Replacing dedicated GPS device with Smart Phone

[Rich5328]

I like the x mount with the usb idea. I have a BMW accessory plug and was toying with the idea to use a usb/voltmeter plugin. Then just run the charging cord to the phone. Really not as clean looking as your mount though.

 

[heffly]

TnMan, Thanks for the tip on Motogologo, its the first program Ive used that will load to Map.me. Nice since maps me is offline maps and always dependable.

 

[Nexus]

I've used that a lot with no real problems other than my phone needed to be positioned carefully or one arm would turn the volume down.

I was having the same problem. So I replaced the X-grip with this. I attached it to a Ram mount ball and it connects the same way the X-grip did. I kept the web grip elastic that came with the X-grip, but it's been so solid, I haven't used it yet.

 

[ST Gui]

So I replaced the X-grip with this.

I think a couple of other members used the same mount. I had already bought the Perfect Squeeze. Pricey and overkill (it was designed for off-road use) compared to your choice but I really liked the execution. It's attached to a RAM ball.

 

[Ken H]

I was having the same problem. So I replaced the X-grip with this. I attached it to a Ram mount ball and it connects the same way the X-grip did. I kept the web grip elastic that came with the X-grip, but it's been so solid, I haven't used it yet.

Which Ram mount did you use in conjunction with the Ram ball to mount the Maxmiles phone holder?

 

[Nexus]

Which Ram mount did you use in conjunction with the Ram ball to mount the Maxmiles phone holder?

I got it from cycle gear, but I believe it was this one to connect to the ram ball that the PO had installed (see pic), which, I think, is this. Two of the holes of the Ram mount ball (base) lined up perfectly with the holes in the phone holder.

 

[Wes]

I use my iPhone as my GPS device mounted with a RAM X-Grip Mount attached to my Helibar riser RAM ball. I ran an extension cord from my Battery Tender pigtail that I plug in when I take the pigtail off of the Battery Tender charger cord. That cord runs to below the X-Grip beside the Helibar and I added a USB charger adapter and use a 1 foot USB cord to lightning plug to keep the phone charged. The App I use is called Scenic by Motomappers which was developed specifically for motorcyclists. It will import GPX files through its WebApp feature. It also allows me to create a route in Google Maps then import it through the same WebApp. Or, you can create a new route in the app. You can use a tablet to set things up and make edits with the larger screen, then your phone can be updated with that new info. It lets you select all the same filters as other guidance apps will do such as fastest, avoiding highways, etc, but as many of us sometimes enjoy, it also will create the most curvy route if you want. You can then edit that some depending on your preferences. It has been working pretty well for me. The app is free with no voice guidance. You can purchase memberships to provide that feature. It starts you out with some credits you can use to download offline maps, use voice guidance, and import routes. Memberships can be purchased for 1 year or lifetime, or just buy more credits as you want them. The best feature I like is that if you miss a turn, it won't try to reroute to some other road that you may not want to travel, but instead helps return you to your original route. Like most GPS devices, you have to learn how to review and edit imported routes to eliminate some small mistakes it might make that creates short u-turn loops or unnecessary small detours that are usually created by route points that are placed on the wrong side of the road or a multi-lane issue.

 

[Bat66]

Waze is pretty good.

MyRoute-app is also good, but it isn't free. It is designed and built by bikers, for bikers (same people who do Tyre). It has a route-building app, and a separate navigation app. I have the route-building app but not the nav app. I just load the routes into my standalone GPS. The route-building is better than Google Maps because you can have a LOT more waypoints, so you can build a detailed turn-by-turn route easily.

I've been using Waze for some time now, and like the fact it will display friends locations on the map as well if you are meeting up or get separated. But, it does seem to be more of a point to point routing, and I've not found a way to plan a number of waypoints on a trip easily.

So, will the MyRoute-app show other people's current locations and access the phones contacts to pull in addresses to route to?

 

[AV8R]

Does MyRoute-App record a ride turn by turn and save it, or only save a preplanned route?

 

[tjhiggin]

So, will the MyRoute-app show other people's current locations and access the phones contacts to pull in addresses to route to?

Does MyRoute-App record a ride turn by turn and save it, or only save a preplanned route?

I only use the route-planning part of MyRoute-App, not the navigation part, so I don't know the answers to these questions.

 

[Zaphod]

Does MyRoute-App record a ride turn by turn and save it, or only save a preplanned route?

If I understand it correctly, the My-Route system saves the route as a series of waypoints which can then be loaded into your nav device of choice. The device then formulates the route to pass through the waypoints.
This can result in some unexpected route details depending on how many waypoints you’ve created, the distance between them, and how your navigation device chooses the actual route to “connect the dots”. Of course, the latter can be affected by options such as “avoid tolls” which may be available on the device.
I’ve used the My-Route web site to plan routes and then loaded the results into my Garmin 395LM. I have found it to be simple and effective.

 

[drrod]

Does MyRoute-App record a ride turn by turn and save it, or only save a preplanned route?

Yes it does. It has a "tracking" feature that if turned on, will track you uncannily close to exactly the roads you travel. You can then change that into a route by using the "+use as route" feature which is a button along the top. Attached is a screenshot of the tracking screen and it also shows the button. This snapshot doesn't show it but if you blow up the map, the roads, towns, and other map details show up.

 

[AV8R]

Thank you. I like My-Route App. So far the only freature missing is being able to manage when retracing the same path. There are times when it would be helpful to be able to tell

 

[drrod]

You can retrace the path.

• change the tracklog into a route by using the +use as route" button
• then go to "toolkit"
• select "reverse gold"

This will reverse the route. If you are using the Myroute app on your phone, the buttons will be in the "page menu" button on the upper right of the screen.

Caveat - this process needs to be done within the Myroute App. It cannot be done with the Navigation. Once you have done the process in Myroute, simply open the Navigation and select the newly reversed route. You will need an internet connection do accomplish this but once imported, you will not.
Another caveat - I think you will need the "gold" edition of Myroute to do this. I don't think the "free" version will work the same.

 

[AV8R]

Thanks for that DRROD,
As I was driving back on this test ride last night, I was thinking about how to do this overlapping routes with color and waypoints. In combat aviation simulation, we do both of these on the flight routes which sometimes have overlapping ingress and egress navigational wayPoints/routes.

Im not clear on the method you outlined. My read is that the retraced/overlapping routes are distinguished with a different color for going out from coming back, yes? I’m good with that, except that this seems to be a manual post processing pass through the routed data, and not automatically done as one rides. Correct me if I misinterpreted your explanation.

Some more questions:
- Is there a flow/methodology to go from a Google route to import to MRA (My-Route App) and visa-versa?

- And is the export from MRA to a GPS device (GPX file/format) only supported in the MRA-Pro (Gold edition?)

=> I’d like to upload/import a MRA traced ride into either my iPhone (Google Maps) or Garmin SmartDrive GPS.

 

[drrod]

Thanks for that DRROD,
As I was driving back on this test ride last night, I was thinking about how to do this overlapping routes with color and waypoints. In combat aviation simulation, we do both of these on the flight routes which sometimes have overlapping ingress and egress navigational wayPoints/routes.

The "gold" version lets you break a route up in segments and manipulate each segment. That may accomplish what you want.

Im not clear on the method you outlined. My read is that the retraced/overlapping routes are distinguished with a different color for going out from coming back, yes? I’m good with that, except that this seems to be a manual post processing pass through the routed data, and not automatically done as one rides. Correct me if I misinterpreted your explanation.

Yes, I think you are correct. As you go out, you can create a tracklog. This tracklog can be converted into a route and then the routing can be reversed for coming back in. I think this has to be a manual process as you suggest. I have not discovered a way to do it on the fly.

Some more questions:
- Is there a flow/methodology to go from a Google route to import to MRA (My-Route App) and visa-versa?

You can import many different formats, including Google's kml and kmz formats. Once you import them, you can save them in any of the many formats offered in the "save as" function, including .kml, .kmz, .gpx, .gpx1.1, .itn, etc. The various formats will be displayed when you click on the "save as". The reverse is true as well. If you want to use a .gpx file on your Google device, simply save it as a .kml file and then export it.

- And is the export from MRA to a GPS device (GPX file/format) only supported in the MRA-Pro (Gold edition?)

You can export a gpx route to your GPS unit without having the Gold Edition via the "Export" function. You will have to download a small program (it prompts you to do that, choose Windows or PC, open the program (again prompted), choose device/format you want to export to, then click "export to device" and voila.


=> I’d like to upload/import a MRA traced ride into either my iPhone (Google Maps) or Garmin SmartDrive GPS.

Should be no problem. Just connect your device, via USB, to your computer, and follow the steps I outlined and it should work. ie convert track to route and save in the format you want andthen export. I have not tried to export to an iphone with Googlemymaps. , but I don't know why it shouldn't work. It has a button under device for interphone/kml format. For sure it works with Garmin devices that use .gpx format and TomTom that uses .itn. I also know that a route, if saved in .kml can be sent as an attachment to an email and that attachment will open and run in google earth.

If you like the MyRoute App, then I suggest you spring for the "gold" edition. It is really a great tool and very easy to learn/use. I see that it costs $80 Euro (about $90USD) for 3 years now. That is less than 10 cents a day!! The "gold" version has many more tools that the free version does not. Not the least of which is the disabling of seasonally closed roads that is so frustrating with Google maps. And no, I don't get a commission. I just like the program and appreciate they guys that developed it. They appear to be riding enthusiasts and are responsive to the needs of the community. I am pretty sure they are not getting rich with it.

 

[AV8R]

Wow, you’re da man!

One further refinement on the return trip. I meant a different color traced when returning over the same path whilst the tracker is recording, and not plotting a return trip when in the MRA editor. Make sense?

 

[drrod]

Wow, you’re da man!

One further refinement on the return trip. I meant a different color traced when returning over the same path whilst the tracker is recording, and not plotting a return trip when in the MRA editor. Make sense?

Yeah, I know what you mean. Not sure how to do it, or even if it is possible. Sorry.

 

[drrod]

Wow, you’re da man!

One further refinement on the return trip. I meant a different color traced when returning over the same path whilst the tracker is recording, and not plotting a return trip when in the MRA editor. Make sense?

Ok. Been thinking about this for a bit. There is a way I think. At the end of the out leg, convert the track into a route. Reverse the route and use it for navigation for the inbound leg. At the same time, turn the tracking on but name it different than the outbound leg track. It will track as you ride but you won't be able to see it until you can call it up on the MRA. When you do that, you can overlay the inbound (or outbound) track over either the outbound route or inbound route and it will show up as red tracing while the route tracing will remain black. I still can't figure out how to do it on the fly though.

 

[AV8R]

Prolly worth a support ticket