Google Navigation works fine without internet connection

[BigG422]

I meant to post this a while ago, but about 2 weeks ago my friend and I went camping in the woods and mountains of northern Georgia. Well I was a little apprehensive about relying on google maps navigation with so many mountains, yes I know they are not huge but they are still mountains, and being out in the boonies. But there were many times we lost the internet signal going through valleys and such and the gps still maintained the position and the navigation continued without a hitch. There were times when it was about 2-4 minutes before we got an internet signal back. I just wanted to post this for people who may think google maps would be unreliable with no internet signal. I know this was a limited test, but I was up there all week and never had a single problem going to various different places we had never been before. Also I was amazed at how many times I could get and keep two bars or higher of 3G. In my mind, I kept saying "Yeah try that on AT&T's network."

 

[LifeIsABeach]

Google Navigation cannot get data without an internet connection. When you start navigation the necessary maps are cached to your phone (probably to the SD card, but I am not sure). That is why navigation continues to work if you lose the signal or get a call.

 

[BigG422]

I know that, the caching, but I just wanted to point out to people that the navigation will still work fine even if you are in a place where you are getting intermittent connections.

 

[gwlaw99]

Of course the navigation works, it is based on gps data not internet data.

 

[JP 5.56]

Of course the navigation works, it is based on gps data not internet data.

Not entirely true.

When you use Google Maps/Navigation with the GPS in your phone, you must have an active connection to the network to download the map data (GPS only tells you where on that map you are, it carries no map image data).

If you have the maps cached on your phone, when you lose your data connection navigation still works. However, if you have no connection and you move to an area that you have not previously downloaded the map for, you will not see the map.

Also, if you are using navigation with cached map data, and you go off course, if you do not have an active data connection it can not reroute you until you regain your data connection.

 

[Grabraham]

Of course the navigation works, it is based on gps data not internet data.

Yes, but without the map data it is very challenging to navigate via GPS for those of use who have not memorized the X Y Coordinates of the route we are taking .

I would hope it would function well in the scenario described and it sounds like it did. I assume it would not be as smooth if you were in a 'deadzone' at the beginning of your trip ie No Internet and you turn to NAV for the beginning of a new trip if you did not use nav to get there in the first place...

 

[gwlaw99]

Of course the navigation works, it is based on gps data not internet data.

Yes, but without the map data it is very challenging to navigate via GPS for those of use who have not memorized the X Y Coordinates of the route we are taking .

I would hope it would function well in the scenario described and it sounds like it did. I assume it would not be as smooth if you were in a 'deadzone' at the beginning of your trip ie No Internet and you turn to NAV for the beginning of a new trip if you did not use nav to get there in the first place...

What I meant was that: if the Map data is cached. I was just talking about the GPS portion.

 

[bwebber09]

I need someone to help me A.S.A.P.! My internet service is gonna be turned off due to me not paying it on time. But I have a delivery job at night and I use the navigation app on my droid 2, if the 3g internet is off will it work on an open wifi connection? Please respond A.S.A
P. thx.

 

[Nyteravyn]

Yes, just as an itouch will on wifi or iphone without a sim card installed...

Sent from my DROIDX using DroidForums

 

[bwebber09]

So if I take my sim card out will it work or just leave it in and open wifi?

 

[takeshi]

The cache works for intermittent data connectivity but if you're frequently in areas with no coverage you'll be better served with a nav app that stores maps locally.

 

[sarreq]

I meant to post this a while ago, but about 2 weeks ago my friend and I went camping in the woods and mountains of northern Georgia. Well I was a little apprehensive about relying on google maps navigation with so many mountains, yes I know they are not huge but they are still mountains, and being out in the boonies. But there were many times we lost the internet signal going through valleys and such and the gps still maintained the position and the navigation continued without a hitch. There were times when it was about 2-4 minutes before we got an internet signal back. I just wanted to post this for people who may think google maps would be unreliable with no internet signal. I know this was a limited test, but I was up there all week and never had a single problem going to various different places we had never been before. Also I was amazed at how many times I could get and keep two bars or higher of 3G. In my mind, I kept saying "Yeah try that on AT&T's network."

that would be because the GPS antenna is separate from the data antennas, GPS is satellite based. the problem with not having a data connection is that once you go somewhere outside of your cached map area, you can't download the new map data. so, carrier has nothing to do with it.