Answered Need help with the OS Maps app - any users?

[Jackware]

I'm struggling to get the OS app to keep tracking my position and keep me in the middle of the screen.
I've installed it on a Pixel Android phone and run it as a navigation tool only so it has no SIM but GPS works.
I emailed the OS but received only a generic email - uninstall app, turn off phone etc.
I click on the little compass symbol, it's centre cross turns from white to blue, it recentres but then doesn't keep up with me.
I'd prefer to keep the app as I've got 3 years premium based on my historical map purchases.
Any one any the wiser?

 

[Beekeeper]

Operating system updated? That was the problem with OS maps on my iPhone. Worked much better after the update. Make sure you have allowed the app to access location data / GPS

 

[SquireRides]

I use it a lot, but not 'always on' - i just open the app occasionally to check location. When I do, it's never self centred. I always have to hit the locate button.

Playing with it now, i see there is a setting in the app's Android permission settings relating to GPS access. Mine is set to use GPS when 'app in use'. I suspect this needs to be 'always' to track location.

 

[Jackware]

Operating system updated? That was the problem with OS maps on my iPhone. Worked much better after the update. Make sure you have allowed the app to access location data / GPS

Yep, always updated. Does it track you on the iPhone. I know some apps work better on IOS.

 

[Jackware]

I use it a lot, but not 'always on' - i just open the app occasionally to check location. When I do, it's never self centred. I always have to hit the locate button.

Playing with it now, i see there is a setting in the app's Android permission settings relating to GPS access. Mine is set to use GPS when 'app in use'. I suspect this needs to be 'always' to track location.

Yes, access to GPS set to always. I even tried switching the GNSS polling in the developer options menu.

 

[Beekeeper]

I have an old iPhone I use as a Satnav for the bike and it sometimes takes ages to find where it is when I first turn the thing on. I think it needs to locate where the GPS satellites are first if you have not turned it on for a while. I guess if GPS is always on and working in the background this would not be an issue. My old Garmin etrek had the same issue when I first turned it on after storage

 

[Beekeeper]

Also on my OS app if I double click on the compass it turns blue or green and keeps my location centred on the map at all times. Very useful, I only found that out a few months ago

 

[Zimmerframe]

Sounds a bit like some powersave function is over riding the GPS ??

 

[LordSpam]

Only way I have managed it is to tell the app to record the route, other wise its seems to just be set up as an electronic version of the paper maps.

 

[Jackware]

Sounds a bit like some powersave function is over riding the GPS ??

Good idea, I've stopped Android 'optimising' the apps battery usage, I'll see if that changes anything.

 

[Jackware]

Only way I have managed it is to tell the app to record the route, other wise its seems to just be set up as an electronic version of the paper maps.

Thanks I'll try that option but then I can't follow a route ?

 

[Tubby G]

I use the OS Map app regularly but only as a quick reference if I'm totally lost. I keep my phone in my pocket and use the Garmin on the bike if I'm following a gpx route

When I did mount the phone to the handlebars I also found that the cursor arrow would only follow the route until it went off screen and I would then have to press centre every time to see where I am on the map, and make the map scroll to the location

 

[Jackware]

I use the OS Map app regularly but only as a quick reference if I'm totally lost. I keep my phone in my pocket and use the Garmin on the bike if I'm following a gpx route

When I did mount the phone to the handlebars I also found that the cursor arrow would only follow the route until it went off screen and I would then have to press centre every time to see where I am on the map, and make the map scroll to the location

This is exactly my issue

 

[Kiwibloke]

When I search for OS Map I can see at least 3, can you show which one it is, I would like to give it a go. Cheers

 

[Jackware]

When I search for OS Map I can see at least 3, can you show which one it is, I would like to give it a go. Cheers

Hi, this one;

 

[Tubby G]

This is exactly my issue ☹

I just assumed that the app’s primary focus is for walking / hiking, at which it excels. Not so good for a biking sat nav

 

[Zimmerframe]

Not the same thing, but I used to use OSMAND (android mapping app). Uses the open streetmaps. It takes a while to totally suss it out, but for mapping it's actually pretty good. Last time was off roading round Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and found all sorts of crazy and interesting places which we'd never found before using the more mainstream mapping.

 

[Jackware]

Not the same thing, but I used to use OSMAND (android mapping app). Uses the open streetmaps. It takes a while to totally suss it out, but for mapping it's actually pretty good. Last time was off roading round Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and found all sorts of crazy and interesting places which we'd never found before using the more mainstream mapping.

Pictures or it didn't happen ?

 

[Zimmerframe]

Pictures or it didn't happen ?

This presentation is brought to you on behalf of @The Hodge 'itchy camera trigger finger Yo ! a tiny selection !

Flying Zimm Class. The plane actually crashed when we landed (well, it hit a lampost with the wing !) Ooops.

First night. Stayed here before a few years earlier as we were leaving. Nice spot.

Typical night camping .. My poor mate preparing beverages .. an ex girlfriends father

My favourite wildlife shot I call it "The Cats Nads"

Some fairly stunning scenery.

This was in a 100,000 hectare private farm - only found due to OSMAND - it was a tiny track over a railway line to find it. No signs.

This was off season, normally used for horse/donkey trecking but they let us in for as long as we wanted at some extortionate amount, we did have it to ourselves. One of several camp spots in the farm. On the right are the toilets/showers - which are open ... so you sit down and relive yourself with an enormous drop in front of yourself ! Quite an experience !

Washed out track on the "farm".

Near one of the other camp spots - they said it was "Impossible" to get there by vehicle ! pah ! rubbish !

Much of the west coast of Namiba is dunes !

With the odd watering hole in the middle of nowhere.

Then back into the hills and searching for routes.

This place was cool.. nothing for hundreds of miles .. then a swimming pool ! Wild camping with some creative amenities !

Like this shower - with hot water - you made a fire under a water tank and viola.

Some recovery nights of civilisation when required !

This was a new road - made entirely of block paving ! Then they let a lady driver out ! ok, it was probably a bloke being stupid.

Several weeks later, decided to stay at the first place again as it's easy and their food and wine was magnificent !

Well, you did ask .. just be glad I didn't upload the full Hodge collection !!

 

[Zimmerframe]

Anyway .. far more interesting .. just put some "wilds" on .. The DH22's were probably as hard to get off as they were to get on ! I'm now 1kg lighter. My new spring arrived, only 7 days - thanks DHL ! Should have bought a titanium one - weighs a tonne !

That's my "depart from home" starting grid .. Down the first couple of steps, then jump the two road (well, driveway) gaps, avoid pond - head off and ride ! If you get it wrong you've normally fallen off before you even leave the house.

 

[Jackware]

Presumably an early 'off' near home serves as a warm up for when you're crashing in the woods ??

 

[Zimmerframe]

Presumably an early 'off' near home serves as a warm up for when you're crashing in the woods ??

Looks like I'm going out with the old spring ...

What a knob !

 

[The Hodge]

I also visited South Africa ..many moons ago..( 40 years actually ) as a newly married man..and stayed with the then wife's friend who had moved out there the previous year ..toured constantly for 3 weeks Northern Transvaal in the Kruger ..then made our way down to Cape Town ..never quite got to Durban having to dash back from Wilderness ( which was anything but ) on the garden route to catch our flight from Joburg back to Heathrow ..landed back in this country with only a couple of quid in our pockets ..but what an experience .
Alas well prior to digital ..so no pics ( was that a collective sigh of relief from the whole forum?) ..everything on old school snaps ..

 

[Beekeeper]

I have this one on iPhone. Works a treat.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I also visited South Africa ..many moons ago..( 40 years actually ) as a newly married man..and stayed with the then wife's friend who had moved out there the previous year ..toured constantly for 3 weeks Northern Transvaal in the Kruger ..then made our way down to Cape Town ..never quite got to Durban having to dash back from Wilderness ( which was anything but ) on the garden route to catch our flight from Joburg back to Heathrow ..landed back in this country with only a couple of quid in our pockets ..but what an experience .
Alas well prior to digital ..so no pics ( was that a collective sigh of relief from the whole forum?) ..everything on old school snaps ..

Did the garden route with a mate about 25 years ago then stayed at another mates just south of capetown for a couple of weeks before zig zagging back east then heading north to vic falls - twice some how .. Stunning place. Did something similar just over 20 years ago and flew over with a girlfriend to be a best man, with a wedding not far from Durban (Where I presented the worlds worst best man speech as I was told 5 minutes before that they were a very serious bunch and I couldn't say anything funny about him, funny about her or funny about South Africans). Then did the garden route bit again, but with some variations. Little did I realise on either trip, that had I tried to get any pictures developed it would have been impossible as the whole country would still have been processing your backlog !

 

[Nicho]

Flying Zimm Class. The plane actually crashed when we landed (well, it hit a lampost with the wing !) Ooops.

Was it a Zimmerplane?

 

[Jackware]

Good idea, I've stopped Android 'optimising' the apps battery usage, I'll see if that changes anything.

It didn't...

OS say the next update (3.1) will address the issue.
I'll update here again when it's released and I've had a play.

 

[Jackware]

Ok so update 3.0.5.862 has fixed it for my Android phone. It now tracks my position by scolling the map as I stay in the centre of the map regardless if I'm following a route or not.

Edit - no it hasn't. After patiently hoping OS would produce a decent app to use their own maps, and each update making no difference or making it worse, I've uninstalled it and subscribed to the ONM app. It works perfectly and has lots of customisable features.