> On Oct 9, 2024, at 6:36 PM, charles meyer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> My esteemed listmates,
> 
> We're helping patrons and visitors driving after Hurricane Milton.
> 
> Many are less fortunate and also less tech oriented.
> 
> Some need to take freeways they've never navigated and it's stressful for them (and us all!).
> 
> I'm trying to help them and disabuse them of misconceptions like GPS uses up a lot of cell data.
> 
> I've read that GPS uses radio waves from Satellites so it doesn't use cell data.

> https://www.workyard.com/employee-time-tracking/how-much-data-does-a-gps-use

GPS doesn't use cell phone data, but the maps and situational updates (like traffic, closures, and speed) use it.

The stand-alone GPS devices would have to pre-load their maps and then update them every so often, and they generally didn't have traffic updates.  (and when I got one that did, it never actually did)

There may be phone GPS apps that can pre-load the maps for a trip to reduce some of the data usage, but the traffic updates would need to be current and would use your data.  And these days many of them will also push ads on you, using more data.

> Some are interested in what they can see on their Android cell phones like the 360 degree photos you can see on Google Maps so as you approach a freeway exchange you can see what that exchange looks like
> in real time.

Google maps is only going to be able to show you what it looked like when their mapping vehicles last drove through.  And if you're doing this on the move, it's going to use your cell phone data.

Waze has gotten better with being able to tell you what lane you generally want to be in when you turn, but I find it problematic as it tells you so far in advance that I've gotten in the wrong lane not realizing there were two intersections close together and I needed to turn at the second one.


> Some shared using Waze or GP just provides you lines and not what you'll actually see in real life as you drive.

That's typical.  Full images would require a LOT more data.

> Have you found any Android apps or Web sites which would be no/low cost to use to share real time view of freeway exchanges?

I use Waze because it gives you info about traffic and whatever other people have reported (and possibly gas prices), but if people in your area aren't also using it, it won't have the data.

I think there's one out there that will show simulated interstate exit signs, but I don't remember off the top of my head which it was.

-Joe

(no affiliation)