When do you use your standalone GPS and when would you use phone instead

 

I've been a big fan of the Garmin nuvi products over the years. I'm currently using a 2598 LMT enhanced by the garmin smartphone link for additional traffic.

I've been really trying to find a reason to use my garmin for day to day driving in the Bay Area but can't objectively favor it over Google Maps on my iPhone. The traffic on Google Maps, especially on surface streets is SO much better. Truly no comparison.

I guess I'm going to have to just use the nuvi for long road trips where cell reception may be poor or non-existent. I'm curious to know how other people feel about this topic.

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Nuvi 3597 LMT
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GPS on Trips

There are only a few occasions on which I will use one of my GPS units around town. If I am going somewhere for the first time - say a gathering at someone's house - I will route to the location. Generally the true value comes when I am returning home and it is dark - so it becomes hard for me to use landmarks I would otherwise use for navigating. Some sub-divisions are very hard to navigate at night.

I do not use the GPS for Automatic Traffic Cameras even tho they are loaded.

For trips, I really want my GPS because of the POIs I have loaded from our site. I want to know where the closest Sears is, because I buy my auto tires and batteries there. I want to know the location of the nearest Subaru dealership should my car need attention. I stay at Hampton Inns so I need to know where they are in case I need/want to make an unplanned stop. In the evenings, I like to get a caramel sundae (wife gets chocolate dipped cone) from a Dairy Gold. You get the idea.

Routing on the GPS works better for me and is less likely to loose signal.

However, a smartphone is a great tool to use when traffic gets heavy. Waze is very helpful in planning detours.

Both have their uses.

GPS

For me, I always use my GPS and never use my phone for navigation. My GPS has a dash stand, phone has a slot on the console, but I can't see it for navigating. My GPS is designed for the purpose of navigating - the phone is not.

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___________________ Garmin 2455, 855, Oregon 550t

We use our...

GPS for all of our navigation. Either of our smart phones are more than capable of meeting our navigation needs BUT our cell provider recently changed their data plans and we now pay $15 per GB of data (on network)and roaming is even worse.

So until we find another provider with better cost of data (and good coverage) we'll stick with the old 2555 LMT Nuvi smile Also like the idea of not depending on any cell coverage at all.

Who is currently your

Who is currently your carrier?

--
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." --Douglas Adams

Our current carrier is....

Republic Wireless (RW). They offer no contract hybrid WiFi/Cell coverage.

Our original plan was $25/mo unlimited talk/text and 5GB of data. The new plan changed to $10/mo plus $15 for 1 GB of data and now we get a refund if we don't use all the data. Breakage as RW calls it. The rub is when we go over 1 GB the cost starts to go up rapidly. There are several workarounds for data usage on the phone plan, but it's hard to beat the standalone Nuvi for simplicity smile

Only use the Garmin for long trips...

Only use the Garmin around 4 times a year now. My day to day GPS is my smartphone and I really like to use Waze or Google Maps. I'm traveling to New England in a couple days and I will use my Garmin and also Waze for the Traffic updates.

When my Garmin breaks or dies I will have no need to purchase another GPS unit. I feel that my smartphone does just fine. And later this year Google Maps will be available offline which makes my decision a whole lot easier.

I use both the phone and a

I use both the phone and a Garmin. The phone has been less reliable than the Garmin but has more current data. Also using both will on occasion display a quicker route option on one or the other.

.

The phone maps (HERE) is used in an emergency only. The 3790 is the daily driver.

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nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

@FreddyP

Some questions:

Is your plan a monthly plan, or pay as you go?
Did you get the phones through Republic Wireless?
Will Republic Wireless unlock the phones for use on another carrier?

I don't know how much you're willing to spend, but I pay $45/mo. to Straight Talk for unlimited calls, unlimited messaging, and 3GB of data. If you use your own phone on the Straight Talk service instead of buying their phones, as I do, they give you a bonus of 2GB of data, for a total of 5GB.

They have service nationwide, and are a MVNO for all the major carriers in the US.

Keep in mind that I'm pitching Straight Talk simply because I use them. There are other options out there, and I do think you should compare them.

--
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." --Douglas Adams

Choice

I have two discs on my dash. One has the phone mount and the other has the GPS mount. My phone is always there when I drive (hands free)
I only put the GPS on the mount for either trips or addresses.
There are times when the phone comes in handy and others when the GPS is needed.

--
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!

GPS all the way ...

Garmin GPS all the way while driving but I will resort to my iPhone or iPad when I stop for refreshments or a break.

For me the garmin just works better and matches the way I think when I navigate. And it doesn't cost against my data plan like my cell/tablet does

smile

Never use phone

I have a Galaxy S5 phone and a Garmin 3597. I never use the phone for GPS. Even here in the southern portion of NY there are far too many cellular dead zones and the constant map data downloads eats up your data plan.

-K

Gps then phone

Gps is first choice then phone gps back up when gps do not distinguish with detour and road closure.

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Val - Nuvi 785t and Streetpilot C340

Split

I use my TomTom for road trips and my iPhone for trips around town. I like the suggested rerouting for traffic that I get with my TT. I do have the TT app, and will use it when I'm on a business trip, but I like my stand alone when I'm home.

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Shooter N32 39 W97 25 VIA 1535TM, Lexus built-in, TomTom Go

Need Garmin GPS for POIs

I agree with jgermann, I still use the Garmin GPS when I'm driving in an unfamiliar area and need POI information--standalone GPS is still the best at that. Routing on the Garmin is as good but not significantly better overall than other ways of routing.

But it's often not the best at live traffic info and traffic-related detouring even when it's equipped with it. And for that I'll have a cell phone running Waze.

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JMoo On

Nuvi All the time!

I use my Nuvi all the time when I'm driving -- it's wired into the car and starts up automagically. It's my primary NAV.

One reason I use it is that I drive a Mini Cooper, and the speedo is both inaccurate (calibrated for one tire size and that's not what's on the car), and hard to read. Speed displayed on the Nuvi is both accurate and easy to read.

When I go for my iPhone -- when there's a traffic hork-up that's unusual for the time of day, I bring up Waze to get a better idea of what's going on and start figuring out what I'm going to do about it. If I'm doing a lot of driving in a day, I'll start up Waze (or my other favourite on the phone, Fog of World, which tracks where I've visited) right away. In the car, my iPhone sits next to the Nuvi, so I can see it and hit the screen without having to take my hands off the steering wheel. That position also has the iPhone connected to power, and sitting in front of a vent to keep it cool.

I use POIs and routing a lot; even if I'm going someplace I've visited many times before, if there's something interesting going on (like a party of flashing multi-coloured lights and stopped vehicles ahead on the freeway), I can bail to surface streets quickly and work out an agreement with the Nuvi on re-routing.

Every so often, I'll use my iPhone for NAV to keep familiarity for when I need to use it on travel and in other vehicles when I don't have my Nuvi. Happened a couple of weeks ago when I was down in LA and was riding in a friend's car; he wanted me to run NAV for our set of errands. Not a problem.

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Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows

I use the gps as speedometer, phone for traffic

On the bike, gps only. I have the phone bluetoothed to the gps and the gps bluetoothed to my helmet.

In the car, gps on the windshield and phone running waze by the gear shift on longer trips. Most of the time, I have enough junk on the gages the it is not worth looking down to [not] see what they say.

Once

To the best of my recollection, I used my phone once. I much prefer a dedicated GPS.

--
Bob: My toys: Nüvi 1390T, Droid X2, Nook Color (rooted), Motorola Xoom, Kindle 2, a Yo-Yo and a Slinky. Gotta have toys.

both

I don't leave the gps in my car so for local running around I use the phone with the data and wifi turned off, its off line maps cameras and speed notifications work just fine, but for trips of say 100 miles or trips to Arizona I use the Garmin.
the screen on my nuvi 1450 is about the same size as my camera but the camera has a higher screen resolution and it has turn by turn voice so if the phone gets much better I will use it more.
my phone is the droid turbo with the lollipop update.

GPS over Smart Phone

I have HERE loaded on my cell phone but I have never used it while in the car. The screen on the phone is quite small and I much prefer the larger screen on the Garmin. Then there is the associated information (Arrival Time, Speed, etc.)presented on the Garmin is helpful and interesting on longer trips.

AND my wife can see how fast I'm going... just in case I need a reminder wink

Luddite

my phone, only makes phone calls, has 1 line number only screen, and great big old-people buttons
my camera only takes pictures
my gps is only a gps

all this multi-function stuff,, phooey, 'In my day, the phone hung on the wall and you were lucky to have one'

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the title of my autiobiography "Mistakes have been made"

Standalone GPS for Navigation

I prefer a standalone GPS for navigating. I only use the phone for navigation when I don't know the address of something and need to look it up on Google. If it is a location that I plan to visit again, I will often add it to the GPS as a POI or favorite for future use.

Both together....

I use my 2599LMT-HD with the SmartLink Phone App all the time....but I have an unlimited data plan (gets expensive if you don't)

The app supplies real-time traffic & weather, and I love the way I can just talk to my phone to find a place I'm looking for (either through the default search function or 4Square) and after selecting the result I want, I just hit "Send" and BOOM - it's on my GPS and away I go without ever having to punch stuff into the screen keyboard (always a PITA).

--
"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks" ~ Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long, from Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love"

.

ddmau wrote:

I just hit "Send" and BOOM - it's on my GPS and away I go without ever having to punch stuff into the screen keyboard (always a PITA).

Sounds like a first world problem. wink

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nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

Never as a GPS

My phone is paired to my 3597 through SmartLink and can do lookups and provide traffic data but use it as a GPS? Why?

I have been known to bring up Maps on the unit to locate myself when a pedestrian and see which route I need to take, but rely on it for directions? Nope.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

Smart Phone Mount

rigel wrote:

For me, I always use my GPS and never use my phone for navigation. My GPS has a dash stand, phone has a slot on the console, but I can't see it for navigating. My GPS is designed for the purpose of navigating - the phone is not.

iOttie Smart Phone Mount: (not sure I am allowed to post link) Just search on Amazon. Available for $20. Problem solved.

--
Live each day like it's your last, 'cause one day you're gonna be right.

Traffic

My nuvi is on all the time, but I use Google Maps on my phone when I need reliable traffic info.

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><> Glenn <>< Garmin nüvi 2598

Driving or Walking

When driving, I always use a standalone Garmin GPS for safety and ease of use. When walking in a new city, I use my Windows phone as it has built-in maps with no data connection required, and it's one less item to carry.

Had one this morning--

Driving my daughter to appointments; we needed to add a stop. I knew the general destination area, but not the specific address. With the Nuvi giving me local data, I asked her to bring up the target info on her iPhone. A quick glance at her map (while stopped at a stoplight, thank you) gave me the added information I needed to get us to our destination.

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Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows

Less and less...

Starting to use my Garmin less and less... OEM navigation systems in both new cars and my cell phone has google maps which is excellent...I think Garmin was great until all the new stuff came out...

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Bobby....Garmin 2450LM

Not In Europe Anymore

I used to bring my GO 930 with Europe maps but now I just use a TomTom app on my smartphone.

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Shooter N32 39 W97 25 VIA 1535TM, Lexus built-in, TomTom Go

It Depends

If I know when I leave home that I am going to an unfamiliar location, or on a long drive, I will set up the GPS on the car dash and have it operating. If I am just taking a routine drive, I don't use anything at all.

However, if something then comes up and I need to divert, I will pull over to the side of the road and take my phone out of my shirt pocket to check how complicated the new routing will be. So far that has been enough info that I could just put the phone back into my pocket and drive on.

- Tom -

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XXL540, GO LIVE 1535, GO 620

Depends

In the car, I am using the iPhone with Garmin North America. This Garmin app is very good.

For outdoors, I use the Garmin GPSMAP 64S. Rugged and weather proof.

The Montana 600 is for sale.

--
When you are dead, you don’t know that you are dead. It is only difficult for the others. It is the same when you are stupid.

depends

For longer travel I prefer Garmin. It feels more convenient to use for me. When I need get somewhere all the sudden, it usually phone Here maps. I have all setup to replace my old Garmin with phone, but still Nuvi looks better for longer drive. Especially when you have to make or receive longer phone call.

I prefer the Garmin over my

I prefer the Garmin over my phone. I like the POI's that I have and the screen is easier to see if I want a peak at the map at a stop light. I also find it easier to get the information in the Garmin. There may be voice on the phone but I have not used it.

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John B - Garmin 765T

Never Used My Phone

I have an iPhone 4S on Sprint and have never used it for navigation. First, I do not have a car mount for the phone so viewing it while driving would be difficult. Second, unless I download all the maps, relying on Sprint data service is iffy. There have been improvements but I gave up on it three years ago. I am an add on to my employers account and they pickup the charges (only about $30) so it is no money out of my pocket if I do not use the data plan. If the arrangement is terminated at some point, I'll upgrade my phone and switch to T-Mobile.

--
I support the right to keep and arm bears.

When Do You Use Your Standalone GPS And When Would You Use Phone

diesel wrote:

In the car, I am using the iPhone with Garmin North America. This Garmin app is very good.....

I would love to hear more about it. I have Garmin Viago, which they no longer offer. I rarely read much about the Garmin StreetPilot OnBoard app for the iPhone. How does it compare to a stand alone GPS?

Clarification on Use of Smartphone

As I indicated in a previous post, I have checked out addresses and locations on my smartphone, but have not used it as a GPS in my car. Can people who use their smartphone as a GPS in their car provide a little clarification on a few issues:

- Do you view your phone continuously (in a mount) like a standard GPS unit, or do you just check the GPS app occasionally?
- Can you view the routing on your screen or do you have to reset the screen size to make it easily visible?
- Can you take or make calls (hands free) and still maintain the GPS?

Thanks!

Nuvi

Always use my Nuvi when I'm driving. I'll use my iPhone when I'm a passenger in another's car and they need directions, traffic info, etc. I will say that I've very accurate and timely traffic info from my iPhone map.

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Tuckahoe Mike - Nuvi 3490LMT, Nuvi 260W, iPhone X, Mazda MX-5 Nav

GPS or Phone

I use my stand alone GPS exclusively in the cars without a dash mounted GPS. My wife and older kids use their cell phones exclusively for getting around town. I like the larger screen and the bean bag mount and am set in my ways and don't much use a cell phone anyway. That's just me though and I am old.

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Dudlee

GPS and phone calls

DanielT wrote:

- Do you view your phone continuously (in a mount) like a standard GPS unit, or do you just check the GPS app occasionally?

I have it below next to the gearshift and only occasionally look at it.

DanielT wrote:

- Can you view the routing on your screen or do you have to reset the screen size to make it easily visible?

I can view the routing. One thing I find useful is to turn off the auto-rotate function of the phone when using it.

DanielT wrote:

- Can you take or make calls (hands free) and still maintain the GPS?

Yes. While on the call, mine overlays the GPS messages over the phone call. After the call, I have to refresh the GPS for it to be on the front.

For driving I almost always

For driving I almost always use my nüvi. The only time I ever use the phone for navigation is if I don't have the gps with me and suddenly have a need for directions. This has occasionally happened in a car. I have also used my phone when I was staying n a hotel in San Pedro prior to a cruise and wanted to find a local brew pub I had heard of and later that evening to find a place to purchase a bottle of wine.

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GPSMAP 76CSx - nüvi 760 - nüvi 200 - GPSMAP 78S

I use the Garmin when I am

I use the Garmin when I am driving, the bike has a built-in GPS and I use the phone when I am walking. Universal Studios has an app for that.

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d

Garmin

I have a Garmin based GPS that's built into my Jeep, I have a Garmin Zumo mounted and hard wired on my motorcycle, both are always "at the ready"

In my work truck (Mack Tri-Axle dump)I use a Nuvi 2460, I hook it up every day, as someone mentioned I use it as a speedometer and a clock when GPS services are not needed, I also like the idea of a rolling map in case need a quick detour.

I have a Galaxy S6 smartphone with Google maps installed that I'll use every now and then for a satellite image of an area to see what an intersection looks like (I travel in New Jersey from time to time and they haven't made up their mind if you can make a left turn from a left turn lane or jug handle, nice to know which ahead of time) or what side of the street stores are on, etc.. I just don't like it for actual navigation.

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. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Garmin all the time

My Jeep doesn't have a digital readout for the speedometer so I use it to tell how fast I am going since I do most of my driving on highways and rural town speed traps.

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******************Garmin Nüvi 1300T****************Member 6523*******************

Running both smartphone and GPS

DanielT wrote:

...Can people who use their smartphone as a GPS in their car provide a little clarification on a few issues:

- Do you view your phone continuously (in a mount) like a standard GPS unit, or do you just check the GPS app occasionally?

I use a Koomus smartphone vent mount:
http://www.amazon.com/Koomus-Air-Vent-Smartphone-Smartphones...
and like it very much--very secure and easy to insert or remove the smartphone. My Garmin is up on a dash beanbag mount. They're close to each other. I usually turn the sound off on one; which one varies, but I'm glancing at the other to see if they're in agreement. Waze is often more accurate about traffic problems and detour advice, because it's analyzing the actual traffic speed of other users as it thinks about alternates.

DanielT wrote:

- Can you view the routing on your screen or do you have to reset the screen size to make it easily visible?

I do not have to reset the screen size on the smartphone when I'm using the Waze app. It adjusts automatically as the Garmin does. The routing is easy to see.

Because a long drive will eat up the batteries quickly on either unit, it is important to use a charger for both which may mean you also need an adapter like this:
http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK%C2%AE-Cigarette-Splitter-Chargi...
All the wiring can be a little ugly and unwieldy.

DanielT wrote:

- Can you take or make calls (hands free) and still maintain the GPS?

I personally try to avoid phone use when driving, so my experience is limited here. On an iPhone, a call can be taken or made while still maintaining the GPS though I don't know if the nav app screen can be seen or directions heard during the call.

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JMoo On

Occasional cell phone

DanielT wrote:

As I indicated in a previous post, I have checked out addresses and locations on my smartphone, but have not used it as a GPS in my car. Can people who use their smartphone as a GPS in their car provide a little clarification on a few issues:

- Do you view your phone continuously (in a mount) like a standard GPS unit, or do you just check the GPS app occasionally?

I use my phone for spur of the moment navigation and sometimes for POI navigation, since Google has many more POIs like restaurants. I put the phone in a cupholder next to the gearshift, angled towards me.

Quote:

Can you view the routing on your screen or do you have to reset the screen size to make it easily visible?

The phone navigation screen auto-zooms in and out, just like the Garmin does. I mostly listen to the spoken directions, but it's not hard to give it a quick glance from time to time.

Quote:

Can you take or make calls (hands free) and still maintain the GPS?

I think I got a call once while using the phone to navigate. The answer Y/N? prompt came up. I seem to recall having some difficulty juggling both tasks and flipping screens. I let it go to voicemail and called them back later. grin

Stand alone..

Stand alone gps...nothing like it. Just came back from San Fran. Never leave home without it!

3597

Easier to change route or screen views than phone, easier to add waypoints, and has lane assist.

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Steve - 2 Nuvi 3597

The GPS is easier to use but

The GPS is easier to use but I always have the phone with me. The GPS stays in the truck where it is needed. There is a nice phone app to mark where you park, it is nice to have when parked in the Pentagon parking lot with several hundred thousand other bikes.

--
d
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