[Closed] Home made GPS with mapping and tracking

No defy minis in my local big tesco...

Try ebay for a standard defy. Its water resistant, faster (not that it really makes a difference) and its smaller (but only just),

Weren't the original defys really slow though?

Thanks for the suggestion though I'll go and compare the specs

i cannot seem to get Oruxmaps to show google maps when the GPS finally gives a proper signal to my liocation, i press the top right icon "map" and then select google maps. im on wifi.
any help?

Works ok for me and I've done the same as you...

As a follow up, I have a replacement Defy Mini (see above...) and with a half width bit of electrical tape at top and bottom to hold the phone in the case, it's now holding - I rode some very bumpy roads this morning with no issues.

I'm still experimenting with the maps though - OS maps are actually too detailed at the zoom level I want - I ideally want something like on my Garmin.

I have been interested (in a geek sort of way) in trying to write an app so I am considering just creating my own bike computer/mapping app. If I do, it'll be android only but I'd be happy to share it for some testing.

got the maps working now thanks, was Works wifi having issues.

Is there some online mapping tool i can use to generate trails,
the little Defy screen is tricky to make trails on....?
MapMyRide doesnt export the right format does it?

I use bikehike to plot routes and find it best to save them as a kml file.

How can I get this route:

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/ws/4p/routes/get_route_kml?consumer_key=b513571b80685c74fa95b7755d916c24048889df4&route_id=235149077&display_distance_marker_flag=1&display_custom_marker_flag=1&last_updated=3

Into Orux maps ?

Its the Tour De Broads sportive I`m doing next weekend and it would be useful to have the gps to follow ?

Hi, Once you have downloaded it, connect your phone to your PC and copy the kml file into the Oruxmaps tracklogs folder.

Then you can open the route in Oruxmaps.

Thank you, I'll try that tomorrow 😉

Well I bit the bullet and tried this myself. I managed to pick up a Samsung Galaxy Y for a bargain £18 from ebay, bought an SRAM 'out front' mount and the male adaptor to fit.

I cut off the excess from the male adaptor and araldited it to the back of the phone case. Here's the results. Took it for a quick spin and looks like it will do just the job. I'm running IPBike for Android.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

This thread has inspired me to go down this road to produce a garmin-a-like.

I'm really struggling with the maps though, i can't see a OS (UK) option in the online list. Is there anywhere else to get hold of these, the standard maps don't have the trails I'm interested in.

Thanks
Matt

Went to create an OS map on oruxmaps today and can't see the option for os maps in the list, anyone else have this problem?

Previously it was there at 25k

The latest updates to Oruxmaps had some comment about certain map sources being removed 'for legal reason' or suchlike, so I assume that is the reason. You may be able to roll back to the earlier version if you can find the apk installer somewhere on the web.

Is there an iOS equivalent to oruxmaps?

I'm sure there will be, sorry, not fashionable enough to be able to tell you what though 😉

Ref Oruxmaps and the removal of OS maps, see this thread:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/orux-maps-question

If anyone does need the previous version of Orux maps that has the OS maps built in, I could upload it somewhere though you don't need it to still get OS maps:

1. Download OS mapping using an old version and then upgrade (which is easy enough as you can keep a backup of the old and new apps one your phone)

2. Download on the computer and transfer to the mobile.

3. Revert to the old version (which works fine) and just stick with that.

if anyone is using the Defy+ and wants to root it easily 😉

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37508806

Top post I'm getting in on this when I have time to assimilate it. Bed now

got one of these as i had run out of coathangers and gaffa tape...

For iOS I use Galileo, and MOBAC to get the maps (as I also use it for AlpineQuest on android)

Defy has no power button on front to wake so while mounted in a protective case I had to leave it on high brightness without the screen timeout, seemed a bit of a waste.

this [url= http://www.rubberbigpepper.com/en/node/365 ]handy little app[/url] will adust the display brightness with a touch slider on the screen, I found it easy to use while riding along 🙂

[img] https://lh3.ggpht.com/dDdfF1Q7AQ6GgLxZo4cv7rafAtZIh5NpLf4UTH_nUSD5PlEdMGJXMe1wNjh2-UN5-R4=h900 [/img]

http://www.rubberbigpepper.com

Nice, like it!

Not using a case so don't have this 1st world problem... However I can see it's use to play with brightness etc to save battery power.

Just seen this thread and will read through it later.

For the record, I ended up with a spare Orange Monte Carlo which has 4.5" screen. Some phone functions didn't work, so didn't want to sell. Ended up converting it into a GPS device, wiping a lot of the Orange cr@p and loading Back Country Navigator @£6.99 which includes full uk 1:25K OS maping. Works a treat, only downside is the screen has always been a bit useless in bright sunlight.

Just in case anyone copies me, thought I'd do an update. Rode my CX bike at the weekend with the mount as pictured. Half way round, the phone and case broke off the mount - the case plastic had just snapped where the bolt goes through 😯

Luckily I have a garmin 605/705 adapter on the way and a spare case so I'll be fixing them together which I'm confident will be more robust...

[img] ?nocache=4544[/img]
[img] ?nocache=460[/img]

Clubber, Mine did the same after a couple of OTB dismounts

Whats the Garmin solution you are going for next ?

I was going to do a plate to attach to the Hope mount, and then bond the phone case to the plate and see if that is any better !!

But a Garmin type mount to be able to use the out front mounts would be great

Same as someone else on this thread has done.

A standard SRAM/Garmin out front mount with this adapter attached to the phone (the the top adapter section cut off for a flat surface and then 2 or 4 screws to mount the phone or case to it) to mount it.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sram-quickview-computer-mount-adaptor/
[img] ?w=1500&h=1500&a=7[/img]

I've now fitted the adapter as pictured above, using some pop rivets:

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

It works perfectly now though as I have a spare back for the phone (because of the 'accident' earlier in the thread...) I think I'm going to redo it with the adapter closer to the middle of the phone so that the phone sits a little closer to the stem. Or possibly as another alternative, to mount the phone landscape.

Sugru FTW when it comes to bodging handlebar mounts, surely?

Would it be strong enough?

Only one way to find out...! Might be better to use it to spread the load when using a small bolt to hold things together. However, it does have a small amount of inherent flexibility which could prove an advantage where there's a lot of vibration...

I've been toying with acquiring a Cheapo "Galaxy Y" (£30 from Carphone whorehouse apparently ATM, ebay seems to be awash with them too but the bidding goes silly for some reason) it's got the required basics, GPS and Wifi and will take a micro SD card, stock it comes with a 1200 mAh battery, but higher capacity ones are knocking about on ebay, it can be charged from USB (say at work) run in no-sim/flight mode I think it would make a really good "poor mans Garmin"...
And I like the "Out front" mountings some of you have come up with...

The only issue being weather tightness, but that's easily enough overcome... Currently using my S2 (my main phone) as a logging device/bike computer and I bought a 3500 mAh battery to use in place of the standard 1600 mAh one it'll run for hours like that, but I'd still rather use a cheaper more basic alternative phone if I can...

I'm using the Sports tracker app for my "Cycle computer Display" (with Strava logging in the background too) and I've found it pretty good, but I might try IPbike, it looks pretty good too, getting a good, useful information display is pretty key IMO...

I guess that's the big advantage over a Garmin, you can run a pretty broad range of software on that one cheap device...

Also how many people are using a HRM with their Android phone?
And which ones?

I'm currently a bit confused over just what will be compatible with my Current S2 or for that matter any other android phone I might choose to use in the future, so far as I can tell a "Polar wearlink+" is the basic bluetooth model and will work with just about any phone, the H& is 5 kHz BLE enabled and there are differing reports of which phones and apps it will work with, ANT is probably out of the window for me, although some seem to think an ANT OTG jobbie and certain apps do the business...

My current thinking is I'll just bite the bullet, buy myself a wearlink+ and get an even higher capacity battery to offset the Bluetooth chewing through it. But it's not the ideal solution really and a wearlink+ or Zephyr HxM is still a few quid for what is basically old and inefficient technology...

The Galaxy Y is (I think) smaller and more expensive than the Defy Mini SIM-free at the moment, but there's not much in it. I'd be inclined to go with a Defy Mini for the modicum of weatherproofing it has.

The only issue being weather tightness, but that's easily enough overcome...

What tips do folks have for weatherproofing normal Android phones? Anyone got a weatherproof charging solution going?

What tips do folks have for weatherproofing normal Android phones? Anyone got a weatherproof charging solution going?

As I mentioned way, way up there ^
Top-tube frame bag with phone screen. Its fairly water-resistant, in heavy rain I put a cheap plastic bag over it 🙂
Like this:
[img] [/img]

And for charging, I connect it to a SP PD8 hub (on the road bike, I've now got a PD8-X on the MTB too) via a Kemo M172N adaptor.

This looks good too:

[url= http://decide2ride.com/images/2013%20Mogi%20Max%20lav_8395%20lg.jp g" target="_blank">http://decide2ride.com/images/2013%20Mogi%20Max%20lav_8395%20lg.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Defy Mini for £30? where from? I can only find them around the £65 - £80 mark online...

To "weatherproof" a phone I've been using something like this for a while:

[img] [/img]
but it ain't a sexy solution...

For charging, I take it out and plug in the charger, are you looking for a way to charge it while left on the bike?

For the commuter I've got a big bar mounted bag with space for tools and tubes, and a phone pocket on top... that is brilliant, but bulky

I do fancy making my own "Out Front" type housing for a phone for my geared road bike just to keep things "minimal" yet functional and do away with the zip up carrier...

@ir_bandito - sorry, late to the party as usual.

I've been using an UltimateAddons rugged handlebar case for my Galaxy S3 to run OruxMaps for a few months now, charging from an external USB battery pack. This works very well, other than the total lack of strain relief on the UltimateAddons USB charge cable, a problem I solved using Sugru.

Always interested in other solutions though, especially ones which might work when I've moved on from the S3... work's phone, so won't be with me forever.

clubber; Garmin mount looks good, can i ask what pop riveter you used? Not used one before and feel a gap in the toolkit! (would be useful to fix mudguards, kids toys etc)

Defy Mini for £30? where from? I can only find them around the £65 - £80 mark online

Looking to get a dynamo and/or external battery charging solution rocking at some point, so cases with a power lead option are a plus, hence my going for the UltimateAddons solution.

I like this idea:
http://getfinn.com/

Think I might try it out, review here:
http://road.cc/content/review/99482-bikecityguide-finn

My Defy Minis have been on ebay and about £35-40 ish - I just set up an alert for one under £40 on buy-it-now. They come up periodically so just snap it up as soon as you get an alert.

acjim - Member
clubber; Garmin mount looks good, can i ask what pop riveter you used? Not used one before and feel a gap in the toolkit! (would be useful to fix mudguards, kids toys etc)

It's just a cheap rivet gun from ebay - £8 iirc. Rivets can be had for few quid. It's certainly a useful tool to have.

OT but I also have a rivnut gun which is useful for replacing stipped bottle cage bolts in frames.

Has anyone tried using Sugru to bodge a SRAM quickview mount for a Defy? Any reason why I shouldn't just bond the adapter to the back of of the battery cover using superglue or Sugru?

I'm not convined that a non-mechanical fixing (unless you're going going to use proper aerospace/etc type adhesive and preparation techniques) will ever be sturdy enough to hold a phone - they're actually quite heavy and subjected to a lot of rattling around on the bars.

I've used some different adhesive solutions and none were sufficient.

I think the vibration from riding stopped it from being effective. There's probably a solution, but I'll stick with a screw being my main means of fixing.

A decent PU adhesive / sealer, eg Sikaflex or Tiger seal, should give a good strong bond. With a few mm bed it would give resonable vibration isolation too.

I could do pull ups on 18" lengths of batton stuck to the roof of my camper conversion with the stuff.

Only draw back is it comes in big tubes so not efficient for small quantities.

Check this out though: http://sugru.com/magnet-kit