iPad/iPhone: Navigation with offline satellite, terrain and road maps

[4x4tripping]

For navigate abroad, follow some small tracks normal Road Navigation Apps or units like Garmin Nüvi don't really works well.



Maybe some people here now the history of the App MotionX who allows us to download really huge areas of Google/Bing-Maps for offline use. At the end of 2011 google insists that the Appmakers has to disable this Option. At the end of 2012 also Bing dont allow to download huge areas - and MotionX had to disable this with a new Version.

But let us talk about today and not about the history







MotionX is not just an App for showing different Maps and views, it is too an Trackrecorder, let you import / export Tracks and Waypoints, let you share your tracks.



The app maker now found a lucrative way out of the download restrictions. Through an in-App purchase about 5 USD you can unlock the function "Custom Maps "


That allows you to enter the Tiles / Map server you need. When you enable the switch to be able to download the source from that server - you had to accept that you will respect the legal rights of the provider.


A smart move - to now the user can enter the tiles / map server he wants and the Map Provider would have to complain at the enduser when he don't respect the legal issues. MotionX is not responsible for what the user may enter there, they just offer a option.



What does that mean for us? We can download Google / Bing / NavTec Maps and Satellite view for orientation abroad far from internet coverage. It is just something for orientation - it has no turn to turn navigation like the Navigon, TomTom or Garmin App (or Navigation-Units).







It can help you there where the normal road navigation usually end, can help you to find a spot for a wild camp at sample, where there is no house/hats on the satellite view.



If you like more informations: 4x4tripping: Offroad Navigation with MotionX

There you find too some useful Tile / Map Server.



We did navigate with that solution during our Transafrica, specially at central africa in Cameron, Congo and DrCongo you cannot buy better GPS Maps.

If you travel by bike you will have to protect your expensive iOS Unit i guess, there are special cases around.



To repeat - this is not for normal road navigation. This solution help you there where you don't have other sources and where you don't have a 3G /4G / LTE mobile network.



For crossing africa at sample i strongly suggests to buy too Tracks4Africa for iPhone/iPad and to use at sample apps like TomTom Marocco and Navigon South africa at sample to have a good POI Database for Police, Hospitals and to can use point to point navigation on the roads.



There are also solution for Android Phones around, but unfortunately not that easy like showed above, specially if you like to download really huge areas. MotionX also don't restrict the download speed, it deliver what the provider has to give. Anyway I suggests to download just that areas you really need, because it need some time anyway...


Please discuss here just iOS related stuff, i will start an additional thread about android.



Surfy

[BushFire]

I love motionX. Been using it on my ipad for a year. Love it

[HeinrichC]

I love motionX. Been using it on my ipad for a year. Love it

In that case, let me go download it

[4x4tripping]

It is too important - to have a closer look to the quality of the Maps in the chosen area. Like you see above - there are Areas where one Map-Provider is better than the competitors.

Also the satellite imagery is often not that new or not offered in that resolution you want.



Here is some stuff about how to compare them easily:

Compare different Map / Satelliteview Providers

Surfy

[NEON DEON]

On the same note , is their a "navapp" to down load to use on a ipad that is not live and will not eat up data, hope i have the terminology correct.

[BushFire]

On the same note , is their a "navapp" to down load to use on a ipad that is not live and will not eat up data, hope i have the terminology correct.

If you dowload the map on MotionX GPS at home using wifi and then use that map to navigate with, the data usage is absolutely minimum

[Leeu]

I use Navfree on my Iphone, search at home for the address when on wifi, then disable data on my phone and it keeps the map on the phone and will navigate to the point.

[Jeepiscool]

Met a guy who uses GPS Kit. Is that any good?

[4x4tripping]

If you dowload the map on MotionX GPS at home using wifi and then use that map to navigate with, the data usage is absolutely minimum

With motionx and downloaded Satellite or other maps - you can disable the "Data" connection, the stuff is really downloaded with the resolution you had choosen.

Only when you leave the downloaded area, or if you zoom higher than downloaded - your device will try to download additional data from a server.

We had a swiss simcard in our ipad, but never activate roaming during our transafrica (horrible "roaming costs between 10 and 15 USD for 1 Megabite).

Surfy

[4x4tripping]

Also when you compare the Image quality of the different Satellite-View Providers you can download - you will see extreme differences.



Link: Compare satellitenview Qualität between: Bing vs Google vs Ovi (Here.com)

At sample in Cameroon Google shows a better Road-Overlay - but it loose against Bing in kind of available resolution where you can scan to. You really have to look where you plan to travel - and compare there some spots by yourself!

Surfy

[parafanaylya]

Great app. I use Motion X frequently. Will certainly get the in App upgrade.


iPad

[4x4tripping]

Great app. I use Motion X frequently. Will certainly get the in App upgrade.


iPad

For just some area`s you don't need to made the purchase.

You can use the cache functionality and scroll through the areas you want to have available offline.This can you do with any viewable Map - without to have to fight with custom maps :-)

Surfy