GPS IN EUROPE

GPS are NOT region specific, but their maps ARE usually region specific. If you have a Garmin you can contact them via website to purchase european maps and download it into the device for your use.

 

Tom Tom do one that has the whole world on it, be warned though it is expensive.

 

Got an iPhone or an iPod Touch?

If yes, I've been *really* pleased with "Navigon" navigation S/W - It ain't cheap (~$100), but it does include the Navteq maps for your "region".

I have the entire USA, but there's a different version for Europe - I assume you'd need to buy the Euro version but don't know if you can then "trade" that in when you get back here - I suspect you'd need to re-purchase...

Cheers,
Ian

 

The maps are usually pretty expensive. You might want to check if it's cheaper to come over here, buy a cheap navi (which obviously has all the Euro maps) and use it. You might even sell it on Ebay afterwards.

 

One problem with the GPS in the iPhone is that you need internet access to really get it to work. My iPhone GPS didn't work at all in Europe until I finally found some free Wifi in Rome and could let the Maps App load in my location. I even had offline map application on my phone, but they didn't work.

 

Good to hear you are finally getting a chance to drive it.

 

100% agree. A new entry level model will most likely cost around 100-150 $. Just read the description on which countries the unit supports, as not all units support all of Europe (some support just the region you bought the GPS from, others support just Western Europe and some units support/include Eastern Europe too). Good luck!

Edit: Ps. Both Garmin and TomTom are recommended brands, you can't go wrong with either. And what separates the cheaper models from the more expensive ones (other than map coverage), is often extra functions and features you most likely will not need - so just go for a cheap one from these brands because you won't need something fancy to get around.

 

i'm leaving for germany this thu and will be renting a car. i bought a tomtom xxl 540s world traveler edition from amazon. it comes with usa, can, mex & europe maps. once i got it, i downloaded recent map updates from their site, i'll post my comments when i rtn in early agust, if you'd like.

 

Not true - Or, more correctly, it depends on the app you're running.

- Google Maps, Google Navigator and a few others do indeed need 'net access to grab the appropriate maps - Typically around your location of course. With Google Nav (and the other subscription based services) you can plan a route, and the appropriate maps are downloaded ahead of time. However, if you then deviate you're gonna need net access to get the appropriate maps to keep you going.

- OTOH, the Navigon app I mentioned (among others) includes the (expensive) "Navteq" maps and POI database etc - As long as you've got a GPS signal, you're good to go - No cell or 'net access needed.

Having said that, I'm pretty sure they're not gonna allow, say, one month on the US maps, trade in, then a month on Euro maps etc - You're gonna need to buy both versions.

So, I also agree with Florian - Get an el-cheapo Tom Tom or similar and donate it to some charity when you leave!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Offline maps that I downloaded ahead of time did not work. I had my data off the entire time, when I tried to find my location using the offline maps it just said could not locate. After I got internet working I booted up the Maps App, it found me and then the offline maps were able to find my location.

 

You're welcome! Where are you planning to go exactly? If you're visiting Germany, I maybe have some special insider tips on where to go

 

*Very* interesting..... This is certainly not the way it's meant to work....

My understanding/experience (FWIW )

- As long as the phone/pod/pad/etc has a GPS lock, we're good to go [No cell or wifi needed]
- This position data is passed to the app - In my case, Navigon & it's built in DB. In your case, Google Maps or Google Nav (?) and your pre-downloaded maps - That didn't work?

[Sure, if you stray outside your downloads, you're hosed for maps, but lat & long should still be available? [Seems Apples "Maps" knows it, but won't display it btw - How about Google Nav?]

Cheers,
Ian

 

Here is a link and the OP's situation was exactly like mine.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa;jsessionid=EE3D4621DBC7F3174A4A83C4FD02F53C.node0?messageID=11543527&#11543527

Tried and tried to get either coordinates or using offline maps and no luck. The second I got a wifi connection the Maps app connected and showed my location and the offline maps started working. For some reason the phone needs data to get a GPS location.

Another link:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=756869

 

Was just about to say!...

 

Not necessarily so, you would have to be specific when you buy one especially in the UK and make sure it has full european coverage as you can still buy them in the UK that has only the UK on it.

 

Hmmm..... It certainly appears so from those posts.

However, I'm (almost!) certain that I got a GPS fix in the wilds of Yosemite a while back when there was no cell service - Again, this was using Navigon with all maps already installed.

My "experiments" suggest it's faster to get a fix if it has cell service, particularly if you've significantly changed location since the last time you used it - I suspect (but don't claim to know) it gets "rough" location from the towers that it then uses in the GPS S/W (along with the time of course) so as to know which sats it should be searching for.

I can't test without a cell signal, and putting it in airplane mode certainly disables the GPS. I think I may just revive the Apple support thread you posted and see if we can figure this out.....

BTW, I'm not arguing with you, just trying to understand!

Cheers,
Ian

 

I gotcha ya, it was just quite strange and disappointing since I could not use the offline maps.

The way I'm guessing it works doesn't make much sense. It seems it needs data to get your location every now and then, but if you get on a plane from the US and then show up in Spain with no data, it doesn't find where you are. Who knows, but it is something to think about when traveling that even with offline maps you need to get data every now and then.

 

Indeed.

Just occurred to me - It obviously works OK on the iPod Touch, and that certainly doesn't have a cell connection - I assume the GPS works outside of wifi range?

I wonder what happens if I pull the SIM? That (effectively) turns it into a Touch I guess... I'll find out and report back.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Firstly, apologies to the OP for the unashamed hijack! "We've started, so we may as well finish."

The plot thickens!.... What I did to test:

- Turned it off, removed the SIM, rebooted (in wifi range, but didn't start any apps)
- Took the dog for a walk so as to leave wifi land. [Phone is displaying "No Sim" btw!]
- Started Navigon - Got a nice fix pretty fast, and all was well with the world.
- Exit Navigon and start Apple's Maps app - After warning me that there was "no internet" it tracked my walk *perfectly*.... It did complain when I tried to change from driving to walking mode, but it did do it and continued to track me.

What I can't do right now is take it somewhere it's never been and try, but I'm 99% confident in saying the GPS receiver functions and provides data without any cell/data connection.....

I'm not sure that helps you at all, but I'm starting to suspect something may be broken on your phone - In fact, vague bells are ringing about this being a "known issue" (?) - Got an Apple store nearby? I don't recall for sure, but believe they can test it and have indeed replaced a few for this reason. (?)

Cheers,
Ian
PS - This is OS4 btw - You?

 

I bought a Garmin a few years ago in Italy and it worked flawlessly. Last month I brought it to Ireland and had I not read a map before leaving it would have taken me way out of my way. They had built a new highway linking Galway to Dublin. Which, by the way, is one of the best roads I have driven on.