Google Maps

[Big Boy]

Not sure if this will work for you.....but this has a few useful tools including a compass.

Thank you, but it has:

Flashlight
Unit Converter
Timer
Stopwatch
Bubble Level
Calculator
Magnifying Glass
Mirror
Ruler

It does not have a Compass.

There are many compass apps out there.....

Not so good if my phone does not have the correct sensors.

We'd better get back on topic before one of those evil Moderators tells us off

[Big Boy]

There's a restriction with Google Maps. They don't let Google camera cars on to private estates, so useless when trying to find somewhere on one of these estates. Roads (Sois) aren't labelled on the maps either.

[caller]

When I read some comments on here, I sometimes feel like I exist in a parallel universe . I am a self-confessed technophobe, but things generally, just seem to work!

Yes, on google, I am told to go south or north, whatever, but I also get (usually) a little blue line and arrow pointing me in the right direction and then it says things like, in 300 metres turn left'. I assume that's the same for everyone? When I come to do a u-turn, I am always prepared to go right or left to complete that, especially on major roads, where you are just as likely to go over or under the main road. One on route 9 we use when visiting garden centres west of Bkk isn't signposted, but for the first time we just got over to the left and then followed a few other cars as we dipped into what seemed a little side turning, more of a locals cut through than anything else, before heading under the narrow gap to the road above. Every time I use it and see the main supports, I shiver.

I don't have a compass on my google maps, but after reading this thread, I decided it would be nice to have one, so downloaded one. So now when I sit on my chair, I know that north is to my left and up a bit!

I use a samsung galaxy A33 which was launched in 2020. Is that young or old in phone terms? I only change a phone when the current one basically breaks, sometimes because of me smashing it in frustration, generally because things stop working because it is too old. I bought the new one at Samsung in MV, spent as little as possible, and buy only once I am assured all my very basic necessities will work.

[Big Boy]

Most of what you say makes sense. However, as an example, this week I was in the car park of a new (for me) hotel in Ratchaburi. In front of me is a main road with traffic moving left and right. The instruction isn't turn right or left, it is 'Head North'. I have a 50% chance that North is left - I am not a homing pigeon. That first instruction has a direction arrow pointing through the roof of my car (straight ahead).

I've looked up the cost of a Samsung Galaxy A33, and Google suggests 'Typically $258–$450'. That would most likely make it a lot more advanced than anything I would pay for. It must at least have the necessary sensors to make the compass work.

[STEVE G]

One of these?

[Big Boy]

I bought one of those back in the 80s - don't work. I tried 3 different versions.

It's OK guys, I'll just start my journeys with guesswork. It's never too far to the next U-turn

[pharvey]

One of these?

I always had one and a bloody proper MAP as well!! I still have the latter in mine and any car I drive. My nephews in their 40s don't have a clue how to read a map, let alone much else that doesn't involve a computer, mobile phone or other (actually have to think) device.

Very sad times.....

[pharvey]

I bought one of those back in the 80s - don't work. I tried 3 different versions.

There's a common denominator there somewhere BB!!

[Big Boy]

Problem is, you are most probably right.

[pharvey]

Problem is, you are most probably right.

[Ratsima]

Here's another Google Maps oddity. I'm flying out of Suvarnabhumi this weekend. My plan is to get from Korat to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (hereinafter referred to as Bang Sue) by train and then use MRT and Airport Link to get to the airport, as I have done in the past. It's easy. It's fast enough and it's cheap.

So, I decided to have a look and see what Google recommended in terms of public transit. Apparently Google Maps is not aware that there is a Blue Line MRT station at Bang Sue. Instead it recommends that you walk to Kamphaeng Phet to catch the MRT or walk to Chatuchak and catch a bus. (You might see different recommendations depending on the time of day.)

I checked with Apple Maps (still awful for Thailand) which found no public transit way to get from Bang Sue to the airport.

I was amused at Caller's statement that "When I come to do a u-turn, I am always prepared to go right or left to complete that, especially on major roads, where you are just as likely to go over or under the main road." I wonder how you do that when you're in the far right lane of a four lane highway and the U-turn suddenly appears at the far left lane with no warning from either Google or highway signs?

[Big Boy]

I was amused at Caller's statement that "When I come to do a u-turn, I am always prepared to go right or left to complete that, especially on major roads, where you are just as likely to go over or under the main road." I wonder how you do that when you're in the far right lane of a four lane highway and the U-turn suddenly appears at the far left lane with no warning from either Google or highway signs?

I actually agree with caller on that one. on top of my screen an arrow appears for each lane on the road I am driving, and either the right or left arrow will be tilted indicating that is the lane I need to be in.

[Ratsima]

Those arrows only appear when Google knows what lane you need to be in. For our u-turn in Jomtien Google just said make a U-turn with no further instruction or lane arrows.

When we almost missed a right turn Google said “make a right turn from any lane”. But it was only possible to make a right turn from the far right lane. No arrows at all.

Sometimes “it just works”. Sometimes, not.

I guess I’m the odd person out here, so I’ll shut up about Google.

[Big Boy]

I don't disbelieve you - a bit like my Head North when you are sat in a totally alien car park, and the arrow is pointing towards the sun. It is a glitch, but when I consider it is a free service, it has taken me to the Golden Triangle in the North, Nakhon Si Thammarat in the South, Pattaya in the East, and has 'somehow; got me through Bangkok numerous times. I shouldn't complain.

Before Google Maps I had a Tom Tom device, which took me through several ploughed fields. Apart from screen size, Google Maps wins hands down.

[caller]

I was amused at Caller's statement that "When I come to do a u-turn, I am always prepared to go right or left to complete that, especially on major roads, where you are just as likely to go over or under the main road." I wonder how you do that when you're in the far right lane of a four lane highway and the U-turn suddenly appears at the far left lane with no warning from either Google or highway signs?

Well, like the good boy scout I never was, I would be prepared. I was on the service road of highway 9. In that stretch of road, there are no traditional U turns and in this instance heading up to a major junction further ahead, which takes an age to U turn (you follow the slip road left off 9, then eventually follow the road to Bkk which takes you back the way you came. then go way past highway 9 before the road takes you back in the other direction before following thew slip road onto highway 9 again.

On this particular occasion, we had visited a new garden centre, one of many in that area, had filled up with goodies, thought we needed to go to the major junction, as described above, which actually took us to our usual garden centre we visited, immediately south of the junction, when we were suddenly told to U-turn, we just got on the left in readiness. There were no major signs, just an arrow indicating slight left. At first I was worried if it was big enough for the pick-up to get through.

I guess being prepared comes from the major road that runs under the ramintra tollway from Ekkamai in Bkk to east of Bkk on route 9. It has some major stores quite near to us, all much better than Hua Hin (Index, Homepro, Central Eastville and others) and on that road, sometimes keeping left can mean you end up having to physically turn left, and then U-turn just to get back! Other left's are actually U-turns, some U turns take you under the tollway, some roads to 'keep right' take you above junctions and adjacent to the tollway, but don't enter the tollway, but some have exits from the tollway, and some are actual entrances to the tollway! It took us a while to work that one out!!