How to use your phone as a sat-nav?

"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
08/11/2013 at 18:29 • Filed to: None

As I posted yesterday, I just got my first ever smart-phone. One of the many reasons was to occasionally use it for navigation. I'm far from being a sales rep who has to go to new customers on a daily basis. I'm a teacher, and I effing know where my school is at, but from time to time, I visit old friends who moved house since I last saw them, or I have to... Well, there are occasions when I have to go places I haven't been before, and a little guidance seems nice. Therefore, I have a few questions:

- How do you attach your phone to the dashboard?

- Is google-maps O.K. or do I need something more professional?

DISCUSSION (27)

TheBaron2112 > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:32

I use the google maps app, type in the address, then hit 'go'. I don't use turn-by-turn directions because I study the route and all the major turns. I just need an overview.

And I'm naughty. I don't dock my phone. I just hold it when I'm in the car whenever I need it.

GhostZ > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:36

1. What kind of phone? Mostly curious, but iPhones, Windows Phones, and Androids have different apps available, so some may have a better one than Google maps, and some may not. Also, Google maps is more than professional enough.

2. Buy a dash mount for your car. Read reviews and take dimensions so you know it will fit comfortably. Alternatively, some navigation systems will have a holographic display, so you can just have it reflect off your windshield.

3. Buy an OtterBox cover like this, and a set of screen protectors (for pennies a piece). Do it. You will thank me within a month, I guaranatee. It used to be that you could pick them up for around 15$, but this last year they've gotten really popular. Probably because they're absolutely awesome .

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

4. Make sure you keep wifi and GPS off when you don't need it. They take up more batter alone than calling does. You can set some phones to automatically turn on GPS when you get in your car, or wifi when you get to your house, or you can just remember to turn it on before you go to navigation.

Z_Stig > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:36

You'll find Google Maps is probably the best.

This is the dock I used for my Galaxy Nexus when I used to use for nav. Now works great for lap timing at track days:

Kinja'd!!!

Bozi Tatarevic > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:37

I like google maps and usually turn on the turn by turn directions, look at the map and stick it in the cupholder so the sound is amplified

Forgetful > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:38

Google maps is a pretty solid navigator. If you can connect the phone to your radio (bluetooth, aux, USB) it will even provide turn by turn voice commands.

There are several phone mounts, vent clip or suction cup are the most common. Your local electronics store or amazon will have something.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:39

The android Nav app works perfect anytime I use it.

And some companies have moiunts that you can use to put them on the wind shield

I usually just use a cup holder though

f86sabre > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:39

Google Maps is one of the best. Wayz is a new one that is kind of interesting. If you have Bluetooth then use that to connect over the car sound system for the least amount of distraction. If you don't have Bluetooth then get an FM transmitter or plug into an aux port. Get a car charger for your phone if you will be using it a lot for nav.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:42

Google Maps/Navigation is perfectly usable, if not the best nav for Android - it's worked out great whenever I've used it as a passenger. The one time I drove with it, I just left my phone in my cupholders since I was only trying to get out of a neighborhood and onto streets that I knew.

I'm going to purchase a mount (maybe an Osomount 360 Grip ) to take better advantage of the nav while driving, on top of the added dash-cam functionality.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:42

I really like Waze as a GPS/maps app......... It's a little bit better than Google Maps

Klaus Schmoll > GhostZ
08/11/2013 at 18:44

Android phone, Galaxy S3 to be precise.

Klaus Schmoll > f86sabre
08/11/2013 at 18:45

We are talking about a '99 Euro-Accord here, so no fancy stuff like bluetooth or anything.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:51

Google maps is fine, it's definitely the best free GPS app you can get.

Any free or cheap GPS app will rely on cellular data to load the maps, keep that in mind if you are going anywhere without decent reception. And the cost of a GPS app that will work offline is around the same price as buying an entry level TomTom or Garmin.

As for a dashboard mount, just look for a nice and sturdy suction cup windscreen mount. Stay away from any that will mount on your cigar lighter, the phone is top heavy and the mount is a circular plug, the rubber grommets will either be loose and the top heavy phone will keep slipping around, or the grommets will be too tight and a pain in the butt to remove.

GhostZ > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 18:52

Good choice.

Klaus Schmoll > GhostZ
08/11/2013 at 18:57

Thanks! I really like it so far, but I've only had it for 24 hours.

doodon2whls > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 19:08

I've had great success with the ExoMount universal car mount (Amazon.DE may have them). It's a bit pricey, but is the best IMHO. I have my mount permanently stuck on my windshield just inside the A-pillar, and below the sight line to the road. Works like a charm.

As far as NAV app, I use Google Navigation. There is a difference between Gmaps and GNavigation ! I usually search for destinations in Gmaps and then select 'Navigate' to launch GNavigation. Google Navigation makes your phone behave like a NAV unit - locks the screen on, tracks your position or shows you the entire route, gives voice commands (I turn mine off), shows distance or time to arrival and displays traffic if it's available where you are. You can re-route, select local roads, etc etc... That's all in the US, of course, so I don't know how much of the traffic and reroute functionality is available in Germany.

My sister lives in the EU and swears by the CoPilot App. She has an iPhone, and I don't think she trusted Gmaps on it (not surpised)... They have an OLD TomTom as a backup...

doodon2whls > doodon2whls
08/11/2013 at 19:16

Follow up... They use CoPilot because it has offline maps. Gmaps and Nav have that feature now as well (area specific, didn't work in Hungary), but that is one of the reasons they started using CoPilot... As you may have already realized, you can drive out of cell tower range quickly in remote parts of the EU... ;-)

f86sabre > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 19:26

You can still pick up an FM transmitter for $25. That is what we use. Also good for Pandora and podcasts.

Klaus Schmoll > f86sabre
08/11/2013 at 19:38

I was thinking about that. Are they any good? Any white noise issues?

f86sabre > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 19:45

I have one by Scosche and it is pretty good. I took the antenna off the car and that seemed to help eliminate interference. Broadcast radio here in Atlanta is so crap, and so powerful, that removing the antenna helped the FM transmitter and had minimal effect on the radio when I needed it. M

If your car has a tape deck I've heard that the tape adapters work quite well.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 19:49

I use a universal '4.3"' phone suction mount on Grimace. Works great, and I can move it between Grimace and my wife's Buick.

I LOVE Waze. Good interface, turn by turn, traffic updates, learns your routes to best detour you, and police trap information. You can also use Google to search for locations, as it can switch between Waze's database, Google, Yellow Pages, etc.

Klaus Schmoll > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
08/11/2013 at 19:52

So Waze is definitely something I'll look into. Thanks!

Klaus Schmoll > f86sabre
08/11/2013 at 19:56

Unfortunately it's a "factory" Pioneer/Honda CD unit. It says both on the front. I don't really want to change it for originallity reasons.

Slave2anMG > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 21:11

My car (a Volkswagen CC) has a nav system but I still use Google Maps because it shows traffic. THAT feature alone has saved me hours of rotting in traffic...

ddavidn > Klaus Schmoll
08/11/2013 at 22:57

I'll throw in my vote for Waze. I use it every day, even though I know how to get to work and back. I use this case to attach my phone to my dash or windshield and I also take dashcams with DailyRoads Voyager.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

boxrocket > Klaus Schmoll
08/12/2013 at 01:40

Google Maps is OK, and it should come with your S3.
I personally recommend and use Nokia (aka HERE) Maps, as they are more comprehensive, have more coverage worldwide, offer some offline features saving battery life and data capacity (such as pre-loading maps onto the phone), have a few more things Google doesn't offer, and it's just a more polished experience as far as I've encountered. http://here.com/ . I'm not sure if there's an app for it in the Play store, as I use Windows Phone and it came with my Nokia Lumia, and trying to search for anything in the Play store is ridiculous as there's clones of everything and it's just too chaotic.

MIATAAAA > Klaus Schmoll
08/13/2013 at 09:56

2) WAZE. You'll never look back!

GreenN_Gold > Bozi Tatarevic
08/13/2013 at 15:54

I will have to try the cupholder trick, I normally place mine in the cubby under the stereo and it can be harder to hear than I would like at times. I don't really look at it either, when it says turn right on 272nd, I turn right on 272nd.