route maps on your phone

[paulrockliffe]

I use the OS map function for country rambles, it's great.

But only because I rarely walk more than six or seven miles, any longer and the map function has run the phone's battery flat!

If you have Makita or Dewalt cordless drills, you can get a USB charger adaptor for them. Put that in the bottom of your bag with a wire hanging out and you'll be able to walk for days without running your battery flat.

 

[sunnybob]

WELL, that didnt work!
Turns out all I have achieved is seeing a map through the house wi fi.
50 yards from the house and I'm on my own again.

I HATE technology!!!!!

 

[RogerS]

OK..using a map on a smartphone.

Two things are needed.

One - the smartphone needs to know where you are. The only way it can do that is by using GPS. Assuming that the phone has got a GPS function and that it can see the satellites that send out the GPS information then you're good to go.

Two - now the phone knows where it (and you) are, it needs a map to show you where you are and also be able to plot a route as to where you want to go.

A lot of the apps do not store the map on your phone by default. This IS very important to appreciate. So if you do not have either a wi-fi signal or mobile signal then you are stuffed. The map application can't get a map to show you where you are.

SOME apps allow you to load onto your phone (and I will let the experts here guide you through that) the map of where you want to go. And so it does not matter if you don't have a wi-fi or mobile signal. It's like having a map of the area in your hand.

So...

(a) you need to make sure you have Location or somesuch enabled on your phone ...that sorts out (1)

(b) have downloaded the map of where you are/want to be onto your phone

 

[llangatwgnedd]

I use Anquet omn on my android phone and all the maps are stored on my external sd card and not phone memory.

 

[sunnybob]

Roger, Thank you, thats the kind of one step instructions I can (just) understand.

But it brings up one more question.
Assuming the map is on the phone, is it JUST a map? or do I get voice instructions to turn right / left / whatever.
If its just a map that requires reading then it wont work for me while I'm driving.

I believe there is a full cell phone coverage where I'm going.

 

[RogerS]

...
Assuming the map is on the phone, is it JUST a map? or do I get voice instructions to turn right / left / whatever.
.....

That will depend on the app (aka program). Google Map does provide this.

Lots of instructions and help here https://support.google.com/maps/answer/ ... roid&hl=en

 

[sunnybob]

I've just had another go with the phone. It appears to have downloaded a lot of stuff overnight through the wi fi. I have never turned wi fi on before this.

Sitting here i have now turned wi fi off and I can still see the map and even get voice instructions.
Looks like I need another test road trip.
I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[RogerS]

I've just had another go with the phone. It appears to have downloaded a lot of stuff overnight through the wi fi. I have never turned wi fi on before this.

Sitting here i have now turned wi fi off and I can still see the map and even get voice instructions.
Looks like I need another test road trip.
I'll let you know how I get on.

\/

Sounds like you're making good progress.

 

[oakmitre]

In the latest version of Google Maps for Android, maps can be downloaded for offline use using the 'Offline Areas' section in the menu. You just zoom to the required area and download. It helps to have plenty of memory on your phone of course.

Download this via wifi to save time and money. When out and about with gps, you can still get directions.

On most phones you have to swirl the phone in a figure of 8 pattern to calibrate the compass. On Google maps, the blue location mark then changes to have a blue arrow or direction pattern attached to the side of it.

 

[sunnybob]

oh wow, thats a lot of info I dont quite understand (g). But I will study that.
Didnt get a chance to go out and test today, finally got some workshop time, first since June, too good to miss. Working on a new cyclone using something suspiciously like a traffic cone.
promise to test the phone tomorrow

 

[John Brown]

While downloading maps to use while off-line is very useful if you're going abroad, say, or if you have limited data, the big plus of apps like Google Maps(or Waze) is that, if you DO have a data connection, they update the traffic conditions and suggest detours in real time. While some SatNavs do this, using a thing called TMC, the data available via TMC is, as I understand it, a tiny fraction of the data available to Google maps, who "know" the movement of millions of mobile phones and any moment.

 

[sunnybob]

I do know that traffic delays and roadworks info is not available here.

i'm being told from another source that I'm unlikely to get voice directions without internet access. Dont want to buy a dedicated gps unit for a once a year jaunt. i will road test what I have tomorrow.

 

[ColeyS1]

You should still get voice directions as long as the maps saved on your phone. You just need to turn on GPS so the phone can tell where abouts you are on the map.

Coley

 

[RogerS]

I do know that traffic delays and roadworks info is not available here.

i'm being told from another source that I'm unlikely to get voice directions without internet access. Dont want to buy a dedicated gps unit for a once a year jaunt. i will road test what I have tomorrow.

Don't think that voice directions happens automatically. Depending on what Android version and also smartphone you have may need a few things pressed to start it off.

 

[sunnybob]

I knew this would end up costing me money.
Nothing worked without wi fi so I had to go the phone shop and pay them for a months internet connection.
16 euros for 1 gig within 30 days.

Not cheap seeing as I will only be using it on one day, but I'm not going through the same frenzied back streets maze chase that happened last year.
I have to wait till the first of november to check it actually works.