Which app and why?

kaixo

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 2012
Geneva-Bilbao 2015
Norte 2022

• Apr 26, 2018

• #1

Which app did you choose for downloading GPX tracks?
Maps.me, Here, OSMand, Oruxmap, GPX viewer, Viewranger, or other?

And what features determined your decision?
Cost?

 

martin1ws

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2018; (2020); 2021; 2022; 2023

• Apr 26, 2018

• #2

I have got OsmAnd with OpenStreetMap-Maps.
OsmAnd is free (for downloading the maps of Spain, not for unlimited map-downloads) and was recommended here in the forum.
I only want to find my way... for this should work every app.
But OsmAnd has more features:
https://osmand.net/features

Open Street Maps can vary in map quality (it is like Wikipedia for maps)... I have not tried it in Spain because my first Camino should start in July but it should be okay.

 

Last edited: Apr 26, 2018

Peter Fransiscus

Be a Rainbow in someone else's cloud.

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

• Apr 26, 2018

• #3

Sorry , none of them .

Buen Camino , Peter .

 

ricardo.ha77

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

.

• Apr 26, 2018

• #4

I use "My Maps". It is a Google app that gives you access to the maps you have previously prepared in Google Maps.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.m4b&hl=en

 

Last edited: Apr 28, 2018

twh

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances May/June, 2018
Porto-Muxia-Finisterre Oct (2019)

• Apr 26, 2018

• #5

maps.me - due to reputation for reliability and accuracy plus detail. Works without wifi or cellular data but I think most of those other choices do also.
Can add The Trail or Camino Route to maps.me using this site: caminodesantiago.nl Click top right for Britsh flag which translates the page to english. Look on left margin of next page for box to choose english on all other pages. Store the "route" file on your phone, not the cloud so you always have it in the same way you always have an operational maps.me

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Apr 26, 2018

• #6

Maps.me is great, as long as you make sure you are going in the right direction. Unlike me, this morning.

 

Tincatinker

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2012

• Apr 26, 2018

• #7

I get my maps from Stanfords of London and my general direction from a compass or the sun / stars when visible.
And, yes, I have used various map.apps and gps tracks and I've found most of them disappointing (to put it politely). Having once, and only once, followed a GPS track put up by someone who could obviously neither read a map or a landscape I prefer to trust my own judgement, or just follow the yellow arrows.
My Ultra-marathon running, IT savvy, son tells me that Maps.me is 'cool'. What would I know?

 

B

Bob Chambers

BobC

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Levant from Avila 2013

• Apr 28, 2018

• #8

I have used Oziexplorer for navigation for some time.Tracks from RidewithGPS, maps from the Spanish maps site - download Tif files (http://www.ign.es/web/ign/portal) Maps live on screen, tracks show up as an overlay. Oziexplorer shows the map and a direction arrow. Rather complicated but the result shows on 1:50,000 maps offline. Lots of fun setting out all out. Need an extended battery, only works on Android phones.

 

Felice

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPP to Santiago Sept 2014

• Apr 30, 2018

• #9

Tincatinker said:

I get my maps from Stanfords of London and my general direction from a compass or the sun / stars when visible.
And, yes, I have used various map.apps and gps tracks and I've found most of them disappointing (to put it politely). Having once, and only once, followed a GPS track put up by someone who could obviously neither read a map or a landscape I prefer to trust my own judgement, or just follow the yellow arrows.
My Ultra-marathon running, IT savvy, son tells me that Maps.me is 'cool'. What would I know?

Click to expand...

I think the OP is doing Prague to Geneva this year. That's a lot of maps he would need. Not sure how good the way markings are on that route either. Now the Frances, that's a different matter.

 

Bradypus

Migratory hermit

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Too many and too often!

• Apr 30, 2018

• #10

Tincatinker said:

Having once, and only once, followed a GPS track put up by someone who could obviously neither read a map or a landscape I prefer to trust my own judgement, or just follow the yellow arrows.

Click to expand...

When I am walking in very unfamiliar territory - such as in Japan a few weeks ago - offline mapping and a gps track are quite useful things to have as an insurance policy and confidence boost or to give a quick overview of what might be up ahead. Paper maps and guidebooks are always my preference though. Been to Stanfords a few times and "kid in a sweet shop" doesn't even begin to describe the feeling Marvellous place! And if either the gps or the guidebook seems to be directing me through six feet of water or over a cliff I feel free to ignore them and choose my own path