Phones as GPS units

Oruxmaps it is

Great for what I need, thanks guys

@ R800 I think ill pass

Hi Guys

I have Tracks4Africa on my iPhone and I used it earlier this year for the 1st time on a hike to Keith's bush camp.

I would not recommend Tracks4Africa because you cannot add maps on the app. So the great GPS tracks on this forum cannot be loaded/added to the Tracks4Africa map. It also says so in the user manual, I checked.

The current data on the map isn't great either, there was no info about tracks, blind mans corner, Keith's bush camp etc. I think it only had Champagne Castle peak. And yes I did download the newest version before we left.

Good Morning,

This weekend I downloaded Oruxmaps and messed around with it abit.

I was viewing the maps over Drakensberg and there a few very good points to this:

The maps viewed and zoomed remains on phone until you clear the cache
There are major trail routes with in the berg on the maps. (Could prove useful)

As for actual route tracking I will need to test it on a hike....

SO far so good

Another website I would recommend checking out is Caltopo (caltopo.com/)

It is a great site to use to plan a route. Import GPX tracks.

I wish we had the option of better topographical maps (as in the US) but I use 'Google Terrain' as a base layer and stack 'Open Cycle Map' as a second layer. It's a great tool to set waypoints and export the route and use it on an app as discussed in the thread. Or alternatively import GPX tracks and see what they are like.

JonWells wrote: I use Polaris Navigation
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.discipleskies.android.polarisnavigation&hl=en

From what I recall the free version lets you save only 2 waypoints, but you can always get the paid version if it works well enough for you.

I tried this app recently - the app itself works as advertised and is very good, with rich features for the free version. The offline maps are also free and extensive.

With this app you do not need a wifi or 3G\4G signal connection as the maps are downloaded and accessible, you only need your GPS active. (Underlying assumption that you prep before going to your hike.)

The caveat?
I found that it consumes (read: annihilates) the device's battery in no time that is useful to a hiking excursion - not even a 8 hour day hike.

I started by using the app as any other relatively normal user would. (Use with all general phone functions enabled and some generic TSR apps active).
I moved around for normal daily activities.
The phone went from 76% to 35% batt charge in about 90 minutes time of use with Polaris.
41% loss in 90 minutes.

I decided to try again a day later. This time, I closed down and disabled all functions I could with all TSR's exited. Phone started on 90% batt life.
I moved around for normal daily activities.
After 90 minutes use the battery wen down to 64%.
26% loss in 90 minutes.

You can extrapolate from there that a 6 or 9 hour day trip will drain your battery and possibly leave you with a paperweight until you find a means on your hike to charge up again.

In the app's defense after reading up a bit more it seems that this was designed more for the maritime folks going out to sea with no signal. You would not have this issue as the device would for the most part be connected to a charge throughout.

Verdict: Great app, but not hiking friendly unless you have a battery solution that can make it work for you.

Maybe the app in combination with a powerbank or solar charger will be the best combo

I did a 6 hour hike recently using tracks on both Maverick and Oruxmaps (simultaneously as I was wanting to compare them) and the battery charge decreased by approximately 40%. Not bad I reckon?