Ditching Google Maps for an old GPS

[@a_decent_user]

You briefly touched having "offline maps" on your phone, but you can also literally have "offline google maps" on your phone. It takes less than 1gb to get a pretty sizeable chunk of maps downloaded into Google Maps with no issues. Yes, you have to do it in advance for an area you are going into, but it's still there for you. I bet most people would easily have 1gb of storage available on their phone. This is usually my go to solution when traveling somewhere where I'm not sure if I would have service in.

[@thenostalgicbytes]

Exactly, this gps is kinda dumb and retarded

[@iss138ma]

For me, maxed out save area for big chunks of states, its like 500mb if you select max area. i have like 4 of those, and its like 2gb.

[@armouros]

hi i do this too....... but rember that the downloaded files "expire" in a certain amount of time then your phone will delete the map to "free up space on your phone" . its hard to know when they are deleted if you have a dater plan or some wifi because the maps will work like the same. i think its one year but i have seen some people say its if you dont use maps in 30 days.

[@a_decent_user]

@@armouros in the maps view itself it shows you when they expire (one year from downloading). Also maps occasionally prompt you if you want to refresh them to keep them around

[@iss138ma]

@armouros "expires (month, day, year, usually expires in a year after you download it) unless updated" and there is "update automatically", and even a "auto download recommended maps for me" If you have enough storage

[@katherinetaylor6575]

Thank you so much for this video. I’ve been looking into getting a satellite gps but haven’t yet because I wasn’t sure if it would work or if I would be able to update it. I’ve been loving all of your videos and they are very inspirational and helpful!

[@spencers-adventures]

I’m so glad you enjoyed the video! I only recently found out about being able to update these with open source maps, and as soon as I did I wanted to try it out for myself. Thanks for the comment :)

[@fn8571]

I threw this exact model out last year thinking the maps couldn't be updated damn

[@spencers-adventures]

That is a bummer but thrifstores have tons of them for around $5! Keep your eyes peeled and you can get another for next to nothing 👍

[@BobbyMack]

Dude! I leave my comment last week about ditching google maps and here you are getting a Garmin gps. Awesome! Btw, this really helped out last year when a hailstorm came through my city and all cell towers were down. My friend had no idea how to get home so I let her borrow my Garmin and it worked perfectly!

[@spencers-adventures]

Yeah I was inspired to try it out once again so here I am! I’m enjoying it a lot so far, very nice to have a standalone nav for driving. There’s been tons of times where having an offline map like this would have been beneficial, so I’m happy to have it!

[@lilPopper]

I think I have this exact model. But all the reason why I still have a Garmin Nuvi on backup. Phone data is not being used -- more savings back in your bank account. And if I recall, there is still a market for stand alone GPS units, especially for truck drivers because by law there are certain routes they are not allowed to take.

[@spencers-adventures]

Great point!

[@jasonjayalap]

The best part of my old garmin was the voices and car icons you could choose from. Worst was scrolling and entering addresses into that old tech touchscreen. Some of those units had traffic updates via.. FM radio or something. I was never that fancy. On trips I confirmed everything with paper maps.

[@NickBEADG]

Download offline maps on Google, not that hard. Satellites on today's phones are significantly better than the old Navi's, Google Pixel 8 Pro has L1+L5.

[@Soreandsmall]

Interesting thought, I hope you give transistor radio a shot over mp3. Local radio can be a good thing.

[@spencers-adventures]

I have a pocket Kaito radio that I like to bring with me on the go! I got it so I could listen to movies at the drive-in theatre without running my car battery. Should I look for a transistor radio in particular or do you just mean radio in general? I’ve been interested in the shortwave stuff but haven’t investigated it really

[@Soreandsmall]

@@spencers-adventures pocket radio is a transistor radio. I'm not familiar with shortwave. I really enjoy football games,some talk shows and music on the radio.

[@taylorborie]

I use my garmin 52 gps every day. It doesn't have traffic, but garmin makes a replacement power cable for it that has a tiny module that add traffic data to the gps

[@spencers-adventures]

That’s very good to know - thanks for sharing!

[@Landon-vp7un]

Great advice we all should go back too a regular GPS plus it works better than the smart phone Great video

[@guilhermemartinez7572]

You can download google maps to use offline using less than 1GB and, in android auto, can set to turn off notifications when driving to avoid distractions. With google maps and waze you can also see road blocks that maybe be happening in the route and do another path.

[@cherylT321]

I still have a Garmin sitting in the glove box of my car…Now that I’m watching this, I’m going to update it!

[@Sakurasan2023]

Great video 📹 👍

[@spencers-adventures]

Thank you buddy!

[@Sakurasan2023]

@@spencers-adventures thanks!!

[@jasonjayalap]

It's baffling how google maps doesnt have a "tourist", "simplest", "least chance of getting screwed" or "fewer turns" mode. I don't need to cut through neighborhoods to save 3 minutes while in an unfamiliar place.

[@spencers-adventures]

Exactly! I’d also like a mode for people driving box trucks with height restrictions too. I’ve had many times where google maps took me on a route with a low bridge and I had to quickly turnaround and find another way.

[@tippy7831]

Do you need to have the precise street address when searching for a route? If I can't type the name of the restaurant and it can find the info from there, that might be a deal-breaker. Because that means I still need a smartphone to look up the actual street address.

[@spencers-adventures]

Yes unfortunately that’s the way these GPS systems still work. The solution would be getting these details on the computer before departure or asking who you’re meeting up with to provide the precise address. Smartphones and google maps have definitely changed how we navigate so doing it the older way requires some adjustments!

[@adamwragg4606]

Ah I remember when my Dad bought me one when I first passed my test lol! You can still get print out instructions of where to go I think

[@spencers-adventures]

That’s a great option too buddy!

[@Mikehero69_]

I like seeing these 10+ year old devices, like the iPod, be brought back and given purpose again. Really makes me wonder what other devices are like this.

[@Warp2090]

I saw a few new Garmin Gps devices at walmart. I recently got rid of my smartphone for a flipphone so it would be useful

[@spencers-adventures]

If you get a new one or a used one for that matter look for the model number that end in something like “LM.” This means it comes with lifetime map updates for free, so you have a choice whether you want to use open source maps or Garmin’s own. I’ll definitely make a video in the future with further thoughts once I’ve used this more!

[@Warp2090]

@@spencers-adventures Okay, Thank you

[@hunternegron336]

@@spencers-adventures Thanks, I look forward to future discussions on this topic! Right now I think Google Maps is the main thing keeping me from ditching my smartphone

[@shanedowling1]

Can you search for addresses using this?

[@JoBlower]

Here maps works great also. Phones are the future. Going to the past is pointless

[@Rajorsi]

In 3rd world countries: Google maps: 🗿 Other maps: 💀

[@Mojomanultra]

Been looking for a motorcycle gps solution.

[@areldcookie5581]

this is just stupidity. this is only good for backup

[@comradestannis]

The KZbin bar in the video looks... different

[@jp0213x]

I used my Garmin 66 in in Costa Rica. I download the latest map from Open map chest. The key is too look up coordinates from google map for each destination and save them on your Garmin. You can copy and share coordinates from google maps, over to the Garmin app. The Garmin app will send the coordinates over bluetooth over to the Garmin device. Coordinate are more accurate and handy in other countries where its difficult to find an address.