Using a phone for satnav abroad.

[ws4936]

Just a thought for those wanting to use a phone for a satnav abroad.
Not long came back from Paris and was using the cars inbuilt satnav thingie. But as I'm planning on heading down through Europe in a few weeks, I thought I would test out my Navigon app once in Calais. I didn't want to roam, so I had my phone in flight mode with wifi turned on, as that's how I would probably use it on tour as I'm going through several countries so no point getting a specific sim. Anyyhoooo.....the iPhone wouldn't triangulate at all. Using wifi only meant I couldn't use the gps antennae and I'm not sure you can only turn that radio on in flight mode.
It was a good eye opener, and now I'm bringing a standalone satnav unit.
Might not mean anything to most, but if at least one person was planning on navigating this way, you may want to look at alternatives.

HTH someone.

Cheers.
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[........................]

You could have just turned roaming off in the settings and used the GPS as normal.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I used the Tomtom app on my iPhone 3G when I was cycling in France with no problem; as TheBaldReverend said, just turn the roaming off.
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[G]

As above - should have plenty of options.
On Android you can have GPS on, but GSM off.
You could also just take your sim card out.

[ws4936]

Bahhh....was too lazy. Anyways, live and learn.
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

[esullivan]

I won't repeat what everyone else said (flight mode isn't the right way to avoid roaming), but just to note that I used Navigon on my iphone in Ireland without any issues, with roaming turned off the correct way.
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[Marmalade]

A lot of providers do a package for use in europe.
For me, Vodafone do 'Euro traveller' every time i go out to euro, it charges me £3 per day and uses my standard tariff, so internet, phone calls and messaging all come off my contract so costs just the £3 per day.

As said, turn off roaming and use pre installed maps for cost free nav on a phone.
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[Casper]

Android? Navfree

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navfree.android.OSM.ALL

Install and download the maps for any country round the world. Free, all free. BTW if using USB or other power source from the bike beware that some devices will freeze using Navfree if its wired with the ignition.

[J biker]

If its an iphone 5 make a small investment in CoPilot (Europe) around £25.
Job done. No need for data roaming etc.