OpenStreetMap
OK, so the sun came out and I decided to put some GPS toys to the test and figure out a good work flow for mapping the area - especially public footpaths. So armed with a Garmin Forerunner 305 strapped on my wrist and my new HTC Desire phone, off I walked.
Now this is just a note to any Android users out there wanting to plot GPS and know where they are going - I've found a gorgeous app. I used OSMTracker for the tracking. Worked away in the background nicely, not using too much power and with easy to hit big buttons to record anything of interest.
Secondly I used BackCountry Navigator Pro for navigation. Wow. Caches the OS maps for off-line use (a real benefit where I live) and tracks your positions wonderfully. It too does record in GPX if needed. Cost? 6 GBP. Amazing. Poor old Garmin didn't get a look in although I know it's battery life is better than my phone.
Anyhow, it was a good, fun way of tracking that I will be using again once my feet have recovered!
Discussion
Comment from liftarn on 9 February 2011 at 10:52
I have tried OSMTracker and I agree it's a good app. The problem is I seem to get very bad accuracy with my phone. I generally get it down to 6 m. When using my separate GPS unit I get 0.8 meters under the same conditions.
Comment from HannesHH on 9 February 2011 at 15:30
0.8 meters is way too good for a normal handheld. What unit do you use? Be aware that usually that number is only a "internal" accuracy, which means the points you track are inside that range but that range might be off reality. You could manage to get near that accuracy with WAAS/EGNOS.
OSMTracker is fantastic. I was dreaming of a tool like that for a long time. Ever since I got my HTC Desire I have not used the old etrex H again. Currently I track with both simultanously to see how different their tracks end up.
Comment from Simon Page on 9 February 2011 at 18:31
I agree. 0.8 metres is a little too accurate! Actually, I'll upload the Garmin tonight to see who wins but I expect there will be little in it. A 6m accuracy isn't bad. You can normally see if you've crossed the road or fallen in a ditch!
Comment from HannesHH on 9 February 2011 at 22:30
I forgot: Do check out Oruxmaps!
There are also some OSM editors that run on Android, but I have not tried any yet.
Comment from Simon Page on 9 February 2011 at 23:03
Oh yes, nice find. Good to cache Google Earth in there as well :-) Time for a bigger SD card I think!
Comment from liftarn on 10 February 2011 at 09:32
My handheld unit is a Mio Digiwalker 168 and it uses the SiRFStarII GPS chipset with a rather large external antenna. 0.8 meters is what the software reports, but when comparing GPS traces with aerial images it looks like it actually is that accurate.
The accuracy on my phone is rarely even enough to be acceptable to OSMtracker.