GPS navigation app that works without cellular connection?

**Casey Cheung** · 02-27-2013, 11:14 AM

I have a Motorola Razr Maxx phone as a backup phone that doesn't have cell phone connection anymore. Question is: Is there a good GPS navigation app that works for driving navigation without a cellular signal? If so, which apps do you suggest? Thanks! Casey

**SouthEastNC** · 02-27-2013, 12:56 PM

I'm not sure if Back Country Navigator Pro works well for turn-by-turn directions... I use it as a handheld GPS for being out in the woods out of cell service. You can give it a shot, has like a 2 week free trial

**bradenfontaine** · 02-27-2013, 01:15 PM

get on wifi, open google maps, save a section you want for "offline". now your gps will work with the offline map you downloaded.

**Casey Cheung** · 02-28-2013, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by bradenfontaine

get on wifi, open google maps, save a section you want for "offline". now your gps will work with the offline map you downloaded.

This looks like a really cool feature, thanks! I'm downloading a test map now. Do you know if I can used the saved map for GPS driving directions without cellular connection?

Thanks, Casey

**bradenfontaine** · 02-28-2013, 10:36 AM

i believe that is the idea behind the feature, havent tested out yet, but you can be the Guinea pig

**Casey Cheung** · 03-01-2013, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by bradenfontaine

i believe that is the idea behind the feature, havent tested out yet, but you can be the Guinea pig

Well unfortunately, I don't think it works. I tried using directions for navigation for some downloaded maps, but kept getting error messages. Oh well, it was worth a try. I still like the fact I was able to download maps to my phone's internal storage for reference, which is a cool thing.

**bradenfontaine** · 03-01-2013, 08:56 AM

the map is the only thing that will work, turn by turn directions will not, but you can use the map to see where you are, and where you need to be, better than a paper map and compass which is what i grew up with

**Casey Cheung** · 03-01-2013, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by bradenfontaine

the map is the only thing that will work, turn by turn directions will not, but you can use the map to see where you are, and where you need to be, better than a paper map and compass which is what i grew up with

That's for sure! I didn't use a compass growing up. But I did literally print reams and reams and reams of paper Mapquest directions! I was so paranoid about getting lost that I would also print directions from 2 other website sources, just to be sure all the directions were in synch with each other! It was a huge revelation when I first bought my Garmin GPS for around $600 many years ago, and having a device that would automatically re-route if I missed a freeway turn! In the past with printed directions, if I missed a turn, I would literally make a giant u-turn off the freeway just to get back on track with the printed directions, so lame! Nowadays I have GPS in my vehicle along with backup camera, plus a standalone Garmin GPS for when I'm camping in the mounains (with no cellular reception), and my Samsung Note 2 smartphone with its huge 5.5" screen for Google Navigation. Overkill, I know, haha! I've even paid $30 for additional GPS navigation apps from USA Navigon, and others. I almost bought one of those handheld Garmin E-Trek GPS in case I get lost hiking in the woods, then I thought to myself "would I really use this thing??" Haha!

**carracerz14** · 03-01-2013, 01:09 PM

Man I'm so glad I know my sense of direction. I will never get lost. All you gotta do is know where north is

Sent from my RAZR MAXXIMUS

**Casey Cheung** · 03-01-2013, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by carracerz14

Man I'm so glad I know my sense of direction. I will never get lost. All you gotta do is know where north is

Sent from my RAZR MAXXIMUS

Unfortunately, I don't know where North is. However, I live near the Pacific Ocean by a couple miles, and the sun always sets in the West, if I remember from high school science class correctly, haha. So at least I always know which way is West, which is the direction I should go to get home. :-)

**carracerz14** · 03-01-2013, 04:51 PM

Well if you know which was west is then you should know what way north is.....

Sent from my RAZR MAXXIMUS

**protaganis** · 03-08-2013, 09:13 PM

Look into CoPilot. It's in the Play library of software. Initial download is the nav software itself, second one is for the maps. I grabbed the North America & Canada combo (1.5 gigs) There's different ones you can get, like a Western mapset that will give you CA, OR, WA, NV, AZ... etc for about 300 megs. Plus the software is pretty accurate & comes with a 45 day guarantee on updates if you find a discrepancy. Turn by Turn voice guidance, Traffic avoidance (costs extra, but I think they have a year free for new users). I've used them for years and love it. I've also heard TomTom has come out on Google Play, but couldn't say one way or another as to their quality and ease of use.

**ghbishop** · 03-10-2013, 07:10 PM

NAV free works very well - I use it mostly for Canada but will work in USA and other countries.

**Imnutsnj** · 03-10-2013, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by ghbishop

NAV free works very well - I use it mostly for Canada but will work in USA and other countries.

NAV works very well, I have used it several times. It uses GPS not the cell network like most of the others, and it's free.

Sent telepathically from my padded cell via an HTC DROID DNA