I'm off to Europe on Wednesday and will be using a free sat nav app on my phone for the first time. It features downloadable maps so I believe I shouldn't rack up huge data roaming charged if I leave roaming off. Sorry to sound thick but how is it possible for the app (Nav Free) to calculate where I am for turn-by-turn navigation purposes without using data? Or does the GPS signal not count as data? Hoping someone had the answer.
Hi, You'll be fine. If the map is downloaded to the phone you should not get any roaming charges. GPS is a different thing to mobile data so has no impact on this. Depending on what SatNav app you use it is possible that you will get some charges though - for example, some apps use mobile data for traffic updates, etc. Most though will use the GPS side channel for this (if they do re-routes around traffic congestion). So, apps like NavFree and CoPilot should be fine. Apps like Waze, which doesn't store maps locally, will cost you. Best way to avoid data roaming charges is to turn data roaming off in preferences - you'll be 100% safe then. Use free coffee shop wifi to get your e-mail! I'm off to France on Thursday. Loire Valley. And you?
I invested £17.49 and installed Navv Western Europe https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/navv-western-europe/id401659432?mt=8 as a back up should my TomTom Rider fail.
Thanks for the info. Having kittens about getting a 55mm socket for rear wheel so tyres can be changed but assuming the courier turns up with it tomorrow I will be off on Wednesday. Route planned so far is Calais-Le Touquet - Poitiers - La Rochelle - Toulouse then either Menton, Italy or Spain, depending on how we feel. I expect we will be in the Loire Valley (Tours) sometime on Thursday en route for Poitiers.
