Google Maps and GPS Visualizer for .gpx generation.

[omega man]

My BMW Connected App on my old iPhone 7 works great, even if I loose cell tower coverage.
The maps are downloaded to the internal hard drive on the iPhone.
I run both the BMW/Garmin Navigator 6 (2nd Generation) and the BMW Connected App. And in the hilly mountains and valleys of NC, SW-VA and WV I have no problem having the BMW Connected stay connected and on the planned the route. Sometimes the Nav 6 GPS looses its satellite signal and starts wandering of the route by some distance, before it finds another signal, while the old iPhone 7 stays connected to whatever signal it uses and continues showing the route on the actual road.

Another reason to save, working iPhones. They also make a fine iPod.
OM

 

[mikegalbicka]

Another reason to save, working iPhones. They also make a fine iPod.
OM

And good surveillance cameras

 

[PGlaves]

If you are trying to find my house using your phone as a GPS you will be on your own for the last 48 miles.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

I worked in the Everglades as a fishing guide and there are big areas that have no cellphone reception on the road or on the water. Some of my customers brought sat phones with them for work if they were down on a weekday so they could be in touch ( think asset managers in New York)... So GPS is the only way to navigate the small creeks, rivers and islands.. I like my dedicated Garmin XT but I do use the phone for Waze and the Pure Gas App...

 

[PGlaves]

Sometimes it is handy to have a hammer and a screwdriver.

 

[kbowman]

Your phone doesn't use the satellites that your nav unit would. It triangulates location based on cell tower triangulation. Some include inertial sensors that can detect movement, but they're not entirely accurate, either.

For remote locations, you want a GPS. For less remote locations, a phone may work perfectly well. The advantage I tried to bring to this post vs. just "take me here" like most phone navigation does was to allow use of tools that can read a gpx on your phone, but might have less terrific routing abilities.

I've had good luck with the BMW Connected Ride app, so my intention was to find a better way to create routes than basecamp, but will still load into my Connected Ride App, which works great.

I'm afraid you are mistaken about phones and GPS. iPhones (and I'm sure Android phones as well) do contain GPS radios. You can get some details from Apple here and here.

Location Services uses GPS, Bluetooth, crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspots, and cellular towers to determine your location. If you still can't find your current location in Maps, close the Maps app and reopen it. You can also try to restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

As you can see, phones also typically get some location information from cell towers, wi-fi databases, and nearby bluetooth sources because it can be more energy efficient than running GPS radios, although generally less accurate. By default, however, phones do not keep map information in storage. Instead, they get map information as needed via the cellular network. This means that if you are out of cell range, your phone will know where you are, but will not be able to provide a map with that information. Apple has recently added the ability to download and store map info for regions that you select so that you don't have to worry about cell access, and I believe Google has had that option for a while. (I'm not a heavy user of Google services).

There used to be a number of apps that included map databases like a dedicated GPS unit. I am not sure why they are no longer available, but the last time I looked I was not able to find one for my iPhone.

I often ride out of cell range, so while I carry a cell phone, I also have a Nav V and a Garmin Inreach Mini GPS/satellite communicator in case of emergencies. iPhones now offer emergency satellite communications for use when out of cell range, but usage is more involved than simply pushing the SOS button on the Inreach.

Cheers, Ken

 

[kickstandsup]

Ok, maybe the third time is the charm.

The TomTom GO app downloads the map to your phone...automatically.

 

[bernieecht]

I didn't try to say that the cellphone is a good device to find addresses or locations while it has no coverage.
What I tried to say is that if I have a pre-planned route, possible made in Garmin BaseCamp or a similar navigation software.
I can use my cellphone to navigate those routes and to that or any GPS coordinates with no problem, even if I have no cell phone coverage or service.
Of course this only applies to public roads. I have no idea if this will also apply to waterways.
I have been told that the BMW Connected App uses the TomTom maps, but it will display a Garmin BaseCamp created route with no problems, for me at least.

 

[fcm1]

Anyone successfully integrated this to a first gen (2011-2014) K1600 port embedded in the console? I am seriously considering as an upgrade to my analog display… thanks
https://www.amazon.com/CHIGEE-AIO-5-BMW-Motorcycles-Waterproof/dp/B0D9Y1NYG6?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 

[kbasa]

I'm afraid you are mistaken about phones and GPS. iPhones (and I'm sure Android phones as well) do contain GPS radios. You can get some details from Apple here and here.



As you can see, phones also typically get some location information from cell towers, wi-fi databases, and nearby bluetooth sources because it can be more energy efficient than running GPS radios, although generally less accurate. By default, however, phones do not keep map information in storage. Instead, they get map information as needed via the cellular network. This means that if you are out of cell range, your phone will know where you are, but will not be able to provide a map with that information. Apple has recently added the ability to download and store map info for regions that you select so that you don't have to worry about cell access, and I believe Google has had that option for a while. (I'm not a heavy user of Google services).

There used to be a number of apps that included map databases like a dedicated GPS unit. I am not sure why they are no longer available, but the last time I looked I was not able to find one for my iPhone.

I often ride out of cell range, so while I carry a cell phone, I also have a Nav V and a Garmin Inreach Mini GPS/satellite communicator in case of emergencies. iPhones now offer emergency satellite communications for use when out of cell range, but usage is more involved than simply pushing the SOS button on the Inreach.

Cheers, Ken

Thank you. Greatly appreciate the clarification.