Sat Nav (maps) on a phone

PGE1970

Hi,

I'm a bit of a technophobe so bear with me on this!

Recently, I've began driving my son to various parts of Dublin (from Co Louth) for soccer matches. I know my way around Dublin generally but could do with a little help finding the precise location of some pitches. I've been using AA routeplanner to date as I've no sat nav in the car. It better than nothing but not great.

Is there anything on Android that I could put on my (sony xperia) phone to assist me as a sat nav might. Preferably one that speaks as you drive and free if possible!!

All recommendations gratefully received!!

s8n

google maps app will do this for you

Dord

I use an app called Sygic. It gives you lane directions and the maps are downloaded so you can use it with no internet access.

mad turnip

s8n wrote: »

google maps app will do this for you

I believe on the three network (maybe others) it will grant you free 3g for google maps and call out the directions like a proper GPS. But theres also got to be 3g in that area.

Anjobe

Never used Sygic but it does look pretty good. I have used Navfree which is generally perfectly adequate and is free. It uses OSM mapping data which is stored on the phone.

Note, it is also possible to save map data to the phone in Google Maps on Android, if you want to be able to use Google Maps nav feature with no cellular data.

biko

With google maps you can save maps to phone but you may need data connection for the voice.
Otherwise there is a host of apps for this. One is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdv_qMDT3Z8

cadaliac

I use an app called "navigator"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapfactor.navigator

Free but you will need mobile data on your phone. Works well with my Sony Z1.
Will do all you need and is fairly easy to hear and see on the screen.

PGE1970

Thanks for all the replies, they're all very helpful.

Pardon my ignorance again of technical matters; I have 1gb data per month on my phone plan.

I usually use the internet on the phone on wifi only; would my allowance be enough to support a couple of trips to Dublin (allowing for the fact that I usually can get within a mile or so of my destination before I would need help)?

bazz26

Try downloading "offline" maps on to your smart phone at home when connected to WIFI. Cannot image there would be any noticeable differences between offline maps and real time maps of Dublin city. Your network will screw you in data charges using real time maps.

pred racer

Dord wrote: »

I use an app called Sygic. It gives you lane directions and the maps are downloaded so you can use it with no internet access.

I use navfree, I must try this one.

PGE1970 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, they're all very helpful.

Pardon my ignorance again of technical matters; I have 1gb data per month on my phone plan.

I usually use the internet on the phone on wifi only; would my allowance be enough to support a couple of trips to Dublin (allowing for the fact that I usually can get within a mile or so of my destination before I would need help)?

Navfree or Sygic, you download the maps at home on wifi then they are stored on your phone and you don't need data access to use them.

wendell borton

Once the map has loaded turn off the data, as phones use both gps and the network to get your position.

Mycroft H

1gb a month would be plenty.

I'm on a similar plan and I use Google maps once or twice a week, no problems

visual

Navfree is excellent has everything a dedicated sav nav has

visual

visual wrote: »

Navfree is excellent has everything a dedicated sav nav has

Its even updated more than garmin maps

Kavs

your best option by a long mile would be to go with a Nokia phone with Here maps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6t-uqXYvUY

nokia have been doing offline maps for over 8 years and are experts, the other phone manufacturers are all playing catch up in that department.
Did I mention wireless charging with NFC car app integration,

tossy

Kavs wrote: »

your best option by a long mile would be to go with a Nokia phone with Here maps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6t-uqXYvUY

nokia have been doing offline maps for over 8 years and are experts, the other phone manufacturers are all playing catch up in that department.
Did I mention wireless charging with NFC car app integration,

I have to agree first used an N95 as a sat nav around Europe and Ireland 8 years ago, i used the Garmin Xt app though,always considered Garmin to be the best but now i have tom tom on the iPhone and its hard to beat, esp when paired with a good bluetooth head unit. I had an A4 with an RNS E (audi MMI) for 2 years and it was such a poor set up compared to either when it came to both nav and MP3 playback/ease of us etc.

TrailerBob

+1 for sygic. Fully offline, so no data downloads. Excellent quality. Used it throughout Europe this year and found it excellent. App is free, as are map downloads. You can use basic navigation free too. I paid €24.99 for a full lifetime European license and it gives all a Garmin does for that

Lissavane

Kavs wrote: »

your best option by a long mile would be to go with a Nokia phone with Here maps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6t-uqXYvUY

nokia have been doing offline maps for over 8 years and are experts, the other phone manufacturers are all playing catch up in that department.
Did I mention wireless charging with NFC car app integration,

I find Nokia phones' native satnav excellent but never used it outside Ireland. It can be used entirely offline including voice directions. I've never used another satnav device or app so can't compare with alternatives mentioned in this thread.

Kavs

Should mention the big difference with Nokia is that all the sat-nav features are free ie. Full offline use so no data charges and free up to date maps for every country on the planet!

I've used my Nokia 808 on numerous holidays abroad and its proved a lifesaver. It actually functions better abroad ie. Post codes and live traffic data.

Also I frequently use the walk function when in foreign cities to find absolutely any point of interest atm's , restaurants, hotels, train/bus stations etc. It gives you step by step guidance, really excellent feature.

A cheap Nokia lumia 520 (€35) etc can be got over on adverts and could be used without a SIm card and also act as a backup phone?

Anjobe

Kavs wrote: »

Should mention the big difference with Nokia is that all the sat-nav features are free ie. Full offline use so no data charges and free up to date maps for every country on the planet!

I've used my Nokia 808 on numerous holidays abroad and its proved a lifesaver. It actually functions better abroad ie. Post codes and live traffic data.

Also I frequently use the walk function when in foreign cities to find absolutely any point of interest atm's , restaurants, hotels, train/bus stations etc. It gives you step by step guidance, really excellent feature.

A cheap Nokia lumia 520 (€35) etc can be got over on adverts and could be used without a SIm card and also act as a backup phone?

Maybe this feature will not limited to Nokia phones for much longer - http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/nokia-to-launch-free-map-apps-for-ios-android/.

nd

+1 for navfree. It's excellent and does not need internet access once it's installed.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navfree.android.OSM.ALL&hl=en

RandomAccess

I use google maps and it really is very good.
To save data you should open the options on screen and turn off satellite images when you are driving, as you just need the line based street maps rather than downloading all the photos.

PGE1970

Thanks a million for all the suggestions; I'm very obliged for all your help.

biko

Using google maps offline
http://www.wired.com/2014/02/offline-google-maps/
It's a little old but "ok maps" is the trick - it won't work with navigation though as nav needs an active connection for google maps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29II5-3GeHc

Nav Free as mentioned. I've also used OSMand in the states and it was good, but kept trying to take me off the freeways and then immediately back on for some reason.

Interslice

Another +1 on the navfree. Never used a sat nav so nothing to compare it too but, I decided to give one a go after reading this thread. Needed to get myself to a certain part of cork city, which I wouldn't know well, the next morning. Downloaded Navfree and the ireland and UK maps (500mb or so) and found it great. Very easy to use. It was made alot better today when I was told that if you tap the compass it orientates the map north to south. It was confusing the **** out of me on the backroads of kildare at half four the other morning looked like I was going north :mad::pac:.

nd

It should orientate automatically if you've auto rotation on in your phone's settings

Interslice

nd wrote: »

It should orientate automatically if you've auto rotation on in your phone's settings

Cool. I'll try that next time.