School me on using GPS/Google maps while driving

Forums: Gps, Cars, Driving, Cell Phones, Google Maps
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Have not used either before while driving. I'm a paper map reader. I have a first time smart phone with these apps on it. Am making a 10 hour drive this weekend and am going to try it out. I know how to get the route directions and set it up for audio turn by turn instructions.

Have some questions on usage.

It is a 10 hour drive. Does this mean it would eat up 10 hours of airtime on my prepaid phone?

If so, is there a way to pause it and have it use airtime to give directions only as needed without having to redefine the route each time? Are there other ways to reduce airtime usage while driving?

I have a car charger for the cell phone since it doesn't have more than a 10 hour battery life. Will the map directions work while it is charging?

Can I save the route on my phone and refer to it locally without using air time?

If I don't use the maps and just keep GPS on for safety since I'll be driving alone through dessert, does that also use up a lot of airtime?

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Type: Question • Score: 3 • Views: 4,438 • Replies: 5

View best answer, chosen by Butrflynet

@Butrflynet,

I use google maps everytime i hit the roads. I can help you with your questions. Being an android enthusiast i am glad to help you in any way i can.

The solution to this si easy as pie. GPS do not requires the usage of the phone company to work. The GPS localizes the ignals of stratosphere bounded GPS satellites and triangulates its position on real time. You can use it even when your prepaid credit is all gone, and even without the sim card.

The trick is to save the maps of the area you are traveling directly to your phone memory. you can do this in the menu that appears afeter you type a searc for a location.

I recommend you purchase a car charger or a solar power charger or an spare batery since you will travel a long way. It will continue working even when you are charging.

Voice activating directions requiere more batery usage.

Yes there is the option to save the route on your device.

GPS servies do not require aitime usage.

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@luismtzzz,

Thanks luiz. Let me see if I understand what you are saying.

Voice activated directions uses more battery time, but since you didn't mention it, it does not use air time?

I can save the map to the phone. In doing so, are voiced directions still available?

Since the trip is longer than the battery life I should plan on using my car charger so I can continue using the voiced map directions while it is charging?

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@Butrflynet,

Quote:

Voice activated directions uses more battery time, but since you didn't mention it, it does not use air time?

No, voice atiated directions is a feature of the app itself so does not requires airtime usage (not sure if i am using the world usage correctly). Since you can save your route previously to your departure at home the voice direction features also works perfectly on the road. I had use it a few times.

Quote:

I can save the map to the phone. In doing so, are voiced directions still available?

So yes, directions will be saved and wil be available.

Quote:

Since the trip is longer than the battery life I should plan on using my car charger so I can continue using the voiced map directions while it is charging?

Yes everything will be available while charging.

I have done this many times and it is fun. I also recommend you to buy a stand for the phone, those that can be attached to the car´s board, so you can concentrate on the road. Also do not forget to deactivate the blocking screen so the image of the road can be always on the screen.

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I am told by the folks at Tracfone that using the Google maps turn by turn app for 10 hours will definitely use 10 hours of air time. I guess I'll go back to paper maps for $3, rather than $25 for air time. 😢

Must be an app that is mostly for folks with unlimited airtime for a flat fee.

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@Butrflynet,

I think they are tricking you. google maps can work without connection. You only need it if you need to make an update on your trip. Example if you are midtrip and need to find a Mcdonalds close by.

I still considere is a fun way to makle a trip the only thing you have to do it manually turn off your data connection. Every android phone has that option when you pull down the notification tab (pulldown your finger from the top frame and downside. This way you will avoid that google maps uses your data connection during the trip.

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School me on using GPS/Google maps while driving

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