maps.me and osmand
 

MAPS.ME had received good feedback.
So I gave it a try.
It works well if I want to go from A to B.
And I seldom travel that way. I usally want to visit specific places on the way
But I did not find any way to create way-points in MPAS.ME

Is it so that I did not understand how this works? Or it is a functionality that does not exist ?

I tried osmand app.
I found it easy to do what I wanted. And I will try it out more.
It is also possible to download GPX files.

But before I spend to much time and effort.
Is there anyone who can share experiences from osmand ?
(I am running it on Android, if there is any difference)

Maps.me is very helpful for orientation and asking someone "where can I buy firewood" - where he can place a needle. Helpful for tagging your loundry, that you can find it again easy. Helpful for planning a the next steps.. Helpful for orientating if you are travelling without defined target. You need many hours more, if you plan to abuse it for real navigation.

Osmand is again something, who I would consider for track navigation, the TET or other tracks, most so called offroad navition like onx, gaia or mapout (reviewed there: https://www.4x4tripping.com/2021/02/...vs-mapout.html)

For onroad navigation I suggest an app who is made for that purpose:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3XexEID3...ne-android.JPG

Street names, house numbers, "Please turn left in 20m" - HERE or Here.com (formerly Smart2Go, Map24, Navteq, Nokia Maps) offers very good navigation in over 100 countries. Quite a few car manufacturers equip their navigation systems with Navteq map material (BMW, VW, Daimler etc.) Accordingly, the map material is of high quality. On a trip around the world, this software is simply unmatched. With an online connection, traffic jam avoidance is added - but the maps can be downloaded offline.

Have a read here - I always try to bring an usecase, together with an suggested app
https://vanlife.4x4tripping.com/2021...-2021-for.html

maps.me is ok if you want a-b navigation, but rubbish in terms of anything else including accurate location or to develop you own routes.

Yes people have used it to drive across Africa etc but they only follow the route it gives and rarely deviate from that route.

OSMand is better but just remember they charge you for maps they get for free from OSM.

Gaia GPs and Locus Maps are about the best proper navigation tools via apps but still not as good a dedicated GPS unit with good mapping. Last time I looked ONX was limited to North America mapping

A quick look at HERE's maps for a remote part of the Sahara I know well shows, inaccurate plotting of roads and incorrect Road numbers doh

That was also my impression.

I thought that it might by myself that did not understand how to use it.

Thanks for clarifying

Guess for that purpose these Track / Offroad Navigation solutions are better....

We did the transafrica with offline satellite image view (google-Hybrid), using an ipad and motionX (Offline Download isnt possible today with motionX anymore).

From Cameroon till Angola the Here Mapsource (known too as Smart2Go, Map24, Navteq, Nokia Maps) was the best available - if you dont was able to use Google Hybrid Satellite image view.

In the meantime all these mapsoures did get bigger updates compared to 2013:
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2013/12/...atelliten.html

Lets compare:

Openstreetmaps:
https://www.openstreetmap.org/search.../5.6854/9.4469


Google Hybrid:
https://www.google.ch/maps/place/5%C...9.461781?hl=de

Here:
https://wego.here.com/directions/mix...4518,16,normal


Choose yourself ;-)

Today the roadmaps are so easy to download, that we can decide later during our trip, which one to choose.

Offline OSM: Maps.me / Mapout (with additional 3D view)
Offline Here: here
Offline Satellite View: https://www.4x4tripping.com/2021/02/...vs-mapout.html

To Download offline Satellite-View - is still a kind of a challenge - specially if you plan to cross a complete continent.

Surfy

The error I refer too is a junction between a main road and a side road, not a piste.

If Here's mapping can't get major detail like that correct its of little value in remote areas.

Google's great, until your in a country that blocks it's navigation functions :rolleyes2:

If you compare the detail that maps.me shows with the data available in OSM (not forgetting the maps.me uses OSM's maps) you'll see just how limited maps.me is, leaving it in the realm of amateur navigation tools.

Thats africa...

It is the same with chosing between the different Satellite-Imagery provider.

It will be different in any travel region - specially for africa (at example I did choose satellite Imagery based at 2013, in a time I was able to see if I my car was parked in front of the house in switzerland)

Bing
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAHS3CcYk...s-Cameroon.JPG

Google
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GHP1GXLUX...s-Cameroon.JPG

There dosnt seem a pressure for doing some updates. In Switzerland you can expect updates inside of a year.

Just one company in africa, did choose to do a business out of mapping - there you can get against a fee - what we travellers did collect for free:

https://tracks4africa.co.za/maps/africa/

Also available inside of a Smartphone App.

But that is not just africa. Travel with your european BMW/Mercedes/Toyota to bulgaria/romania - you will see how the cash brings the mapping quality...

Surfy

Its not a case of "thats africa" with my test area, garmin, google, bing, OSM etc all have the junction correct and with the right road numbers. Here has this information missing. Its not a new road, its been there for over a decade, indicating just how out of date Heres mapping is.

Tracks4africa, is renowned as being a decent mapping system for southern africa but a waste of time in North Africa (they also have quite a strange business model when it comes to updates)

As I mentioned above, if you just want to follow the easy main route, like you did in 2013, then maps.me will work, if you want out of date mapping it looks like HERE is a good contender for North Africa.

If you want a proper navigation tool for remote regions you need better detail and more accurate gps locations. Gaia GOS and Locus maps and hugely superior in the world of apps, but a smart phone will be less accurate than a proper gps unit.

You still argue, like I did mention maps.me as a app for navigation purpose.

I never did :mchappy:

That a smartphone or tablet is not accurate enough for navigation - is very outdated. I did use just a iPad for the Transafrica and other trips.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWkAUvx_-_...rica-Flyer.jpg

Maybe 110`000 Travelkilometers shows that it "seems to be possible" to use a tablet or smartphone for navigation purpose.

Maybe the grafic shows too, if I did stick to mainroads like mentioned - even it is not detailed.

I did maintain a list of travellers on the transafrica over the west since 2011 - currently around 60 Travellers:

Trans-Africa: Gerade Unterwegs...

If you did it too, you should find your link too?? Anyway - it helps to read this blogs - in times we cant travel!

Some of the travelers not even upload their gpx tracks to T4a because of their business model - but you can optain them at their websites sometimes.

Surfy

But you did in your first post doh

You seem to miss the point that you were recommending HERE, and I was pointing out its huge errors with major roads and also the limitations of maps.me for remote off road navigation, its a tool for going from town to town on the road.

If you want an app for proper navigation then Gaia GPS is about as good as it gets until ONX include global mapping

It is a fact that smartphone are not as accurate. A smartphone will do the job but for many people its not good enough. Good info about the differences from a GPS expert is discussed here
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/t...-phone.224739/

osmand or maps.me
 

Back to topic

After failing to create a simple route in maps.me, I tried osmand.
The free versionto start with.
If it works out well, I might by the more advanced version.

It had the base functionality.
I could import a list if interesting places in gpx format.
(42 places spread of Algavre Portugal, to test)
I stored them as "Favorits"
Then I created a route covering some of them.
I was riding that route yesterday. And it worked.
But the phone overheated. Not as bad as for Google maps.
But.... It is OK as long as you do not have to charge it. It that is not long.
But to combine running the app and keep the battary charged... No
=> Smartphones can't be used in a sunny day with 20 degres Celcius.
OK, phone is waterproof holder (SHAD) But how can you use smartphone for MC touring ?

I also tested a cheap Chinees GPS for 50 €. It also works OK. But the computer does not regonize any decvice when connected to the USB port. So no way to enter information or updates that way.

For me, osmand was the best cheap solution. (Since I already have an extra smartphone, with bad microphone)

But I know how it will end up. I spend time and money to find a cheap solution. And after some time, I will mount a handlebar mounting kit. And a Garmin specific holder. Including cgarger and USB port

And use my Garmin Zumo. ( I have already holders on 2 other bikes)

(and a 7" dedicated cheap GPS for the car)

I've had the same problems with iphone6's overheating when running navigation apps. But I'm in a 4x4 with less airflow when moving than on a bike.

I have also had a Garmin overheat and shut down but that was it 40 degrees direct sunlight for several hours.

I've been using a smartphone for a couple of years now. That includes days of up to 38C. Haven't had problems with it overheating yet and it is hooked up to the usb charger for most of the time. Never used an extra case though. I bought a Chinese rugged waterproof smartphone.

The phone is placed in the airflow so it gets some extra cooling.

For navigation I use OSMAnd. A tool that won't win any prizes for user friendliness, but it does what I need it to (load GPX files, visualize tracks, navigate routes and tracks, show an azimut, easily show/hide service stations/supermarkets/... near my current location) and has a lot of configurability.

I use Maps.me mainly to put and share pins for interesting places. It is also more convenient to do a search for camp sites and other POIs than OSMAnd is.

My Garmin devices have all moved on to new owners.

On a side note: I still carry a paper map most of the time, because it gives me a much better sense of scale and of where I am / where I'm going than a digital map on a smartphone screen or even a tablet can.

I think any App has his own usecase.

Mapout brings like maps.me the openstreetmap sources (but the topographical map) to your phone.

Additional it brings:

- Topographical map
- contour lines
- 3D View
- Tour planning (off-road - hike, bike, 4x4)

It is not an replacement of maps.me in my eyes - it has his own usecase.

To see how steep a hill is, is important for planning.

You can download the maps easily (world) for offline use, in a small vector size.

It has no satellite view - just osm material - but I try to use it since 2020 too for offroad track planning and driving.

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/w/ima..._3D_Effect.gif

For offroad navigation, there are other players are more capable, but need an extended training period:

2021 Track navigation Apps comparison
https://vanlife.4x4tripping.com/2021...n-at-2021.html

For shure - not a complete list - just a bunch of apps who are worth to look deeper into bier

As always I did look at those apps for travelling purpose - at home I usually know how steep a hill is...

As I did mention before - I still use also maps.me - it is the best tool if you ask others to guide you - where you can optain firewood as example and for searching for POI`s if you are out of cell coverage. Too maps.me has osm road mapsource, mapout brings a topographical map with...

Surfy

Totally agreed! That's why I use multiple apps.




fwiw, OSMAnd has offline (OSM) maps, offline navigation, contour lines, hillshade etc as well.

OSMAND saved my trip
 

I did a part (half) of the Swedish TET.

I downloaded the GPX file from teh TET web page. That is a track file, to my computer.
Using Base Camp, I imported it into my Garmin.
I looked at the Garmin, and everything look perfect.
6 segments. The TET route was shown on the screen.
I also loaded the file to my phone.

When I started the first segment. I planned to use the Garmin.
I opened the route for segment 1. Looks OK.
Press GO...... And Garmin recalculate the whole route.
I had stored the file as route. Not as a track.
=> Recalculating => giving a much shorter route the the TET route.
=> Useless

If I had stored it as a track. It had been possible to use.
But only to show on the map.
Not to get a route with navigation information.

So I tried my OSMAND app.
It took the track file. And used all the points from that file as "waypoints".
And calculate a route. And the waypoints where so close, that is was the correct TET route.
Of course, there is limitation in OSMAND's number of points. And the phone's calculationg power. But it worked perfect.

Trip saved !!!
I was riding the TET for 4 days, using OSMAND only.


OSMAND has better functionality in this area than Garmin SW. !!!

Than, it does not have a userfriendly interface. And some other issues.
But I like it more and more. The more I use it and learn.

Already with the free version you can download 6 maps == 6 countries.
Using Wifi, when preparing. Than you have the map. No need for connection during the trip. As a "real" GPS.

I will not leave home without it, even I have my Garmin.

I had that problem with the Garmin rerouting plotted routes so now I save them as tracks so it doesn't change the route I planned.

When I downloaded some TET files the routes are saved as tracks though?

Hey,
I used both of them and stopped using them after a while. maps.me, as mentioned by other, is great from a to b. Good for finding restaurant and so on.
Osmand is way better for navigating but whenever they did updated the maps it took days for all the maps to get updated because after each updated map they start an initialising process of all the maps you have on your phone. Really annoying!

So, I stayed with navigator and at the moment trying Guru Maps. In my opinion they're both very similar except for the fact that only Guru Maps is displaying and following the TET tracks properly. Maybe I'm making a mistake when using Navigator!?

Hope that helps

Karl

Anyone else find this stuff unnecessarily complicated? I've given up with wrestling with Garmin's Windows 95 level software interfaces and much of the other backward facing DIY navigation apps that feel like you're wrestling with spaghetti trying to get them to plot a route. A lot of my family have even given up using dedicated sat navs for their day to day travel, preferring to use their phones instead. It's not that you can't do it (and I've certainly spent enough time staring at a Garmin screen on my laptop), it's just all very year 2000. It might have been the future once but that was then. There must be an easier way of doing this stuff.

There is B-O-B but...
you need to speak to the right person :smartass: :Beach:
You could catch up with me in Wales for a bit of free training!:smiliex:

For route planning I actually find Garmins software, particularly Mapsource very easy to use. Only frustration is having to be at a 3km zoom level to see unsurfaced roads with OSM. Basecamp takes a bit of getting the hang of but shows unsurfaced roads at a 15km zoom which makes longer distance planning easier.

The apps are great if your planning is limited to "take me" to a particular place, not so good if you want a more interesting route

Was this going to be a UK HUBB meet seminar that got Covided off.

Either that or nobody can find their way there :rofl:

At the risk of falling foul of 'da rules' tell me more ...

The problem (or mine anyway) is that all of this stuff is easy once you've got the hang of it. I find Photoshop easy but mainly because I been using it professionally for 25+ yrs. There's a mile high pile of instruction books to get through if you're a newcomer. I've used Garmin's software many times - and navigated across parts of the Sahara with it - so I'm familiar with it (although I've not used it much recently). It's not that it's difficult / awkward in absolute terms, it's just unnecessarily difficult / awkward.

It's much the same with a lot of the bundled image software that comes with Japanese cameras. It works perfectly well but the interfaces are awful compared with commercial competitors so that's what everyone uses. There's obviously big money in image software (look at Adobe's turnover), not so much in remote navigation, so there's no pressure on Garmin to do much but it certainly puts me off.

Nope no hubb seminar. I do miss those small meets like there once were in Germany.... alas time moves on.

B-O-B if you are at a loose end, I'm just off (again!) to enjoy Welsh hospitality, food, drink, markets, beaches, mountains , bbq's under the tarp and soooo much more.
Happy days and no bug tests required!
(and no 'da rules' to break!)

Head towards Liverpool, turn left and get in touch for coords :0)
No need to bring your own sheep :Beach: