Posted: 6/17/2013 1:17:39 PM EDT
| I bought one of the Sero Pro 7 tablets, it's my first experience using an Android device. Over the weekend I traveled about 150 miles from my home and took the tablet along to see how the GPS worked on it. Before I left (while connected to my home WIFI) I had Google maps plot my course and bring up the map / driving instructions. When I got to my destination I wanted to travel to some other locations in that city but as soon as I cleared out my first trip I lost the maps completely. Is there a way to store maps either from Google Maps or another app on the tablet so I can use them with the GPS or do I have to find a WIFI connection to update each time I want to change destinations? If there is a way to download maps should i use the Google map app or is there a better one? Also if you can download those maps can they be stored on the SD card so I don't have to use the tablet memory? |
|
What little area you can download(less than the 150 miles need) you can't search or navigate without a data connection. Google maps is completely useless offline. Edit: This is the largest area I can download for offline use in a single map file on my Galaxy note too. I believe the size limit is like 85 MB per map. You can have up something like 6 offline maps.   Again, it's not even possible to get directions but the GPS will tell you exactly where you are. |
|
The following are the two that I have used. I can't say that I travel much, but when I do, it has suited my purpose. I've never really used turn-by-turn directions, either, but they are there in NavFree. MapDroyd NavFree USA ETA: I should add that both of these are completely offline, and MayDroyd has seen the most use because of the app responsiveness and small size of the map files. The whole US map set is 1367 MB. And you can pick what you need by state. |
|
Quoted: um 4G LTE 1. Not native on that tablet 2. Quite a bit of my own use was in Wisconsin, w/o even a voice cell signal, let alone a decent data signal. 3. Since it's the OP's first Android device, I am assuming he does not have a smart phone, and therefore mapping over the cell network is an impossibility. |
| I have a IPhone 5 and I do use the map / directions on it sometimes. Here in KY though there are some areas with poor or no cell reception so no data on the phone at all. We've got a Garmin GPS too I was mostly just looking for a way to try to navigate with the tablet since it has the GPS capability. |
|
I use BackCountry Navigator. You can store a ton of maps, but it's not really designed to be a driving app. Is great for hiking. Tons of topo maps, and I use an overlay that tells me where BLM land borders are. |
|
Quoted: Quoted: You aren't limited to using Google maps. You can install a third party app. I'm doing that for topo maps and hiking (disconnected). Such as? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trimble.outdoors.navapp.android&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS50cmltYmxlLm91dGRvb3JzLm5hdmFwcC5hbmRyb2lkIl0. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trailbehind.android.gaiagps.pro&hl=en |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I'll have to look some other maps up and try them. I need to have some road maps on there that show railroad tracks in detail. Like this? https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/105540106/Screenshot_2013-06-17-19-49-10.png Brassoe, What map app are you using? |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'll have to look some other maps up and try them. I need to have some road maps on there that show railroad tracks in detail. Like this? https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/105540106/Screenshot_2013-06-17-19-49-10.png Brassoe, What map app are you using? That is MapDroyd. It uses the OpenStreetMap data. There are other map apps that use the OpenStreeMap data as well, but I think someone here recommended MapDroyd and I just stuck with it. If I don't need directions, I'll use their website instead of Google maps because the way the data is stored makes it faster. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I'll have to look some other maps up and try them. I need to have some road maps on there that show railroad tracks in detail. Like this? https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/105540106/Screenshot_2013-06-17-19-49-10.png Brassoe, What map app are you using? That is MapDroyd. It uses the OpenStreetMap data. There are other map apps that use the OpenStreeMap data as well, but I think someone here recommended MapDroyd and I just stuck with it. If I don't need directions, I'll use their website instead of Google maps because the way the data is stored makes it faster. OSM is an option in Locus as well. OP should try Locus (add ons for navigation, geocaching, and more), as well as other purpose built map/routing software and decide what works best for him. I've never regretted Locus, it was a bit rough when it first came out, but the ability to have offline maps pushed it to a high ranking in the map app area. |