iPhone with satnav a good substitute for a proper satnav?

mini7racer · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Posts: 25

I have a garmin 1390t at the moment, but I am considering if to upgrade or update or use my phone?

The maps on my 1390 are now about 18month out of date, and I am tempted by garmins offer on lifetime updates, but it does seem to have a habit of freezing every so often... So I am also tempted to just get a new garmin which comes with the traffic and free life time maps (I find the traffic on mine quite useful as I do travel a bit some months for my job)

Or do I use my iPhone? As I have just downloaded freenav and it seems to be ok on first look, but I have read that the maps can be abut lacking in areas.

If I do go for my phone option i would need one where the maps are stored on the phone as it is a works contract so if I run up a big data charge I'll be in trouble. Also I may well miss the traffic option but I guess I'd get used to it unless there is a app out there that can give me traffic?

So what do the experts recommend?

mikealder · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:02 pm Post subject:

The Garmin iPhone app is quite good as is the offering from TomTom, so far to date map updates have been free which is a major plus point but how long this will continue for is anyones guess, in the current ecconomic climate I can't see this carrying on for too much longer.

Both the apps I mentioned above run from the device and don't rely upon a data connection unless you decide to subscribe to their traffic warning systems.

As for using the iPhone in a car you need to ensure it's secure in a decent powered holder otherwise the battery will go flat in a very short time, also the volume is somewhat lacking, I bluetooth the audio from my iPhone through the car system which is more than loud enough - Mike

mini7racer · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Posts: 25

I have just used it to get to a customers, seemed ok but abit slow to recalculate when I didn't go the route it wanted, also like you said the voice is pants! I'm picking up a xcarlink iPod adaptor to day to link the iPhone to my radio which will add power too the iPhone too and Bluetooth when I get the add on module, so after that I'll try and get the directions via the radio.

Still not sure if this is the route I want to go, and the 70 quid for the garmin Europe is a bit steep to just have a look..

Darren · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:23 am Post subject:

I use my iPhone exclusively now, it does all that my satnav can do and more and my preferred app, TomTom runs faster on my iPhone than it does on a dedicated TomTom satnav.
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Darren Griffin

MaFt · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:36 pm Post subject:

For most navigation I tend to use Navigon on my iPhone 4 in co-operation with the PGPSW Mobile POI site and CamerAlert. As Darren says the interface and overall speed of the apps are far better than virtually all the dedicated PNDs available on the market.

However for long journeys I still use a dedicated SatNav (TomTom VIA Live) although I'm not sure why - maybe out of habit really. I'm off to Cornwall next month so I might use my iPhone as number 1 (preferred as it means I can a) use CamerAlert without having to mess about installing camera data and b) use it to stream my music from Google Play too). I'll still take the TomTom though as a 'just in case' item :D

MaFt

mini7racer · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Posts: 25

how do you find the voume? is yours coming through the car radio? I have been playing with mine again tonight, and now I have my ipod kit in and working, which helpfully when playing music via the iphone and using the satnav on the iphone turns down the music and plays the directions via the car speakers... but it only does this if I ma listening to my music via the iphone, if I have the radio on it does nothing.

mikealder · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:07 pm Post subject:

With a Bluetooth connection to my car via its iO-Play Bluetooth kit I get the nav instructions interupting the radio or any other audio source the head unit is using, I can also stream music from the iPhone at the same time as getting the nav instructions and Speed Camera warnings from the iPhone via the bluetooth connection - I guess it depends upon your BT connection and what it offers in way of connection - Mike

alix776 · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:20 pm Post subject:

Havent used a dedicated sat nav for at least 2 or 3 years as my own full time nav currently I'm on iPhone using copilot truck it can be running for up to 15 hours a day and it's totally reliable
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currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

mini7racer · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Posts: 25

it looks like the iphone is the way to go then, I just need to find a good hands free kit that will allow the satnav directions to come through the car speakers (the xlink ipod kit i have got luckly for a very cheap price has the option of a bluetooth unit for handsfree calling, but abit of digging on the net shows it only actually works when I am listening to the music on my iphone.. if I have the radio on it wont mute it etc.. so its pretty useless as I listen to the radio quite a bit too)

cheers guys, now off to see what hands free kits will work with nav

Andy_P · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject:

Darren · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:58 pm Post subject:

Or it just imitates hands-free? Most head units will mute if they support a hands-free input?
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Darren Griffin

mikealder · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:14 pm Post subject:

mini7racer · Lifetime Member Joined: Nov 17, 2006 Posts: 25

I have seen a video of someone using tomtom with the ioplay and it's looks to be nearly spot on, the only annoyance is the fact the radio cuts and doesn't just fade down then back up.

The unit as I am using now just fades the song down tells me the direction then fades back up again, but like I have said this only works when playing music via the lead, if the radios on the satnav says nothing unless I unplug it,

It would be brill if I could find the perfect solution to this,

Darren · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:33 am Post subject:

I can't seem to find iOPlay for sale at the moment, is it being replaced with a new model?
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Darren Griffin

mikealder · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:45 am Post subject:

£70 for a new one from the "bay" but I don't think they are too easy to find these days, used to be stocked by Halfords etc but I guess it's only end of line clearances that are available these days from a few outlets - Mike

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