to not be able to find places wit google maps? A cheapish sat nav?

[Ceci03]

So another totally stressful morning trying to get DS to his football match. I studied the route before I went, I wrote it all out from google maps. I had my phone. But still got totally lost and in the end had to abandon the match and come home.

I feel like such an effing failure. Google maps always glitches on my phone when it's in the car. There was a sat nav in the car but it's not working. I need to 'up my game and get sorted. I seem to be the only person who cant find the football games :( I'm so stressed about it. I've looked up sat navs but they seem so dear, so I'm wondering is anyone like me, useless at directions, who has gotten one that works?

It's got to the point where I'm thinking I will go and suss out the away games the day before. It was nearly an hour's drive away, (each way) but I can't risk not finding the match again.

If you Google budget sat navs, the Garmin ones (from £60) Argos have them, get good reviews. The other parents probably have Sat Navs and that's how they are getting there. You could always go the day before, if you have time, until you sort something else out.

I'm assuming you know that google maps has a sat nav built in? I always use it and have no problems. I have a cradle for the phone and in car charger, it uses a gps signal so no issues with losing the phone signal. It also have live traffic so will direct you around any traffic jams.

Thanks, yes @ProfYaffle yes I know all that. I have my son holding the phone, and I use my 3G data, but it glitches constantly. It gives instructions that are way back. It doesnt keep up. If you re-center it it often tells you completely wrong. I dont understand.

Have you used the Waze app? It’s so easy to use and gives verbal instructions on when to turn off roads etc, I much prefer it to google maps

Probably because 4G was introduced in 2012 and 5G in 2019. 3G isn’t going to keep up. Time for a new phone/tariff.

If your signal is patchy then you could download & pay for the TomTom app. I used it after getting horribly lost in Norfolk trying to rely on mobile data! TomTom downloads the maps to your phone so doesn’t rely on data while you’re navigating.

If it isn’t the signal then I find Waze better than google maps in terms of giving clear directions - it uses google maps but looks more like a satnav while using it.

Op you can download the route before setting off so it won't glitch?

Can you arrange to follow one of the other partners next time?

Another vote for Waze, its free and its brilliant.

Parents*

OP if you're using 3G then your phone must be pretty old. I think purchasing a new phone would be a better investment than buying a satnav.

Google maps is a bugger and everytime we use it it sends us the most ridiculous routes places, normally down roads no wider than a footpath and sometimes telling us to do a full circle back on ourselves to the same place we had just come from Still use it everytime though, suckers for punishment

As well as trying to find a better alternative, could you get DS (depending on age) involved in helping to plan and navigate the route? It's a good life skill to be able to get yourself places without technology and much easier to concentrate on directions when you're a passenger.

I'm in rural Norfolk with a very patchy phone signal and have never had an issue with using the Google sat nav. You're definitely using the sat nav bit, not just google maps?

OP I recognised your username. This is the second thread you’ve had recently about tech issues caused by you having a really old, probably obsolete phone. Please think about upgrading, it sounds like it would make your life a lot easier!

@ProfYaffle sorry if I'm thick but what do you mean about using the sat nav bit of google maps. I'm not sure if I am or not.

@ProfYaffle sorry I just googled it and yes I am using the sat nav part

You can download the map on phone beforehand at home using WiFi if 4g bad in area. You don’t even need to be that specific, ie I downloaded all of France so it was available without data, download lasts a month

What phone do you have?

I also came on to this thread to suggest Waze.

Also-put it on boyband voice setting. DD and I laughed for 2 hours
we are easily amused

Another vote for downloading Waze.

Have you tried looking up the location on google maps the day before and using the satellite image function? It might be easier to picture it if you’ve see it as a proper image rather than just a map.

Google Maps won’t work properly on 3G, not these days. You need a 4G or 5G phone. Or to get the sat nav in your car fixed.

I use navmii, it's a free one like waze.

Doesn't use up your Internet allowance and always found it really accurate.