i-phone as GPS and data plan -what to get

[rvwandering]

Our antique flip phone died and we're using an even older spare so it looks like it's time to upgrade. I can figure out almost anything on a computer but for some reason I have problems using even a simple cell phone. Before we go to the store and make idiots of ourselves I'd like to try to figure some stuff out. We don't have a GPS device and I like using paper maps so even though I'm thinking of signing up to get the GPS app ($10.00 a month) I won't be using it a lot, mostly for finding locations in cities. Is it possible to skip getting a data plan? Will the iphone connect to our hot spot? We don't use our phone very much so getting a smart phone seems like overkill but it's free if we sign up for two more years. Everything will be with AT&T.

 

[offroad]

Thee are GPS apps for iPhone that need no data connection. Do some research on which ones.

 

[caseyc]

Your questions are actually quite large in scope and requires a bit of detail. Without trying to answer every single detail, I will say this much. You do NOT need to pay the extra $10 to a cell phone company for having their particular proprietary GPS system. Unless you specifically like using say AT&T's brand of GPS app, you don't need to sign up for their GPS service. Almost all smartphones nowadays come with Google's free "Navigation" GPS app right out of the box. The free Google Navigation app works quite well, and has various features that are all free. However, you do need a cell phone connection to use the Google Navigation app. That means you need some type of data plan with whatever carrier you decide to choose. As the previous poster mentioned, there are GPS apps you can download that do not require a data connection. I don't use them myself, but I know they are available through the Google Play Store. If you end up getting an Apple iPhone, I'm guessing you can find a GPS app that doesn't require a cellular data plan through Apple's app store through the phone. Like you, I had used printed maps from Mapquest and other websites for some 12+ years before GPS devices became mobile. The one thing I hated the most (besides printing all the maps and directions) was the fact that printed maps won't "redirect" you to a new route if you miss an exit. With GPS devices (example: Garmin/TomTom/smartphone), the device will automatically reroute you to another different exit if you missed the previous one. There are numerous other benefits of using a mobile GPS app, such as traffic delay alerts, lane change assistance, etc. I absolutely love GPS technology and I was one of the early adopters. As an FYI, my first Garmin unit cost something like $650 some 10+ years ago, now you can get a decent one on sale for $59. Unbelievable! I will NEVER ever go back to printed maps. As an additional FYI, it's also a good idea to have a standalone GPS device such as a Garmin or TomTom because these units will continue to operate (on satellite signal) in the mountains or remote areas, whereas a smartphone GPS unit will stop working due to loss of cellular connection. That's why I always keep multiple Garmins in my vehicles because I always travel to campsites in rural areas. A lot of peeps nowadays (read: teenagers or anyone below 20) don't understand the difference between satellite connection versus cellular connection, and won't understand why their cellphone GPS won't work when travelling in the mountains or the boonies.

Our antique flip phone died and we're using an even older spare so it looks like it's time to upgrade. I can figure out almost anything on a computer but for some reason I have problems using even a simple cell phone. Before we go to the store and make idiots of ourselves I'd like to try to figure some stuff out. We don't have a GPS device and I like using paper maps so even though I'm thinking of signing up to get the GPS app ($10.00 a month) I won't be using it a lot, mostly for finding locations in cities. Is it possible to skip getting a data plan? Will the iphone connect to our hot spot? We don't use our phone very much so getting a smart phone seems like overkill but it's free if we sign up for two more years. Everything will be with AT&T.

---

EDIT: Additionally, another reason I use a Garmin GPS device is the ability to enter "coordinates" for longitude and latitude. That's how I was able to find the recent RTR campsite at Quartzsite. When travelling to a remote location with no listed street/city address, the ability to enter "Coordinates" in a standalone GPS unit works great! I have found from experience that entering Coordinates (when available) works more accurately than entering a street address. As a real example, the last time I went to a campsite in South Lake Tahoe, the given street address did not get me there using a Garmin unit. The Garmin said I arrived to the street address when in fact I had not. I remembered the website gave Coordinates for the campsite, so I entered the coordinates (instead of street address), and BAM! I arrived to the campsite several minutes later. Whenever I buy any new GPS standalone device, I always make sure it has the ability to enter Coordinates. Extremely helpful!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We've heard too many bad reports about ATT from fellow travelers. Lack of signal and lousy service.
We gave up on Sprint due to lack of service where we traveled.

We've since gone back to Tracfone, as it works out way cheaper and their coverage is very good. Sprint was costing $88/mo for 1 phone. We now have 2 Tracfones and by using their website we get minutes added to both for about $17.50 total. At this point, we're way ahead on minutes and have shut off the auto reload for a while. Might be as much as 3 months before we need to add time to them.
We also make calls using Google Voice on the laptops.

Most people we talk to who use data plans swear by Verizon.

 

[caseyc]

I second Verizon for their 4G LTE internet data and coverage. Not the cheapest, in fact, it's probably the most expensive of the major carriers. But then again, what good is cheap or unlimited if the service sucks? Rhetorical question.

What some peeps might not realize about Verizon's 4G LTE data service is that you can also talk on the phone while simultaneously surfing the internet. AT&T used to be the only carrier to make this claim, but Verizon 4G LTE smartphones (and devices) can do the same.

For myself, I can wirelessly tether my Verizon 4G phone to multiple devices (laptop and tablet) for surfing web and streaming media while simultaneously talking on the phone. Good stuff!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Casey, are you paying extra for the ability to tether or using an ap like foxfi??

 

[caseyc]

Hi Jay!

My situation is different versus others. I still have my original (grandfathered) unlimited 4G LTE data plan by Verizon before they cancelled their unlimited data in the same way AT&T did.

That means I don't have to worry about overage charges if going past say a 2, 4, 6+ GB tiered plan. Therefore I don't worry about how much data I use.

If I didn't have unlimited data and only have a small data plan, then I'd have to worry about paying something like $10 for each 1GB over my monthly allotment.

As for Foxfi, this Android app allows me to use the mobile wifi hotspot feature on my Verizon Android smartphone with-OUT having to pay Verizon the normal $30 monthly fee for the service.

Actually, anyone can elect to pay Verizon the optional $30 fee for activating a smartphone's mobile wifi hotspot feature (assuming if the phone is capable of this). But as soon as a user goes over a certain data plan limit, there will be an overage fee per each gigabyte over the limit.

For a Verizon customer with an Android smartphone, a user can pay the flat $8 fee for the Foxfi app (through the phone's Google Playstore app), and use the "un-authorized" wifi tethering service. This would effectively bypass paying Verizon the normal $30 monthly fee for the hotspot feature. But again, keep in mind that if a user doesn't have unlimited data (which most people don't unless grandfathered), there will be an overage fee for going over whatever monthly GB plan limit.

I realize there are multiple variables involved with the above scenario, but hopefully all that made sense.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Thanks Casey...I remembered you telling me about your plan. I wanted you to explain it here since you're up on all that stuff.

 

[caseyc]

Welcome, Jay! For those who are able to use the Android app called Foxfi, it's still a useful app even if the user doesn't have an unlimited plan. There are times when someone might want to have say 20 minutes of internet tethering from smartphone to laptop (or tablet) in order to do (secured) online banking or checking of emails, or to send/receive files. When done, simply turn off the wifi tethering so it won't eat up any more of one's limited (tiered) data plan. Say I'm at the beach by the ocean (yes, I actually do go to the beach regularly), and I want to do some serious computing through my laptop. I simply turn on my Foxfi app which emits a wifi signal to any of my devices, and bam, I'm online with my laptop or tablet or whatever. In my case, I can leave on my wifi signal indefinitely since I (still) have Verizon's unlimited internet plan. But for someone with a limited data plan, just turn off the sucker when your task is completed.

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By the way, if a user wants to pay the "legitimate" way for "authorized" wifi tethering, say for an iPhone, simply sign up for the carrier's mobile wifi hotspot for whatever their monthly fee is based on usage. Each carrier has this feature for their smartphones whether for an Android phone or an Apple iPhone.

 

[rvwandering]

Thanks for all of the information Casey and Jay. We've actually had very good service and coverage with AT&T. We've had it for years and the customer service was awful and the coverage wasn't that good either but in the last few years it's improved tremendously so we'll probably stay with them for internet. But for phone service and GPS it looks like the best way to go would be to cancel our phone service with AT&T ( we hardly ever use our monthly minutes ) and get a Tracphone and a standalone GPS.

Thanks again!

 

[highdesertranger]

remember gps on a cell phone is not true gps. it only works where you can get coverage from three towers so it can triangulate your position. in the boonies this rarely works. I know my buddies iphone barely works for anything in allot places but my milgrade flip phone does work, but not for gps. highdesertranger

 

[offroad]

Not true high desert. You can turn off your cellphone connection and the gps will still work on never iPhones. Not older ones.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

T&K, you can check out the plans and all on tracfone.com . lots of their phones have double minutes, so one is pretty cheap to maintain.

 

[offroad]

I see if I cannot edit messages. After a little while. That's okay but interesting to note when I misspell words and catch it later

 

[highdesertranger]

in that case offroad, I stand corrected. my buddy most have an older one, that might be why he has poor reception too. do the newer iphones have better reception? highdesertranger

 

[offroad]

Will test it tomorrow and give honest feedback.

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks offroad. highdesertranger

 

[offroad]

Okay. Have the iphone5. The newer 5c and 5s should be equivalent. Turned on AIRPLANE MODE so no cell tower or wifi connection. Turned on the built in COMPASS app. It works fine with the GPS signal. So you just need to find an app that downloads your maps and you can disconnect while still using directions

Pretty sure this will work for the 4S model. Not sure on older models though.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have looked into this a little more. it seems like the newer ones have true gps. however you must have previously downloaded the maps of the area you are in or all you get are coordinates which is still ok if you know what to do with them. also several people were complaining about the gps chip that they use was slow and not to accurate without a cell signal. highdesertranger