About to purchase Nexus7, but first a GPS nav question.

[Dirada]

Hi all,

I'm about to purchase my first tablet, and it will be the Nexus 7 . I would like to use it as an in car GPS, and given the GPS radio transmitter in the Nexus 7 this should be possible, but I haven't found a definite answer.

Using Google maps offline mode, would turn by turn navigation work even without a WiFi connection? I heard someone say that it will work, but you must be connected to WiFi when you launch the navigator application. That would be a bummer and make offline turn-by-turn navigation worthless. Anyone tried this?

[jrdouce]

I asked the same question.

You can red the full thread here:
http://nexus7forum.com/index.php?topic=434.msg2472#msg2472

But to give you a quick answer; I haven't actually used it to navigate any long distance yet, but it has NavFree does work away from wifi on test drives around town.

[Dirada]

Interesting... thanks for the answer.

I was hoping the Google solution worked:
http://www.google.com/mobile/navigation/

It says it works if internet connection is lost, but does not specify if it will work without internet connection at all (given that Google offline maps have already been downloaded).

[Reverse]

Afaik, the nexus 7 tablet's navigation works the same as the phones:

If you are in Wifi range when you are planning your trip, it will download all maps needed.  You can then drive to your destination and get turn-by-turn directions, even if no wifi signal is available.  However, if you stray too far from your original route, it will not have those maps downloaded and will not do turn-by-turn anymore.

My N7 is always hooked up to my phone through Wifi, so I don't really have a problem with that (unless the phone loses cell signal).

[frank]

I've tried Google Maps and several other free nav apps.  None of them are a replacement for my TomTom yet.  Hopefully in the future.

[strollin]

Hi all,

I'm about to purchase my first tablet, and it will be the Nexus 7 . I would like to use it as an in car GPS, and given the GPS radio transmitter in the Nexus 7 this should be possible, but I haven't found a definite answer.

Using Google maps offline mode, would turn by turn navigation work even without a WiFi connection? I heard someone say that it will work, but you must be connected to WiFi when you launch the navigator application. That would be a bummer and make offline turn-by-turn navigation worthless. Anyone tried this?

First off, GPS is a receive only system, no transmitter involved on this end.

The Google Nav app allows you to download some map data to the N7 so you can then use it for turn-by-turn navigation without the need to be connected to wifi.  If you happen to travel to a location that's not in the map area you downloaded, you will need to connect to wifi to download more map data.

There are apps out there that store all of their map data on the N7 such as CoPilot Live in the Google Play Store.  The drawback is that the map data consumes a good chunk of your on board storage. 

[onyxluo]

Google Map without WIFI cannot do GPS navigation. The offline map only is useful to map search when without Wifi.  For your question, the nexus 7 definitely can be a bigger GPS but need to purchase a GPS software. I bought my nexus 7 last month and purchase a GPS software named SYGIC. It works fine on my nexus 7.  One more things should be aware that GPS map data need a lot of storage space. I download US and Canada maps and it is almost 4G. Thus you'd better to buy a 16G nexus 7 if you want it be your GPS when you drive out.

Onyxluo

[arborij]

I use my N7 offline, for GPS, utilizing Nav Free, a free app on the Market.  It works great, but does take up some space.

[onyxluo]

I use my N7 offline, for GPS, utilizing Nav Free, a free app on the Market.  It works great, but does take up some space.

what's the free app?

[Diver4242]

If your phone offers a mobile wifi hotspot feature, where it will use cellular connection and appear like a wireless hub to your N7, that might work.

[silvercue]

I have used Nav Free to navigate around France, and UK.   Works fine. I always find route when connected to wifi and then it works fine.  Even if you deviate it recalculates.

If you get NavFree app - then don't fgorget to get the maps for where you want to go and also don't forget they do not come with POST CODE (think you cal that zip code in US) support - you have to install that as an upgrade.

No problems - though when testing it around town it does do some rather non direct roures - it likes main roads.