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dutra
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 9-10-2020
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Best GPS for Baja
New member here. Last time down in Baja my phone was not getting service past Mexicali and again past San Felipe. My question is what is the best GPS
device to use driving Baja? And will the GPS work the entire time? Thanks!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6029
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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First thing, welcome to the forum! Let me be the first to give you outdated advice, direct from a fossil that still uses an automotive GPS.
Both TomTom, and Garmin automotive units work all over Baja. The tracking sometimes will show my location is near, but not on the road, and even with
the latest updates installed they both get things like one way streets wrong!
I am looking into getting a Garmin IN reach (sp?) which I understand will feed a tablet, or phone, but a technophobe like me is reluctant to change!
[Edited on 9-10-2020 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Hi dutra, welcome!
GPS is great anywhere under the sky, but what you were using was a cell phone to access a mapping service. No good where there is no cell coverage
(most of Baja) or as you found out (Sprint?), no good on the frequency used in parts of Baja.
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dutra
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Thanks AK!
I don't even have a tabley just the iphone! Looking to get a GPS for the truck. Mainly to keep me going the right way on the main highways.
[Edited on 9-10-2020 by dutra]
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Lowrance
Lowrance is what we use. Satellite network enables it to be right on the money. Almost all race vehicles use that manufacturer - though the models
they use are high buck.
Like AKgringo, our stuff is is old - got it in 2006 but it's still working fine.
It's not a hand held, it needs to find a home in the vehicle, it doesn't talk to us, no turn by turn stuff - we use it almost exclusively for off
pavement route finding.
John M
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dutra
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Thanks John!
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David K
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Posts: 64855
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Location: San Diego County
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Maybe my maps will be more easy to use than a GPS? They are all posted in the Road Conditions forum, here on Nomad: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=88771
I also have shared 3 sections of the 6, from my yet-to-be published road guide (damn Covid-19)!
These include all the side road logs, as well...
San Quintín to Guerrero Negro:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=91898
Guerrero Negro to San Ignacio:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=92377
Mexicali to Laguna Chapala (Hwy. 1 jcn.):
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=95028
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John Harper
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Gaia app for your phone. You can download maps and use offline.
John
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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KILOMETER MARKERS
All of Baja's paved roads and a few graded dirt ones are pretty well marked with kilometer signs every kilometer. They really help you to find side
roads or services mentioned in the guide. Nomads TMW (Tom) and I plus other's have created a pretty complete Baja Kilometer List. See it here (in the
Road Conditions forum): http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=81948
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dutra
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Thanks David that looks really good.
John Harper, I'm looking to get something with real time directions.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
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Quote: Originally posted by dutra  | Thanks AK!
I don't even have a tabley just the iphone! Looking to get a GPS for the truck. Mainly to keep me going the right way on the main highways.
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if all you want is hwy navigation and navigation in towns/cities, then I would use waze, google maps, etc., on my phone when in cell coverage, and use
paper map when out of range of cell towers.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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AKgringo
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Posts: 6029
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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I liked using my TomTom XXL550, it was user friendly. I am not sure if it can even be updated anymore, since I went to a Garmin Drivesmart 70.
The seven inch screen is nice, and it does talk to me! It is kind of funny hearing it mangle some spanish words, but it is nice to know when I am
speeding or approaching a turn.
You still need a map to know when to ignore the Garmin when it wants to send you through business districts or toll roads you may not want to take.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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dutra
Newbie
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Ak, So the garmin drivesmart 70 will show you turns while driving baja?
Thanks guys I really appreciate the help!
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StuckSucks
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THIS is the only answer. Works with your phone's built-in GPS, so it works anywhere. Pre-load background maps for off-line use, such as topos or
satellite imagery.
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advrider
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-2-2015
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Agreed, your phone with a GPS app, that's all I use on my bike in Mexico. Your phone will use satellites and doesn't need service, the old phone I use
doesn't even have a sim card.
I use OSM app on my Android phone but you could also get a tablet if you want a big screen. Much easier and user friendly then any GPS out there.
You can down load sections of google maps and still get turn by turn when not in a service area. YouTube can show you how to do it all.
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by dutra | | New member here. Last time down in Baja my phone was not getting service past Mexicali and again past San Felipe. My question is what is the best GPS
device to use driving Baja? And will the GPS work the entire time? Thanks! |
I've had a half dozen standalone GPS over the years.
That stopped several years back when GPS apps on phones became so good. They are way better than a GPS from the Garmins of the world now.
The two best apps are Gaia and Back Country Navigator. BCN is Android only, except maybe their newest app is both.
Dedicated GPS really only make sense now for boats, where they have integration with depth/sounding, fish finders, and radar.
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
if all you want is hwy navigation and navigation in towns/cities, then I would use waze, google maps, etc., on my phone when in cell coverage, and use
paper map when out of range of cell towers.
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For hwy, yes you use Google Maps. Even when you are out of cell coverage you use it. Google Maps lets you download maps for Baja for offline use.
It takes like 2 mins. No need for paper maps.
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by dutra | Ak, So the garmin drivesmart 70 will show you turns while driving baja?
Thanks guys I really appreciate the help! |
Use Google Maps for hwy driving.
Use Gaia or Back Country Navigator for dirt roads.
Start another thread if you want way points or tracks to a specific location. Ppl on here have hundreds of them.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by John M | Lowrance is what we use. Satellite network enables it to be right on the money. Almost all race vehicles use that manufacturer - though the models
they use are high buck.
Like AKgringo, our stuff is is old - got it in 2006 but it's still working fine.
It's not a hand held, it needs to find a home in the vehicle, it doesn't talk to us, no turn by turn stuff - we use it almost exclusively for off
pavement route finding.
John M |
Why on Earth would you promote this to the op, or even use tech that is 15-20 years old? That is before the very first iPhone hit the market.
This explains a lot of your posts over the last 6 months. A total disconnect from what is happening in the world right now.
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The man-child has spoken!
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Why Lowrance?
JZ - the simple answer on why I continue to use the Lowrance GPS for off-road routes is because it works. Lowrance technology works well for many of
the race teams that continue using it today.
Specifically for JZ - thanks for taking the time to analyze my posts for the past six months. I can scarcely recall what I did a month ago - maybe I
need to pay more attention to what I've posted in the past.
John M
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