SToronto

I am planning to drive around Southern Germany, Black Forest and into Switzerland to 3 passes, Lucerne and Zurich.

I intend to use my iPhone combined with Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps - whatever works best.

However today I was driving not 20 minutes outside my city and encountered patches of no service or LTE instead of 3/5G. Was a bit annoying as I was taking some new roads and unfamiliar with the area as it's like the countryside. Realized this same problem can occur on my ED trip.

What's the consensus? iPhone functional everywhere I am going? Good enough?

Should I get a sat/nav device like TomTom?

Does the GT3 PCM include maps for europe? I don't even know as I didn't look into that aspect (not important for my NA usage)

SToronto

May have answered my own question.

TomTom has offline maps available.

aggie57

You can download Google maps and use them without cell coverage as well.

Cacou

Google Maps won’t do direction offline though.

Use HERE maps. If I recall correctly, it can.

SToronto

I've noticed that googlemaps.com doesn't want to route through mountain passes. Even when I try putting in a destination location in the middle of a pass. It won't create a route.

Hesitant about having those problems while offline.

SToronto

Thanks for the tips.

Will check out HERE maps. Though TomTom sounds decent and there's a 7 day trial. Even if you have to pay it's cheap for a month, $5.99 IIRC.

SD00

i think that’s because many of the passes are still closed at this time. I think it will work better in June when the closed ones open up. Check out this link for pass openings.
https://alpen-paesse.ch/en/

SToronto

Good point, I shall try again as some are open. I am planning to do Furka, Grimsel and Susten as those are all nearby and linked.

quickboxster

Also, I use these when away from civilization and cell service.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmand...te/id934850257
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gaia-gps/id1201979492

sampelligrino

You should have the option to get a free portable nav from Porsche if doing ED, I requested one for mine next week for OP's exact reason but also because it did a better job of making me aware of the speed limits across Europe (especially Switzerland)

ExMB

AFAIK per my ED paperwork the free portable Nav unit is only available in Leipzig and has to be returned there as well (which can be done via mail as I read in this forum).

sampelligrino

I'm Zuffenhausen, and was able to request the portable nav. Will be returned from drop off point in Sindelfingen by them is what I was told. Guess I'll find out in 9 days

SToronto

I don't believe I saw anything regarding a nav device for Zuffenhausen.
Good to know. I'll send an email to our ED manager. I will be returning to Sindelfingen as well.

SToronto

It also looks like there are a number of offline map programs suggested here. The TomTom one offers a 7 day trial if one is not interested in paying.

SToronto

I just got a note back saying Zuffenhausen has not offered portable navigation devices for some time now.

Do let us know!