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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: Johnny Thunder on 13:33:00, 08/05/20

Title: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Johnny Thunder on 13:33:00, 08/05/20
Hi. Does anyone use a mobile phone app such as Viewranger for recording your walking routes, or are there any others that you would recommend?


Thank you.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: sussamb on 14:14:13, 08/05/20
I use VR but only as a back up to my GPS when walking.  Use it along with other SAR team members when searching, and buddy beacon sends our locations to our control vehicle.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 15:02:45, 08/05/20
I use both ViewRanger and the OS app.
The OS app obviously has OS mapping which is a big plus but its main disadvantage is that you cannot record a track while following a route.  However, if you are planning routes, the "snap to path" function in the associated website is a great planning tool if you are planning a route inside a National Park.
ViewRanger has the advantage of being free and the basic mapping is not bad but OS mapping is an extra.
Both apps have a great collection of routes available to use.  The OS routes are free, the VR routes can be free but many require the purchase of credits.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Johnny Thunder on 15:33:49, 08/05/20
I've downloaded the View Ranger app to my phone and started having a play around with it.
I have found routes local to me and added them too. It seems like a decent tool to use.
I think I will select one or two routes to try and see how it goes.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 15:50:08, 08/05/20
I've downloaded the View Ranger app to my phone and started having a play around with it.
I have found routes local to me and added them too. It seems like a decent tool to use.
I think I will select one or two routes to try and see how it goes.
Enjoy.  One other features of VR you may enjoy is BuddyBeacon, which allows your nearest and dearest to keep track of your whereabouts when you are out walking. In these difficult times when we are walking from our front doors, it enables Mrs N to decide when to put the ice in my G&T so it is at the perfect temperature as I come through the front door.  :)
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: gunwharfman on 16:12:39, 08/05/20
I use Wikiloc, (I can also post directly to Skype with it as well) there is also Komoot, My Maps, etc, there seems to be a lot of them. I have recorded all of my running routes on Wikiloc, to have a look just type in 'Cosham' or my name 'Reg Edmunds' and it will give you a view as to what's on offer. I also use 'Backcountry' which uses free OS maps, I can record a track on it as well but for some unknown reason, I've never used it, I've no idea why? What I like about all of these apps is that if you are ever in strange area, you just tap the screen to locate where you are and are loads of instant walks, runs and cycle routes come up.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: strawy on 10:43:15, 09/05/20
Ive used Viewranger for over 5 years now,although i dont use most of the functions(alarms/route following etc),its never once let me down & have never "got lost",love it  O0
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Dread on 11:35:08, 09/05/20
Just to clarify both Viewranger and OS Maps are free to download and have free maps. If you want proper OS maps on either you need to pay a yearly subscription, usually around £24 but there are occasional deals. Both are great. VR has more bells and whistles but some folk find it less intuitive.


Maverick and Backcountry are both more basic and less well designed but offer OS maps for free. Not sure how they do this. Maybe they pay for it with advertising or maybe they sell on data. They may use Bing Maps which are free OS maps you can access on your PC.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 12:18:42, 09/05/20
Maverick and Backcountry are both more basic and less well designed but offer OS maps for free. Not sure how they do this. Maybe they pay for it with advertising or maybe they sell on data. They may use Bing Maps which are free OS maps you can access on your PC.
Do they allow you do download a map to the phone so the app will work without a data signal?
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: GoneWest on 12:23:42, 09/05/20
Viewranger for finding myself on a map. I haven't used Buddy Beacon, yet, because I have other means of tracking myself and reporting my position back home, but I might use it someday. I'm not really into creating routes in advance, though, and still less likely to follow a route published by someone else (who, by so doing, has maybe made the route too popular). Expeditions require advance planning but for my day-walks I like to give myself the freedom to modify my route (usually just held vaguely in my head) as I go.

OS Locate for convenient one-off postion reports. It's also a handy way of recording spot positions for personal use; I can send them to myself and subsequently refer to them.

NOT OS Maps. I used to use this but it got more buggy with every so-called update until I gave up on it and uninstalled it. I won't reinstall it until I see some evidence that it has been rewritten by a professional. 

Great Britain Topo Maps. A great range of maps is provided and I also downloaded OS maps at 1:25000 for the whole of Cornwall for a very reasonable price. They are shown with relief shading, which is a mixed blessing. 

Locus Map. Installed out of interest, but haven't really made any practical use of it. 

Earthmate. The companion app for my Inreach. More for tracking and messaging than for navigation; the built-in map isn't particularly exciting. 

GPS Essentials. Essential for navigation geeks, like me. Lots of features to play with. 

GPS Logger. A beautifully simple track logger, with all sorts of ways to report or publish the track as you go. Haven't done anything with it yet. 

APRSdroid. A live-tracking app for radio amateurs only. Connecting it to my radio is still on my todo list but it will also work over the phone and I have used it often in this mode.

Map Tools. Converts position coordinates, e.g. Lat:Lon <-> OS grid. Will also calculate distances between given points in various coordinate systems.

ImrayNavigator. My sailing days are more or less over, I think, but I installed this because the built-in sample chart covers the whole of the UK south coast and it added interest to my day-trip to the Scilly Isles last year.

 MC 50. A programmable calculator. I'm going to program it to calculate positions by resection, when I get round to it. Alternative to tryng to plot pencil lines on a map in the wind and rain! May come in handy for other things, too.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 12:39:08, 09/05/20
Viewranger for finding myself on a map. I haven't used Buddy Beacon, yet, because I have other means of tracking myself and reporting my position back home, but I might use it someday. I'm not really into creating routes in advance, though, and still less likely to follow a route published by someone else (who, by so doing, has maybe made the route too popular). Expeditions require advance planning but for my day-walks I like to give myself the freedom to modify my route (usually just held vaguely in my head) as I go.
For a lot of punters visiting a new area for the first time, VR routes are a useful tool.  They will show the best ways to go and point you to some of the interesting features of the area.  The route planning tool gives you a route profile which can be helpful in picking a route.  As to published routes being popular, they are easy to spot - VR will have multiple versions of the same route.  Doesn't make them a bad thing though - they are often popular for a reason.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: watershed on 12:41:04, 09/05/20
I have Used View Ranger since 2017, with down loaded OS Maps.
I haven't tried any other APP, but don't see the need as it does everything I want.
I have used it to design walks and see no reason to change.
It has never let me down.
When on a big walk somewhere new I make use of the "snip tool", print of my route maps and take a compass as a back up.
I did that for example for 2 TGO challenges.
My phone I keep hanging from my neck in an Aquapac which seemed a dear purchase when I bought it, but in hindsight one of the best purchases I have made for walking.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: gunwharfman on 14:47:37, 09/05/20
I've never printed a map.  :-[
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 14:53:10, 09/05/20
I've never printed a map.  :-[
I only use maps I have printed. Much more convenient.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: GoneWest on 14:57:52, 09/05/20
I have Used View Ranger since 2017, with down loaded OS Maps.
I haven't tried any other APP, but don't see the need as it does everything I want.
I have used it to design walks and see no reason to change.
It has never let me down.

On re-reading my last post, I think I may have given the impression that I am fairly indifferent to Viewranger. Not so, in fact. It is well engineered and has done everything I have asked of it really well. The fact that I don't use some of its features is down to my choice; it's no reflection at all upon the app. If I were limited to just one navigational app on my phone, this would be it. However, the other apps I've listed are also interesting to me, for various reasons, and sometimes useful as well.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: gunwharfman on 15:15:41, 09/05/20
To be more accurate, I rarely use a map these days. I just follow direction signs! If I get lost I'll just look at my phone map,
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Johnny Thunder on 17:08:28, 09/05/20
Thanks everyone. Plenty for me to look into.
I think I will start just with VR to save getting myself too confused with too much.
I have already installed OS Locate and this seems very straightforward.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: glovepuppet on 19:37:02, 09/05/20
Hi All


I've been following this thread with interest. I'm thinking of going for either Viewranger or OS Mapping app/web, but apart from the "how well do they work" part of the discussion, does anyone know whether, if you go for the Premium option, you can post maps to eg: a website (of your own) or social media from a technical perspective but also a copyright perspective?


Ideally, I'd like to go with just the one option with OS mapping included that will work for me.


As an added thought, Am I right in thinking the likes of Komoot, Wikliloc and Hiiker don't use OS mapping?


Thanks in advance


GP  O0
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 20:05:46, 09/05/20
I can't speak for the copyright aspect but publishing a map is easy.  Just take screenshot, crop it and publish it as an image,  I believe there is even software out there that will let you do it in one fell swoop but I have never had the need for it.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: geordie33 on 08:28:43, 10/05/20
I use Viewranger and it gives you the option to share on Facebook so presumably no copyright issue.There are easy screenshot apps on android and of course it is very simple to do on Windows.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 08:47:05, 10/05/20
I use Viewranger and it gives you the option to share on Facebook so presumably no copyright issue.There are easy screenshot apps on android and of course it is very simple to do on Windows.
Just because VR let’s you share on FB doesn’t mean there are no copyright issues sharing OS maps. OS owns the copyright, not VR.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: glovepuppet on 11:32:27, 11/05/20
I can't speak for the copyright aspect but publishing a map is easy.  Just take screenshot, crop it and publish it as an image,  I believe there is even software out there that will let you do it in one fell swoop but I have never had the need for it.


Thanks for the info.  O0


I'm still looking into the options at the moment and am beginning to favour the Viewranger option based on functionality and good reviews. I think they have a free 7-day trial which I will have to have a look at when i have a bit of time to spare.


Thanks again to all who commented - and if anyone has any other thoughts or recommendations (eg: for Komoot, Hiiker, Wikiloc or similar) I'd be happy to hear about them.


All the best


GP  :)
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: gunwharfman on 17:39:39, 11/05/20
The main reason I chose Wikiloc was that I could pay my full year fee and then immediately close down my card. I hate paying for these things so when the time comes I can choose to renew or not. The reason I chose Backcountry was first for the OS maps and secondly, it was a once-only cost. When I bought it it was less than £5 so it's proved itself by 2020 to be a really cheap buy. For a backup map I like Windy, good for when I'm in towns or villages, it too has trails marked, this time in red. For free IGN French maps with all GR routes clearly marked in purple and so easy to follow, I use Geoportail.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: BuzyG on 18:03:54, 11/05/20
A little late to this thread. 


One note I have not spotted reading through.  If like me you purchase paper OS maps, then at the moment it appears you get the entire UK for free on the OS APP.  It used to be just the maps you had purchased.  O0  I have never paid a subscription, yet I can view the whole of the UK whilst out and about.  Not sure how it works out of signal range, as all the places I have walked with no signal, since I noticed this, have been places I have downloaded on to my phone.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: strawy on 18:16:27, 11/05/20
There are many ways to get "free" maps,same as "free" music..
Do i feel guilty ??
Sure i do
But ive been ripped off so many times before,so i reckon it evens itself out  :-[
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 18:23:27, 11/05/20
A little late to this thread. 


One note I have not spotted reading through.  If like me you purchase paper OS maps, then at the moment it appears you get the entire UK for free on the OS APP.  It used to be just the maps you had purchased.  O0  I have never paid a subscription, yet I can view the whole of the UK whilst out and about.  Not sure how it works out of signal range, as all the places I have walked with no signal, since I noticed this, have been places I have downloaded on to my phone.
The OS app has a download map for off-line use function.  If you have a route prepared, favourite the route and then download the map and you do not need a data signal for it to work.  VR has a similar feature.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: GoneWest on 19:18:51, 11/05/20
A little late to this thread. 


One note I have not spotted reading through.  If like me you purchase paper OS maps, then at the moment it appears you get the entire UK for free on the OS APP.  It used to be just the maps you had purchased.  O0  I have never paid a subscription, yet I can view the whole of the UK whilst out and about.  Not sure how it works out of signal range, as all the places I have walked with no signal, since I noticed this, have been places I have downloaded on to my phone.
Some time ago, when the bugs in the app started being a real nuisance, I noticed that this "feature" appeared for me, too. I got the impression that OS allowed this general access to keep people on board while they repaired tha app. Then they did fix it (a bit) and the feature disappeared. Then the bugs got worse again and I abandoned the app. Maybe they've brought the appeasement feature back while they try to fix the app again; I don't know because I've put my trust in VR instead.
I think the general access took the form of a temporary free subscription; you could cache the bits you wanted to, I believe. They did this because of bugs around loading and using the paper maps which people had already bought.
BTW I have an Android phone. Maybe the app still works tolerably well on iPhones, which might explain why some people still seem fairly happy with it.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 20:10:14, 11/05/20
The OS app works perfectly on my Android phone (Samsung A50).  Bugs long gone.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: geordie33 on 08:33:20, 12/05/20
The only problem I had with OS maps on android was that if I forgot to download offline maps before going out
I could not always get data in parts of the county so I could not use it.Other than that had no realms issues with how it operated.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Johnny Thunder on 08:49:48, 12/05/20
If I subscribe to the OS Maps service, do I get it across all platform ie. VR too, or will I just get it in the OS Map app?
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 09:05:37, 12/05/20
If I subscribe to the OS Maps service, do I get it across all platform ie. VR too, or will I just get it in the OS Map app?
No.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Johnny Thunder on 09:47:04, 12/05/20
OK thank you.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: GoneWest on 10:42:44, 12/05/20
If I subscribe to the OS Maps service, do I get it across all platform ie. VR too, or will I just get it in the OS Map app?
"No" and "Yes", respectively, as far as phone apps are concerned. :( You also get to use it, though, to great advantage on the OS maps website. Strangely, the website does not allow you to view your bought paper maps online, so you really have to have a subscription to see the equivalent mapping there. I don't currently have a subscription but I still find the digital base map useful for its detail (you can turn on grid references and get them by positioning objects under the central crosshairs). A 2D aerial view is also available without a subscription, as are Green Space and Cycling Network overlays on the base map.

If I do take out another subscription it will probably be with Viewranger. I like the app and the website functionality is great, too. Unlike OS Maps, VR seems to have no official way of printing maps from its website. You can always use the Print Screen facility of the PC, of course, but printing to the proper map scale with this method might be tricky!
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 11:38:30, 12/05/20
I have the subscription free version of ViewRanger and on the odd occasion I need Premium mapping, e.g. using it abroad, I pay for it with the credits I have accumulated by writing up and publishing routes that I have walked.  Each time someone downloads one of my routes, I get 33 Credits. I have published almost 440 routes so far and have another 100+ still to add before I have caught up but it is definitely not a get rich quick scheme!
Both apps/websites have pros and cons when it comes to planning routes.  Fortunately it is a simple matter to swap routes between apps as both store the routes as gpx files.  I particularly like the Snap To feature on the OS web site for planning walks inside national parks, shame it does work outside the boundaries.
When I am walking. and not using my Garmin, I use ViewRanger as it lets me record a track while following a route - a flaw in the OS app.  If I need to see where I am on the OS app, I can switch to it for the "official" picture.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: Johnny Thunder on 12:15:59, 12/05/20
Fantastic. Thank you.
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: BuzyG on 08:12:12, 13/05/20
Some time ago, when the bugs in the app started being a real nuisance, I noticed that this "feature" appeared for me, too. I got the impression that OS allowed this general access to keep people on board while they repaired tha app. Then they did fix it (a bit) and the feature disappeared. Then the bugs got worse again and I abandoned the app. Maybe they've brought the appeasement feature back while they try to fix the app again; I don't know because I've put my trust in VR instead.
I think the general access took the form of a temporary free subscription; you could cache the bits you wanted to, I believe. They did this because of bugs around loading and using the paper maps which people had already bought.
BTW I have an Android phone. Maybe the app still works tolerably well on iPhones, which might explain why some people still seem fairly happy with it.
I would agree that there are still a few issues with paper map down loads.  The App has lost much of it's basic appeal.  In that it now tries too hard to be like VR and the like.  Personally I much preferred it when it was a simple mobile repository for my paper maps, that could access my phones GPS.  The rest is just frilly stuff to play with and while away those hours planning or reminiscing, that you don't really need once your on the ground walking. :)
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: GoneWest on 08:14:37, 13/05/20
Agreed!
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: gunwharfman on 14:07:22, 13/05/20
I thought this was an interesting read today -

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/may/13/naomi-klein-how-big-tech-plans-to-profit-from-coronavirus-pandemic
Title: Re: Mobile phone GPS apps.
Post by: ninthace on 15:18:18, 13/05/20
I thought this was an interesting read today -

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/may/13/naomi-klein-how-big-tech-plans-to-profit-from-coronavirus-pandemic
Not sure what this has to do with recommending a GPS based mobile phone app?
As in:
"Hi. Does anyone use a mobile phone app such as Viewranger for recording your walking routes, or are there any others that you would
recommend?"


Perhaps better in the News thread?