Sat Nav or the good old map?

[barry luxton]

I make no criticism of anyone who uses a SatNav but I do believe that the over reliance of these aids weakens the ability of a driver to cope with problems or surprises. It also sharpens the memory because for me I have to picture my route.

 

London navigation is actually as easy as the compass. However, after a few visits around London it isn't navigation that is the problem but the thousands of lunatics who either want to be in your boot or your side or the ones who sit crying if you don't let them out...

London...you can keep it...lol.

 

 

Everything is well and good until the SatNav system stops working. Then where are you?

At least with a Map it cannot crash or be affected by a power outage.

 

Na, your not off the hook, you still havn't come up with better than sat nav to get around london, nor has anyone else, now this compass thingy of yours, how do you use it to find some tiny little back street in the capital? Also have you changed your vote yet.

Edited September 18, 2011 by barry luxton

[Newt]

I use both if heading to an unfamiliar destination although these days the paper map is pretty much replaced by printed routing by one of the online services.

 

GPS (SatNav) is most excellent when you have to detour and in my case, excellent for finding safe routes when I'm towing my caravan. It is easily switched from auto mode to truck mode and will let me avoid places I could not negotitiate in a 25 ft truck hauling a 38 ft caravan.

 

The GPS often does not find the fastest route but it will find one that gets you from point A to point B which is the general idea. Horses for courses I suppose and those who usually remin in familiar territory or who have an excellent sense of direction, they probably seem like a useless gadget. For the rest of us, they can be quite useful.

 

I even like my combination GPS/Sonar when on a largish and unfamilar lake or river. Its comforting to know I can find my way safely back to my original launch point even in low light or fog.

[Renrag39]

PratNav is handy for detours I find, plus the last mile or 2 to my destination but I always know the main roads I need to get me in the ballpark and have a Proper Map just case all the GPS satellites are taken out by a pre-emptive EMP blast by SkyNet...

 

Renrag

[Elton]

Sat-nav in the car, AA Route Planner ap on my phone for back-up

[Chris Goddard]

Both have there merits and both have there fall out's!! Like the road I went up last week In Bradford!! About fifteen signs in ALL Languages basically saying the same thing...."Turn back as this road is NOT a through road as per your sat nav! Funnily I checked later and guess what the REAL map said?? It WAS a through Road!!! Just the Sat Nav helped me get on track quicker I think than a paper map!!

 

And GOD alone help the per map reader trying to find ANY address in France! Now that I GOTTA see! :P

[corydoras]

Both have there merits and both have there fall out's!! Like the road I went up last week In Bradford!! About fifteen signs in ALL Languages basically saying the same thing...."Turn back as this road is NOT a through road as per your sat nav! Funnily I checked later and guess what the REAL map said?? It WAS a through Road!!! Just the Sat Nav helped me get on track quicker I think than a paper map!!

 

And GOD alone help the per map reader trying to find ANY address in France! Now that I GOTTA see! :P

Yup, all the destination boards in France are only there for people who know where they are going.

[n4lly]

I follow the sign posts

[Now there's a right un.]

Na, your not off the hook, you still havn't come up with better than sat nav to get around london, nor has anyone else, now this compass thingy of yours, how do you use it to find some tiny little back street in the capital? Also have you changed your vote yet.

 

 

 

I have an A-Z of London and use this in conjunction with a compass.

But, ever since being almost wiped out by a pushy bus driver I now only go as far as Wealdstone before jumping on the tube.

 

Reading all posts does genuinely gives merit to SatNav but I still believe that our over reliance on it as a means of direction finding is a recipe for disaster.

Someone mentioned routeplanner...I would use this over SatNav.

My vote is still NO for SatNav.

 

I suppose it is down to how quickly you wish to reach your destination...

[barry luxton]

I follow the sign posts

What about when you have crossed the severn bridge then, do you then try to read all the road signs? yukky da.

[Phone]

now ther-----,

 

I'm crushed! You didn't read my suggested link in post #10. You are obsolete.

 

Phone