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@ Willy

Yes, Track Navigator only navigates plotted tracks and nothing more, so as you say it's simple to use.  The only configuration option is metres or feet (yes, feet, not yards.  I therefore use metres as the numbers are smaller ...)

For me, the screen is blank (apart from the plotted track) and that is fine as I don't look at it - I just listen.  It knows where I am on that plotted track and directs me accordingly.

As for Locus, the thought of having to study a manual is slightly off-putting, so I'll give that a miss but thank  you for mentioning it :)

OK, so my twopeneth...

There is one already and you can export your GPX files to Plotaroute! :) Does everything you want and offline! So its perfectly compatible with Plotaroute! Would this help?

http://osmand.net/

Just to echo Andy Owen's comments on this one I think.

Why do I need an app instead of the mobile site?  Because it shows my route (selected from a list of my routes) on the map, and most importantly it shows where I am on the map while I'm out and about. My position is kept updated.  As far as I'm aware the mobile site won't do that.  I can (and do) download a gpx and upload it to a different app - conveniently one that stores map data offline, although most of the time I'm in town with a good signal so that isn't really an issue - but for many people downloading/uploading, worrying about formats and GPX types is a deal breaker.

I generally don't like mobile apps and would prefer to use my browser, but GPS is one aspect where I want to get full integrated use of my device hardware.  So for me I would like an app which does the following:

1) Display list of routes (mine, or bookmarked, whatever).

2) Display selected route overlaid on map (google map, whatever).

3) Also display my position (and ideally track my position, zoom to my position, etc).

Just to be clear I have no requirement to edit/plot routes in an app.  The website is excellent for that and that's why I use it, but the problem is when I then want to use my routes.  I also have no desire for voice navigation while out running/cycling/whatever.

Thanks for the feedback Tim - that is very helpful.  Just so you are aware, you can indeed see your position on a route on the mobile website.  When you view your route map on a mobile device there is a tracker icon in the bottom right corner of the map - touch this to activate the tracker and touch it again to deactivate it.

John

 Do you have an app for my iPhone 

As this old thread has just been posted to again, I have re-read my post from 2016.  In that, I said I used Track Navigator for audio navigation following routes plotted on Plotaroute. 

I'd like to update that by saying that I've not used Track Navigator for 8 months because I now use Bike Tracker from PC Ability.  It's much better, very flexible and provides performance information on route.

Note that these apps are only for Android and only for audio ie an earpiece, so you don't need to look at anything. 

Bike Tracker does have a map showing current position.  You'll need to be online to see the map, BUT the app is so good I've not needed a map since I started using it.  If you miss a turn, it tells you how to get back on track.

Hi Michael - we don't currently have a mobile app but do have a mobile friendly version of the wesbite.  Also, you can download routes from the site for use with other apps like the ones that Colin refered to - thanks Colin for sharing these tips.

John

Isn't this Feature Request rather similar to Request 26 (Develop a mobile app for route navigation (following a route using GPS enabled mobile devices) ? 

- tracks downloaded onto the phone 

- GPS guidance along a plotted track

- ideally using offline maps because internet access might not always be available 

- ideally with voice guidance along the route

- ideally with visual guidance along a route ??

Does anyone use or want visual guidance with a phone ?  In my experience, it's no good on a bicycle.  I suspect a dedicated navigation device which fills the small screen with big graphics would be better ...

For walkers, perhaps detailed offline maps overlayed with progress along the track would work ...

If no-one needs to plot a new route on a phone without internet access, then this Feature Request (24) seems to be superfluous .... or am I wrong ?  (I've never used the mobile site)

I think number 24 was the original feature request for a mobile app but then we created separate ones for navigation and recording of routes. Feature request 24 is more about replicating the mobile site as a native app rather than creating new functionality to record or navigate that doesn't exist now, so in that respect it probably isn't redundant.

John

My two-penneth:

I rarely use my phone for tracking my rides (Garmin all the way, here), so would only use plotaroute on my phone for ad-hoc / last minute route plotting, combined with gimporter/gexporter to push down to the device. I have to admit that I originally wondered why there wasn't a native app, but to be completely honest, the mobile site is so excellent for plotting routes that I wouldn't be remotely bothered if a mobile app never appeared. I have recommended several people to use plotaroute based almost entirely on the quite excellent mobile route plotting ability.

Personally, I'd much prefer to see OS mapping for route plotting (nothing quite beats it for tricky off-road mapping, which OSM isn't quite as strong at yet) and, even better, proper integration to allow routes to be pushed directly to Garmin from the website to avoid the nasty hacks needed today to get them down to the device. Today, the combination of ViewRanger (offline OS maps), plotaroute (online map plotting), Strava (occasional ad-hoc route tracking when walking) and Garmin (long-duration bike-based tracking) fit my navigation needs pretty well, albeit not very seamlessly.

Thanks for this feedback Stuart - that's useful. It's good to hear that you're finding the mobile site works well for you   

With regards to OS maps, sadly Ordnance Survey won't allow us to use their maps together with Google maps, because of Google's Terms of Use grant Google various rights that Orandnace Survey is not happy with! The only way we could offer OS maps would be to stop using Google maps, which I don't think would not be acceptable to most of our Premium members. If this situation cbanges, we will certainly consider making them available if it is financially vaible, as lots of people have asked about this.

On the Garmin interface issue, we did used to have a means of downloading directly to Garmin device, but Garmin withdrew the interface tool that we were using due to browser security/stability issues. I don't think there's any other way to send routes directly but we'll have another look into this.

John

Thanks John.

Regarding the Garmin interface, it might be worth looking into developing a small, IQ application to run natively on the Garmin device and interface directly with plotaroute. Thus a user could open the app directly on the Garmin, receive a list of routes defined on plotaroute, select one and receive it directly down to the device. dwMap already implements something similar, but obvously not with your superior back-end capabilities!

https://developer.garmin.com/connect-iq/

This would remove the need to directly connect the Garmin to any sort of physical device, and would just use the native comms (i.e. wifi / BT via Garmin Connect) instead, which is much more practical for end users.

Regards,

Stuart H.

Hi. I am a complete novice. can I post my desktop route onto my iphone

Stuart - Thanks for that tip, we'll look into that. It might be something we can invest in at some point.

Martin - there is no need to do anything special to access your routes on an iPhone, just go to plotaroute.com in your mobile browser (usually Safari for an iPhone) and sign in to your account.

Hi, wondering if someone can kindly help with this query.  I’ve created a test route and forwarded the route via email to my iPhone. When I click on the route link and try to click on the “location” arrow, bottom right hand corner it says “Unable to detect your location”?  I’m really keen to be able to share my routes with friends etc and for them to be able to see where they are in relation to my plotted route so am hoping to find out why it says “Unable to detect your location”?

Many thanks in advance 

Hi John - see this forum topic: https://www.plotaroute.com/posts/1764/D/1

I plan all my routes on https://www.plotaroute.com/ and create a gpx file when I decide to walk the route. I then use https://ukmapapp.com/ which supports free offline maps and load in the gpx file. It is available on ios and android and costs £7.99. This is the only reliable way I have found to have a successful days walking. Offline maps are essential as many hiking routes are effectively off the grid. If Plotaroute.com supported offline maps then I would not have to resort to https://ukmapapp.com/ at all. As far as I am aware https://www.plotaroute.com/ does not suport offline maps. Do you have any plans to support offline maps in the future?

Offine maps would probably be quite tricky for us to implement Johnny without developing a full-blown mobile app, but it is something we would like to introduce at some point if we can. 

Unfortunately Johnny Doyle, there is no android version of ukmapapp yet.