Maps on the phone.

[bcp]

I must not have been very clear about my "problem."

My problem isn't with using the phone and the map program, or the car's map program.

When I am on foot, I notice that I always tend to hold the phone in a flat and level position, with the map and phone oriented towards north.

It is from old habits using a paper map and compass. You hold the compass flat and level, and turn the map so north on the map matches north on the compass. I'm subconsciously treating the phone like a paper map and compass.

Bruce

 

[Jstpssng]

Mine are set to keep direction of travel up.

I set mine so it stays oriented with direction of travel. It's much easier to figure out left and right turns while driving.

I must not have been very clear about my "problem."

My problem isn't with using the phone and the map program, or the car's map program.

When I am on foot, I notice that I always tend to hold the phone in a flat and level position, with the map and phone oriented towards north.

It is from old habits using a paper map and compass. You hold the compass flat and level, and turn the map so north on the map matches north on the compass. I'm subconsciously treating the phone like a paper map and compass.

Bruce

I prefer it that way, as well as when I'm using my GPS. Despite what the map tells me, I still want to know which way north is and more importantly, the actual direction back to my truck if the phone/GPS dies or the sats get scrambled. (Which happened on Sept 11.)

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I always say you have to be smarter than the GPS. Unfortunately most aren’t.

 

[ovrszd]

I always say you have to be smarter than the GPS. Unfortunately most aren’t.

What this requires is a high level of intelligence.

No offense intended. Just popped into my pea sized brain.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

A relative on wife’s side once drove an hour west to get to a road to go east. They could have taken a road south about 25 miles to get to the same road, and save 2 hrs. Don’t think this case was GPS caused.

Same person over 3 hrs away heading to parents house(interstate all the way) got off interstate and took backroads for hrs because the GPS said go that way. At least that was their excuse for bring late one thanksgiving. I find this one a little hard to believe.

 

[MossRoad]

A relative on wife痴 side once drove an hour west to get to a road to go east. They could have taken a road south about 25 miles to get to the same road, and save 2 hrs. Don稚 think this case was GPS caused.

Same person over 3 hrs away heading to parents house(interstate all the way) got off interstate and took backroads for hrs because the GPS said go that way. At least that was their excuse for bring late one thanksgiving. I find this one a little hard to believe.

We were down in eastern Kentucky a couple weeks ago hitting state parks. The way to the park seemed convoluted. When the GPS wanted us to turn up what looked like a farmer's lane/logging road, I pulled over and switched to the overhead map view. I could see the park on the other side of the ridge. It was going to take me the shortest way. I opted to follow the paved roads around the ridge. Took another 1/2 hour VS 5 minute estimate.

A couple days later, similar thing. We were trying to find some hiking trails by a boat launch. But the GPS kept taking us up and up hills, way above the lake. When the road switched to what looked like railroad track ballast, the road signs changed to Natural Resources Road 1, and a large logging truck came out of the woods, stopped in front of us, and immediately reversed towards us because (I think) he didn't expect a car to be in his switch-back spot, we kinda assumed the GPS was mistaken and turned around. :laughing:

 

[oosik]

I've noticed one irritating situation. If I program the GPS to show "shortest route" - you can, at times, get into trouble. It will lead me to "roads" that don't or never seem to have existed. More than once I ended up at a barbed wire gate opening up into a never-ending wheat field.

And like Moss Road indicates - the route up a driveway and thru a farmers yard is seldom the best route.

"Shortest route" seldom cuts it out in the country.

OK - I WILL use the Nav V GPS on my motorcycle. When I'm going into a new location and need to turn off onto a specific road. You can zoom out and it will show the upcoming road. Quite a ways before you get to the exact turn off.

I've NEVER used any GPS because I fear I might get lost. As long as there is gas in the tank - I'm never lost.

Bruce - with your phone held flat and everything pointing north - slowly lift the phone to a "half-vertical" or more normal viewing position. Nothing should change. Rotate the phone in that "half-vertical" position. Notice how the map and "north is up" changes. It's just a situation of use and familiarity.

 

[oosik]

As we all should know - the GPS unit will lead you to just about anything. Either by name or address or general category. However - there is one category that will not show. At least around these parts. How to get to a local brothel. It may just be that there aren't any in these parts. I wouldn't know. But I DID try and got a rather "tight-****d" comment back from my Nav V. So, I guess, the unit knows what I asked - it's just not programed to provide that info.

 

[MossRoad]

I've noticed one irritating situation. If I program the GPS to show "shortest route" - you can, at times, get into trouble. It will lead me to "roads" that don't or never seem to have existed. More than once I ended up at a barbed wire gate opening up into a never-ending wheat field.

And like Moss Road indicates - the route up a driveway and thru a farmers yard is seldom the best route.

"Shortest route" seldom cuts it out in the country.

OK - I WILL use the Nav V GPS on my motorcycle. When I'm going into a new location and need to turn off onto a specific road. You can zoom out and it will show the upcoming road. Quite a ways before you get to the exact turn off.

I've NEVER used any GPS because I fear I might get lost. As long as there is gas in the tank - I'm never lost.

Bruce - with your phone held flat and everything pointing north - slowly lift the phone to a "half-vertical" or more normal viewing position. Nothing should change. Rotate the phone in that "half-vertical" position. Notice how the map and "north is up" changes. It's just a situation of use and familiarity.

I've tried to instill in my kids my philosophy about being lost....

You're never lost.
You know you're currently in the U.S.
You probably know which state you're in, or close to.
You probably know what city you're currently in, or close to.
You're not lost, you're just detoured. :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

I've tried to instill in my kids my philosophy about being lost....

You're never lost.
You know you're currently in the U.S.
You probably know which state you're in, or close to.
You probably know what city you're currently in, or close to.
You're not lost, you're just detoured. :laughing:

My wife got this bumper sticker for me to put on my Jeep. I chose instead to put it on my toolbox. Much less teasing from my rowdy gang....