Mtb offroad Satnav / GPS

[(NoLongerRegistered#15675)]

Since getting Ebike found I,m travelling loads further on trails/ tracks, took a wrong turn today, 4 mile detour...fortunately plenty in battery..
Thinking of satnav...with basemaps??

Anybody know anything or got one??

Tried with app for Nokia 625...not really successful !

 

[EddiePJ]

I believe that SRS uses Satmap Active 12, a system that is on my own wish list.

For now though, I just use OS MapFinder on my Android phone.

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/mapfinder

The GPS signal is located in seconds, it doesn't appear to be affected by adverse weather conditions, the clarity and detail is great, you can load pre determined routes, and also record routes.
The downside is having to purchase map tiles, which as far as I can tell, stay with the device, meaning that you could be screwed if you change phone ect.

edit... One other downside that I discovered recently when out for a ride, was that for some reason I couldn't buy a map that I required whilst out on the ride. I was able to buy it upon my return back home, but that isn't of much use.

I still often carry a paper copy, but trying to unfold and look at a map, on a damp and windy day, is no fun. Using a clear plastic map pocket also become a very quick annoyance.

 

[(NoLongerRegistered#15675)]

Thinking of new phone so it might be better going same route (??)

Any problems with battery usage..( on phone !)

Ps
Thanks for info..

I tried Nokia , app seemed absolutely fine...but couldn't see screen on move ( or stopped in bright sunlight !)

Do you get a track to follow without down loading a track route from somebody else..
I know there are issues getting place to place off road. ( no roads to calculate a route with?)
Ta.

 

[EddiePJ]

There doesn't appear to be any issue with the battery usage on the phone, which is a Samsung Galaxy of some sorts, although I do tend to use it more as quick guide, rather than an on the move continuous reference.

For my use it's fine, but for more serious mapping, as in continuous use, you might sadly have to bite the bullet, and pay for a proper system.

On a slightly different note, it is also worth adding an app to your phone called My GPS Coordinates. It basically does as described, plus gives the option of being able to forward your coordinates on. Hopefully you will never require it, but it could be useful in the event of an accident.
I installed it after having an accident last year, that suddenly made me feel very vulnerable. At the time, my only option was to telephone someone every five minutes, until I reached a road.

 

[D8ve]

Garmin Dakota 300 with free uk maps.
Can do sat type guidance or just great mapping.
Had to bash some alloy to make a mount for it.

 

[(NoLongerRegistered#15675)]

Thanks ...

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Thinking of new phone so it might be better going same route (??)

Any problems with battery usage..( on phone !)

Ps
Thanks for info..

I tried Nokia , app seemed absolutely fine...but couldn't see screen on move ( or stopped in bright sunlight !)

Do you get a track to follow without down loading a track route from somebody else..
I know there are issues getting place to place off road. ( no roads to calculate a route with?)
Ta.

Yes, rather than waste your money on a dedicated GPS, put it towards a new phone like a Galaxy S5 that has state of the art sensors. I just sold mine in perfect condition for £100. I think they're about £120 on Ebay for a used one. I've now got a S7 Edge, but it isn't any better than the S5 for bike stuff. A phone is much more flexible for navigation than a dedicated GPS. I just use Google Maps set to cycling, but there's a few navigation apps if you need them. Google navigation is about the best for on-road stuff. You can mount your phone on your bike if you want by getting a standard phone mount and a rubber case for it. Use cable-ties to fix the rubber case to the phone mount, or you can use it as it is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Bike-Handlebar-Holder-Mount-Waterproof-Bag-Case-for-Mobile-Phone-GPS-/111968419870?hash=item1a11d6801e:g:r5kAAOSwbwlXCK3d

 

[Nealh]

I'm frickin useless with phones so generally hate them, for my needs I use a Garmin Edge Touring which I got for £68. 7+ hrs battery use, simple 1/4 turn mount, like a smart phone also has a swipe screen for quick info, compass, time, speed, alt etc. Sync and update courses to follow or just use the maps to go where you like, zoom in for more or less map info shows all tracks, bridleways and FP's.

 

[Lumos]

I also use OS map finder as it has full resolution 1:25 000 maps that allows you to zoom right in. There is nothing really like it in the world for navigating. The problem is that the information is not vector based so they cannot rotate the map and have the map data stay the right way up. So if North Up is your preferred orientation then you are good.

I can confirm that you an download your bought tiles onto any other device even at the same time. So I plan my routes on my iPad Pro and it synchs them behind the scenes so when i get on my bike the new route is there.

It is not perfect, the little blue arrow that marks where you are is tiny and often hard to pick out. Sometimes when it is recording a trail it can have huge power consumption even without the screen on. Other times it is fine.

There are other lower cost ways of getting OS maps on a device but I have never found the high res 1:25000 and I suspect that they keep that content for their own products.

 

[EddiePJ]

Lumos, I'm going somewhere this coming weekend for a 35 miles off road ride, and I don't currently have the map tiles for that area, and won't need them on the day either, as the route will be marked out. Do you happen to know if I can still record the route, in order that I can then buy the required tiles at a later date?

 

[Lumos]

Lumos, I'm going somewhere this coming weekend for a 35 miles off road ride, and I don't currently have the map tiles for that area, and won't need them on the day either, as the route will be marked out. Do you happen to know if I can still record the route, in order that I can then buy the required tiles at a later date?

My understanding is that there is always a baseline map that looks like the old AA road map of Great Britain and without any further tiles it will use this and record your route. Buying 1:50 000 is much more cost effective of course. The other really low cost option is an app called 'Outdoors GB' and you can buy huge amounts of the country of OS mappery at 25k or 50k for very little cost and the only difference is that you do not have full OS resolution, but you certainly can get your area for less than I remove from my XX1 cassette every time I move the bike.

 

[EddiePJ]

Thanks Lumos. It wasn't the cost issue, I just didn't want to be buying map tiles that I might not use.

The 1:25 000 maps are definitely the way to go.

 

[Lumos]

With paper maps I seem to have lived my life on the edge of multiple sheets; now we have gone electronic I am finding the same. As the 25k tiles are quite small I am now paying more for an electronic copy than I ever did for paper.

The thing that I love about the 25k series is how a new adventure starts off with a map and some ambition. My favourite routes that we have named never existed until we plotted out bridleways, linking tracks, permissive routes and if necessary a small amount of linking road. Where do you have in mind for this weekend?

 

[EddiePJ]

It's only up on the Surrey Hills, and really I should just buy the maps now, as it's a fantastic area to ride and explore.

The South Downs maps are pain, as you end up paying for a map, with three quarters of it being the sea! Obviously it's a discounted price, but it still leaves a bitter taste.

 

[Gringo]

ters of it being the sea! Obviously it's a discounted price, but it still leaves a bitter taste

And Lumos living on the edge of the map.
You could consider a custom OS map with your choice of scale & center point.
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/custom-made-maps.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwrte4BRD-oYi3y5_AhZ4BEiQAzIFxnyzFVCdDCD22IkfuDsXvcRbqkFPn6vTfCPSNISGem-oaAkVy8P8HAQ
The best map I ever brought.

 

[baldylox]

I use the maverick app for android and OS explorer maps are free to use. You can cache maps and as well as OSM with MTB/ cycle route overlays and aerial imagery from bing.
Does the job for me but annoyingly does not "follow" your position so you have to recentre to your location every so often.


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