Nokia Maps/GPS - any good?

skyd0g

My phone is due for renewal and I am thinking that some of the new phones with Nokia Maps and / or GPS may be useful while cycling to find my way around / way back.

Has anyone had any experience of using these en-route? I was thinking of possibly getting the Nokia 6700, if this feature is actually of any use in practical circumstances.

...or is it better to get a "normal" phone & get something specific for GPS like a Garmin? :?

sods_law

Not on your list, but I have a Blackberry as my phone and use that with Google Maps (Google have a Maps application specifically for Blackberry's). Obviously have to check directions at junctions etc, but this only takes a minute. Works great for me

amaferanga

A Garmin (Edge if you want training functions or the cheaper Etrex Vista or Legend if its just for navigation) is still far better than any phone for on the bike. Looking at Google maps on a phone is quite frankly crap compared to navigating with a real GPS giving you turn-by-turn instructions on a route you have pre-planned.

I had a Blackberry and now have an HTC Magic, but have never used them on the bike because:

1) Couldn't find a robust and elegant looking mount
2) Not sure my phone would stand up to the vibrations
3) Phone is not waterproof and using a ziplock bag I wouldn't be able to use it properly
4) Battery life is crap when using GPS (particularly with the HTC Magic - 3 hours max)

My Garmin Etrex Legend has a proper bike mount, is waterproof, handles vibrations and lasts 12 hours plus on a set off AA batteries (and if I need more I can buy them in most village shops).

IMO its a no brainer if you're looking for a serious navigation aid.

Pross

My Nokia Navigator should be arriving tomorrow so will let you know. The Nokia maps without a GPS on the phone is useless though, got Google maps on my Sony which triangulates from phone masts and the most accurate I can hope for is that it shows me in the right town!

skyd0g

The Eltrex Legend looks good.

I was looking for just basic navigation - ie. Whip the phone out of my pocket & find where I am / do I turn left or right etc. The functionality to plan routes would be a bonus, although not 100% necessary.

...and as I'd be carrying my mobile with me regardless, I was hoping that the Nokia Maps/ GPS would be enough for basic navigation (rather than carrying two devices). :?

amaferanga

I think if that's all you're after then the GPS phone would be fine.

Having said that, the Legend Etrex totally changed the way I cycle - I can ride a different route every weekend and I never have to waste time at junctions wondering if its left or right. Its also great for coming up with new commuting routes through the city. Not really expensive and the Garmin maps are ahem widely available at ahem very reasonable prices

redwinnie

I have a nokia 5800 and it's great

1. comes with nokia maps. You can use this for turn by turn navigation. It costs £50 a year for the car option, but if you go for the walking option it is only £7 a year. the only difference is it doesn't work over 20km/hr, which isn't an issue if you know roughly where you are going as you slow down for junctions and it comes stright back up.

2. download sport tracker for free from nokia website. It records all your sessions and uploads to a computer. Also works very well as a bike computer, for speed, height, distance etc.

3. Google maps is a free download to, prob better than nokia maps for map reading but not got turn by turn instructions.

4. If you want to be fancy you can download viewranger. Real os maps on your phone with gps logging and route planning. This costs anything from £20 upwards, depending on how much, 1:50000 or 1:25000, mapping you buy.

I brought a 5800 cycle mount from ebay and it all works very well.

skyd0g

I think I'll have to get out to some shops & prod a few buttons, unless there are any other suggestions for GPS?

Runoutofgears

I considered the phone option but issues over battery life, water proofing and the training info available on the garmin edge swayed me over to the bike specific Edge 705. Works very well and has encoraged me to extend and diversify my routes which can't be bad.

cougie

If you just want to check where you are then the nokia will be fine. Having the GPS on all the time drains the battery though - mine struggled to track my 90mile rides.

skyd0g

cougie wrote:

If you just want to check where you are then the nokia will be fine. Having the GPS on all the time drains the battery though - mine struggled to track my 90mile rides.

Thanks cougie - I hadn't considered the potential battery drain while using GPS on your phone.

Doh! :roll:

Mark1962a

Also have a Nokia 5800 and downloaded the free Nokia Sports tracker software - its very good as tracks via GPS everything including speed, time, laps, route and elevation - u can the even e mail the file as a GPX to your PC, The workouts are all saved in a diary on the phone and you can review them all - I then load it onto my Sportstracks Software by Zone Five software and hey presto you have everything you need to analyse the route - with a fully charged phone it have used it for 3-4 hours and the phone still shows a full charge, I just shove the phone in my rear pocket after starting it - also have a holder off e bay but prefer to use my Cateye for instant info - The thing it lacks is the heart monitor but i have one on the Cateye. The phone is also a good business one with full e mail and everything a blackberry has and is a serious MP3 player with standard headphones jack.

The drawback is the Waterproofness if it is on the handlebars - but considering it was free as I have a £20 month orange contract its definitely worth looking at Nokia phones and if u dont like it then get a Garmin. I mainly just cycle routes i know and if i get lost i just pull out the phone and look at where i am on Nokia Maps or Google with the GPS as the phone handles several applications at once.

...

Pross

Got my Nokia Navigator today. It comes with 6 month subscription to Vodaphone's service that allows it to be used as a satnav in car and ped mode. Yet to try it but hopefully will do the job.