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Topic |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1014 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 2:10 PM
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cache the map when you have internet then use gps when you get to where you want to be.
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 2:53 PM
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That's what I do now :)
But sometimes I don't know in advance that I'd need that area. It's like a paper map I keep in my car and look up once in a while how to get from one place to another. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 2:56 PM
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| Besides, I found phone gps gets it wrong most of the time (maybe there is a mismatch with cached maps, I don't know). So gps is no use, I just look it once in a while to see how wrong it is this time :) |
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Raincouver, British Columbia
Canada
718 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 4:07 PM
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| I use a free app called Topographic Maps Canada - it basically has electronic versions of the Canadian topo organized by map sheet (e.g. 92G11 is Squamish) You have to download the sheets you want while you have internet, then they are loaded on your phone. I have most of south western BC loaded in my phone all the time. For a free app, it's awesome. |
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Whistler, BC
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 4:09 PM
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Have you tried MotionX. Their maps for the Whistler area are accurate and include trails, roads, etc like Toporama does not.
Cache the maps and then use with MotionX in the field. They are very accurate in our experience. |
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Berkeley, California
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 3:07 PM
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My wife and I develop Gaia GPS.
The app has several good Canadian map sources, which can all be cached for offline use.
Here are the ones we pay to include or run the server ourselves:
* NRCan vector topos
* raster topos for the west
* OpenCycleMap (an OSM based topo map)
There are also several user-suggested sources, which we don't control, that you can use in the app as well. |
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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
96 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 6:17 PM
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| I've used MotionX, Offmaps, and most recently Gaia. The best for offline hiking is Gaia -- it has the most useful map sources and drains less battery than MotionX. I was surprised to see high quality topos with recent trails in BC marked on them (via OpenCycleMap source). |
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Invermere, BC
Canada
177 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 11:46 PM
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| Was talking to a friend the other day who researches everything and always has the best stuff. He said that Gaia will work with a Delorme Inreach GPS beacon via Bluetooth and in airplane mode has good battery life. So you get the ability to 2 way text and track your progress. Seems pretty cool and I'll be looking into this more. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2012 : 3:44 PM
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I finally got Gaia I it doesn't seem to work. It's true that it has Canadian maps, but this is all I can get.
If I try to enlarge it, I either get nothing like in Chilliwack - just black area
or nothing like in Whistler - just enlarge same screen with no further details
What am I doing wrong?
Also, I couldn't find a user guide or something to check if I don't understand how to use properly, but there is nothing either. Given, most other apps cost $1-$5, I am rather disappointed by this $10 app. |
Edited by - whitehelix on 10/27/2012 3:45 PM |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
15 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2012 : 6:49 PM
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| I use iTopo - its great. Its just a copy of the topo maps, nothing more. You download each one as required before you head out. Has been very accurate. Downside is the maps are not current. Mountains don't move, but roads change. Not to be used as your only navigation tool, but still a great asset. |
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Sunshine Coast, BC
Canada
257 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2012 : 09:12 AM
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I'm an Android HTC user, pretty much tried every mapping tool out there. Some topo products are pretty good and there are decent on-device street navigation tools as well.
However, I still find that simply scanning way ahead and all around my destination area with the default GPS/Mapping app will cache everything pretty well. I just give myself a really wide berth to account for any route changes. Once the scrolling/caching is done and any internet mobile/WiFi shut off, it works fine
I also do this for GPS navigation in the UK as I go there for work a lot, and drive extensively. I just do the cache trick using the heathrow airport WiFi then turn off all internet access, keep the GPS on, and I'm good for driving pretty much anywhere. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2012 : 2:19 PM
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| Well, the point is when I know in advance I'd need some erea I just cache google maps. But once in a while I endup or need to get somewhere I didn't plan ahead. If I am in the car, I use paper map of Greater Vancouver area. If I am on a byke let's say in Richmond or North Van, I am in trouble. |
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Topic |
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Offline Maps for iPhone
