Want to travel hassle free anywhere? GPS Maps Free is here for you. GPS Maps enables you to search and browse different locations of different countries.
Part of the fun in travelling is exploring new places. When Internet access is limited, some of us may have to revert to using printed maps. However, if you are on Android, there is an app called, an offline-mapping app that can serve as your GPS-enabled navigation solution. OsmAnd has a large database of maps that you can download to your Android device. The app also comes with search features that include directions, points of interest, GPS navigation, safety features and expandable plugins to help you get the most out of this mapping app. Recommended Reading: Downloading Maps First, download and install (there are a few sources for download including for Blackberry devices). Start the app and head over to Settings Data Management Download button (as per screenshot) to access the download section.
You have over 200 downloadable country maps to choose from. Here is the full of supported country maps. If you need to save on space, you can also choose to download the road-only maps instead of the full ones.
To download, simply tick the boxes and press the download button that appears at the bottom of the screen. Offline Search & Navigation With OsmAnd, you can navigate your way with your downloaded maps without an Internet connection. Both the Search and the Navigation functions work offline. You just need to turn on your GPS.
Search Function The app will automatically use the GPS function on your device to determine your current location and look for the appropriate map. This will load up your required map when you start the app. On the bottom left side of the screen, look for the Options button and tap on it to open a list of menus. Next, tap on Search. You can search for addresses and points of interest or use filters to narrow down your search results. In this example, we will demonstrate using the address search function to navigate to a location.
Tap on the House icon to go to the address search. Input the address of your destination accordingly. From here, you can choose whether to start navigating, to add this destination as a waypoint, to have the app show the destination on the map or to add the location to your favorites. Navigating To start navigating, just tap on Directions. Choose between directions for driving, cycling or walking. Tap on Start navigation. This is basically what your map will look like.
Other Features While the map designs may need some sprucing up, OsmAnd offers a few other features that may benefit you in your travels:. Safety – Enable day / night view, speed limit display, speed-dependant map zooming, and location sharing. Bicycle and Pedestrian – The maps also include options for foot, hiking, and bike paths with special routing and display mode.
Plugins – OsmAnd has a free to mark your parked car location anywhere on the map with or without a timer and another $2 to display contour lines and hillshade views on the map. Limitations There are a few limitations to using OsmAnd. It only allows up to 10 free downloads (e.g. Offline maps, online and tile maps, voice data, updates). The version costs $8.07, which removes this limit and gives you added features like Wikipedia POIs (good for sightseeing). The map file sizes can be overwhelming on your device.
It does not have a world basemap so if you are travelling across several countries, you need to have the country maps downloaded into your device. There are also comments by past users about the map not being user-friendly enough.
If however you are an avid traveller, this app may be a good investment for your travels. Let us know if you will be getting it.
This article will show you how to download maps to use while offline and out of cell service. Premium Members can layer multiple map sources together at varying transparencies.
2. Navigate to the area you would like to download by:.
Panning the map. Search Points of interests or trails by tapping the. 3. Tap Download Maps 5. Tap and drag the dots at the corners of the highlighted rectangle to cover the area to be downloaded 6.
Use the Max Zoom slide bar to adjust the detail level for the map download. Higher zoom = more detail. Increasing the zoom level also increase the file size 7.
Tap 'Save' 8. Add a name for your saved map or keep the auto-generated name. Are there sometimes issues with big map files? I was downloading 2 layers at 1200mb total. The last information I saw was progress at 37% When I came back an hour later it was no longer informing me of the download percentage but was still downloading. After another hour or two I tried to delete the file and start over, but pressing the delete button does nothing. The phone is an XT1068 Motorola.
I noticed an issue with downloaded files (onto an sd card used as internal storage which I use with all apps l) in another app (Spotify) after this event. Still trying to figure out how to fix it. Possibly deleting and reinstalling Gaia? I have subscribed to the basic version of Gaia GPS.
I am planning a rough hike in Utah to reflection canyon in a few months, and wonder how the app performs when there is no GPS signal available? I will be downloading a pre-made route through the app from another Gaia user, but im wondering how the app will know if I am actually following the route if the GPS location on my phone does not work out there in the desert.
Do I need my location turned on my phone for the app to work? If so, can I actually follow the pre-made route if I have no service? @taylorvice88. How does the app perform when there is no GPS signal available? You can still view your routes, waypoints, and any offline maps that have been download without a GPS signal. Do I need my location turned on my phone for the app to work? No, you can use Gaia GPS without your Location Services turned on; however, a GPS signal is required to view your current location in the app or record a track.
Can I actually follow the pre-made route if I have no service? By using the before your trip, you can download an offline map that follows your route and view the offline map of your route even if you do not have a cellular or GPS signal. Thanks Nathan. So it sounds like to me that I can view my map and waypoints that I have created, however I wont really know exactly where I am on that route that I have built/downloaded from another user unless I have GPS signal. Correct me if I am wrong.
Also, the 'download along route feature' sounds like it basically records/tracks my path as I am hiking. Wont that also require GPS signal to know where I am to build a track?
I just dont want to leave it to chance that we lose GPS signal as we are hiking through the desert and then get lost. I know there are probably more reliable GPS devices out there than my personal cell phone. Does the Gaia App feed into devices such as garmin handheld? @taylorvice88 I won't really know exactly where I am on that route that I have built/downloaded from another user unless I have GPS signal Correct, you will need a GPS signal to view your location on the map.
Download Along Route This feature downloads an offline map for your route and provides 1-2 miles of coverage on either side of the route. You will want to complete this before your trip, while still connected to WiFi or cell service.
To track your hike as you move, use the 'record' button. This also requires a GPS signal. Does the Gaia App feed into devices such as Garmin handheld? No, but if you are concerned about the GPS capabilities of your device, you can get a, which will feed additional GPS data to your phone and to Gaia GPS. Bluetooth GPS devices will give you a slightly more accurate reading, but I typically find that the GPS signal provided by my iPhone is sufficient for all my hikes. I do typically suggest bringing a backup paper map in the event that something happens to your phone.