Question Best Android Navigation

[Yoshii]

Hello,
I have an Android based head unit in my car and it has Google Maps for Navigation.

I find Google Maps Navigation to be the most difficult, convoluted, anti-intuitive navigation system bar none.
I'm used to the glorious simplicity and features of Garmin.
Google navigation is just insanity. I can't even use it. I'm baffled that anyone has ever liked it at all.

Please tell me there is a MUCH better Android Car Navigation platform other than Google?

Thanks

 

[Mooncatt]

Those Android radios are generally junk. I wonder how much of your issue is Google Maps itself, or the implementation of it in your radio. On phones it works fine for me.

If you can tell us some of the specifics of your problem, we might be able to help you use it better. Otherwise you could try Waze, which is another popular app, or go with a stand alone unit similar to what you are already use to.

 

[Yoshii]

Those Android radios are generally junk. I wonder how much of your issue is Google Maps itself, or the implementation of it in your radio. On phones it works fine for me.

If you can tell us some of the specifics of your problem, we might be able to help you use it better. Otherwise you could try Waze, which is another popular app, or go with a stand alone unit similar to what you are already use to.

Thanks.
I didn't think about it being the radio since it's the app that's running.

so that I understand......
The same app can run differently on different devices?

A few of the issues are
1). it constantly swings heading for example every minute or so it will flip 180 degrees from the direction of travel.

2). Pop ups occur at critical stages of navigation promoting Google goods and services, blocking my view of navigation at horribly inconvenient times.

3). Unnecessary messages on the navigation screen in the lower left corner that are advertising and have absolutely nothing to do with my trip, route or destination. Insanity.

4). Frequent onscreen complaints of no internet connection (while driving) (The radio head unit uses a built in GPS receiver)

5). Random zoom levels that have no rhyme or reason.

6). Very difficult to use (if even available) buttons such zoom in or out etc. very vanilla.

This is not the complete list. It is extremely difficult (and dangerous) trying to drive and navigate with all this madness going on. It is for all intents and purposes garbage and useless.

I have resorted to using a Garmin Drive on the Dash again in the vehicle in question.

If all of this is a result of poor implantation in the particular head unit I purchased then that would be good to know.
Thanks

 

[Mooncatt]

I think most of that is poor implementation, especially the advertising pop-ups. The changing directions issue is most likely due to poor GPS reception because the internal antenna doesn't have a good clear view of the sky.

The no internet pop-up is probably because Google Maps likes to constantly update itself for things like initial routing, traffic, road closures and detours, time estimates, etc. There is a setting in the regular app for phones and tablets for offline maps that you might consider trying. You'll need to be connected to the internet to do this, but you can select an area for the app to download basically all the roads currently in the system. It'll take up a fair amount of storage space depending on how large of an area you select, but would hopefully calm down those notices. If you use this, you'll need to update it periodically to keep offline maps active.

 

[Yoshii]

I think most of that is poor implementation, especially the advertising pop-ups. The changing directions issue is most likely due to poor GPS reception because the internal antenna doesn't have a good clear view of the sky.

The no internet pop-up is probably because Google Maps likes to constantly update itself for things like initial routing, traffic, road closures and detours, time estimates, etc. There is a setting in the regular app for phones and tablets for offline maps that you might consider trying. You'll need to be connected to the internet to do this, but you can select an area for the app to download basically all the roads currently in the system. It'll take up a fair amount of storage space depending on how large of an area you select, but would hopefully calm down those notices. If you use this, you'll need to update it periodically to keep offline maps active.

I've downloaded the maps to the device a number of times but something either keeps deleting them or The Google Maps program stops utilizing them. Any and all advertising is Google feeds and is not arbitrary or of unknown origin.

I need to find a way to test the GPS reception. Maybe trying a different app.

 

[Mooncatt]

I need to find a way to test the GPS reception. Maybe trying a different app.

A different mapping app isn't going to help with anything. As far as apps go, a GPS testing app (there's many) can report what the radio is seeing, but that's assuming you can install one on the radio. Otherwise you would need to remove the radio and sit it on the dash to really check it, but most wiring harnesses are not long enough for that kind of setup.