GPS - but how?

[KevinC]

GPS is for Wussies.

Sponsored

 

[ShadowsPapa]

GPS is for your current location.
The maps are data stored locally.
If you have a connection to data - the maps for some systems like Waze or Google update on the fly.
If you don't have a connection, Google uses "off-line maps" stored locally.
GPS doesn't provide the maps on the screen, only the location on the globe in general.
The map data is matched up to the GPS location.
Jeep NAV uses maps stored locally on the "radio/NAV" unit.
If the map is old/out of date, it can be fun to watch as you drive where there is no road because that road was just put in and opened last month.
If it was Google, it would provide the current map using a data link, not GPS.

GPS is for Wussies.

We have a current one on the house so we can look up routes we may choose to take to another place other than what GPS might suggest we use.
Yeah, they are still sold, just like that.

 

[YGBSM]

We have a current one on the house so we can look up routes we may choose to take to another place other than what GPS might suggest we use.
Yeah, they are still sold, just like that.

One of the best roadtrip resources in my opinion.

 

[YGBSM]

For the reasons listed here my maps apps sometimes have problems in cities with tall buildings. I switch to onboard nav and it's fine. Yes, I know that I can download the area but I don't want to when I can just press a button.

Question: I think that real time traffic and weather on my built in nav and Uconnect relies on a Sirius subscription. Is this true?

 

[justbig]

Slightly off topic - you can run Google maps without active or live internet service. Its basically the same as OnX, Gaia etc. You have to download the map for the areas your traveling in advance. It may not be as nice as the more off road specific products, it is nice on road to have it loaded incase loss of cell service.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Slightly off topic - you can run Google maps without active or live internet service. Its basically the same as OnX, Gaia etc. You have to download the map for the areas your traveling in advance. It may not be as nice as the more off road specific products, it is nice on road to have it loaded incase loss of cell service.

Yes, off-line maps or something like that. Google lets you know when they expire.

 

[imallcrawl]

can't believe that was a serious question, I know that sounds rude, but for decades cars have had GPs that did not require any internet signal.

I swear, I needed wifi to connect...it was OnStar on my Hummer - yeah I owned a Hummer way back when LOL - hey but it was the first lifted H3 here in my state. But more recently, even my Jeep Grand Cherokee prompted me for internet whenever I tried to use my GPS, unless was I high at the time? hmmm, maybe I was

 

[Qholic]

I also have the full NAV 8.4 in my 22 and wish I could install OnX Offroad into it.

You can if you use Android Auto or Apple car play

 

[Blade1668]

Ah that makes sense! But the roads around here are constantly changing with new developments and construction, I guess if your 90% is correct that would mean my GPS will eventually be wrong

But hey, that still leaves me wondering why did my other vehicles with GPS require internet? Without it the dang thing would've even turn on.

Big brother is watching you.

Your lucky to be where you are then, on Google maps always working, within 3-4 miles of my place I can lose signal and phone coverage even. That's in Alabama, in multiple locations here I've seen the screen just turn blank when driving and no signal or service.

GPS is for your current location.
The maps are data stored locally.
If you have a connection to data - the maps for some systems like Waze or Google update on the fly.
If you don't have a connection, Google uses "off-line maps" stored locally.
GPS doesn't provide the maps on the screen, only the location on the globe in general.
The map data is matched up to the GPS location.
Jeep NAV uses maps stored locally on the "radio/NAV" unit.
If the map is old/out of date, it can be fun to watch as you drive where there is no road because that road was just put in and opened last month.
If it was Google, it would provide the current map using a data link, not GPS.



We have a current one on the house so we can look up routes we may choose to take to another place other than what GPS might suggest we use.
Yeah, they are still sold, just like that.

I keep one in my Gladiator and Wrangler.
This one is out of my Comanche.

A little beat up, a few times I crossed over into other countries on some "roads" not marked in there.
Oh some of the early GPS systems were fun. Or the download and print maps with directions. In the early 2000's, I would get in to"work" A.D. Army and have flight itinerary tickets, rental vehicle with jacked up printed maps with directions. Almost always if from one of the online map sites, with directions the wrong way.

 

[KevinC]

Big brother is watching you.

Your lucky to be where you are then, on Google maps always working, within 3-4 miles of my place I can lose signal and phone coverage even. That's in Alabama, in multiple locations here I've seen the screen just turn blank when driving and no signal or service.



Oh some of the early GPS systems were fun. Or the download and print maps with directions. In the early 2000's, I would get in to"work" A.D. Army and have flight itinerary tickets, rental vehicle with jacked up printed maps with directions. Almost always if from one of the online map sites, with directions the wrong way.

Don't forget the Cover Sheet, Current LES, MEDPROS sheet and SGLI sheet. Your not going anywhere unless you are green. I've heard the current administration is trying to get rid of all that and simplify it down to just a DA31.

 

[Blade1668]

Don't forget the Cover Sheet, Current LES, MEDPROS sheet and SGLI sheet. Your not going anywhere unless you are green. I've heard the current administration is trying to get rid of all that and simplify it down to just a DA31.

That was for temporary duties not leave. In one month I was in over 5 states and multiple countries. Some serious frequent flyer miles at times.

 

[Janster]

I have the factory Nav…….but we use WAZE mostly.

Just last week on a trip up to Cape Cod, there were areas where cell signal was extremely weak and slow as shit to load. We were switching to the factory nav periodically for reference when needed. That’s nice to have!!!

Previous vehicles we’ve owned - you had to pay to update the maps. I’ve never updated factory maps. You can always ‘use your noodle’ and figure out where to go when/if the maps in nav aren’t accurate or up to date.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Previous vehicles we’ve owned - you had to pay to update the maps. I’ve never updated factory maps. You can always ‘use your noodle’ and figure out where to go when/if the maps in nav aren’t accurate or up to date.

The latter is good thinking no matter WHAT NAV you use.
i can give first-hand experience examples of Google screwing me over at least 3 times. Once was in Sioux City - I'd never been there and was supposed to deliver, install, setup new network equipment. Google had me in the middle of a rail yard - the street had been blocked off years before and getting out of there took some thinking and doing.
Google took me over 1 hour longer on a trip to a car show - I wondered about it maybe knowing those highways were faster and better. Seemed ok, I'd never been in any of those areas before. After the show, I decided to pull the old Garmin out of the console and see what it said - saved an hour off the trip and a whole lot less traffic.
Another time it had us turning left on a highway in Indiana - after a couple of miles I realized something was wrong and turned back - it was a mile the other direction.

The built-in NAV - fun with that, too. The freeway, I235, went through Des Moines in the 1960s. Many streets were cut off and made dead ends. I don't know most of them as it's areas I don't travel in - no reason to. Trying to get to a business we were unfamiliar with. OK, try the Jeep's NAV. Hmm, interesting route! This should be VERY direct and fast! Except - after going a couple of blocks through a residential area, I realized - hey, no way - this was cut off in the 60s for the freeway build!
In Colorado Springs two issues - one - trying to find a business in a suburb. Never been to that area, ever. It was ok to a point, then I realized it was taking us almost half a mile PAST the business, to a stop light intersection, then it said make a u-turn, go back almost a block, and turn right. Goofy thing was - there was a left turn signal there - we didn't have to go clear down to the stop light at the end and do a u-turn.
There's another good one on Colorado Springs and the NAV

Now for the 2026 version - LOVE it so far. There's a ton of interstate and even local highway construction going on. Here it's winter or construction season. We have only two seasons.
They've been "dropping bridges" to widen and move parts of I35 - some as recently as 3 or 4 weeks ago. The NAV on my 2025 showed that. Other areas where things were just tore up maybe a week or so ago - it showed up. Radar signs and photo enforcement - shows up, even ones just put up in the last couple of months.
We'll see how long that lasts - but so far, the build-in NAV on the new models is great.
I'm one who carries the phone in a clip on the belt. Doesn't matter - it's there. When I get in, I don't want to hassle with the phone and connect it to anything - wired or wireless. it's a pain, take out of clip, mess around, set things up, then go. (but people do it all the time then bitch about pushing one other button)
So I like being able to tell the Jeep to find something, and go, never messing with a phone or an app or whatever.
Time will tell............ will I still like it in 3 years?

I use Google maps on my phone when in my cars - lucky to have radios at all in those (not that you can hear a radio over the headers and racing mufflers, though). So for that I'm really glad to have decent NAV in either Google or Waze (still google-owned)

Sponsored