Advice on sat nav for green lanes and TET routes

markyb

markyb

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After some advice from you knowledgeable bunch…
I’ve recently brought a crf and have been enjoying Salisbury plain and some local byways that I’ve known for years, I’m keen to find other places to ride also looking at doing some of the great western trail from amesbury to the coast.
I brought a tom tom off here which is great for on road but obviously lacks ability for gpx files etc… I didn’t realise that until I brought it any way live and learn.
Am I better off with an older garmin of some description or the galaxy active tab route with a mount?
Any advice welcome just trying to get an affordable option as I don’t have the money for a dmd2 type set up

Thanks
Mark
 
You want something that does OS maps...

you can add an app to your phone/tablet if you want to keep it cheap. Ordance Survey have their own app but there will be other apps.

Osmand+ is another (can be quite complex though)

Something like the Garmin 700 if you're happy to spend some cash which does OS mapping (Itchy boots uses one)
 
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Thanks, I have an iPhone so can’t use that but maybe the Samsung tablet route is a better / cheaper idea, does the os map/app work like a satnav once you upload a route to it or is it just a map? Sorry for the stupid questions I’m new to this,
 
markyb said:
Thanks, I have an iPhone so can’t use that but maybe the Samsung tablet route is a better / cheaper idea, does the os map/app work like a satnav once you upload a route to it or is it just a map? Sorry for the stupid questions I’m new to this,
Click to expand...
Yep it will just use the GPS in your phone. So you will be able to plan routes on your laptop/desktop and then simply upload to the cloud/email etc and import them into the app. Which you then follow.....basically like google maps.

They have the OS app on Apple

apps.apple.com

OS Maps: Walk, Hike, Run, Bike App - App Store

Download OS Maps: Walk, Hike, Run, Bike by Ordnance Survey on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips and more games like OS Maps: Walk,…
apps.apple.com apps.apple.com
 
What I do not know is the subscription cost for OS.

Some of us have bought access to a website called MRA RoutePlanner that I alsodoes gpx routing (version 1.0 -1.1 and 1.2)

They also have an app (depending what level you purchase depends on whether you have access to the app and web based planner)

Its very good

Log in – MyRoute-app: The #1 all-in-one route tool

Find, make and share routes and export them to your GPS and navigation app. Join thousands of other enthusiastic motor bikers, cyclists and hikers!
www.myrouteapp.com www.myrouteapp.com
 
Mark, have a look at DMD2 (full name Drive Mode Dash 2) - it’s an Android app which has quite a decent following amongst the TET crowd. I run it on a Samsung Active Tab 3 (waterproof) and it is very good at loading GPX files, recording routes etc - there is even a group tracking function where you can see on a map the live position of others in your group also running DMD2. It’ll act as a music player if you need, and can talk with a bluetooth ODB reader to give live engine data and tyre pressures if you buy some valve caps. There is a very active Facebook group and there are frequent updates.

I also like seeing an OS Map - there was talk of integrating 1:25000 mapping directly into DMD2 but this hasn’t appeared yet. I use the Ordnance Survey app (which now works nicely in Landscape) and switch between the two as needed. There isn’t routing in 1:25000 that I’ve found - I use DMD2 to navigate to a lane and then switch to OS to make sure I’m on the right of way.

A third benefit of the Android tablet is that you can access any documents you need without using a phone - I have copies of the workshop manual (thanks fully never needed) and loads of GPX files stored in Google Drive. I can also use the tablet to reset the service light and read error codes if that ever proves neccessary.
 
Bigcats said:
What I do not know is the subscription cost for OS.

Some of us have bought access to a website called MRA RoutePlanner that I alsodoes gpx routing (version 1.0 -1.1 and 1.2)

They also have an app (depending what level you purchase depends on whether you have access to the app and web based planner)

Its very good

Log in – MyRoute-app: The #1 all-in-one route tool

Find, make and share routes and export them to your GPS and navigation app. Join thousands of other enthusiastic motor bikers, cyclists and hikers!
www.myrouteapp.com www.myrouteapp.com
Click to expand...
MRA is no good for UK green laning, or any of the TET routes though due to its poor track and waypoint handling.

Outdooractive has an iOS and Android app, which gives access to UK OS maps and navigation including track navigation. I think OS maps are the most useful for UK green lanes. Joining the TRF will give you access to their Green Roads map, again not a navigation app but does show many of the legal trails in the UK.

Talky Toaster also offers reasonably priced maps which are similar to OS maps but doesn’t offer navigation, and OSM maps are free, but likewise no navigation.
Bear in mind a robust powered mount will be needed the phone will end up lost along the way or broken in short order.

Or get a used Garmin Montana 6xx series, quite cheap now, or the newer 7xx series.
 
Outdooractive with OS map sub and the TRG Green Road Map for planning routes on a computer at home.

OSMand on a cheap phone or Garmin to navigate. I find Open Streetmap much better than OS maps for navigation purposes. OS is way too cluttered, and I don't need the detail to identify the lanes as I've already done that at home.

Don't use Routes, use Tracks.
 
My neice and her partner plan and run a load of the rideouts for the Cumbrian trf, .last time she was over here in Northumberland she used a Garmin XT with routes sent to her from our local trf.
They and the XT were spot on
 
cookie said:
Outdooractive with OS map sub and the TRG Green Road Map for planning routes on a computer at home.

OSMand on a cheap phone or Garmin to navigate. I find Open Streetmap much better than OS maps for navigation purposes. OS is way too cluttered, and I don't need the detail to identify the lanes as I've already done that at home.

Don't use Routes, use Tracks.
Click to expand...
OS is very easy to read, if you can read it. Absolutely clear and loads of useful information. But I’ve used OS maps for years. If you dont get out in the countryside much and rely on a sat nav it may be harder for you.

The advantage of OS is that it’s very easy to identify BOATS, ORPA’s and UCR’s that may be near the track you planned at home but look at an OSM map you’d have no clue.
 
Berin said:
OS is very easy to read, if you can read it. Absolutely clear and loads of useful information. But I’ve used OS maps for years. If you dont get out in the countryside much and rely on a sat nav it may be harder for you.

The advantage of OS is that it’s very easy to identify BOATS, ORPA’s and UCR’s that may be near the track you planned at home but look at an OSM map you’d have no clue.
Click to expand...
The reason I don't use OS maps to navigate is that I rarely need the "useful information" you refer to, I'm just following a line. A line that is harder to see in the clutter of the OS map and easier to see on OSM.
As I said, I've already set the route at home. I can always switch use the OS maps on my phone if I want to explore off the track. The easiest way to find legal BOATS, ORPAs and UCRs is to use the TRF Green Road Map, which I can also access on my phone.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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