Anybody have a backup plan?

[Joe Nerve]

Nevermind and thanks.

I got the answers I was hoping for.




And I'll cut/paste and add because only few will see it at post 194:

My apologies.

I realize looking back that my original post WASN'T clear, and I therefore got defensive about some of the responses. My title was deliberated, but my opening post was vague and then I just started reacting to responses and explaining why they didn't apply.

I goofed.

And I'm out of here now.

 

[hbabels]

Are you talking about your phone battery dying ? In that case why not just a car charger ?
If you mean your phone totally breaking then maybe an iPad or other tablet ?
If it has a cellular connection you’re good to go. If WiFi only then you can still download google maps and save certain cities in the offline so you can access online or off. And even save the route / turn direction. If your offline you don’t get the voice directions but still the list of turns / exits etc and the gps still works with no internet connection.

Saving maps offline also helps overseas where data rates are expensive !


If you want a dedicated gps I see then advertised at truck stops so they’re still around.
Hope This helps.

 

[pacojas]

i have a backup phone

 

[bholder]

Me, I would just drive home. I can almost always work things out, especially within 2 hours of home (good sense of direction).

But my phone is my backup plan, my main nav is the one built in to the car. I don't use it much, either, usually just to track battery usage vs. trip length rather than for actual directions.

 

[Oddly]

There used to be these things called maps.
Big sheets of paper with a picture of an area...


As for the phone, if I know I'm likely to be out for longer than a charge, I usually bring one of those powerblocks and a charging cable.

 

[Passinwind]

For driving directions?

What would you do if you were 2 hours from home at 2AM, in the middle of nowhere, and your phone crapped out?

I drive all over the place for my gigs, and rarely know anymore where I am or how I got there. After my phone dying on me more than once (at good times, thankfully), I've become a bit concerned about the above happening.

My car doesn't have a GPS, and I was considering picking up one of those old fashioned Garmins or something. Just as a backup. I'm not sure if any of them even work anymore though . On Amazon, they all seem like the last ones bought were a decade ago.

Has anyone done this? If not, what's your B plan?

My A plan is to know where I'm going and how to get back before I leave my house. GPS actually won't work in some of the places I go to and I never depend on it.

 

[Dean N]

When I'm driving in unfamiliar places, I always take a full-size screenshot of the Google maps directions. And make sure I have a fast charge adapter and cable for the phone to minimize the chance of a dying phone battery.

I would strongly advise having a 50 state road atlas. And buy them every year or two... even they need updating. And have one of those big folding maps for the unfamiliar states you drive in. And they always live in the car. A map is useless in your garage or on your coffee table (I would know). Getting lost is no joke.

Water and blanket, too.

 

[DWBass]

I use a standalone GPS unit. Comes with free updates. My phone is my backup. I keep a charger for my phone in the car. I'm also pretty damn good with directions. All i need is a sign of some sort.

 

[lermgalieu]

For driving directions?

What would you do if you were 2 hours from home at 2AM, in the middle of nowhere, and your phone crapped out?

I drive all over the place for my gigs, and rarely know anymore where I am or how I got there. After my phone dying on me more than once (at good times, thankfully), I've become a bit concerned about the above happening.

My car doesn't have a GPS, and I was considering picking up one of those old fashioned Garmins or something. Just as a backup. I'm not sure if any of them even work anymore though . On Amazon, they all seem like the last ones bought were a decade ago.

Has anyone done this? If not, what's your B plan?

There’s plenty of places on the NorCal coast that have no cellular. Also we are constantly reminded of natural disasters impacting our infrastructure. Get a good old fashioned PAPER road atlas. That’s what we have.

 

[Ian McLaughlin]

Anybody have a backup plan for driving directions?

Fixed the title for ya.

Phone charger in car, ciggy lighter adapter. Difficult to conceive that you did not think of this.

 

[Bodeanly]

If you know your phone is on the verge of dying, google the directions and jot down the turn-by-turn. If you don't have a pen, get a backup pen.

You can get cigarette lighter chargers for most phones on Amazon for like ten bucks. Likely less.

I generally have a copilot. I don't think her phone ever dies because I've never seen her without it.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

My cars all have maps and/or atlases in them. No need for any other backup. Haven't used a standalone GPS for years so I can't attest to their usefulness now.

 

[Rogatien]

I actually go on Google Maps to take a look at my options before traveling. Standalone GPS I do use, but I like to see where I'm going first.

 

[Winslow]

The "backup plan" should be part of the main plan. Anything less is just half-winging it.

Also: Paper maps are still available, and best of all, they never need charging.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Thomas Guide!

 

[The Deep]

As an older person, reading this thread makes me laugh.

It also makes me sad.

Anyway, I think I saw a few clouds I need to go out and yell at.....

 

[40Hz]

Our car has a built-in GPS. We keep our old Garman GPS in the trunk. And both our phones can access Google Maps. So we’re covered electronically.

There’s also a bunch of AAA maps and some travel guides in the trunk as well along with various first aid and emergency gear.

What can I say. Old boy scout. It stuck with me.

 

[smokinjoe]

Garmin's still work. I carry a state road atlas. It shows the major roads but also the county and township ones.

 

[pedroims]

My son plays soccer national league so we are always driving to some new field in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois or Kansas. I use my phone to get the new fields, I never look at it just follow the voice instructions
but I never use it to drive back home.

There is Michigan map in the glove box. However , my rule #1 is to fill the gas tank as soon as I can on my way back so even if I get lost in the middle of the night there is enough gas to drive till the morning or to keep the car running in case I slip into a ditch on winter.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Just follow the signs to a major road and it should be easy after that. I usually only need the GPS for the last mile or the traffic updates and re-routes.