Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #25 – January 11, 2021, 04:39:48 pm I use my iPhone (nowadays via Apple CarPlay, which lets me operate it on my Subaru's touchscreen), but there are occasions when I lose the cellular signal, and Apple Maps doesn't handle this gracefully. I remember reading years ago that when on a route, these apps would cache (save to memory) the immediate area around the route, so that loss of signal wouldn't leave you in terra incognita. Maybe Google Maps does this, but in my experience Apple Maps doesn't.I still prefer Apple's mapping to Google's overall (and prefer not to share my data with Google, which is why I do all my web searches with DuckDuckGo), but this is a drawback that a standalone GPS wouldn't have. Fortunately for me, my Subaru has its own GPS mapper, which doesn't need a cell signal--it has a complete US database built on. So on the rare occasions when my phone loses its cellular connection, I can fall back on Subaru's GPS, even though it's not as well designed as Apple's or Google's. But that's not an option for most Lazy Daze owners.In short: a phone or tablet is more convenient, especially if Apple CarPlay or Google's equivalent lets you work with a screen on your dashboard. But a standalone GPS should work all the time, with no worries about cell reception.
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #26 – January 11, 2021, 04:46:45 pm "I do all my web searches with DuckDuckGo"---Ditto. And, Startpage.
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #27 – January 11, 2021, 05:51:34 pm Quote from: Chris Horst - January 11, 2021, 01:45:30 pm7 Best RV GPS For 2021 - Camper ReportFor those of you in the market for a new GPSChrisThe “reviewing” in this article is, to me, a little suspect. Other than the app he listed as the top choice, he doesn’t seem to have actually purchased and used the other devices. His “reviews” seem to be little more than a dissecting of the stats/features list for each one. And while he downgrades others for map update charges, he doesn’t list as a “con” the recurring annual fee for this app — an unknown amount given that the $49 is only an “introductory annual price.” —Jon 1 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #28 – January 11, 2021, 06:42:29 pm Quote from: Jon & Loni - January 11, 2021, 05:51:34 pmThe “reviewing” in this article is, to me, a little suspect. Other than the app he listed as the top choice, he doesn’t seem to have actually purchased and used the other devices. His “reviews” seem to be little more than a dissecting of the stats/features list for each one. And while he downgrades others for map update charges, he doesn’t list as a “con” the recurring annual fee for this app — an unknown amount given that the $49 is only an “introductory annual price.” —JonYep, due diligence should always be done, Jon. And one never knows for sure if the reviewer was paid to create the list. It's just a place to start.Chris 1 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #29 – January 12, 2021, 10:35:05 am Quote from: Chris Horst - January 11, 2021, 06:42:29 pmYep, due diligence should always be done, Jon. And one never knows for sure if the reviewer was paid to create the list. It's just a place to start.ChrisOr as my mother always says "nothing is self validating" or "just because it's written down don't make it true".glen
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #30 – January 13, 2021, 04:51:14 am Quote from: Andy Baird - January 11, 2021, 04:39:48 pmI use my iPhone (nowadays via Apple CarPlay, which lets me operate it on my Subaru's touchscreen), but there are occasions when I lose the cellular signal, and Apple Maps doesn't handle this gracefully. I remember reading years ago that when on a route, these apps would cache (save to memory) the immediate area around the route, so that loss of signal wouldn't leave you in terra incognita. Maybe Google Maps does this, but in my experience Apple Maps doesn't.Andy, we use iphones and their maps app and have lost signal. It won't redraw the map (e.g. zoom in or do a new search) but it shows the one that was on your phone and our blue dot (where we are) moves with us - surprisingly enough. I have had this happen several times when we lost the signal for 15 minutes or so, but I usually mess it up and try to remap our desination and then I get nothing.So if you leave it open and the map is zoomed out enough it is sort of useful.Jane
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #31 – July 23, 2023, 01:56:47 am Anyone have any current advice on Motorhome-savvy GPS navigation apps? Preferably solutions that don’t rely on an internet connection. CoPilot seems to be in flux, working toward refactoring RVs out of their automobile app. Maps.me just orphaned their lifetime map purchasers and now imposes an annual subscription cost, and has never being Motorhome-savvy.
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #32 – July 23, 2023, 02:30:35 am I upgraded my factory stereo to a Kenwood DNR1007XR last summer, it has a huge screen, but more importantly built in GPS, which is increasingly difficult to find.The GPS ain’t the best interface, and it’s knowledge of campgrounds is poor, but it works in the middle of nowhere which is where a lot of my travels will be, like Alaska/Yukon this summer.95% of the time I use Waze via CarPlay, which works very well, though it makes no distinction between RV & car. I have found that if I enter the destination while I have cell coverage, it works just fine even if I lose signal. But you cannot change your destination at all until you have signal again. It must do a decent job at caching the route.
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #33 – July 23, 2023, 03:46:25 am Hi Keith; I upgraded to the Garmin 890 recently and of course the 895 is out now. I'd have to see the 895 in person, but the 890 seems good so far. I don't have much driving experience with it, but I do with my previous Garmin. The 8" screen is good. Easy to see. You can just pull (hard) to detach it from it's magnetic mount. The internal battery will let you run it for hours, say from our rear dinette. When away from the coach you can store it in a hidden location. It has built in campgrounds. A mixed blessing because it comes with advertising. It is much faster than my old Garmin, but still a Garmin. You can set it for a 'bigger vehicle' and you can route it around to avoid grades, low bridges and whatnot. A friend just bought a car because it had built in GPS. She had trouble finding one with it. Because many people use their phones, and it costs too much to update the maps at a dealer. Many GPS for new cars run off of your phone. Maybe not so good for a motorhome not always around cell signals. This Garmin does have built in WiFi, and can have, at extra cost, a rear view camera. Many times these cameras will only work while not moving forward. (i.e. useless for watching a towed vehicle.) RonB 1 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #34 – July 23, 2023, 10:39:40 am I also have a Garmin RV890 mounted in my MB. I’ve been using it for about 2 years now and although it’s not perfect, it’s about as close to perfection that you can get. Like Ron said, it has built in gps and maps so you don’t need an internet connection. The built in campground database is very complete, containing directions to National, State, USFS, BLM, COE, county, municipal and private campgrounds. I have the RV890 paired with my phone and Garmin’s Drive app, so when I do have cell coverage, it will display local weather, nearby rest stops and gas stations as well as notifications, text messages and incoming phone calls. Also, I love the magnetic mount. I built up a holder for the RV890 using a Bolt Adjustable cupholder Mount and a Ram 1†Double Socket Arm. This combination fits great in the cup holder closest to the dash but it covers the heater/ac controls. The magnetic mount allows me to easily pull the RV890 off the cup holder mount, put it in my lap, adjust the heater/ac controls and replace the RV890 without taking my eyes off the road 😊But… like I said, it’s not perfect. A couple of weeks ago I typed in Contonwood Campground, which is part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and it navigated me to the Ranger Headquarters for the park. Now all gps systems will mislead you at sometime or another and this was pretty minor. At least it didn’t send me down a logging road like iPhone Maps has done.- John 2 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #35 – July 23, 2023, 05:16:38 pm I’ve been playing around with different locations to mount the 890 Garmin. Currently I have it mounted on the passenger side windshield, just above the dash. Because the unit can do voice commands, that location seems to work OK even if you’re driving alone. The screen is large enough to make out the map, and the voice command feature allows you to change routing on the fly.
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #36 – August 24, 2023, 02:00:59 pm We typically rely on Google Maps...but we also have a Garmin.......but we also appreciate old school approach of having updated hard copy maps picked up from Auto Club......Bill
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #37 – August 25, 2023, 03:11:40 pm An iPhone and Waze is really all you need. 1 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #38 – August 25, 2023, 07:13:42 pm I'm still using my old Garmin Zumo. I had it on my motorcycle before getting the RV and transferred it over.I haven't upgraded the maps in years and pretty much use it only when out on the bike exploring.If I need more current info I just use my phone.
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #39 – August 25, 2023, 07:34:10 pm Quote from: brewersarcade - August 25, 2023, 03:11:40 pmAn iPhone and Waze is really all you need.As long as you have connectivity.It’s not always available out West.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #40 – August 25, 2023, 08:15:46 pm "As long as you have connectivity."True. But Apple's upcoming iOS 17 (now in public beta testing) reportedly prompts you to download offline map data for your route when it sees that you will be entering an area with poor cellular coverage. Clever! Just how well this feature will work remains to be seen. 🙂 Of course, you can also download maps manually. (Google Maps and others have had that feature for a long time, so Apple is playing catchup here.) 2 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #41 – August 25, 2023, 08:23:36 pm Further to the earlier comment on the Garmin RV 890: “The built in campground database is very complete, containing directions to National, State, USFS, BLM, COE, county, municipal and private campgrounds…”. Garmin recently purchased “The Ultimate Public Campground” software and database. Consequently, Garmin’s public campground directory is indeed very comprehensive. Another feature of the Garmin that I appreciate is the ability to select routings for heavier/larger vehicles. We always travel with a Toad and I find this routing to be consistently superior to smartphone apps. Warren-W 4 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #42 – August 25, 2023, 10:01:03 pm Quote from: Larry W - August 25, 2023, 07:34:10 pmAs long as you have connectivity.It’s not always available out West.Not quite. Waze is useable once you lose internet.I’ve been using Waze via Apple CarPlay the entire trip to Alaska, as I feel it’s the best interface.As long as I enter my destination while I have cell or StarLink (internet), it caches the directions I’ll need for that day as long as I do not attempt any other navigation requests while offline. I’ve been quite surprised how many places I could use it. The days I didn’t were my fault, tried entering a new destination when the cell signal was iffy or turning off StarLink without using Waze first.I have several backups, first is Google Maps, where you can download maps for offline use, interface isn’t quite as nice as Waze, but does the job in CarPlay.When all else fails, I use the built in GPS maps in my fancy Kenwood stereo. The interface is horrid, but it does the job. 1 Likes
Re: Modern GPS recommendation Reply #43 – August 25, 2023, 10:05:30 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - August 25, 2023, 08:15:46 pm"As long as you have connectivity."True. But Apple's upcoming iOS 17 (now in public beta testing) reportedly prompts you to download offline map data for your route when it sees that you will be entering an area with poor cellular coverage. Clever! Just how well this feature will work remains to be seen. 🙂 Of course, you can also download maps manually. (Google Maps and others have had that feature for a long time, so Apple is playing catchup here.)Hope they do a better job at the map download interface than Google Maps.It works, but is clunky. You can only select verification rectangles, which is a pain for getting east/west maps. Also doesn’t show you the other maps you already have when you are selecting. My trail app, Gaia, does it and Google can’t?
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