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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: RubberSoul on 20:41:35, 06/02/18

Title: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: RubberSoul on 20:41:35, 06/02/18
Hi folks, just looking for some advice. As a back up to paper maps, I'm looking to use an electronic format. OS maps have a mobile subscription  for £24.99). The descriptions of what is included are frustratingly vague. ' Discover the UK...' 'Plot your own routes' 'Subscribe to unlock the beauty of our...blah blah paper maps'


The questions I have are
-How much are the maps to download once subscribed? Or are they free to download?
-Can you download as many as you like?
-What scales are available to download?


Has anyone had experience using from this subscription?
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: Mel on 21:16:58, 06/02/18

-How much are the maps to download once subscribed? Or are they free to download?  They are free but you can't "download" them as such, only "cache" or print them for offline use.  The maps disappear once your subscription stops.
-Can you download as many as you like?  Apparently, yes, within reason.  Not download, cache or print for offline use.
-What scales are available to download?  The important ones.. 1:25K, 1:50K

Has anyone had experience using from this subscription?  Yes.  I prefer Viewranger now.


To reiterate, you can't "download" the maps but, for the duration of your subscription, you will have access to the whole of the UK(?) to view, cache for offline use and print off for "free" so to speak.  Once your subscription ends, access to these maps disappears, along with access to all the routes you've saved.  Obviously your printed maps are there forever but... well, yeah, good luck with trying to print the whole of the UK onto A4 sheets of paper without massacring a small rainforest   ;D   (  :-[  )


One thing I'm unsure of though, if you buy a paper map that has the little scratch off thingy to download the digital version, you still have these to use via the OS Maps app once your subscription has finished.


Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: BuzyG on 21:34:38, 06/02/18
If you buy the paper maps, with the scratch code, the down load is for life, supposedly.   :)   I certainly have maps, bought 3 years ago, that I have access to, using this system and I love it. 

I'll be interested to see what happens when the maps I have are updated.  ie If the digital down load is updated or if OS provide an archived map.  The latter seems impracticable over time to me, as some one who develops databases for a living, so I'm hopeful it could be the former.  Time will tell.  O0
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: Mel on 21:53:29, 06/02/18
That's useful to know about the scratch n sniff download code maps BuzyG.


A point to note though, OS update their maps ALL the time and I would be very surprised if the digital download is also updated without incurring some sort of extra cost.  The reason I say this is, at work, we have OS mapping and it is updated every couple of months to reflect new housing estates, new roads and demolished areas (amongst a whole bunch of other stuff).  Naturally, as a business, we pay premium business prices for this and, if we stopped, we'd be left with the last version we had paid for.


If you think about it, OS would soon go out of business if everyone bought their maps, got the digital download and then didn't need to pay another penny for new maps because the digital maps auto-updated.



Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: gunwharfman on 11:23:20, 07/02/18
I use the app 'Backcountry' on Android to view OS maps, there's a free version and a one off paid version.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: RubberSoul on 13:21:18, 08/02/18
Thanks all! Really useful replies. I'll look into the backcountry app. Mel - Pros and cons of viewranger please. BuzG - Cheers. Indeed I read about that code. Really useful.


I didn't intend to print hard copies for trips out but more as a back up on the screen on my phone, which will always be with me. Cache or screen shots of the routes I'll be going on will be fine.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: BuzyG on 17:38:00, 08/02/18
That's useful to know about the scratch n sniff download code maps BuzyG.


A point to note though, OS update their maps ALL the time and I would be very surprised if the digital download is also updated without incurring some sort of extra cost.  The reason I say this is, at work, we have OS mapping and it is updated every couple of months to reflect new housing estates, new roads and demolished areas (amongst a whole bunch of other stuff).  Naturally, as a business, we pay premium business prices for this and, if we stopped, we'd be left with the last version we had paid for.


If you think about it, OS would soon go out of business if everyone bought their maps, got the digital download and then didn't need to pay another penny for new maps because the digital maps auto-updated.


Your probably right on that Mel.  The beauty of walking on the SW moors is, they don't change much any way.  I still carry a paper map with me I used for Ten Tors back in 1981.  Thought I have two newer versions. Those have covers on them, so are a pain to use.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: RubberSoul on 21:48:17, 24/02/18
Hi, me again!  
I have another question. The subscription...if I subscribe on the laptop, will I be able to use that same subscription on my phone too? I am guessing so but can't find anything on the OS website that states subscription covers both phone and laptop/desktop.


I'm just wary of subscribing via my laptop just in case it doesn't work on my phone, or vice verca.


If anyone can confirm I'd be very grateful



Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: Mel on 22:07:52, 24/02/18
Yes, you can/it does.  You have to download the OS maps app onto your phone and it will sync with your computer.


https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/os-maps-subscription-12-months.html


5th paragraph taken from ^^^ that link:


"Use your subscription with the OS Maps app to download any section of map to your iOS (Apple) or Android device for use outdoors, even without a data connection. View your location and planned route or record your travels with the built-in GPS functions."
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: RubberSoul on 22:14:13, 24/02/18
That is awesome thanks Mel. I didn't see that page (and I scrolled through lots of pages on their site!)


Plus I found that there is a £19.99 subscription on desktop, saving a fiver. Not much but every little helps.


Now I know it will cover both platforms, I'll get on it. Cheers again.

Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: tom83 on 22:29:54, 24/02/18
I have the subscription to OS maps, and I find it very useful. Basically I plan and plot my walks on my laptop, and save them. Then on my mobile, cache the map areas, and then open my planned route and follow it. It is really easy to use, and even if you don't plot a route, you can still follow yourself on the map using the GPS.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: geordie33 on 08:27:31, 25/02/18
I use this and find it particularly useful for field edges etc.You can use on 5 devices per sub.I have the android app and also use it on windows 10.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: MichaelUK on 16:51:32, 25/02/18
I have both a subscription, through Viewranger, and my paper map downloads through the OS maps. The subcribed maps are more up to date compared to the paper bought map digital version. Maybe a reason not to buy paper maps, although I still enjoy spreading the paper map out and deciding where to walk today and planing my route.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: Dan1902 on 17:13:25, 25/02/18
What about Bing Maps and the free OS map option?
Not bad for printing out and taking with you.

Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: RubberSoul on 19:28:11, 01/03/18
I didn't know about Bing/OS option, cheers Dan, I'll take a look.
In the meantime, does anyone who has registered with OS know if it possible to print onto A4 the same number (or roughly) grid squares that are on a standard OS map? I can't see an option to change the printing settings.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: RubberSoul on 20:30:28, 01/03/18
aah its cool. Think I just sussed it.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: HikerSte on 23:51:13, 01/03/18
I use the app 'Backcountry' on Android to view OS maps, there's a free version and a one off paid version.


I use this all time as my back up, I find it so much better than OS Maps.



Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: Glyno on 06:21:19, 02/03/18
I can never understand why people faff about with Bing maps and suchlike when you can actually get 12 months subscription to OS Maps for £8!


https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/boost/os-maps-online/UK-004131.prd
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: Lakeland Lorry on 08:53:37, 02/03/18
I can't beat Glyno's £8 subscription offer, but YHA Members can get 20% off an annual subscription to OS Maps online.

https://www.yha.org.uk/our-partners/ordnance-survey
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: BuzyG on 12:51:54, 02/03/18
I can never understand why people faff about with Bing maps and suchlike when you can actually get 12 months subscription to OS Maps for £8!


https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/boost/os-maps-online/UK-004131.prd (https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/boost/os-maps-online/UK-004131.prd)


What faff?  I use the snipping tool to grab a map from the screen, in Bing maps.  Then print that out and laminate it.  Very simple takes but a few minutes from start to finish. O0

If I try the same from my OS account, I can only view and print at the scale I have paid for ie 1:25k.  This may be different with an annual  subscription account. 

With Bing you can choose your scale 1:50 or 1:25 or others.  Hence I use Bing, despite paying OS, because I personalty find the interface better, for printing off maps.  The beauty of the OS map tool, is the map is downloaded on your phone.

So GPS & OSmaps tool for primary navigation & an A4 paper laminated map and my old companion Silva, as a back up, for those occasions when the Phone decides it's having a bad day.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: Glyno on 14:50:02, 02/03/18



If I try the same from my OS account, I can only view and print at the scale I have paid for ie 1:25k.  This may be different with an annual  subscription account. 




Yes, it is.


You can print at A4 and A3, 1/25k, 1/50k, aerial, aerial 3D and Standard Topo. No need to rescale either.


You can also plot and save routes, import routes, and print them at any of the above formats.



Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: G4rymw on 22:09:48, 14/03/18
TRIAL magazine are offering free OS digital maps for a year worth £25.99 if you subscribe to a 6 month magazine subscription costing £17.50 , I buy TRIAL now and then so might take this up , question ? once on OS maps will it be able to download routes or maps to a Garmin 64s or just to a mobile device , phone, tablet and your home laptop , also when viewing on the phone following a route  does it come off your data , not clued up on download and tech as you can tell ,thanks






Just been on website seems a bit clearer now, can’t download to Garmin though
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: sussamb on 06:52:07, 15/03/18
OS maps on line offering a free 7 day trial right now so you may want to take advantage of that first to see whether it suits your needs.  Note it doesn't allow you to transfer mapping to your 64 but you can export a gpx file to send to your 64.

Following a route on your phone doesn't use data, although sending the map to your device will but you can do that via wifi at home.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: G4rymw on 08:15:50, 15/03/18
OS maps on line offering a free 7 day trial right now so you may want to take advantage of that first to see whether it suits your needs.  Note it doesn't allow you to transfer mapping to your 64 but you can export a gpx file to send to your 64.

Following a route on your phone doesn't use data, although sending the map to your device will but you can do that via wifi at home.


Ah thanks , I went on the OS site after I posted reply, so I could upload a route map from them to my phone , it looks similar to Basecamp but their own version , not sure about how to transfer it to gpx file then to 64s, interesting to know I can use it on my phone without any data though. The 7 day trial doesn’t feature all the available options but I will try it then like you said get the premium version which offers more options,I would get if free with the Trial magazine subscription and as I read that it would work out cheaper as getting 2 products for a cheap price,Reviews say the OS premium is good  so I’ll look into again,thanks for reply , it’s good to get some knowledge on here when your a novice like me  O0
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: sussamb on 08:41:11, 15/03/18
... not sure about how to transfer it to gpx file then to 64s

You export the gpx file of the route, then copy that to the GPX folder on your GPS.
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: G4rymw on 08:54:26, 15/03/18
You export the gpx file of the route, then copy that to the GPX folder on your GPS.


Great thanks  O0
Title: Re: OS Maps online / mobile advice
Post by: GordonHorwich on 22:03:29, 31/03/18
Original question answered but just to back up - I find OSMaps subscription extremely useful. I print off and laminate for anything from a few miles fell race to the LDWA 100. Saves the bulk of full maps and also useful on an iPad mini on a dry day.