GPS/Map app that is not signal dependent

M

McAtheist..

New member
Do GPS/map apps like Garmin need a cell phone signal? Google maps is fine when I have a signal, but in remote areas (which is 90% of my state) I need a GPS/map app that does not require a signal. I assume I need to have the maps loaded to my phone, etc. Does Garmin need a signal to work?
 
Yep, Ovi Maps is by far your best option. Download and send maps over to your phone from your PC and then use it in offline mode. Everything works, except that you get a far smaller result set when you search for businesses and whatnot in offline mode and there is no satellite view, just maps. Navigation works, 3D building views, etc.

Based on what I've observed it seems to me that the Maps application actually downloads maps as you enter new regions (states and provinces or small countries) if you are connected so you might not even need to download the map using your PC if you're just travelling within remote parts of your own state - you might already have it.
 
like the others have said. you just dl the maps and voices on that handset before hand. then just use it like normal. no need for a connection. it's just that searching for the locations might suck, often times it's how you spell the street names and what not. but if you know your destinations before hand, then i would search for it in an area with signal and save it before the trip.
 
maker;14012096']I actually asked something similar not to long ago. I've always enjoyed Google Maps, but came up with the issue of signal dependence for whenever there is no signal. Ovi maps is OK, but it sometimes points me to the wrong location so I end up using Google Maps anyways.

For those needing a free solution with Google Maps; I figured out a way that you can "pre-load" maps into your phone permanently as long as you do not hit "reset google maps" under the options.

Now in order to use Google Maps offline you must perform these steps:

1. start up Google maps using your 2G/3G or wifi connection. (prior to losing signal or wifi of course)
2. Find the location you are looking for.
3. Start with an aerial view of the entire area that you want saved to your phone (a city or town, etc).
4. Once that area is downloaded, zoom in one level and download that map level by moving around on the map until you've downloaded that entire zoom level.
5. Repeat until an appropriate or comfortable map zoom level is downloaded.

To test to see that this works, just simply exit Google Maps, put phone into "Offline mode" then reload Google Maps and view that area map. The map tiles should be there and you now have offline Google Maps!

Problems with this method:

-Google maps may go on an infinite loop asking for a network connection. If this happens, try exiting and reloading.

-You will not be able to perform POI or business searches while offline since that is all done over the internet.

-If your App. Manager starts to crash when trying to uninstall software, try to clear the Google maps cache (Options > Options > Reset Google Maps). This will delete your saved maps, but it will fix your App. Manager issue.
 
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