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ok, likely a dumb question. But when we take our trips from SC back to WI and travel thru the mountains in NC/TN, we often have little to no cell service. But our gps unit works fine (same for our sat radio).
So if there is no cell service, how would the phone handle constant traffic/road updates when needed?
ok, likely a dumb question. But when we take our trips from SC back to WI and travel thru the mountains in NC/TN, we often have little to no cell service. But our gps unit works fine (same for our sat radio).
So if there is no cell service, how would the phone handle constant traffic/road updates when needed?
Google now allows you to pre-load the maps you need (but you have to remember to do it). That will handle the situations where you do not have cell coverage. The phones have their own GPS sensors - so they will know where you are regardless of cell phone coverage.
ok, likely a dumb question. But when we take our trips from SC back to WI and travel thru the mountains in NC/TN, we often have little to no cell service. But our gps unit works fine (same for our sat radio).
So if there is no cell service, how would the phone handle constant traffic/road updates when needed?
Ranger ~~ this a general and semi-informed comment, but since I live in this area the carrier that seems to have a lock around here is Verizon. While that doesn't guarantee a signal for all of your WNC/TN trip (26?), I can tell you it is likely that if you are using a carrier other than Verizon your chances of getting a signal are slim.
Google now allows you to pre-load the maps you need (but you have to remember to do it). That will handle the situations where you do not have cell coverage. The phones have their own GPS sensors - so they will know where you are regardless of cell phone coverage.
Sorry this makes no sense, how can "they" know where you are with no phone coverage????
Yes you can see a map, but you cannot see your position without a signal while driving, am I missing something?
We travel back and forth across the country frequently using a Garmin I bought about 4 years ago with free lifetime updates. Cost as $139.95.
It get us from point A to point B with ease and accuracy. The other feature I like is that I can take it out of the vehicle and put it into my wife's purse and she uses it for walking tours around various towns we visit.
Sorry this makes no sense, how can "they" know where you are with no phone coverage????
The same way any other GPS unit does.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 28173
Yes you can see a map, but you cannot see your position without a signal while driving, am I missing something?
Yes, the GPS function in smartphones does not use towers to pinpoint your location, at least not for GPS services used by apps. It uses GPS satellite signals just as standalone GPS units do. The possible problem with using a smartphone for navigation is that the map data is typically buffered in near-real time via the cell signal, so if you lose the cell signal you lose the map. But as hoffdano notes, at least one smartphone-based GPS program (Google Navigation) allows you to pre-load the map data onto your phone so that it's pulled from your phone's data storage instead of streamed through the cell signal in real time.
Google now allows you to pre-load the maps you need (but you have to remember to do it). That will handle the situations where you do not have cell coverage. The phones have their own GPS sensors - so they will know where you are regardless of cell phone coverage.
It won't handle the traffic though. Traffic info has to be live. It can't be preloaded.
But still, how much traffic would one expect in a place that doesn't have cell service?
Yes, the GPS function in smartphones does not use towers to pinpoint your location, at least not for GPS services used by apps. It uses GPS satellite signals just as standalone GPS units do. The possible problem with using a smartphone for navigation is that the map data is typically buffered in near-real time via the cell signal, so if you lose the cell signal you lose the map. But as hoffdano notes, at least one smartphone-based GPS program (Google Navigation) allows you to pre-load the map data onto your phone so that it's pulled from your phone's data storage instead of streamed through the cell signal in real time.
It does not work like that for iPhone, it must be an Android thing...
Thank you!
It won't handle the traffic though. Traffic info has to be live. It can't be preloaded.
But still, how much traffic would one expect in a place that doesn't have cell service?
You're right. And I agree that traffic is unlikely to be a problem in an area ("the country") without cell service.
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