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Will GPS work on my phone outside of the country?

SNsMoto

SNsMoto

Don't be that guy.
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04 Suzuki GS500F & 07 D675
Name
Steven
I'm reading mixed answers. Some say cell phone carriers force the GPS signal to go through their cell towers first?

I just want to know if I need to bring my regular Garmin GPS unit or if I can just bring my phone only. I don't need any of the other phone features.
 
Do you want coordinates, or do you want navigation? The maps come from your cell tower. The signal comes from space.
 
I want navigation. So I guess that answers my question. The maps are generated from the internet service so I guess I won't have that without Sprint's service?

What if I install a set of maps for the area I'll be at that works for my phone. Would the GPS navigation work then?
 
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SNsMoto said:
I just want to know if I need to bring my regular Garmin GPS unit or if I can just bring my phone only.
Click to expand...

where are you going and what kind of phone, service provider is sprint?

My sprint blackberry with google maps worked great last year in Germany but google at least needs a working data connection to do you any good. And, the data service was very expensive.

GPS with google maps works on my wife's android phone with only a wifi connection - not the most useful if you want it on the road. OK for trip planning, etc.

Make sure your garmin maps cover the area you're heading to - you can get an older model with European maps for less than $100 if you plan ahead.
 
Thanks. I'm heading to Costa Rica. We found a map package for $90. Doesn't seem bad vs the cost of renting a GPS unit.

Phone is a Samsung Galaxy SII with Sprint.
 
Normally I'd ask if this GSM phone you can get a prepaid SIM for overseas, but you've indicated Sprint, so no...

Phone location services aren't just GPS, they're based on triangulation and visible wireless BSSID's, too. The latter requires a lookup, so functioning data.

Also, keep in mind, coordinates are not map display...those map graphics have to come from somewhere, too.

Personally I'd make sure you have the right maps in your GPS and just take that.
 
There are two ways about this that I can see.

You mentioned it's an android phone. Provided you have a near-stock build of the google maps app, you should be able to go into the settings for that app and enable some of the "Labs" feature - the one you want is the ability to precache a 10sq mile area of maps. This + your GPS signal should be able to pinpoint you. Don't think you'll be able to do turn by turn navigation, since that requires additional data access.

Your alternative is to rent a 3g/4g data access point and use that to be your phone's data feed. This could be pricy, and they're pretty hungry on battery, but you should be able to get a day of walking around's usage if you just switch it on when you need some data rather than being on all the time.
 
Thanks for the help guys. Based on what you guys have been saying, I wound up just buying an old school laminated map and preloading my GPS with some maps for Costa Rica. Gotta lug it around I suppose. I've been reading these map packages for this country are not very accurate though, so hopefully the handheld laminated map serves as a good backup. :laughing
 
I went to italy and paid for the international data plan on my iPhone. Worked really well. Cost me probably the same or a bit more than a map pack through Tom Tom or the like but it was just a 1 time thing so it worked for me.
 
If you travel outside the US your next mobile phone should be a GSM type smart phone.

Buy local SIM cards at your destination for cheap and enjoy local service at local rates. No bend over roaming charges.
 
I used to subscribe to this idea; I had AT&T. I eventually gave up on it because even though I travel overseas several times a year, I would rather have service that worked at home, than a phone that had capability to worked when I traveled.
 
TylerW said:
I used to subscribe to this idea; I had AT&T. I eventually gave up on it because even though I travel overseas several times a year, I would rather have service that worked at home, than a phone that had capability to worked when I traveled.
Click to expand...

If you can, buy a cheap GSM phone, and swap SIM cards with a local pay-as-you-go card. Can setup your answering message to direct people to your temporary number.
 
Marlowe said:
Normally I'd ask if this GSM phone you can get a prepaid SIM for overseas, but you've indicated Sprint, so no...
Click to expand...

Sprint has a few 'world' phones that have SIM slots and can be unlocked for overseas use. Mainly BB devices last I recall, one or two Android handsets, but not the SGS2.
 
If your phone is an iphone or android which has a fully standalone GPS application like garmin or tom tom AND you have the maps for the domestic region you are traveling to your gps should work fine.

If you are using GPS via a cloud based app like google maps which requires a data connection then you won't get any map data update unless you are on wifi - that's if you are not getting a data plan.

FYI - i just traveled to europe with my galaxy s2. I got an international data plan from AT&T 40 megs for $50. I strictly used it to navigate myself around europe using google maps. I used google voice and whats app to txt to my friends and managed to have an awesome time. BE WARNED - do not pick up the phone - an accidental butt dial will blow up your bill!
 
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