How does Android Google Maps fare against a car's built-in GPS?

Rodion15

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Sep 11, 2011
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I like having precise GPS for my new Dacia Logan MCV Stepway. I'm currently using Google Maps on my Android OnePlus 7T without major issues. But I've always wondered if my car's GPS is better than using Android Google Maps. I'm thinking that perhaps a car's built-in GPS hardware is more accurate than a dash attached Android phone? I know this probably depends on what car and what GPS it uses.

I'm thinking of getting a GPS locator to boost my Google Maps, such as the Dual Electronics xgps150a, but I would stick to Android Google Maps or the car's GPS if that's good enough.
Any recommendations?
Any advice much welcome!
 

punkncat

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IMO I prefer using Google Maps to any other GPS. It's tied in to nearly every Android phone out there getting real time information back from a large section of travelers with instant updates on traffic flow, location, police traps, accidents....and it updates very regularly.

My car has to be taken in for stuff like that. The only 'advantage' I see is the built in one shows a better map on the screen. Even tied to my phone I get turn by turn.

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An external GPS receiver like the DUAL XGPS won't offer more accuracy, but it will offer a fast refresh rate, I know because I've logged and tested it in my car. For track cars, it shows your actual route through a turn, but my phones built in gps on refreshed 3-4 times in a turn, showing a connect the dots style straight line to each point.

Your car's gps uses the same signals as standard phones. Signal strength doesn't matter, per say, unless signal strength means your car can see a satellite that your phone can't pick up. If they can both pick up the same amount of satellites, the digital signal for all those satellites is the same, so the accuracy of your position will be the same.

Now, as of 2 or so years ago, the governments started launch what's called the L5 gps signal. I'm not sure where you live, so your satelite constellation will be different. But, the L5 signal combined with L1c and L2c allows for sub-meter accuracy, meaning it can pinpoint your to about 50% of your lane, instead of 10-15 meter accuracy where it may think you're on a different road. Very few receivers have this L5 signal yet, but some smartphones do have it if they're using the Broadcom BCM4775 or BCM4776 gps receiver chips.
https://www.gsc-europa.eu/news/worlds-first-dual-frequency-gnss-smartphone-hits-the-market
 
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I would say the ones built in would be your best bet however I have had no problems using Apple’s maps or Google maps from the phone when using CarPlay
 
I found someone maintaining a list of phones with sub-meter capable L5 signal GPS. The One Plus 7 appears to be one of them, so may be in luck. The snapdragon 855 supports it and it appears to work. However, it states the Oneplus 7 and 7 pro, it doesn't show the 7T variant. You may need to just test it yourself using this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest

Here's a list of phones that support L5: https://barbeau.medium.com/dual-frequency-gnss-on-android-devices-152b8826e1c

A google discussion that's still active on L5 phones: https://groups.google.com/g/gpstest_android/c/6v9cTi1iT-s/m/zUh_o8viAgAJ?pli=1