Dedicated GPS is superior to cell phone fake GPS. Yes, they still pick up satellites. Which is why they are better than cellphone navigation.
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Anybody have a backup plan?
- Thread starter Joe Nerve
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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?
This just happened to me today man... drove 45 miles out to North Hollywood to pick up a case for my ‘98 Sterling that was listed on the cheap... anyhow, my phone didn’t give out but Waze did. First it routed me towards one fwy connection, then at the last second, changed back to the path I was on... unfortunately it was too late to stay.
It then told me to take the first exit, and as soon as I hit the ramp, service went dead. The next 30 minutes were interesting to say the least.
Reminds me of the guys who always carried a Thomas Guide... and I kind of wished I was one of them for a moment while trekking through small streets in East LA. Of course everything was fine and I wasn’t on a time schedule, but all the same a lot of unnecessary aggravation and time added — which would suck if I had a gig planned... these situations suck extra if you’re low on gas too, not knowing where the gas station is — that’s happened to me too in the past...
Anyway, just stopped in to say what a coincidence, brilliant idea, and good thinking. Have a great weekend
When I need a backup GPS, I bring an old phone. Good to have a USB lithium battery and a spare charger/cable in the car. I have two chargers in the car already, because I always seem to have someone in it that doesn't charge their phone at home.
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
Has anyone done this? If not, what's your B plan?
Sorry, I didn't read the whole thread but this seems crazy to me. Know the route before you leave home! Just mapquest it and take a picture or something.
I've never used GPS, I have it on my phone but never use it. If I'm going somewhere I check it out before I leave how to get there.
And what do you know? If I can figure out how to get there, then I actually know how to get back.
Maybe I'm missing the point.................
When I saw this thread I thought it was a backup plan in life, and was looking for the exchange, anyway, perhaps next time. No clue here what a Thomas guide is but it sounds exciting.
I imagine the OP’s question was, if all fails and you are lost, what to do. I would always suggest to keep moving until a highway re-orients you. If really lost, remember that the sun always comes up from the east. If standing straight you point your left hand on that direction, you will be looking to the south.
If looking to ask for directions, try to ask people with families, women, a cop. Always keep coins in your car to pay tolls and use a public phone (if you find one as they are species in extinction).
I imagine the OP’s question was, if all fails and you are lost, what to do. I would always suggest to keep moving until a highway re-orients you. If really lost, remember that the sun always comes up from the east. If standing straight you point your left hand on that direction, you will be looking to the south.
If looking to ask for directions, try to ask people with families, women, a cop. Always keep coins in your car to pay tolls and use a public phone (if you find one as they are species in extinction).
I might have posted this before but once my brother, who sometimes had a drinking problem, was out with his friends and got completely hammered and got lost walking the backroads looking for his car and called his wife. She said to him, "Do you see any signs?" He said, "yes". She said what does it say? He said, "45 miles per hour". He eventually found his way back to his car, BTW and survived to tell me the tale. But still!
Mapquest is static. Traffic isn't. Alternative routes based on live data can save a ton of time. And the info with Waze is typically up to date. Accident info, actual arrival time, speed traps, etc. Did you miss all of that?
I honestly didn't realize people still use Mapquest.
Joe, I'd study some maps for your area and understand the general layout. Other than a gig 500 miles away, most of your work should be within an hours drive (on a good day). I've been trucking since 1983 and rarely need maps or GPS. First, know where you are and where your destination is. Without that information you're doomed. If you have a general idea of your location in relation to where you are headed, just imagine you're in a box. The edges of the box are the highways or major routes surrounding you. Example: you're looking to get from North Bergen to Paterson. If you go too far west you hit route 287, too far east, the GWB. North is the Cuomo bridge and south is Newark airport. You know you must generally go north west, so you head up the pike to route 80, head west and voila! Paterson. If you headed east on 80 to the 95 split and the ramp to the GW, you'd have to get off on 46 and go west. If you took 17 north and saw the signs for the Cuomo bridge (or the Tappan Zee, depending on how efficient the DOT is in changing signs), you'd turn around and go back. Part of this whole thing goes back to preparing for a gig. That is how you make sure you're there early enough to set up, etc. If the venue changes at the last minute, it's not your fault, you get there when you get there.
ok EVERY gas station has maps and with you sitting at a cross street to use as a datum its a sure fire way to get home. or at least get your bearings.
Phone charger, extra battery for phone, map.
Ah, if the rest of the worlds problems could be solved so easily.
I sometimes laugh at myself when I can't get service for gps, and remember I traveled all over the US using maps in my younger days. It's kind of like counting change back. Either you grew up doing it, or you didn't. Younger generations see it as un-decipherable secret code.
Ah, if the rest of the worlds problems could be solved so easily.
I sometimes laugh at myself when I can't get service for gps, and remember I traveled all over the US using maps in my younger days. It's kind of like counting change back. Either you grew up doing it, or you didn't. Younger generations see it as un-decipherable secret code.
Rand McNally road map of North America is always in my car. Last one I bought was 2007 edition but it’s still accurate enough to find my way in a pinch.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
Has anyone done this? If not, what's your B plan?
This. I love my Garmin. Free updates, live traffic updates.
I update the maps twice a year or before any trip out of state.
The very first thing I do to any new phone is turn off all the location services.
Google maps (maps.google.com) does not require location services just to get a map and directions. That's my Plan B.
Use Google maps rather like the old fashioned kind. Look where I am going, note major roads and towns. If I am headed from Plattsburgh to Rochester- If I get to Buffalo have gone too far.(Ha)
I DO usually check my route and save it but as mentioned before, usually only the last mile is of consequence on the GPS directions. Pre GPS, cell phone days; Hundreds, maybe thousands of Gigs, never late because of directions- always because: Musicians.
GPS has saved me several times though- especially with alternate routes when accidents or weather closed roads. Also like little hints about left-side exits, move to middle lane, etc.
However Google also likes to take you far off the beaten path at times and these areas are a nightmare when no signal. If I were relying on maps would probably stick to more major routes even if it took 8 min longer for a 600 mile trip.
I like GPS but drove hundreds of thousands of miles prior to their existence. My backup plan is a map and always generally knowing which way is up. My wife chooses not to understand so is always dependent on GPS for any destination, even straight up I65, 35 miles.
I DO usually check my route and save it but as mentioned before, usually only the last mile is of consequence on the GPS directions. Pre GPS, cell phone days; Hundreds, maybe thousands of Gigs, never late because of directions- always because: Musicians.
GPS has saved me several times though- especially with alternate routes when accidents or weather closed roads. Also like little hints about left-side exits, move to middle lane, etc.
However Google also likes to take you far off the beaten path at times and these areas are a nightmare when no signal. If I were relying on maps would probably stick to more major routes even if it took 8 min longer for a 600 mile trip.
I like GPS but drove hundreds of thousands of miles prior to their existence. My backup plan is a map and always generally knowing which way is up. My wife chooses not to understand so is always dependent on GPS for any destination, even straight up I65, 35 miles.
"I'd love to challenge anyone in my situation to do things more efficiently with a map than with Waze and a backup."Yep. We should forget cars, too. Then we wouldnt have any of these problems.
I'm astounded how many feel that maps are the best way to go. And the suggestion keeps getting given with an attitude behind it, too
I'd love to challenge anyone in my situation to do things more efficiently with a map than with Waze and a backup. Trust me, that's not happening. Not with the gig schedule and traveling I do. I have friends who shun technology and refuse to use Navigation. I get to places long before they do, and don't have to go through all the dangerous BS they do making sure they dont miss a turn or exit while referring to their maps or written directions while driving. AND, if I make wrong turn, I'm back on track in 5 minutes. I don't have to pull over, get the map out, turn on the lights, write things down, remember what I'm doing....
You guys are welcome to do that if you like. Its not happening with me.
After reading through this I'm doing one of 2 things. If I'm stuck I'll drop into a gas station and use their wifi to get directions on my iPad (which I mentioned is always with me), or I'll buy that backup Garmin that I spoke about in my first post.
Das all. I should probably get out of here now. I'm sitting outside of Joe Pops at the Jersey Shore - which Waze got me to w no problem. Ya can stop in and argue with me if you're around here and want to. I'm the guy playing bass
Have a great night, ya'll.
That wasn't the original question or thread title. " Does anyone have a backup plan?"
Yes. Not waze. Not Google maps. Not the broken phone. These things can all go down or be totally useless in MANY parts of the US. Just try even getting a cellphone signal along the Black River or sometimes the Ottaqueechee on Rt 4 in Vermont.
A backup plan is for when technology doesn't work. A backup Garmin is fine until you actually need a real backup plan.
Most here have given credible answers to your original question which was not
" What can you guys provide that is as efficient as Waze."
My phone is a phone. It's actually a smart phone but I pay for no data and certainly do not rely on it for orientation. I only use it to make phone calls and send texts. I use maps and mapbooks and before I go somewhere new I look it up on google maps if necessary, make notes and even sometimes print pages off.
I also go hiking off road in the bush with a compass.
I also go hiking off road in the bush with a compass.
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