Factory Nav vs Google Maps

[9zero1790]

With the phone-based nav options, there are a couple things that affect updates. First one is update frequency from the top. And you readily admit here that Waze/Google are much more frequent. The other side of this is related to who updates those maps to begin with. On the Sync side, whoever that is is whatever company Ford/Sync buys the maps from. That company makes those updates. On the Waze/Google side, there's definitely an element of crowdsourcing of map updates and refinements. Probably more people do it with Waze than directly with Google (I think you have to use a PC to submit updates to Google Maps, but you can submit to Waze through the app). So this is dependent on having a community of people who care and take the steps to submit data to the relevant map services. OSM (Gaia uses OSM data) is HEAVILY reliant on this, so data quality is very dependent on the population of users active with submitting edits for a given area.

BITD I had a Garmin car nav (a Nuvi series one, IIRC). It was in the pre-lifetime map update days. If I wanted to update the maps, I had to pay for updates every single time. Ugh. Garmin's maps were BAD back then (I remember one that Garmin showed going out into the middle of Lake Michigan), and they only released updates quarterly, at best. I have no idea when/if Garmin ever fixed that particular road, even though it was so obvious it never should have made a map release.



I dunno about the satellite based traffic service(s). Modern life definitely comes with "subscription fatigue" so for me, deciding which services to pay for to get advanced functionality depends heavily on the level of usefulness I get out of them. App-based systems offer a lot of functionality so this is one of those things I have a hard time justifying paying another subscription for.

I do see SiriusXM offers a level of its traffic package that includes weather updates. Something like that would have been super handy the last time I did a big cross-country drive with my camper. Of course, I did that trip with a vehicle that didn't even have AA capability. But for day-to-day local stuff, meh. And given SiriusXM's subscription hassles and how they hound the hell out of you I'm still not interested in giving them money for it (even temporarily) if I could use that service in the first place.



Kindof a bummer that the Ford with Alexa thing works instead of AA, rather than with it. It does offer some nice features, especially since I use Alexa at home already. But since my truck doesn't even have factory nav for me to choose from, it's not even a choice if I want maps. I experimented with it for a very short time, until I realized that with Ford + Alexa running, I had no maps. I might consider it instead of AA if it had its own maps service, though.



No arguments from me about AA not integrating well with Sync (honestly, it doesn't "integrate" at all. It's just sits on top of it and ignores Sync entirely). I do think AA looks better than Sync, but that's one of those personal things.

excellent description!
" It's just sits on top of it and ignores Sync entirely"

Sponsored

 

[ylwjacket]

a free app avenza maps is supposedly great for forest service roads but i have not tried it yet. but at the price of free i might give it a shot at some point.

I downloaded it, but the only free thing I see on it is digital black and white pdf motor vehicle use maps. They do show where you're at on them, which is nice, but there's no info.

That USFS Visitor map was great because it showed trail names, camp sites, features like picnic areas and overlooks, etc. Also has some info on the trails, like travel surface, suitable for highway or OHV, high or standard clearance, etc.

It still works, and is a really useful app. It just has broken its ability to do map downloads for offline use when you have no cell service. It may work just fine with Apple, I have no idea. From comments in the play store, it seems the Android version is gummed up. As long you have service, it has all that available.

I also have a Garmin Inreach device that syncs with the Earthmate map on my phone. That works pretty well also in terms of mapping trails, but still doesn't have all of the USFS Visitor Map info. I got the Garmin because some of the places in the mountains have no cell service, and the Inreach has satellite SOS and text messaging capabilities.

I guess since I started it, I can hijack the thread with all of this, right?

 

[TXRangerTim]

Try using an app called "Maprika" also called "GPS on ski map" in the play store, same app just name changed. It can use different maps and even topos. The main reason I liked it for work was that you could upload a map picture and it would plot just like any other map once you aligned it to a GPS map. It's good for offroad use. It can plot speed, route and elevation. You can plot points and share your route with others. I can't find how to get it to work with sync so for now I only use it on my phone screen. For normal street/highway driving I'm trying to get Google maps to display on the sync screen.

 

[ylwjacket]

Can you not get apple carplay or android auto to work? I use AA and it took an initial setup on my phone, but it displays fine.

Phone has to be plugged into usb for it. I think apple is wireless, but not sure.

 

[TXRangerTim]

My old phone would should google maps. New phone did a couple of times but usually says the app isn't compatible so I got Waze in the mean time. Waze does show on sync but I'm used to Google maps. Yes phone is plugged into USB.

 

[9zero1790]

I downloaded it, but the only free thing I see on it is digital black and white pdf motor vehicle use maps. They do show where you're at on them, which is nice, but there's no info.

That USFS Visitor map was great because it showed trail names, camp sites, features like picnic areas and overlooks, etc. Also has some info on the trails, like travel surface, suitable for highway or OHV, high or standard clearance, etc.

It still works, and is a really useful app. It just has broken its ability to do map downloads for offline use when you have no cell service. It may work just fine with Apple, I have no idea. From comments in the play store, it seems the Android version is gummed up. As long you have service, it has all that available.

I also have a Garmin Inreach device that syncs with the Earthmate map on my phone. That works pretty well also in terms of mapping trails, but still doesn't have all of the USFS Visitor Map info. I got the Garmin because some of the places in the mountains have no cell service, and the Inreach has satellite SOS and text messaging capabilities.

I guess since I started it, I can hijack the thread with all of this, right?

of course you can! thanks for trying out that app, saves me having to download and try it.

 

[Fazzie01]

I use Carplay with Apple Maps and Google Maps interchangeably. I can count on 1 hand the number of times I have used the Factory Nav. However, those times I have used it have been when I have no reception and it has saved my butt. It was awful to use and quite frustrating, but it did save me when I needed it.

 

[GTGallop]

I hate the factory Nav in every Ford I've been in and in my wife's car too - It's a Supra so not sure if that sucky Nav is a Toyota or BMW. Regardless, Google, Wayze, Apple all seem better than Fac-Nav. I use GaiaGPS on the trail and have used On-X as a trial, they seem to be better than Fac-Nav too.

OH! Just forgot... I used to rent a lot of cars back in the day when we traveled for work (Before the Covid Times came) and Nissan Nav and Hundai Nav all blew donkey nutz too.

Ford Factory Nav Story....
My Father-In-Law lived in a neighborhood that was about 12 years old. He bought a new Explorer. A 2011 Creme De La Creme edition or what ever the top was a the time - Platinum? Any way, drove his new car home and as he entered the subdivision it started yelling at him to "RETURN TO THE PAVED ROAD." He called Ford and they told him he subdivision must be new. He said no - 12 years old.

There were quite a few places in North Phoenix that were that way for him. He could find the location. The address was there in the system but when he got close Ford Factory Nav had him Off Roading the last half to quarter mile to get there. Pissed him off mightily.

So he complained to Ford Service and they cut him a discount. When the new Nav came out in a few months he could upgrade for $400 instead of the normal $600. When the time came, he went into the Ford $tealership and they took 4 hours to install new maps. He asked why it was taking so long - because they had to take the dashboard apart and get to the 6 disc CD changer that had the maps in it and then swap out the 6 discs - in 2011. His dashboard was never right after that and things were always loose and rattling. But he drove home and as he entered the neighborhood the Explorer started screaming at him - RETURN TO THE PAVED ROAD.

It seems Ford upgraded all of the maps everywhere bu Maricopa county. He was PO'd and eventually complained enough to get a full refund but the dash was always a squeaky creaky mess until he traded it in a few years later.

Honestly - I'm not sure why car manufacturers still even bother with Fac-Nav. Haven't seen one worth using. I'm also not sure why they struggle so hard to get one that's decent, Garmin, Tom Tom, Delorme, have been doing Nav for DECADES and doing it well. So does Google and Apple and a handfull of other Nav Systems.

 

[Dgc333]

Personally only had Android Auto with Google Maps. It was alright as long as you had reception. As for Factory Nav you can get the option of traffic conditions if you have Sirius XM. I have seen it used before and it's not too shabby.

The Sirus XM Travel Link is a separate service from Sirus XM radio. Ford provides a 5 year subscription to Travel Link when you get factory nav. I have never renewed my Sirus XM radio after the initial trial and the Travel Link continues to function. Haven't kept any of the 3 Fords I have had with factory nav past 5 years to see what happens or how much they charge to keep it going.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

The Sirus XM Travel Link is a separate service from Sirus XM radio. Ford provides a 5 year subscription to Travel Link when you get factory nav. I have never renewed my Sirus XM radio after the initial trial and the Travel Link continues to function. Haven't kept any of the 3 Fords I have had with factory nav past 5 years to see what happens or how much they charge to keep it going.

I never used the SiriusXM when I had the free trial, but I am curious about the Travel Link.

I don't think I have it.

Where is it accessed?

 

[subquark]

My fave nav system - loved it when I lived in Texas:

 

[Dgc333]

I never used the SiriusXM when I had the free trial, but I am curious about the Travel Link.

I don't think I have it.

Where is it accessed?

Well it is integrated into the factory nav so you don't need to do anything to see the typical green, yellow, red on the roads for congestion and yellow icons for accidents, construction, etc. It will automatically reroute you for significant traffic issues.

There is also an App under the App tab on Sync that provides, detail traffic conditions, gas prices, sports scores, ski conditions, weather, etc. It is also here where you would turn on weather alerts.

 

[Motorpsychology]

Factory navigation works great for me when coupled with SiriusXM traffic. It will reroute me to avoid traffic and I was quite surprised!!!

Apple Maps and google have free traffic, Apple's also warns of incidents ahead, and pops up an option to clear it if it is no longer there, moved off to a safer location etc .My Garmin Zumo XT includes a basic free traffic app with alerts and a re-route choice, and the option to subscribe to other traffic apps.
I like the ability to create custom routes on my laptop and upload them the XT. There I can use them in any of my vehicles, whereas Apple or Google Maps will default to either fastest or shortest route, ignoring most of your planned waypoints.

 

[Motorpsychology]

Can you not get apple carplay or android auto to work? I use AA and it took an initial setup on my phone, but it displays fine.

Phone has to be plugged into usb for it. I think apple is wireless, but not sure.

Sync 3 requires iPhone to be plugged in for Apple Car Play, I think the newer Sync 4 doesn't.

 

[mtbikernate]

clip

yeah, that's an especially egregious example of bad factory nav (and an even worse example of how NOT to handle map updates).

Honestly - I'm not sure why car manufacturers still even bother with Fac-Nav. Haven't seen one worth using. I'm also not sure why they struggle so hard to get one that's decent, Garmin, Tom Tom, Delorme, have been doing Nav for DECADES and doing it well. So does Google and Apple and a handfull of other Nav Systems.

I'll agree with this. I'll go a little farther and say that I'd prefer to see a 3rd party OS installed on head units from the start. Auto mfr partners with Google or Apple to install that company's mobile OS as the native OS. I definitely understand the utility of having maps permanently loaded or at least cached on the head unit so they can be accessed when you're outside of cellular reception. Waze doesn't do a good job of doing this (it forgets them all as soon as you turn the truck off). Google does a little better with it. And Gaia does really well with it, as it's meant to be used outside of cellular reception. So there are options for different ways to have map storage on the head unit.

Sponsored