Does anyone have any experience of using their phone as a SatNav mounted on their scooter? I need a SatNav as I'm going to some pretty out the way places, but I don't want to buy a "proper" SatNav as my phone (a Nokia N8) does a fantastic job already. I could just use voice guidance (via headphones), but it would be nice to mount it so that I can see the screen too. Anyone done anything like that? Jason.
Used phones as satnav for years when riding bikes. Works great as long as your phones satnav is good enough to work in a pocket and when moving. Mounting it is a waste of time and a pain in the arse. It's just a detraction and if you have good software the voice commands are all you need.
Out of interest, which phones did you use? What did you think was the problem with having it mounted, screen size? OVI Maps is as good as gets I'd say, pre-loaded maps - unlike Google Maps which struggles to load the map quick enough (especially with no signal!) and "real" voice guidance, not computer generated.
I've used old symbian nokia phones connected to a bluetooth gps device, sony ericsson x1 with inbuilt gps and tried using my iphone with it's inbuilt gps. Always used Tomtom software as it's easily the best. The problem with having it mounted is you don't actually ever have to look at it to get the directions you need. Plus it's hard to find a place or a way to do it on a scooter. As well as that if it's your current phone it's probably going to cost a few quid so you don't want the mount to fail and it go flying or the weather to fuck it up. You need satnav software which includes maps. Something like google maps is useless as you have to have semi decent phone internet to download the map as you go.
i use wayfinder navigation on my sony erricson w995 works great although sometimes it decides to be a bit slow when the directions are one after another but then again its free and saves me 200 on a tom tom rider :/ plus i just use in ear headphones defo dont need the screen
TBH ive never used a satnav and ive done plenty of long distance trips into the unknown. I just go on google maps and get directions, spend a hour or 2 studying the route then once I have a rough idea I print the directions and go for it.. Yeh Ive gotten slightly lost a few times but common sence and road signs got me there in the end. Then again my father and both grandfathers from either side of my family were lorry drivers their whole lifes so navigation comes natually to me.
