offline cellphone navigation app

[KennethW]

I would like to know it there is a good android cellphone mapping app that works without data. One that you would put a map of the US of your micro-memory card.
Google maps require data or a wifi connection and if you have a small data plan it can use it up fast on a road trip across the great country.

[GuitarPhotog]

I didn't find one, so I bought a dedicated GPS navigation system for my truck for my last trailer adventure (4400 miles through the Canadian Rockies).

I'm not sure that a single 32 GB card has room for a decent-sized database with all the map data we've come to expect.

Good luck with your search, and please let us know how effective it was, i.e., sufficient detail, up-to-date maps, etc.

<Chas>

[jss06]

Google maps allows you to download offline data in certain areas. I used it when I was in Vienna Austria to get around.

But I also have a small handheld Garmin I use most of the time.

[Graniterich]

Take a look at navfree

[Dale M.]

Most cell phones use AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System - cell tower oriented) as apposed to true GPS which is total satellite dependent and not dependent on cell phone network... To have a non wifi or cell "assisted" GPS service you need dedicated unit the relies on satellite GPS... Typical are automotive dash mount units or handheld (popular with trekking and geocaching and fishing and hunting)... Garmin and Magellan and several others make true GPS (sattelite GPS) units, you need to dig a little deeper into the cell phone technology and to see if your unit has AGPS (probably yes) or true GPS (probably not).... IF not true GPS you will need to get independent GPS unit (satellite) for your needs...

A option you may want to consider is a "tabet" with true GPS... I have Samsung 10 inch (Android) and although it only has wifi, it can store maps in main memory or SD card... Has advantage of bigger screen to see more details, can read books, play games, has camera, plays music and many other things... Disadvantage may be size for trekking (small messenger bag helps here) ..... If I need need update on anything, I use free "wifi hotspots" when I am in town to get any "data" updates I need... A lot of fast food places (Minky D, In/Out Burger, Taco Bell, Starbucks) and large department stores (Macy or Best Buy) all have free wifi access.... Pull into any big mall and you may get as many as 25 wifi accesses, but not all are "free" (secured - password protected assess)....

Dale

[pohukai]

I hear ya! Me, too.

Since I nearly always know where I'm going, I take screen shots of google maps and then sync the images to my phone... But, I haven't used any of these yet and not 100% they do not require a data plan. I, too, have been investigating.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Android

[roland.woldt]

GPS navigation by skobbler. It not free but you get one county ( the whole US) with the initial purchase.

[roland.woldt]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... apng&hl=en

[MtnDon]

GPS navigation by skobbler. It not free but you get one county ( the whole US) with the initial purchase.

No android unless I'm missing something

[MtnDon]

one for android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... .navigator

have not tried it myself yet

... and more....
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... sygic.aura

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... ponia.bor3

[bdosborn]

Garmin has an android app ( Viago), that is supposed to work off line. It costs $1.99 for the app and regional maps are $20. I haven't tried any of the offline features as I'm too cheap to spring for the $20. The app itself isn't very intuitive...

Bruce

PS The App lets you search for restaurants and such. However, that feature is useless as it only displays GPS coordinates rather than the name or rating.

PPS Backcountry Navigator seems to be fairly popular with the Expedition Trailer crowd.

PPA. Aaack! Its a Battery hog! I just shut it down, I'll probably uninstall it.

[MtnDon]

Does anyone know for sure if the GPS in a top line smartphone has accuracy as good as that in something like a top line Garmin GPS?

Or should I exercise Google?

[tony.latham]

Does anyone know for sure if the GPS in a top line smartphone has accuracy as good as that in something like a top line Garmin GPS?

Or should I exercise Google?

Don:

I teach a class for law enforcement titled "GPS for Evidentiary Use."

Here's my answer to your question: No, cell phones are not as accurate. Top of the line trail GPSs are WAAS enabled. WAAS is an FAA owned component of the GPS system. It fixes GPS signals that deflect a bit (a few nano seconds) due to atmospheric conditions. A WAAS enabled hand-held GPS receiver is good for under 3 meter accuracy. It's been my testing, that they are much better than 3 meters. Without WAAS, any GPS-chipped device should be capable of 15 meter accuracy greater than 90% of the time.

Here's a picture of a Garmin GPS on a known spot on the earth that USGS believes they know the location of within .5 cm of where it's at in relation to the center of the earth. (are they kidding?) As you can see, my little magic box thought it was still 2' away.


I know of no cell phones that are WAAS enabled. (They have to pick up the signal from one of three geostationary sats that broadcast the correction and another chip in the device makes the change). Certainly my iPhone 4 doesn't have WAAS. But it's accurate enough (for what I use it for). Using Google Earth it'll show me which door of the house I exit. For that matter, I don't believe Garmin automotive GPS's are WAAS enabled. The one I have has software that always wants to put me on the road that its onboard map program is using, even if I'm 50 meters off of it. My iPhone (and my Garmin Nuvi) are good enough for what I use them for.

Amazing devices.


T

[MtnDon]

Thanks... that is what I suspected. BTW, that's my Garmin!!

Speaking of USGS and survey marker positions... did you hear about the big error in the placement of the "4 corners" marker? (Where the corners of UT, CO, NM & AZ meet) OK, it's not an official survey marker, but errors do happen. I have survey maps of three surveys going back 75 years for our mountain property. The west boundary has a variance of 4 feet at the south end and 2 feet at the north end. We go by the latest survey which is in the middle ground.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705298412/Four-Corners-marker-212-miles-off-Too-late.html?pg=all

[KennethW]

Thank guy's,
Now I have some app to look at.