We were driving around an area of Thailand in between Chantanburi and Isan recently and couldn't believe how unreliable google maps was. We had a fold out map with us and knew the route anyway. Google maps is absolutely rubbish and suggests the long way round for sure- eg. turn left when the correct way is right etc..... I categorically would NOT use it or rely on it if driving around Thailand. Maybe its ok for central Bangkok but as soon as your out of the city forget it. It will add hours to your trip if you rely on it driving in the country. Same goes for the crap GPS in my pickup truck. Its just as bad. 

 

cheers

oh dear i guess paper is your go to friend then ??

I have done 10s of 1000's of KM throughout Thailand and regularly use it when in areas unknown. I would say 99% of the time it is correct. The only time i have had difficulty was right up on the boarder with Laos near Bung Kan where it had me down some dirt roads etc. All in all i think it is great, EVEN in Thailand.

I use Google Maps a lot. It guides me even to small vilages upcountry. It would say it is reliable for a little bit less than 100%.

Moved to Maps... GPS... forum.

 

I am using Google Maps and HERE regularly on the PC.

Google Maps might have minor issues and the maps of the PC version have poor readability (bad color/contrast and the class/importance of roads is hard to distinguish).

 

But for such heavy statements like in the OP you should bring some concrete examples (" It will add hours to your trip ").

I could hardly find errors in roads of first to third class (one to three digit road numbers).

 

For better readable street maps I use HERE WeGo.

https://wego.here.com/

Troll ?


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Funny thing is I just used google maps in the train on my trip to Surat Thani. It was all over the place, really.

 

Is it possible to be screwing up due to weak 4g signal?

9 minutes ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

Is it possible to be screwing up due to weak 4g signal?

I am uncertain what your post says.

Do you mean the location displayed on your mobile was inaccurate ("way off")?

And how much?

 

The main basis for locating is the GPS (satellite) signal, which can indeed be bad in a train wagon and can lead to poor accuracy.

4G mobile phone signal can only be used as an addition to enhance/speed up locating.

This would also not be related to Google maps but a smartphone "problem".

The only problem I have with Google Map is that the road numbers and names are always displayed in some tiny fonts no matter how much you zoom in.

12 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

 

 

The main basis for locating is the GPS (satellite) signal, which can indeed be bad in a train wagon and can lead to poor accuracy.

 

 

Ah, ok. Didn't know that.

I only use Google in Bangkok / Thailand. When driving overseas I use Sygic out of town as it tells me speed limits and very good with with lane assist , but still switch back to Google in big towns

 

Google in Bangkok is heaven sent - very good in finding best way thru jams

 

 

 

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6 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

The only problem I have with Google Map is that the road numbers and names are always displayed in some tiny fonts no matter how much you zoom in.

I learned to use the "Windows Magnifier"

 

has OP considered that the Google Maps is making deducts after it has considered the 'Traffic' situation at the time?

 

I always have 2 different GPS setups in the dash

I have a Nuvi running for the usual Plotting and ETAs, and

the other running Google Maps, that I have to solely display the 'corrected' Routes and ETAs, that takes (Traffic) into Consideration.

 

The Google mapper is continuously offering alternative routing options whenever it detects and displays:

 Good (green) , Slow (yellow) and Stopped (Red) traffic ahead

 

I wonder how many don't realise how the Google Traffic is actively parasiting info from the google based phones in almost every car surrounding you, and along your intended route?

Edited October 27, 20178 yr by tifino

The only times Google Maps fails me are when I forget to turn on the Location feature (doh!), and when I'm downtown and the GPS signals bounce off the mirror windowed skyscrapers.

 

I can't imagine any GPS navigation programs that are 100% reliable, but I sure hate to think of what driving in Thailand was like for a noob before there was GPS.  I don't take the pickup out of my neighborhood without the GPS.

 

I have tried many other map apps including paid versions and always come back to Google. Granted, you do occasionally get told to turn left into somebody's backyard, or 'slight right' can actually mean make a U-turn, but on the whole I trust it. When I bought my first GPS years ago the first thing I learnt was that it didn't have a brain. Same goes for any navigation system.

Did a tour of Thailand of about 5000km in June/July using Google Maps. It seems to have learned how fast I drive compared to everyone else (not fast, but slightly quicker than average) and so its anticipated arrival time is pretty much spot on. Directions around Bangkok were great, helped avoid traffic brilliantly. I just wish the hotel finding feature was better. A few more years...

On 10/29/2017 at 10:57 PM, naboo said:

I just wish the hotel finding feature was better. A few more years...

 

Since Google Earth/Maps are at least partially monetized by selling advertising to hotels and other attractions, I suspect the issue isn't GE/M so much as hotels that haven't paid to be included (or perhaps featured) on the POI database. 

 

I'm amazed at how many points of interest I can find.  But you're right.  It can be hit and miss.

 

One tip that has been real handy for me is to use the navigation function, then save each journey to my smartphone home screen.  Slowly, I've built a folder on my Home screen that has a couple of dozen locations and all I have to do is click an icon to have Google Maps show me the way.  Saves a ton of time over drilling down through the search function every time.

Mostly I find Google Maps ok, sometimes little annoying directions are displayed.

While we're discussing this, does anybody know how I can locate my exact GPS position please?

I can't quite seem to obtain it. 

Probably finger trouble..

In Bangkok, Google Maps seem to direct you to the Expressway, even if that means 20 minutes stuck in traffic getting to the Expressway, then just 2 km of Expressway before you're directed to come off!  Sometimes I choose the 'avoid Expressways' option to find an alternative, often quicker, route.  The GPS signal is also an issue when driving under the BTS, so this can effect accuracy.

 

Before Google Maps I used the 'ask the nearest motorcycle taxi guy' method - and that's still a valid option if Google is playing up.

7 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Since Google Earth/Maps are at least partially monetized by selling advertising to hotels and other attractions, I suspect the issue isn't GE/M so much as hotels that haven't paid to be included (or perhaps featured) on the POI database. 

 

I'm amazed at how many points of interest I can find.  But you're right.  It can be hit and miss.

 

One tip that has been real handy for me is to use the navigation function, then save each journey to my smartphone home screen.  Slowly, I've built a folder on my Home screen that has a couple of dozen locations and all I have to do is click an icon to have Google Maps show me the way.  Saves a ton of time over drilling down through the search function every time.

I use Google Bookmarks which is also on my home screen.

7 hours ago, faraday said:

Mostly I find Google Maps ok, sometimes little annoying directions are displayed.

While we're discussing this, does anybody know how I can locate my exact GPS position please?

I can't quite seem to obtain it. 

Probably finger trouble..

If you right click on the screen on a PC at least you will get your present coordinates. (Blue dot).

Otherwise you can use a free all like GPS fix, which works even without internet connection. You can add the coordinates to your notes or send it per Email, Facebook or whatever.

On 24/11/2017 at 4:44 AM, faraday said:

While we're discussing this, does anybody know how I can locate my exact GPS position please?

I can't quite seem to obtain it. 

Probably finger trouble..

 

On my Android phone, I zoom I as far as possible, touch and hold the blue dot that represents my position. The GPS coordinates are then shown at the top of he screen.

The only issue I've had with Google maps, is that outside of towns it has often taken me down sealed roads which soon become unsealed dirt roads and usually impassable in anything other than a 4x4!

I imagine this is an issue with the local map data Google is using, failing to distinguish suitable road surfaces.

I have driven about 250,000km in Thailand over 5 years, and use GM all the time, as a result of using it I became a “local guide” so I could help with bringing the map quality up, there is a long way to go and Thailand is a big place, but for sure it’s better than a paper map, having read most of the comments on this post, I think the area most problematical is in the rural areas where sometimes a dirt track may appear in a main route, in my experience and I live in the country, you need to be cautious. I have tried to have some of these changed without much success.


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17 hours ago, colinchaffers said:

I have driven about 250,000km in Thailand over 5 years, and use GM all the time, as a result of using it I became a “local guide” so I could help with bringing the map quality up, there is a long way to go and Thailand is a big place, but for sure it’s better than a paper map, having read most of the comments on this post, I think the area most problematical is in the rural areas where sometimes a dirt track may appear in a main route, in my experience and I live in the country, you need to be cautious. I have tried to have some of these changed without much success.


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When I bought my first GPS unit, the first thing I learnt was that TOmtom doesn't have a brain. Same thing goes for Google maps or any other nav app. On a road I use once a year it tells me to turn left into someone's garden, then carries on as though nothing had happened. In Bangkok I have been told to do a 'slight right' when actually a U-turn was coming up, etc. They also insist that my village is 6Km away from where it actually is, I have told them a few times over the years.

But it sure beats the days of having a map spread out on your knees. which surely falls down when you change gear, gets picked up upside down, etc. Much less dangerous to use a mapping app.

 

Drove into downtown yesterday with heavy congestion - 50 mins out it predicted I would arrive 11:02, I arrived 30 seconds early - pretty amazing ( Google Maps - GUI still sucks )


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I have in all my 3 cars (Isuzu D-max 2011, Toyota Crown 1972 and Toyota Crown 1969) an Android Radio with build in Google Maps. The system has also an external GPS sensor. Due to this it is very accurate. 
Cheaper phones in combination with laminated front windscreens do miss sometimes the GPS signal.

As of last week, one can now (again?) cache Google Maps for off-line use.

 

You can download more than one map segment.

 

I think they are deleted after 30 days if not updated.

 

This feature is of use maybe for those without mobile data, or for those planning on being in areas without mobile data coverage.

 

In Google Maps, Settings, scroll down to Offline maps.

 

I prefer Google Maps with mobile data for navigation, real-time traffic layer and Streetview.

 

 

42 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

As of last week, one can now (again?) cache Google Maps for off-line use.

 

I meant to say, "...here in Thailand".

 

Caching off-line maps is available in other countries obviously, and this feature was available here ages ago (officially, and via some hacks), and was just made officially available here again as of last week.

 

Most of the articles announcing this feature are in Thai. 

That's good news. Thank you.