Galaxy S2 as a Sat Nav when abroad?

[98elise]

I don't know if this should be in Computers Gadgets and Stuff, Holidays & Travel, or Sat Nav Systems, so I'll stick it here!

I'm going to Orlando soon, is there any way I can use my galaxy S2 as a Sat Nav, without huge data charges? I intend to turn the data roaming off, so I'd need to get the maps installed before I go.

What are the options?

[Tycho]

I use copilot for offline maps when abroad.

Try here for US, only £11.56.

Google maps will allow you to cache map tiles as well. You just need to scroll to the area you want, press make available offline and follow the instructions.

Personally I would get copilot as it has POIs offline which I don't think is available in Google Maps when I'm abroad.

[zac510]

Why is everybody going to Orlando? Am I going mad?

[Alex]

CoPilot is excellent these days.

The only issue I have had using a Galaxy S2, is that when using CoPilot, the battery depletes faster than the in-car charger can charge it. So after about 4 hours, the phone dies (even though it's plugged in).

[probedb]

The latest Google maps app will let you download areas to local storage won't it? It has built in navigation.

[robmlufc]

probedb said:

The latest Google maps app will let you download areas to local storage won't it? It has built in navigation.

Yes but I dont think turn by turn navigation will work as it uses Googles servers to plan the route, although could be wrong!

[camelot1971]

Make sure you really turn the data roaming off as the charges will cripple you, even without the sat nav on!

[Pappa Lurve]

Depends on your network. Most offer roaming packages especially on data. Give them a call and find out. The other option is to buy a PAYG sim in the US with a data package on that. To do the latter though would require your phone to be unlocked.

[karona]

I use Sygic http://www.sygic.com/en on a Galaxy Ace, in Bulgaria. Maps are downloaded to the phone, navigation and route planning work without wifi or 3G

[98elise]

Sounds like copilot is the way to go.

[SmilerFTM]

Can you design a route on copilot before you set off so you can take roads that you want to drive on?

[SmilerFTM]

It's ok, I got copilot for my S3 now and you can put in a destination then drag the route around to take the roads you want. Just went for ablast around the Yorkshire Moors and it worked very well. I'll be testing it fully in September when I go for a1400+ mile trip around Scotland

[obob]

Does Google Navigation use data then, I am planning a European road trip and was planning on using my Samsung as a Sat Nav.

If you use offline maps, I assume that the GPS still works?

Thanks

[SmilerFTM]

obob said:

Does Google Navigation use data then, I am planning a European road trip and was planning on using my Samsung as a Sat Nav.

If you use offline maps, I assume that the GPS still works?

Thanks

Yes, Google uses data and compared to (my limited experience of) CoPilot it's not as good either. I'm really liking CoPilot at present and it will be getting a proper run out 4 weeks from now as I'm going on a 1400+ mile road trip from my home in Hartlepool and doing a big loop around Scotland.

[SmilerFTM]

Just found that on top of being able to edit a route with waypoints you can also save any route you plan like this to the phone. This is pretty much perfect for any road trip as far as I can see. My Scotland trip coming up now has each days planned route saved to my phone, I just need to load them up when about to set off

[SmilerFTM]

On a big drive today and just realised how much it eats the battery, plugged the phone onto my car charger and it's still drained it

[kazste]

Me belief is that most in car charges are only 0.5 amps and this will cause the battery to be used at a higher rate than it can be charged. You can however get 1 amp in car charges which should solve the issue.

[SmilerFTM]

kazste said:

Me belief is that most in car charges are only 0.5 amps and this will cause the battery to be used at a higher rate than it can be charged. You can however get 1 amp in car charges which should solve the issue.

Thanks for that, one 1 amp charger ordered. Fingers crossed it gets to me before next Thursday when I'm off on a Scottish road trip

[Alex]

I just ordered one too!

[djt100]

Get a 10000mah power pack, you can get them from amazon for about £25, and it will charge the mobile 5 times over, somuch easier then having the car charger just one of the misses haor bands to tie to the screen mount.