that's going on and being reported back to your phone. See the signal strength bars? Simplified, this is how it can work out how far away it is from that base station. As you move, it can guess the direction it is coming from. Monitor 3 or 4 or more and you can get a fairly reliable picture. This is triangulation. It is like a submarine pinging, bats in a cave, or you shouting hello at a canyon: you send out a "message" and wait for it to bounce back. How long it takes and how many times it echoes can tell you a lot of information.
Of course if wifi is switched off, it won't work, and is no better than a GPS that doesn't have wifi.
The same process happens with phone towers. It's probably a bit more reliable because phone towers don't have a habit of getting up and moving around. You can shift an access point or a router/modem quite easily, or have a pocket wifi or share data from your phone etc. Again, your phone talking to the phone towers is happening all the time, many times a second. No cost. No data. No mobile internet or SIM or phone plan required. In Australia, EVERY mobile phone is required to be able to make "000" calls for free at any time. As such, it needs to know at all times which tower is the closest one with the best signal, and have a secondary fallback tower etc… Because it's doing all this in the background anyway, you just have to monitor it and do your calculations on this information which is normally just junk and discarded as soon as it is received. Pretty clever, eh?
Speaking of junk and discarded overhead, you know SMS, those little text messages that the telcos charge you real money for? They are piggybacking these "junk" transmissions in some unused space. So they should really be free, or really really inexpensive.
Think of all these ground-based phone towers and wifi access points and hotspots as extra fixed terrestrial "satellites" on the ground as opposed to those satellites in the sky. Instead of maybe half a dozen fixed points to work out your position, you now have a couple of dozen or more, giving you a much more accurate basis to determine your location. In theory you only need 3 points to work it out your exact location, but the more the merrier.
I just tried using the app 'HERE' and it seems to work great.
Is there another map app other than 'HERE' people can recommend so that I've got a backup map app to use?
Thanks so much for all of your help!
I've been browsing OzBargain and I just saw this. Could someone PLEASE tell me if this would be good for me: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/205109
It'll be fine.
Note in the comments of that deal that the Nokia 532 is cheaper at Woolies (although locked to Telstra)
and this is cheaper again.
http://www.dicksmith.com.au/prepaid-mobile-phones/optus-noki…
although the screen is apparently not as good which is probably important for a GPS.
This is the cheapest, if you can find one
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/205033
Wow, thanks so much for your help!
I'm looking at your Lumia 530 Dicksmith and I don't understand how they can sell it for so cheap? It's got a quad core CPU in it…
Run out models.
Literally costs more in storage than the stock is worth, so best to clear stock at any price than hold it trying to move old-outdated units at full price.
Is there a difference in the GPS features of different smartphone models or are they all the same?
For example, I just read this on the Microsoft page and I'm wondering if all smartphones offer these features:
"GPS and navigation6
Location technologies: A-GLONASS, A-GPS, Cellular and Wi-Fi network positioning
Maps: Free maps, Offline maps, Online and offline favourites, Real-time traffic information
Drive: Favorite destinations, Free global voice guided turn-by-turn drive navigation, Live traffic information"
The "location technologies" is all you care about.
That's the physical hardware that is in the phone.
The software side is the same no matter which phone you buy.
Having both GLONASS (the Russian version of GPS) and GPS (The US version) is probably as good as you'll get..
What additional GPS features do I get by buying a higher model smartphone? Sorry for so many questions…. You've been SOOO helpful. Thank you!
Not really much.
Faster load time for the app, probably a better quality/size screen.
GPS accuracy will be the same/similar.
"Here" maps application only runs on Android 4.1 and higher, so that cuts out the Huawei linked above unless you can/know someone who can flash a custom ROM.
Here maps is a Nokia app, so it will work (probably comes installed) on any of the Nokia handsets.
The cheap option would be to buy a Nokia Lumia phone when it goes on those ridiculously cheap sales and use that as a GPS with Nokia Maps (can be downloaded for offline use).