Portable vehicle navigation?

[fanaudical]

I don't carry a smartphone (on purpose) and find my tablet too cumbersome to mount in a vehicle. I'm looking at portable navigation units (like the Garmin Drive 53) to keep in my truck and move between rental cars on trips. Does anybody have recommendations?

[VINMAN]

GPS units have all but disappeared with the advent of the smartphone only place I really see selling them now are truck stops. OTR drivers seem like the only ones still using them, but their units are also tailored to their specific use.

We dint even use them in our Fire Apparatus anymore.

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[masraum]

Seems like it might be worth getting a used or clearance smart phone to use for this purpose. You don't have to use any other aspect of the phone if you don't want to. That also gives you the option of using any navigation app that you want, Waze, Google maps, Garmin, etc.... You can probably get whatever minimal service would get you what you want/need. You will need a data plan since the app will probably be downloading maps. But with a little research, there may be some app where you can download maps at the start of a drive for the drive via wifi, and then not have a plan, but rely on GPS only. I think these days most apps may require a data plan, but I'm not sure.

[Seahawk]

This is one of those threads that are intriguing simply because I would never think of an alternative to a Smart phone.

Interesting link:

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-gps-devices

[VINMAN]

Steve's correct, you would need a data plans to use those apps.

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[GH85Carrera]

I still use a Gamin GPS for my road trips. Out in many parts of New Mexico there was no cell service at all. The GPS was rock solid. Same for many parts of Arkansas.

The Garmin GPS works great and I enter the destination via my cell phone.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I still use a Gamin GPS for my road trips. Out in many parts of New Mexico there was no cell service at all. The GPS was rock solid. Same for many parts of Arkansas.

The Garmin GPS works great and I enter the destination via my cell phone.

BZZZT! Thanks for playing. He wants a GPS because he doesn't have and doesn't want a cell phone.

Yes, I know the same buzzer applies to my post.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Steve's correct, you would need a data plans to use those apps.

There are Openstreet and Google maps for offline use, but haven't looked into it.
Was going to try those on an old iPhone but it requires >OS11 iirc.

[2.7RS]

I have a collection of good paper charts and compass when I need to go off the grid.

It's an almost extinct skill

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by masraum

BZZZT! Thanks for playing. He wants a GPS because he doesn't have and doesn't want a cell phone.

Yes, I know the same buzzer applies to my post.

You can enter the destination manually, just easier with a cell phone. A GPS will work with no cell phone at all. I am just lazy, and prefer to use my cell phone to tell the GPS where I am going.

With my Blaupunkt stereo in the 91- I can use my cell phone as a GPS, and have it play music and directions both. I still prefer the stand alone GPS.

[dlockhart]

Originally Posted by 2.7RS

I have a collection of good paper charts and compass when I need to go off the grid.

It's an almost extinct skill

I still practice my count, 66 to 100m

[stevej37]

Need to be aware when buying a new GPS as to if it has voice recognition for entering a destination.
The cheaper ones require using the touch-screen/keyboard, which is not as handy.

[911_Dude]

You must really not want to carry a cell phone. Mobile GPS is still around. Check out https://www.thegpsstore.com/GPS-Units/Automotive-GPS I've bought a few things from them in the past.

[fanaudical]

Let me explain my use case a bit better:

- I do carry a cell phone for voice/text communication. No data. No camera. It's a ruggedized phone without those features because I visit customers who don't want visitor cameras/data devices within their building but I often have to call work while on-site.

- I really don't want to carry multiple phones or deal with a data plan. I know that sounds irrational if I'm willing to carry a secondary navigation device so get over it.

- I do carry a wi-fi only tablet when traveling. I have tried a couple off-line mapping applications but found those messy to use while driving alone.

- I have zero problem with paper maps/directions and often use them while traveling for business, but also finding those to be inconvenient (especially when navigating alone at night).

- I am frequently in areas where there is no wi-fi / data reception.

And so a portable vehicle navigation device makes sense to me. The Garmin Drive series seems to be the best/reasonable I can find. I was just curious what others were using...

[GH85Carrera]

Garmin makes good stuff for every application. Our Cessna 182T has the G1000 system from the factory. It is amazing.

The gps I use in my 911 is just a better system than most phone based apps for remote areas. For around cities it is likely just a personal preference.

The car based gps systems come with lifetime updates. I update it often.

[javadog]

I used Garmin in the past, loved it.

I hooked it to a PC and preloaded all my destinations before trips.

Mine is many years old now, I haven’t updated it in forever, I have no idea what their current offerings are like.

[porsche tech]

I have a Garmin that’s buried somewhere in the center console compartment of my wife’s minivan. Haven’t used it in years…we like waze. Can’t believe how expensive they’ve gotten per Seahawk’s post. Prolly should dig it out and update just for fun.

[WPOZZZ]

My sister used to love her Tomtom gps units. Check Facebook Marketplace for some used ones.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

My sister used to love her Tomtom gps units. Check Facebook Marketplace for some used ones.

I have and still use my Tomtom unit. It’s a couple years old and I can still get updates for it.

Not sure what units you can still buy, but try and buy one if possible that has free map updates as paying for them later can be expensive.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by dlockhart

I still practice my count, 66 to 100m

Hey, I know what that map is. I did orienteering two years in college.
Somewhere in the house is a Silva compass. I do not remember how many paces to 100m, and I'm sure it has changed in the last 40 years.

Navigation is better than it used to be, I bought the Silva not that many years ago because the GPS would say "Head South toward...", and I had no idea what direction south was.

I have an old Garmin in my bag, haven't used it in years, but I have had to use it in the last couple years. I should probably replace it with one that has lifetime maps. The last time I updated the map on this one I couldn't fit the entire US on the internal memory, and I think it would only accept a 2gb memory card, or something like that.

If you're in a spot with no cell service and want to start navigation to somewhere, android auto just isn't going to work. I still stop at rest areas and pick up paper maps every couple of years.