www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am using Sygic on my Android phone for GPS navigation, but it doesn't have map of Costa Rica. Could you recommend other software I can use on Android?

Check the VIP maps.. one is of Downtown SJ, other is of Paseo Colon and San Pedro areas.

I looked at this a little and the consensus is--they don't exist for CR: http://able2know.org/topic/141909-1 << they start by talking games but soon get to the topic in a CR-specific way.
Here are 2 other sites that may help, in a general way: http://androidforums.com/android-applic ... gator.html
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid- ... -maps.html
Sorry if I've wasted your time with these.
Brother ElS's suggestion is excellent for SJO, even if paper--a good map.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

The one I use is called Waze, its free and has real time warning on police and traffic jams. The voice guidance works well.

I like sygic as well but no costa rica maps, damned shame!

Greg

There are a couple of sites to obtain aps which will work on your phone. While not particularly complicated, you do need to know what you're doing.

Here is one link:

http://gpsunderground.com/forum/igo-map ... semap.html that appears to cover Android

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Downloading, Converting and installing maps is a bit much for most folks, hehe. but thanks for the info.

Greg

Greg....these maps are already converted. You just have to know where to put them. However, there are easy to read tutorials that explain to the point where a 5 year old can do it. The only "glitch" that might occur is that many of the downloads are in .rar format. No big deal..... .rar is just a more sophisticated .zip program. Here is a free .rar program for any and all to use:

http://www.izarc.org/

I also have to add that at this time the download links aren't working. Just keep following the forum and sooner or later it'll be there.

I KNOW the latest NavSat map for Costa Rica for GARMIN GPS devices is good....same with other GPS brands......them smartphones are a different story.....if they're so smart, why don't the darn things do all this work themselves.....hmmmm....maybe that's why they're smart....they get humans to do the work. hahahahahahah......

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I've never used a GPS, but don't you have to put in a start and finish "address"? How is that done in CR?

Taking a hard turn on this topic--If you don't like the apps that are out there, make your own:
http://www.economist.com/node/21559366
Extracted from the article and the comments--these are primarily for game developers but have general applicablity:
http://gamesalad.com/ << one commenter doesn't like this at all
https://developer.blackberry.com/java/
http://www.appinventor.org/ << specifically for Android, from MIT
http://mobile.conduit.com/
http://www.appmakr.com/
http://www.magmito.com/
http://www.gotoandlearn.com/
http://www.flashdevelop.org/
http://www.genuitec.com/mobile/

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

How do you download map of San Jose for Waze?

Very good query, DGD. The answer to each question is YES and YES.

The start address is easy enough....you start from wherever you are....in most cases.

The GPS software typically comes with "Points of Interests" which include all manner of stuff....including hotels, "tourist sites", "historical points", etc. Use one of them as the "finish address" or the nearby town wherever you're going. Once you get to some place you like (as in off the beaten path, not on the map, or a point of interest generated by the software....create your own "favorite" by locking it in with the push of a button. You will then have locked in the GPS gloabal long. and lat. of where you are and be able to get back to it.

There IS a lot of "fly by the seat of your pants" relative to Costa Rica....but it can and is pretty safe if you play correctly. GARMIN does NOT market a map for Costa Rica.....but NavSat does and it's pretty darn good (it does NOT have my Soda Akropolis as a "point of interest" under the food sections.....but it IS pinmarked on the map.....long story). Example, somebody has advised you about a "secret place" that is "...about 1.3 km to the North of Los Angeles Del Sur.....you just follow the GPS as long as you can and then start rubber necking......once (or IF) you find said secret place, simply lock it in to your favorites....and should you want to tell the next person where it is....give them the damn gps coordinates......; the devices have an input section for gps coordinates. Frankly, I believe we shall see more and more web sites and brochures listing the GPS data of where a place is due to this satellite using computers.

The GARMIN gps gear can be placed in drive mode, or bicycle mode, or walking mode. These fancy "smart phones"....I dunno how accurate or well they function

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

It will automatically download it for you. just make sure when you install it, you select international

Greg

Good question. You aim for a famous point of interest and then look for the exact place. (Just like the locos do but without the GPS Case in point, I used EPA as the starting point to find the dentist's office and then I knew that 90210 was only a block or two down. Once there, I added it to my favorites as a reference and for future use.

As others have posted and it is also in my quasi trip report of last week, I used Waze and it worked like a charm. I drove around as if I was a native. When using any GPS, situational awareness is the key; something I learned from my days of being a pilot. If you think you need to go about one hour and the GPS tells you three hours, GPS is wrong so double check, cross check – just do not follow blindly. Know roughly where you are or ought to be at all times.
In CR Waze was so good that it even told me about police presence and congestions many times and 90% of the time it was correct. (Waze does that by other people reporting)

In a nutshell, it isn’t Google maps or Garmin but the best free one for use in Costa Rica.

PS: You will need data connection at all times for Waze to work.

Yep, Waze is one of the best for CR. that is until I can get Sygic those downloadable maps for CR.

Greg

BkkBum: I believe the first forum I listed has what you want. Perhaps not, and if so, I have another forum for you. I don't do this "smartphone stuff" for specific reasons....but more power to you if that's your preferred method.

Are you relying 100% on smartphone (Android) for GPS? If that is the case strongly suggest you take just a BIT of time and learn the "guts" of the unit and use the files from the sites I've provided. Let me know directly if I can be of more assistance. These web sites go up and down like a yo yo.....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16