Sat-nav app options for a phone
Discussion
Apologies as this may have been done already.
I've got a Garmin on the Ducati (it came with it) , which is my first ever bike sat nav. Screen is too small for me, Id need reading glasses to fully use it ! But its better than nothing. Was considering getting a larger unit, but so many riders seem to just use a phone these days.
Even my boss at work, who has ridden more years and done more miles than I could ever hope too is saying he wont by another sat-nav, just use his phone as he thinks they are that good now. And he goes all over Europe.
So what are the best apps to use on a phone, and the best type of mount to protect my phone ? I know there are free apps to download, but I'd be happy to pay for something decent too. I've got 2 bikes so using the phone I can just swap between them
Cheers
I've got a Garmin on the Ducati (it came with it) , which is my first ever bike sat nav. Screen is too small for me, Id need reading glasses to fully use it ! But its better than nothing. Was considering getting a larger unit, but so many riders seem to just use a phone these days.
Even my boss at work, who has ridden more years and done more miles than I could ever hope too is saying he wont by another sat-nav, just use his phone as he thinks they are that good now. And he goes all over Europe.
So what are the best apps to use on a phone, and the best type of mount to protect my phone ? I know there are free apps to download, but I'd be happy to pay for something decent too. I've got 2 bikes so using the phone I can just swap between them
Cheers
I prefer TomTom to Garmin personally (I have both Sat Navs) & on the phone I like the TomTom GO app (I've tried loads of apps inc Sygic, Waze, Scout)
As for mounts I like the powered Quad Lock with the anti vibration system. Ultimate Addons is another case/mount system I've used in the past, but I now prefer the Quad lock.
As for mounts I like the powered Quad Lock with the anti vibration system. Ultimate Addons is another case/mount system I've used in the past, but I now prefer the Quad lock.
I use both a sat nav and a phone. Waze on the phone for police and traffic warnings and a Tomtom for route planning.
I've used both Tomtom and Garmin sat navs and would say both have their plusses and minuses and neither is noticably better than the other.
Our recent run around the Alps showed the issue with phone based navigation. An unexpected closed rooad followed by unplanned mountain road where there was no phone reception had Waze (and I assume any other phone based routing app) showing a blank screen. That really is the last thing you want in such circumstances. It convinced me that the dedicated sat nav was here to stay for a little while longer at least.
I've used both Tomtom and Garmin sat navs and would say both have their plusses and minuses and neither is noticably better than the other.
Our recent run around the Alps showed the issue with phone based navigation. An unexpected closed rooad followed by unplanned mountain road where there was no phone reception had Waze (and I assume any other phone based routing app) showing a blank screen. That really is the last thing you want in such circumstances. It convinced me that the dedicated sat nav was here to stay for a little while longer at least.
Most of the usual mapping app's on phones don't take bikes into consideration, it's literally A to B as fast as you can, which is great but us bikers don't want to sit on motorways, we want a good mix of twisties and some fast roads to get us somewhere.
To that end you can add your start and end positions and add waypoints (or stops) in something like google maps to create a custom route that will allow you to explore the roads we crave. However as I have found in google maps, when you reach your "stop" it prompts you to press the screen to continue to your next "stop". Not so great on a bike and wearing gloves. I think waze does the same from memory.
The best I have found so far is calimoto, but it is a subscription service, you do get a certain radius free I might add. It has a database of existing routes (bike routes), you can select a roundtrip route and you can plan a route with waypoints (no need to stop/remove glove/press screen), and for each section you can select how twisty or not you want the road to be. You can also create routes on-line which will be available on your app so you can design your routes on a bigger screen.
Those are the good points - I don't think it factors traffic or road closures (but this may be included in the paid version), it does take you down some let's say "interesting roads", single tracks, river crossings etc, it does reroute if you decide that's not for me.
In all fairness I tend to use a mix of google maps when I am trying to go from A to B pretty quickly, and I get traffic info, and then I use calimoto when I want to explore, go a little off the beaten track.
To that end you can add your start and end positions and add waypoints (or stops) in something like google maps to create a custom route that will allow you to explore the roads we crave. However as I have found in google maps, when you reach your "stop" it prompts you to press the screen to continue to your next "stop". Not so great on a bike and wearing gloves. I think waze does the same from memory.
The best I have found so far is calimoto, but it is a subscription service, you do get a certain radius free I might add. It has a database of existing routes (bike routes), you can select a roundtrip route and you can plan a route with waypoints (no need to stop/remove glove/press screen), and for each section you can select how twisty or not you want the road to be. You can also create routes on-line which will be available on your app so you can design your routes on a bigger screen.
Those are the good points - I don't think it factors traffic or road closures (but this may be included in the paid version), it does take you down some let's say "interesting roads", single tracks, river crossings etc, it does reroute if you decide that's not for me.
In all fairness I tend to use a mix of google maps when I am trying to go from A to B pretty quickly, and I get traffic info, and then I use calimoto when I want to explore, go a little off the beaten track.
black-k1 said:
An unexpected closed rooad followed by unplanned mountain road where there was no phone reception had Waze (and I assume any other phone based routing app) showing a blank screen.
Phone apps with locally stored maps would work in the same way as a dedicated sat-nav unit in that respect - they wouldn't require a network connection to function. Some online apps support caching too - in Google Maps you can download maps for offline use for example.For normal point to point navigation, Waze on a phone with Quad Lock and the anti-vibration mount is unbeatable. Waze wins solely based on the speed trap notification - even temporary or user reported ones.
Waze however sucks balls for a big ride with waypoints/crafted routes (like GPX). I'm still looking for an option here, but it looks likely Google maps or the TomTom app would be best for it.
Waze however sucks balls for a big ride with waypoints/crafted routes (like GPX). I'm still looking for an option here, but it looks likely Google maps or the TomTom app would be best for it.
Killboy said:
For normal point to point navigation, Waze on a phone with Quad Lock and the anti-vibration mount is unbeatable. Waze wins solely based on the speed trap notification - even temporary or user reported ones.
Waze however sucks balls for a big ride with waypoints/crafted routes (like GPX). I'm still looking for an option here, but it looks likely Google maps or the TomTom app would be best for it.
I create GPX routes in myrouteapp, save them to TomTom Mydrive & then there they are syncd in 'My routes' on the TomTom GO app. Turn by turn navigation on the roads I've chosen for the route.Waze however sucks balls for a big ride with waypoints/crafted routes (like GPX). I'm still looking for an option here, but it looks likely Google maps or the TomTom app would be best for it.
vonhosen said:
I create GPX routes in myrouteapp, save them to TomTom Mydrive & then there they are syncd in 'My routes' on the TomTom GO app. Turn by turn navigation on the roads I've chosen for the route.
I do similar, kurviger to plot the route, then export to Tomtom for turn by turn. I use a cheap car TomTom (paid £50 from ebay for latest model) in a waterproof case. vonhosen said:
I create GPX routes in myrouteapp, save them to TomTom Mydrive & then there they are syncd in 'My routes' on the TomTom GO app. Turn by turn navigation on the roads I've chosen for the route.
Yeah. Its just you then lose the user reported speed cameras that Waze has. I'm secretly holding out hope for Waze to add GPX support.I ONLY use my phone for nav and have toured europe a couple times now.
Data + off line map downloads with live updates etc make it brilliant
Google maps avoid motorways for simplicity
The one I really like for UK riding is Detecht which is like Calimoto but without taking you down farm tracks
Try those 3 and I think you'll be happy but the German one in my opinion is very good
Data + off line map downloads with live updates etc make it brilliant
Google maps avoid motorways for simplicity
The one I really like for UK riding is Detecht which is like Calimoto but without taking you down farm tracks
Try those 3 and I think you'll be happy but the German one in my opinion is very good
SBDJ said:
black-k1 said:
An unexpected closed rooad followed by unplanned mountain road where there was no phone reception had Waze (and I assume any other phone based routing app) showing a blank screen.
Phone apps with locally stored maps would work in the same way as a dedicated sat-nav unit in that respect - they wouldn't require a network connection to function. Some online apps support caching too - in Google Maps you can download maps for offline use for example.It's unlikely to happen often, especially if touring means venturing into the next county, but if/when it does happen, as it did to me, it can be a real pain.
I have only used my phone for the last 10 years, the nav in my cars is all out of date and over 10 year old technology. Google maps is easy and convenient, works best when you have an internet connection.
I do also have Tom Tom software on my phone, its similar functionality to their standalone units, download the latest maps. Its £14.99 a year, I just renew it each year when ever I have a longer trip. Think its £35 for 3 years. Still good VFM for ad hoc use.
I do also have Tom Tom software on my phone, its similar functionality to their standalone units, download the latest maps. Its £14.99 a year, I just renew it each year when ever I have a longer trip. Think its £35 for 3 years. Still good VFM for ad hoc use.
TomTom on a Samsung S20 here. The main selling point is the big, clear graphics that don't need specs to read.
Also, there is a sidebar showing upcoming stuff in the next 40 or so miles which is the biggest differentiator for me against the other options. Mine is set to show traffic, speed cameras (inc mobile) and fuel stations. Have toured Europe with it, so no complaints. You can design tracks with the web app on a PC and sync to phone which is my usual for a trip where you want to take in some specific roads.
Also, there is a sidebar showing upcoming stuff in the next 40 or so miles which is the biggest differentiator for me against the other options. Mine is set to show traffic, speed cameras (inc mobile) and fuel stations. Have toured Europe with it, so no complaints. You can design tracks with the web app on a PC and sync to phone which is my usual for a trip where you want to take in some specific roads.
For phone you need a rugged phone and/or you need to put it on a vibration damping mount, otherwise there is a good chance the vibrations will kill the OIS in your phone camera. They can also overheat on sunny days.
I use a dedicated Garmin GPS and sometimes I use Waze on a rugged smartphone if I am feeling paranoid about mobile speed cameras.
I use a dedicated Garmin GPS and sometimes I use Waze on a rugged smartphone if I am feeling paranoid about mobile speed cameras.
I use my garmin 346 and it's great. It's mounted and physically locked to the bike so it lives there.
I also have a quadlock, vibration dampener for my phone which runs Calimoto. The calimoto app is great for tracking a ride and sometimes using the random ride function but it's s
te as a satnav. Poor speedcameras and no traffic info. I won't be renewing the 40 quid subscription as I get everything from the garmin.
Two satnavs are great for doing ironbutt stuff.
I also have a quadlock, vibration dampener for my phone which runs Calimoto. The calimoto app is great for tracking a ride and sometimes using the random ride function but it's s
te as a satnav. Poor speedcameras and no traffic info. I won't be renewing the 40 quid subscription as I get everything from the garmin.Two satnavs are great for doing ironbutt stuff.
Iminquarantine said:
For phone you need a rugged phone and/or you need to put it on a vibration damping mount, otherwise there is a good chance the vibrations will kill the OIS in your phone camera. They can also overheat on sunny days.
I use a dedicated Garmin GPS and sometimes I use Waze on a rugged smartphone if I am feeling paranoid about mobile speed cameras.
Yeah, I had overheating on my my last bike where it sat fairly horizontal on the bars in the summer sun. On my KTM, it now sits much more vertical above the clocks, so not an issue anymore. Problem is now I have a V-twin there's a lot more vibration. It's reduced by the mounting being on the clocks, so a rubber mount, but still moves around a fair bit. If I was a regular user, I'd probably stump up for a dedicated unit and use bluetooth to sync live data off the phone's Internet connection.I use a dedicated Garmin GPS and sometimes I use Waze on a rugged smartphone if I am feeling paranoid about mobile speed cameras.
EDIT ...it lives in an Ultimate Add-Ons waterproof case.
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