Just curious after hearing about this new GPS stuff on cell phones like with Verizon's VZ Navigator, it sounds a bit more convenient than having nav in your car since it's much cheaper, doesn't need replaced when you get a new car, and, well, you don't need to be in your car to use it. Does it have any shortcomings to in-car nav besides the obviously smaller screen? Phones that are capable of it are as low as $30 and monthly access is $9.99 on top of your regular bill.
Can cell phone GPS systems replace in-car nav?
- Thread starter archcommus
- Start date
My parents just drove from California to North Carolina and had both their factory in-dash (cadillac) GPS system, and the verizon GPS on my Dad's phone. They wanted to try the verizon GPS since my wife and I are making the same drive in a few months and were planning on just using the verizon GPS. They said there were quite a few areas where the verizon GPS just did not work at all, but their regular GPS worked fine.
Verizon charges for GPS access because the cellphone is streaming data. GPS software costs monies too if you buy it separately. So yeah
Get a HTC smartphone (PDA and Phone) and a Bluetooth GPS Reciever.
Install GPS Software on smartphone... good as GPS Systems. Just leave receiver in car. Use the smartphone whenever. Make a connection when you need it.
Get a HTC smartphone (PDA and Phone) and a Bluetooth GPS Reciever.
Install GPS Software on smartphone... good as GPS Systems. Just leave receiver in car. Use the smartphone whenever. Make a connection when you need it.
I've got a Garmin hand held mounted on my dash with an external antenna, and I plug that up to my laptop and use GPSgate with Mappoint, and it's a freakin lifesaver. My dad has a bluetooth reciever for his pocket pc...
Verizon's Navigator only covers the major areas, while the out of the box solution like Garmin most likely cover every single point in the U.S.
to that extent, anyone know a good gps review website? thinking about buying a portable car unit///
Kind of. If you want the really good maps, you have to buy software like CitySelect or MetroGuide...
DivideBYZero
Lifer
- May 18, 2001
- 24,117
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I thought that's what VZ accessed too, and they charge you, so I figured it's always something you pay to get. No need for the tone!
DivideBYZero
Lifer
- May 18, 2001
- 24,117
- 2
- 0
Well I think the VZ system does use GPS, but it's using bandwidth on your Data account to DL map data (which is pretty lame).
Sorry for the tone!
OS
Lifer
- Oct 11, 1999
- 15,581
- 1
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I'm pretty sure the VZW system doesn't use GPS, atleast not directly on your phone.
I was just looking at this last night, my VZW chocolate supports this navigator feature, but I know for a fact the phone doesn't have any built in GPS capability.
So the way it probably locates you is it likely triangulates your cellphone location using cell phone towers.
Anyways, I got one of those BF GPS navi things, so at $10/month, it'll cost about as much as the standalone GPS navi I got in a year.
Not a problem! But like OS said, maybe VZW's service doesn't actually use GPS at all. After all they do call it "VZ Navigator." If it actually works the way he described, I would be MUCH more interested in a traditional, free GPS receiver, obviously.
It just sounded so damn convenient to have it on your phone as opposed to having a PDA/laptop + receiver, or an expensive in-dash car unit.
http://www.evdoforums.com/thread2509.html
Next to last post, from the "site admin": The phone has GPS built-in. When inside, it somehow triangulates the towers and "guesses" at the location, which is VERY close. I am not sure how one would get the GPS data to the PC (or if even possible).
Not sure if he's right or not, but if he is, I don't understand why the Verizon service would be any less reliable/helpful than the Cadillac GPS another poster mentioned.
Next to last post, from the "site admin": The phone has GPS built-in. When inside, it somehow triangulates the towers and "guesses" at the location, which is VERY close. I am not sure how one would get the GPS data to the PC (or if even possible).
Not sure if he's right or not, but if he is, I don't understand why the Verizon service would be any less reliable/helpful than the Cadillac GPS another poster mentioned.
traditional gps system locates itself from up to 12 or 16 satellites.... i dont know how many cell towers there are that provide coverage to any given location but i doubt its that many. 2ndly is not about the positioning, but the software of the navigation. again, a dedicated navi system is going to have obvious superior software to one on a cellphone
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