gps/computer for tours
06-17-16, 07:22 AM
#51
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I got along fine with just a computer tracking miles , resetting trip Odo part at town miles to go signs.
And paper Maps .. in many countries ..
And paper Maps .. in many countries ..
06-17-16, 07:40 PM
#52
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Yup, & a cue sheet holder works well with computer/odo. I've just folded up the cue sheet (with miles listed for each turn) & put it in my pocket but with a cue sheet holder it's easier to check frequently & avoid missing a turn. Last week I saw a touring bike with some impressive-looking aluminum thing mounted on the stem, it was either a heavy-duty cue sheet holder or perhaps a small tablet holder?
06-17-16, 08:47 PM
#53
Walmart bike rider
Any handheld Garmin that takes batteries... Etrex series, Garmin 62 (which is what I use), Oregon.
06-18-16, 06:39 AM
#54
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Originally Posted by T Stew
That is sort of the route I am heading. I like using my phone since it is pretty versatile, I already have it, and I like looking at the gps maps and stats and all. The battery is a bit on the small side now-a-days at 2000mAh. The phone I bought my son has a 4000mAh battery. So battery life is greatly dependent an what particular phone you have. Some are even less than 2000mAh.
I did a 3 day trip last week, first and second day 82-83 miles each. First day I had my phone on like normal, tracked with GPS and endomondo, plus I did have to use data and google maps to figure out some hard to follow trails for a bit. My low battery (15%) warning kicked on when I was still 15 miles from my destination. That night I was able to plug in. Second day, same distance, I tried to see how I could improve battery usage. I did a fresh reboot to insure I didn't have a bunch of background apps using any extra power. I went right into airplane mode first thing in the morning, and I downloaded some maps to a jpg file ahead of time so I could just look at a picture instead of turning data on and google maps. At the end of the day I pulled into the campsite, and setup my tent. Did a screenshot after I unpacked in the tent, 6:48 PM, was at 59%.
Technically I could have shut the phone off overnight, and made it through another day on the same battery charge. But I brought along an extra battery plus a portable usb power pack - one that uses replaceable 18650 li-ion cells (I have several 3400mAh cells for flashlights). So I plugged it in overnight and charged it back to full.
I figure with just the extra phone battery I could have gone 4 days, with gps and Endo running around 8 hours or so each day. And then of course with a portable power cell I could get about 2 more charges (4 more days?) for each li-ion cell I brought along. Seems like even with some phone usage in there, a week without power wouldn't be an issue, especially if you could use airplane mode most of the day. That might be unrealistic for some folks with families though, or those who need to stay reachable for work or something. My son was on an Alaskan trip at the time and I was not expecting any phone calls. I didn't even have phone signal for part of the trip anyhow.
I did a 3 day trip last week, first and second day 82-83 miles each. First day I had my phone on like normal, tracked with GPS and endomondo, plus I did have to use data and google maps to figure out some hard to follow trails for a bit. My low battery (15%) warning kicked on when I was still 15 miles from my destination. That night I was able to plug in. Second day, same distance, I tried to see how I could improve battery usage. I did a fresh reboot to insure I didn't have a bunch of background apps using any extra power. I went right into airplane mode first thing in the morning, and I downloaded some maps to a jpg file ahead of time so I could just look at a picture instead of turning data on and google maps. At the end of the day I pulled into the campsite, and setup my tent. Did a screenshot after I unpacked in the tent, 6:48 PM, was at 59%.
Technically I could have shut the phone off overnight, and made it through another day on the same battery charge. But I brought along an extra battery plus a portable usb power pack - one that uses replaceable 18650 li-ion cells (I have several 3400mAh cells for flashlights). So I plugged it in overnight and charged it back to full.
I figure with just the extra phone battery I could have gone 4 days, with gps and Endo running around 8 hours or so each day. And then of course with a portable power cell I could get about 2 more charges (4 more days?) for each li-ion cell I brought along. Seems like even with some phone usage in there, a week without power wouldn't be an issue, especially if you could use airplane mode most of the day. That might be unrealistic for some folks with families though, or those who need to stay reachable for work or something. My son was on an Alaskan trip at the time and I was not expecting any phone calls. I didn't even have phone signal for part of the trip anyhow.
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06-18-16, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by jefnvk
I'm hardly a weight weenie, but those battery packs can add up in a hurry. That 15000mAh pack was probably the single heaviest thing in my bag, it'd do some damage if I chucked it at someone's head!
06-20-16, 04:49 AM
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Originally Posted by arsprod
What charger uses 18650's?
06-20-16, 04:57 AM
#57
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Originally Posted by T Stew
For USB charger/power pack I linked the one I bought right off amazon. Check my last post. It was currently unavailable though last week, not sure if that particular one is discontinued or what. I'm sure a google search would turn up some more options.
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06-21-16, 05:45 PM
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I just finished a 700 mile trip and tried several things. What I ended up liking the most is Osmand on my phone. You can download the maps you need to your phone. Load the gpx routes that you want to travel to your phone. Place the phone in airplane mode with the GPS on. Osmand will give you turn by turn voice and visual directions along your route. It can be setup to run in the background with the screen off and come on 20 or 30 seconds before the next turn, etc.
It is a little difficult to understand though since I believe it was made in Russian and translated to English.
I tried with my phone fully on one day, using Osmand for nav and tracking myself with mapmyride and still had 30% battery after 7 hours. The next day I put it in airplane mode I had over 50% remaining after 7 hours.
I carried a 3000mAh USB battery but only had to use it on one long day spent fighting a headwind. One or two of these should be able to keep you going for a couple days if you use airplane mode.
A limited version of Osmand can be downloaded free, the full version cost a few bucks.
It is a little difficult to understand though since I believe it was made in Russian and translated to English.
I tried with my phone fully on one day, using Osmand for nav and tracking myself with mapmyride and still had 30% battery after 7 hours. The next day I put it in airplane mode I had over 50% remaining after 7 hours.
I carried a 3000mAh USB battery but only had to use it on one long day spent fighting a headwind. One or two of these should be able to keep you going for a couple days if you use airplane mode.
A limited version of Osmand can be downloaded free, the full version cost a few bucks.
06-21-16, 06:16 PM
#59
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Originally Posted by nolanbeck
I just finished a 700 mile trip and tried several things. What I ended up liking the most is Osmand on my phone. You can download the maps you need to your phone. Load the gpx routes that you want to travel to your phone. Place the phone in airplane mode with the GPS on. Osmand will give you turn by turn voice and visual directions along your route. It can be setup to run in the background with the screen off and come on 20 or 30 seconds before the next turn, etc.
It is a little difficult to understand though since I believe it was made in Russian and translated to English.
I tried with my phone fully on one day, using Osmand for nav and tracking myself with mapmyride and still had 30% battery after 7 hours. The next day I put it in airplane mode I had over 50% remaining after 7 hours.
I carried a 3000mAh USB battery but only had to use it on one long day spent fighting a headwind. One or two of these should be able to keep you going for a couple days if you use airplane mode.
A limited version of Osmand can be downloaded free, the full version cost a few bucks.
It is a little difficult to understand though since I believe it was made in Russian and translated to English.
I tried with my phone fully on one day, using Osmand for nav and tracking myself with mapmyride and still had 30% battery after 7 hours. The next day I put it in airplane mode I had over 50% remaining after 7 hours.
I carried a 3000mAh USB battery but only had to use it on one long day spent fighting a headwind. One or two of these should be able to keep you going for a couple days if you use airplane mode.
A limited version of Osmand can be downloaded free, the full version cost a few bucks.
06-21-16, 07:48 PM
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I have tried ride with gps and actually prefer to use it for a lot of my route planning. However I have had problems with trying it in some locations not in the USA, even with OSM or other maps selected.
Regarding the nav function, last time i tried rwgps the screen was either on or off. One of the things I like about osmand is that you can set it up so the screen goes off after about 10 seconds then comes on before your next turn. Also osmand has no monthly subscription.
All that being said, osmand has its issues as well. It is a little difficult to set up and some of the verbiage is unconventional (in English anyway).
Overall I have found osmand to be useful mainly because:
1) Maps can be downloaded for any part of the world and they are updated periodically
2) It works without a cell signal, conserving battery power
3) The screen blanks between turns, conserving battery power
4) You can upload your own gpx routes
It's worth a try. I know that it probably isn't for everyone. There are times when it exasperates me!
Regarding the nav function, last time i tried rwgps the screen was either on or off. One of the things I like about osmand is that you can set it up so the screen goes off after about 10 seconds then comes on before your next turn. Also osmand has no monthly subscription.
All that being said, osmand has its issues as well. It is a little difficult to set up and some of the verbiage is unconventional (in English anyway).
Overall I have found osmand to be useful mainly because:
1) Maps can be downloaded for any part of the world and they are updated periodically
2) It works without a cell signal, conserving battery power
3) The screen blanks between turns, conserving battery power
4) You can upload your own gpx routes
It's worth a try. I know that it probably isn't for everyone. There are times when it exasperates me!
06-22-16, 07:38 AM
#61
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by nolanbeck
It's worth a try. I know that it probably isn't for everyone. There are times when it exasperates me!
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06-22-16, 08:54 AM
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FWIW- I have been using some iPhone apps, and especially Strava just riding around town commuting. I don't honestly notice being any more drain on my phone than not using it (although I am sure that it is). However, at the same time since it stays in sync with my Apple Watch, which I love, Strava will kill my watch in a few hours. Really don't know why, if I don't use Strava my watch will go all day with little drain from other use.
Doesn't answer your computer question but I find it odd that Strava drains my watch that much.
Doesn't answer your computer question but I find it odd that Strava drains my watch that much.
06-22-16, 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by wished
FWIW- I have been using some iPhone apps, and especially Strava just riding around town commuting. I don't honestly notice being any more drain on my phone than not using it (although I am sure that it is). However, at the same time since it stays in sync with my Apple Watch, which I love, Strava will kill my watch in a few hours. Really don't know why, if I don't use Strava my watch will go all day with little drain from other use.
Doesn't answer your computer question but I find it odd that Strava drains my watch that much.
Doesn't answer your computer question but I find it odd that Strava drains my watch that much.
07-21-16, 06:54 AM
#64
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Don't know if anyone is interested but just returned from 7 days on the road, daily average around 70 miles, and I ended up using ridewithgps on my phone in airplane mode. I also carried an older 10k mah external battery - worked great! RWGps is great in airplane mode and can be set to come alive at turns and intersections. A few times a day I would go online during a stop so it would update my location (my wife was tracking me through the vacant wilderness of northern/central) Michigan. I only used the battery a couple times at the end of longer days, carrying it in a small handlebar bag.
What I don't like about RWGps is its inability to change or add routes on the app. This is a big missing and I hope they address it. For the couple times I went "off route" I used Google Maps in offline mode, which by the way works just fine. As much as I'd like a Garmin to play with, this combo works just fine.
What I don't like about RWGps is its inability to change or add routes on the app. This is a big missing and I hope they address it. For the couple times I went "off route" I used Google Maps in offline mode, which by the way works just fine. As much as I'd like a Garmin to play with, this combo works just fine.
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07-21-16, 08:48 AM
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arsprod, thanks for the update. I do have other offline mapping programs on my phone in the event I get so far off route that I need to change my route or need help getting back to my route. I've experimented with both OsmAnd and Navigator and have a slight preference toward Navigator but don't particularly like either one (it can get me to a road or intersection but not always to an address). But they both work reasonably well for bicycle directions. I have Sygic that I just started using in my car that seems to work reasonably well... except that it doesn't have bicycle directions as far as I can determine.
The purpose of RideWithGPS (for me) is to help me plan to my chosen route. Fortunately it beeps soon enough when I get off-route that I can stop and see where I went wrong.
I heard that with a Garmin if you let it re-calculate it may take you considerably off route if you make a wrong turn (mean it won't give you directions to get back on route automatically) So it functions similar to RideWithGPS when you upload a GPX file to the Garmin.
The purpose of RideWithGPS (for me) is to help me plan to my chosen route. Fortunately it beeps soon enough when I get off-route that I can stop and see where I went wrong.
I heard that with a Garmin if you let it re-calculate it may take you considerably off route if you make a wrong turn (mean it won't give you directions to get back on route automatically) So it functions similar to RideWithGPS when you upload a GPX file to the Garmin.
