Could you live without Sat Nav?

[V8mate]

I understood that a European solution was underway with a higher level of accuracy, so that we didn't have to rely on the Septics.

[Don]

King Herald said:

dibbers006 said:

There is not a wafer thin chance in hell that they will let the system go 'down'

It doesn't affect me directly in any way but with so many businesses and the 'Governments' relying on it. There is no way it will fail.

My whole company relies on the GPS system for locating our oil survey ships, so if that goes down, we are sunk.

I believe the US missile targeting systems use GPS. I doubt they'll let that fail.

Oh. I know there are loads of people who seem to have something stuck to the middle of windscreen so that they can drive "on instruments alone"... ...but Sat Nav is wonderful for those of us who have to drive to towns we don't know, to visit prospects we've not met before at offices we have no clue where they are. You don't need it to find the town. But it's brilliant for the last three quarters of a mile to the front door.

[ewenm]

V8mate said:

I understood that a European solution was underway with a higher level of accuracy, so that we didn't have to rely on the Septics.

Gallileo

[sleep envy]

Don said:

But it's brilliant for the last three quarters of a mile to the front door.

and working out ETA

[stephen300o]

No, I make James May look like captain navigator.

[Antony Moxey]

I rather like the pious comments about don't need one, what's wrong with maps etc. Nothing's wrong with them, but, like sat nav, they are merely an aid to help you on your way. I'd have thought it easier to plumb in your destination before you leave and let it do the rest - and no, you don't have to go down railway lines or into rivers - following it when you get closer to your destination, not religiously so as soon as you leave your front door.

Perhaps it's safer too than fumbling about for maps and unfolding them / looking for pages in your A-Z / reading your AA routefinder print out / scouring the tiny screen of your Blackberry while you're driving....

[Neil_H]

I don't have
sat nav
so without doubt
I could live without
but would surely die
without some pie

[Uhura_Fighter]

I got given one some years ago, I have never put batteries in it/charged it (I don't even know if it takes batteries)
I understand the use of them for farmers, shipping, millitary etc. so do not think the system will ever go down. I often walk the dog near a single light bridge and frequently see HGVs having to back up and turn around. All ways draws a crowd.

[HereBeMonsters]

Uhura_Fighter said:

I got given one some years ago, I have never put batteries in it/charged it (I don't even know if it takes batteries)
I understand the use of them for farmers, shipping, millitary etc. so do not think the system will ever go down. I often walk the dog near a single light bridge and frequently see HGVs having to back up and turn around. All ways draws a crowd.

Can you send it to me? I'll pay for postage!

[ewenm]

For those that "couldn't live without SatNav" - what did you do before Sat Navs were available?

I agree they are a useful tool, especially in cities you don't know. Of course, the effectiveness of any tool is limited by the intelligence of its user and as the various news reports show, some SatNav users are considerably less intelligent than the minimum needed to safely use it.

[otolith]

ewenm said:

Of course, the effectiveness of any tool is limited by the intelligence of its user and as the various news reports show, some SatNav users are considerably less intelligent than the minimum needed to safely use it.

If they can't navigate with a satnav, can you imagine what they'd do with a map?

I have noticed that it's much rarer these days to see people driving while trying to read a map - when you see people driving the way they used to do with a map on the steering wheel, it usually turns out that they're on the phone.

[stephen300o]

ewenm said:

For those that "couldn't live without SatNav" - what did you do before Sat Navs were available?

Sitting in laybys staring at maps, trying to figure out where I am and where I went wrong.

[Oakey]

Jgtv said:

Yep with out a care in the world.
I dont have one, I have a map job done.

So you're that guy in the white van that was all over the road and as I passed it became apparent why; you had a map unfolded all over your steering wheel and you were paying more attention to that then where you were going

[jbudgie]

ewenm said:

V8mate said:

I understood that a European solution was underway with a higher level of accuracy, so that we didn't have to rely on the Septics.

Gallileo

Yes, what's happening with that one ?

[dreamer75]

ewenm said:

For those that "couldn't live without SatNav" - what did you do before Sat Navs were available?

Got lost... frequently!

I can read a map and navigate fine, but my job takes me to unfamiliar towns/cities quite often (a few times a week) and I can't buy loads of A-Z's, or read streetmaps while driving, and I tried downloading directions from multimap etc., but they aren't always right and don't help i I take a wrong turning

[escargot]

I've never really bothered with using Sat Navs. I once had SmartNav in a car but the only time I ever used it was in the city and it was pants.

[King Herald]

Uhura_Fighter said:

I got given one some years ago, I have never put batteries in it/charged it (I don't even know if it takes batteries)
I understand the use of them for farmers, shipping, millitary etc. so do not think the system will ever go down. I often walk the dog near a single light bridge and frequently see HGVs having to back up and turn around. All ways draws a crowd.

I would imagine you could find someone to explain to you how normal motorists can find a very good use for them, if you really, really tried.

[MoggyMuncha]

jbudgie said:

ewenm said:

V8mate said:

I understood that a European solution was underway with a higher level of accuracy, so that we didn't have to rely on the Septics.

Gallileo

Yes, what's happening with that one ?

If the British get involved it will be delivered 5 years late in 15 years time and be 25 years out of date...

[Don]

MoggyMuncha said:

jbudgie said:

ewenm said:

V8mate said:

I understood that a European solution was underway with a higher level of accuracy, so that we didn't have to rely on the Septics.

Gallileo

Yes, what's happening with that one ?

If the British get involved it will be delivered 5 years late in 15 years time and be 25 years out of date...

IIRC its not going well with disputes over funding - it was supposed to be a public/private partnership thing but industry don't see how they're going to make money so...

My bet is that in the current economic situation it will be quietly shelved. The Americans have GPS. The Russians have a system, I believe. Europe wanting it's own was largely political.

[stephen300o]

Don said:

MoggyMuncha said:

jbudgie said:

ewenm said:

V8mate said:

I understood that a European solution was underway with a higher level of accuracy, so that we didn't have to rely on the Septics.

Gallileo

Yes, what's happening with that one ?

If the British get involved it will be delivered 5 years late in 15 years time and be 25 years out of date...

IIRC its not going well with disputes over funding - it was supposed to be a public/private partnership thing but industry don't see how they're going to make money so...

My bet is that in the current economic situation it will be quietly shelved. The Americans have GPS. The Russians have a system, I believe. Europe wanting it's own was largely political.

I heard there was a problem launching our satellites, apparently the elastic band snapped.