• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Using navigation program without charge?

B

Biffos

Android Enthusiast
Can one use a navigation system, app on the phone without chare, so without Internet connection?
 
Or if you are willing to pay for the software, but without using data, you can use software such as Sygic, where you have to buy the maps. I used it on a recent overseas trip. The user interface isn't great, but it was still helpful and worth the expenditure.
 
Biffos said:
Thank you Harry.

I could imagine, Play Store is this: https://play.google.com/store?hl=de

And there I can download NavFree to e.g. my Notebook, copy it to the smartphone and then install it on it and then use it. And I suppose I have to download some maps.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Start the app Play Store on your phone and Play Store will download and install the app in question on your phone.
Then you'd start NavFree and the app will offer to download maps.

BTW, as best paid offline navigation app I recommend Navigon :)

Harry
 
Thanks jae_63,

Actually, better not to pay, if the freeware app works as good as the paid ones...ah sorry, what do you mean by "but without using data"?
 
Biffos said:
Thanks jae_63,

Actually, better not to pay, if the freeware app works as good as the paid ones...ah sorry, what do you mean by "but without using data"?
Click to expand...

I have used NavFree when out of the country. It is OK, but I recommend that you verify the location with Google Maps. There have been times where NavFree directed me to the wrong location by several blocks. Since then, I search the location on both Google Maps and NavFree to make sure and NavFree has been off or have been unable to find locations now and again.
 
In the past, free navigation apps which didn't require a data connection were a pain to use, because you would have to do a lot of manual work to download the maps that you planned to use in the future. Apparently Navfree has solved this problem, which I didn't realize prior to my previous post.

Sygic was a good choice for me since (like Navfree) it didn't require a data connection while driving. Also I was able to purchase sygic maps for israel; these are not currently available on Navfree.

Also note that openstreetmap, used by navfree, is very good but is likely to have more gaps than commercial map providers. Read the reviews.
 
Navfree seems to be the only freeware navi software available.

The reviews do not sound that good, a bit or more inconvenient, didn't find the fastest route...yes, and verifying with Google...and these gaps...

OK, may be I just should try it. Is it possible to deinstall software without leaving remains on Android or are there portable versions availabe (I guess, there aren't)?
 
Biffos said:
Navfree seems to be the only freeware navi software available.

The reviews do not sound that good, a bit or more inconvenient, didn't find the fastest route...yes, and verifying with Google...and these gaps...

OK, may be I just should try it. Is it possible to deinstall software without leaving remains on Android or are there portable versions availabe (I guess, there aren't)?
Click to expand...

I do have some gripes with NavFree, but overall, it does an adequate job. If you are in another jurisdiction where you are roaming, it is the best, free option you have. It may not give you the best route, but as long as you confirm the destination is correct, it will get you there. I used it a couple of months ago when I drove down to the states and it did a pretty good job. Only downside is verifying your destinations with Google Maps.
 
The only oddness I found with Navfree when I used it the other day... I was joining a main carriage way and it told me to turn right. Now that would have been a good idea if there hadn't of been a massive barrier between either side... for miles! :D

So I turned left and drove for around 2-3 miles till I could make a u-turn and turned around and went back.

Other then that it will get you there. Just with a bit of annoyance mixed into it.

Edit: Oh, and I think it tried to make me drive up a one-way once, or was a no entry road I can't remember. So watch out for road signs when driving around.
 
The only oddness I found with Navfree when I used it the other day... I was joining a main carriage way and it told me to turn right. Now that would have been a good idea if there hadn't of been a massive barrier between either side... for miles! :D

So I turned left and drove for around 2-3 miles till I could make a u-turn and turned around and went back.

Other then that it will get you there. Just with a bit of annoyance mixed into it.
Click to expand...

OK, but I assume, something like that can even happen with a common car navi system. If I remember right something similar has happened to me either.

Edit: Oh, and I think it tried to make me drive up a one-way once, or was a no entry road I can't remember. So watch out for road signs when driving around.
Click to expand...
Well, good, so I just will have a look at some of these road signs sometimes, anyway.
 
Biffos said:
OK, but I assume, something like that can even happen with a common car navi system. If I remember right something similar has happened to me either.
Click to expand...

I've encountered errors in all mapping apps I have used. Nokia's Ovi Maps and Google Maps has told me to drive into bus only routes in the past. These things usually get corrected over time. Most mapping apps have a way for users to report errors on maps.

You should always keep your eye on road signs. You need to always expect that the mapping data may be out of date. It's like using paper maps. They are out of date the moment the are printed, but for the most part they are accurate.
 
I want to use this navi app on foot, the navigation system for the car doesn't work for this.

I've encountered errors in all mapping apps I have used. Nokia's Ovi Maps and Google Maps has told me to drive into bus only routes in the past. These things usually get corrected over time. Most mapping apps have a way for users to report errors on maps.
Click to expand...
So whether you use a paid app or a not paid one, they all have errors.

I do not have any WLAN or mobile Internet connection at the moment, I searched for a way to download the app to my Notebook (to copy it after to the phone), but that does not appear to be possible. And v
 
Biffos said:
I want to use this navi app on foot, the navigation system for the car doesn't work for this.
Click to expand...

NavFree should work for both.

So whether you use a paid app or a not paid one, they all have errors.
Click to expand...

Yes. I would say that Google Maps has had far fewer errors than NavFree.

I do not have any WLAN or mobile Internet connection at the moment, I searched for a way to download the app to my Notebook (to copy it after to the phone), but that does not appear to be possible. And v
Click to expand...
 
nickdalzell;[URL="tel:5851918" said:
5851918[/URL]]Surprised copilot GPS wasn't mentioned. My favorite offline GPS app. Stores maps on SD Card
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest CoPilot too. By far the best offline GPS if you don't mind paying $10 upfront for it with a life time of map updates every month and quarter.
 
Thank you Stuntman.

You're going to need some type of an internet connection somewhere. Not sure where you live, but in my country, there are many places where you can get free internet access like cafes for a limited time. You will need this to download the maps.
Click to expand...
Sorry for insuffient expression, I meant, I have a wired Internet connection, called LAN, I guess, with modem, digital. And so I didn't find a way to download this app. In my homeland Germany there are also some access points.


Once you installed the app, start it. There will be an option called upgrades. You download maps for different places from here. The maps take a lot of space, so ensure your phone has enough space for the maps and you have an internet connection. Depending on what maps you are downloading, it could take at least several minutes to a couple of hours. Canada is a big country and you cannot select one province or territory at a time.
Click to expand...
At the moment I have a Micro SD Card with 4 GB in use. Hope that is enough to store the maps I want. So the provider of the maps will be chosen automatically (or may be it is the NavFree provider or so) and I just look for the countries I want to install. The same here, if I could download these maps to my Notebook and then copy them to the phone would be good.
And I randomly have an open access point to the Internet here, not my own one, but very weak, so each time I try to log in to google and it failed, I have to enter user name and password v
 
Hi Biffos, first thing to do might be to purchase a WLAN (WiFi) access point and connect it to your LAN.
Then you won't need any work arounds :)

Harry
 
Yes, thank you Harry,

Actually I already have one, a router, but not set up yet. I am wondering why one just cannot download like usual an application to a computer and then simply install it on the phone.
 
Biffos said:
... I am wondering why one just cannot download like usual an application to a computer and then simply install it on the phone.
Click to expand...
It's possible. You can install an app with its .apk file if you this file.
Some navi apps let you download their maps via PC, not sure NavFree does.

Harry
 
It's possible. You can install an app with its .apk file if you this file.
Click to expand...
Yes, sorry, I forgot to mention, I meant the apps on Play Store or the ones from other providers, Samsung or so, I did it with this one AndroidPdfViewer_1_0_1.apk (Polaris Vierwer seems to be much better), I downloaded it to the Notebook, copied it to the phone and installed it. But I even cannot download NavFree without being connect to the Net with the phone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom