Community Forums

Wolfpack Fan · 01-21-2012, 08:22 AM

We're going to do a little traveling this summer with our motorhome and I'm wanting a to use my ipad for navigation. I know there are several different apps that can work. Does anyone here have experience with one they've used and been very pleased with.

CapnMorgan · 01-21-2012, 08:48 AM

I am curious about this as well, from a different angle. If you were purchasing new, would you purchase a dedicated gps (tom tom, garmin) or move to ipad/iphone/android. Are the trucking/rv applications better on the dedicated devices? Are the dedicated devices at the end of their evolutionary life cycle? I know that the trucking app that tells you what route to take if you have a big motorhome (low bridges) cost about $150 for the ipad. Is this the same data that is on the dedicated gps?

BBQTVpa · 01-21-2012, 09:05 AM

The Magellan dedicated GPS (9146T Pro) has issues with sound and updates, as an FYI. It also has ads for hotels that are annoying. They have came out with a RV9145 for the RV's which is not on the market yet, so I cannot talk about that. They do however have bluetooth on them. I would say there are pros and cons to both the apps and the dedicated GPs. Powering mobiles devices being one issue and receiving incoming calls. The data limit on your plans using a mobile device may also hinder your navigation.

JJH3rd · 01-21-2012, 09:30 AM

Here's the link to a Windows laptop version:
CoPilot Live GPS Navigation for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Mobile and Laptop

chuckinthebus · 01-21-2012, 09:44 AM

With the cost of the app and update price for the trucker version, you would be almost better off having a stand alone GPS with lifetime updates We all know the phone will never ring just as we are trying to navigate a new area, plus with the new laws regarding hand held devices and driving, the phone app may be cause for unavoidable additional delays to explain why your phone is in your hand.

PyrateSilly · 01-21-2012, 09:49 AM

Here are some comparisons and reviews of some of the GPS's out there for truckers/RVers. - Truck driver GPS review comparison and rating features - Garmin, PC Miler, and Rand McNally TND

As for us, we have not only our android phones with navigation but 2 GPS's (both Garmin) for the vehicles and a GPS (Magellan) for geocaching. We are now looking to buy the Garmin Dezl 560 with lifetime maps soon.

What do you want the software to do? Everyone is different is what they want done so there really is no one right answer to which is better.

Possum · 01-21-2012, 01:55 PM

Has anyone used this
Street Atlas USA 2012 PLUS - DeLorme

It comes highly recommended by a friend in the tourism business but I was wondering if good for RV use.

lonestarace · 01-21-2012, 06:54 PM

Here is a link about ipad use as a gps
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/gps-i...highlight=ipad

Wayne M · 01-22-2012, 09:04 AM

The iPad comes with a mapping program built in. My DW uses it exclusively when we are traveling to check TomTom. On a few occasions we have used the iPad vice the TomTom because we/she liked the route. It has worked for her.

My brother uses his 1st generation iPad with the Motion X GPS app. He stated that it works very well for him up in Yankee land. There are two price versions, $1.99 and 2.99. You must have Wifi or 3G for the iPad to work, whereas a regular GPS device works off satellite.

450Donn · 01-22-2012, 09:10 AM

My Android phone has two built in apps for navigation. Both use Google maps as their base line, so they are as accurate as anything else on the market.

docj · 01-22-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PyrateSilly

As for us, we have not only our android phones with navigation but 2 GPS's (both Garmin) for the vehicles and a GPS (Magellan) for geocaching. We are now looking to buy the Garmin Dezl 560 with lifetime maps soon.

What do you want the software to do? Everyone is different is what they want done so there really is no one right answer to which is better.

We're in a similar situation with two Android phones that can do turn by turn navigation and two Garmins including the trucker 465T. We bought the Garmins before we had the phones and I think that one day the phones will be good enough to make standalone GPS units unnecessary.

However, I don't think that the time is yet right to discard handheld GPS, not as long as phones require continuous connection to the cellular network in order to provide directions. We often use the phones as GPS devices because it is so nice to be able to go directly from a restaurant website, for example, to directions to get to it. However, not all that infrequently while we are enroute to the location the phone will momentarily lose its data connection (not necessarily lose the entire cellular network). Usually, that's not a big deal, but I would hate to be in the middle of nowhere when Verizon has a "bad day" as they have had a couple of times in the last month.

Wolfpack Fan · 01-22-2012, 11:03 AM

I purchased an app for my ipad that I'm impressed with so far. It's called Sygic USA. It was $20 and uses a little over 1 gig of Tomtom maps that it downloaded. I got a couple more downloads for it for $.99 a piece. One is a city guide that has detailed information about hundreds of major cities. The other add on is 3D cities and that has a city landscape. It shows 3D images with buildings of hundreds of cities.

I haven't tested it on the road yet, but I'm pretty impressed with it so far. It does not need an active internet connection to navigate with. My ipad 1 has all the bells and whistles, but I don't want to pay AT&T for the internet connectivity.

I had downloaded another GPS program for the ipad, Motion X HD, but it wouldn't work without internet connectivity, so it was a waste of $2.99 for me.

I'm going to test it today on a short drive into town for some shopping. I'll post back on how well it does.

Someone mentioned that ipad has a built in mapping program. I didn't know that. What's the name of the app?

PyrateSilly · 01-22-2012, 11:04 AM

Oh docj the GPS's can lose sattelites too for a few mins. You still have your route but it is not tracking and let's hope you don't have lots of turns in there to do at that point. But you are right the cells will lose their tower connection faster than a GPS will lose the sattelites, and if the GPS dose lose the satteltes for a few it's not really that long before they get them back again.

Mr John · 01-22-2012, 05:36 PM

We have used the I-Pad App for maps a few times and it runs turn by turn with our Garmin Nuvi. It is the Map app that came with the I-Pad. My wife uses it and I watch and listen to the Garmin. I still keep my paper maps handy; just in case.