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Paul Williams Friday 21 Jan 2022 16:20:52
Thanks for the reply. Plotaroute is already THE best route planning tool. If you added tracking/recording you would have the best app on the market. Now that viewranger is being discontinued there is a big gap in the market
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Colin Hoppe Sunday 20 Feb 2022 10:12:00
I see this feature is now top of the list, so it might be helpful if I say what I actually do at the moment.
I plot using Plotaroute on a PC, but I use Bike Tracker for voice turn by turn navigation (doesn't need the screen on - saves battery).
The voice navigation is for cycling, but now and again I use it for walking.
Whenever I go cycling, I also start Ride With GPS on my phone. Whenever I go walking, I start Strava. Both sync with their websites.
This keeps cycling and walking miles completely separate and means I get to see separate PC screens for cycling & walking, so I can see if I've got anywhere near my target for the month ...
Strava and RWGPS also record the route. Sometimes, I export the walking route from Strava and import into Plotaroute if I want to do it again (to tidy it and maybe navigate).
Strava and RWGPS also record some stats which I don't really take much notice of, but some people certainly do.
However, Plotaroute being able to record my cycle route won't help me much, because I don't use Plotaoute for cycle navigation anyway,
so I would still be starting 2 apps - Bike Tracker + RWGPS or Plotaroute.
I can't use Plotaroute for cycle audio navigation because it needs the screen to be on (flat battery)
I could use Plotaroute to record a walking route, because I'm mostly following someone else so don't need navigation
One question ... will Plotaroute need the screen to be on all the time it's recording a route ??
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Willy Van Driessche Sunday 20 Feb 2022 18:06:01
Interesting Colin, to share your experiences and the used modes here.
I'd be happy to show you what I use as gps (phone) application.
- Dedicated gps or smartphone gps ?
Pro and cons ar wel known so we do not comment nor discuss that.
Well known fact is that a continuous smartphone screen on kills the operational time.
I mainly use the Locus app, it has screen off and a screen on at the turn & via commands.
And by a simple wave over the proximity sensor freely set screen on or back to off state.
By latest Android the energy savings correct settings during screen off are a necessity !
* This MUST be set correctly as otherwise at screen off mode the gps halts to receive the gps signals and trackrecording.
There is a lot of fine tuning to be done in actual android to keep gps apps operational during screen off mode.
The Locus app uses the turncommands generated by Plotaroute navigation waypoints.
At navigation select or the usual TTS commands or by loud an clear compact tone coded signs.
And of course there is a trackrecord available, to save and share as you wish by gpx by klm in the app.
See a 4,5 min duration demo video. Listen to the operation by tone code. https://youtu.be/4mOVtHeeFYk
The video black screen shown, is no recording mistake but it is exactly how it is operational in real.
Navigate by gpx navigation waypoints but NEW also by gpx navigation instructions in trackpoints.
Advantage: Very simple robust and discrete compatible mode and this without the usual waypointlist pollution caused by the mutliple navigatie turn or via instructions
The instructions are integrated directly into the trackpoints sym and even do use exactly that same sym as in the Plotaroute waypoints.
More info ? Here: https://t.ly/MEF3
* By an eventual Plotaroute mobile screen_off mode, you should have to tackle that same issue too.
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Colin Hoppe Sunday 20 Feb 2022 20:00:43
Hello Willy - the thing is that I don't want to look at a screen at all
Cycling with audio means the phone is simply in my pocket with the screen off - that's what I want.
There's no need to look at anything as long as the directions are clear
The navigation talk is not much. In fact, sometimes when I'm out walking, I listen to an audiobook (Smart Audiobook)
and the book stops when the Bike Tracker speaks, which is perfect ... I don't need to hold anything !
Interesting what others do, though
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Willy Van Driessche Monday 21 Feb 2022 07:59:19
Hi Colin.
Roger Colin, that is called having a "blind" confidence in your GPS device ;-). Of course with more details through TTS including the next turn announcement. Locus can do that too (screen continuously off) as in the demo. This video is of course inclusive picture ;-) Hopefully now by a clickable (Ploatroute forum) link: Locus TTS instructions demo
I myself prefer when cycling to be able to have a quick look at the map. Phone on a handlebar mount and also without stuff in my ear. I prefer most compact TTS commands without extra chatter. Or the even most compact tone codes, limited to basic L/R/S instructions.
Adding clickable links in Plotaroute forum, aaach I forget to activate this every time. So I'll redo the previous once again as they should be.
grrr....Not able to check nor correct after publishment :-(( First time right ? Hopefully all is fine and correctly published now.
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plotaroute admin Monday 21 Feb 2022 09:46:59
Thanks for your feedback. If we develop an app for route tracking, the ability to continue tracking in the background would definitely be part of the spec.
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Michael Raider Tuesday 19 Jul 2022 22:11:58
There are already plenty of apps that provide the capibility to record your GPS track. IMO off-line navigation is a much more useful addition to a routing application.
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plotaroute admin Friday 22 Jul 2022 10:51:27
Offline navigation will definitely be a core requirement of any app we develop but we hope to include tracking/recording too.
