Experiences with navigating using the Flow app

[DieBoy]

I've a Bosch Smart System with a Kiox300 display.

I've (attempted) to navigate unfamiliar routes (downloaded from Komoot) using the Flow app.

I'm interested in other people's experiences of doing the same.

My experience to date has been suboptimal, but I'd like to determine if that's down to my phone's GPS, the fact I ride with my phone in a pocket or bag, or that simply the Flow app is crap for navigation.

 

[Bummers]

My opinion is the flow app is dogturd for anything but road navigation. It was also delayed for some reason where when using komoot on the phone for nav there was no issues.

 

[DieBoy]

I'll expound a bit.

Despite giving the app permission to access precise location all the time, some phenomenon are:

1) Saying I need to turn left in 250 metres then 5 seconds later screaming I'm "off route" because I've now ridden past the turning, forcing me to stop and do a 180⁰. Probably more common the faster I'm riding. I've also experienced this on-road on the way to a trail. It's as if the app is refreshing far too infrequently.

2) Constantly complaining I'm off route if I'm riding 30 centimetres to the right of where it thinks I should be. Common on wider fire breaks and forest tracks. On the occasion there was a parallel track this caused no end of confusion.

3) Being confused about which direction I'm riding. Occasionally as an added "bonus" of turning around due to issue 1.

On one ride told me I was off route and going the opposite direction to what I should. Turned around, the map on the display spun around madly. After 2 metres riding, complaining again I'm off route and need to turn around. After a couple of goes of playing silly buggers I gave up and rode home the way I'd come.

I suspect the app is making the false assumption that I've my phone attached to the handlebars. It shouldn't really be making this error because the app *knows* I don't even own the Bosch phone grip.


So to date trying to navigatie with the Flow app has been unreliable to very frustrating. As I mentioned, I want to eliminate my phone being the problem before I complain to Bosch.

 

[Bummers]

Your point 1 is what I meant when talking about it being delayed. The instruction that a turn coming up in 250m is 20 seconds late so you miss it.
I found it so frustrating to use.

 

[jeff31320]

Hello. Even if it's not ideal, I'm used to import GPX on a Kiox to navigate.
IT was quite "poor but stable" on the old system.
I'm with a Smart System since 1 month, and trying to plan a tour this weekend, the GPX Import led to fully stupid results (150Km instead of 35, an an incoherent trace !!).
for some other GPX it works, for some results are similar

any idea on what could cause this ? I've opened a ticket to bosch , but my ride is in 2 days so ...

thanks for any advice

 

[storrm]

I've a Bosch Smart System with a Kiox300 display.

I've (attempted) to navigate unfamiliar routes (downloaded from Komoot) using the Flow app.

I'm interested in other people's experiences of doing the same.

My experience to date has been suboptimal, but I'd like to determine if that's down to my phone's GPS, the fact I ride with my phone in a pocket or bag, or that simply the Flow app is crap for navigation.

Did you manage to resolve your issues? I was just about to purchase a Kiox 300 for my Rail 9.8 for exactly the same reason you discuss ie. importing komoot runs and using the Kiox to give me turn-by-turn directions. At this rate I'm more likely to get a Garmin 1030+ ;-)

 

[spurty30]

It's not just you , I get exactly the same issue every time I try and use it. It just screams off route all the time and the delay as you say means you miss turns constantly. I don't use it anymore because it's so frustrating!

 

[Mikerb]

I rarely use navigation but have in the past when riding an area new to me. I don't like the idea of having to look at a screen when riding so my method was to download a gpx from trailforks etc to Komoot. Then link wireless earbuds to my phone via Bluetooth and then just listen to the voice instructions. If there is some doubt about a turning that is the only time I then refer to the map on the phone. I used that process in the Peak District, The Beacons and Afan in Wales and it was flawless. Y forks can be the most confusing but referring to the map on the phone even shows a dotted line of what you have to retrace to get back on route.
Part of the problem using something like Flow is that you are using 2 different servers on the www and the Flow app ...hence potential delays

 

[DieBoy]

A couple of updates later (bike firmware and app) and this problem still exists for me.

Unless you're riding at 5kmh the display is updated far too infrequently with your current position and direction.

Quite disappointed with Bosch for this, particularly as everything else with the system is good.