Viewranger replacement? Outdoor Active?

Yes I seem to have access to the whole UK even though I only have white and dark peak parks.

By accepting access to Legacy maps on the Outdooractive platform you confirm that you waive any legal claim against Augmentra Ltd and its directors in relation to any previously purchased contracts.

Before I choose between accepting that or sending them a Strongly Worded Tweet, I've queried the fact that they seem to be depriving me of the service I originally paid for - lifetime OS maps for offline use.

Surprise surprise the app is worse and has annoying behaviours and bugs. ViewRanger was like that once, they sorted it out with all the feedback from their customers.

I've got OS now with the £10 off first year, but it's not as reliable as ViewRanger. More than once I've had offline maps downloaded, which for no apparent reason became unusable while in the hills. Definitely take a paper map (or a printed piece which the subscription allows you to do) and compass with you, I almost always did anyway.

I’ve automatically been given a free pro+ sub for 1 year and I’ve been able to download an area which works offline. I’ve just queried what happens after the year ends.

I’ve queried the fact that they seem to be depriving me of the service I originally paid for – lifetime OS maps for offline use.

Answer - permanent free offline OS at both scales after the year ends.

@bikesandboots
Sounds great, but what about the users who only bought 'tiles' or the UK national parks in my case. It seems unclear if I'll get to keep these after my free trial period.

I had whole GB at 50k, I'm going to gain 25k as well. So that's great, for me.

The following, from the link that highpeakrider posted above, suggests you should get something as you made one-off payments for tiles and parks. You could ask them - their help page directed migration queries should be sent to support@viewranger.com.

If you made one-off payments to access maps within ViewRanger, then we are offering free access to a set of maps via the Outdooractive app and website instead. The maps we are offering depend on the region of the maps you made one-off payments for in ViewRanger.

I don't like this, one more step of faff before heading somewhere, but can live with it:

The maximum size of a single map section when downloading is approximately 40 x 40 kms. However, you can save as many map sections as you want.

I don’t like this, one more step of faff before heading somewhere, but can live with it:

Yep. Everything else seems ok but that aspect is a pain. I had most of the country in 1:50000 which was really handy. Now I have to download small bits one area at a time and I can only down 1:50k and 1:25k combined which I suppose is an upgrade but makes the files huge. It's sort of all there so not complaining too much yet. Just need to get used to it

...and I can't work out how to turn rotation off. Who wants to rotate a map while zooming? North is up on a map.

I've bought loads of tiles with viewranger and that suits me as I have all the bits I want

Are you saying that with the big switch over I'll be getting 3 months UK wide maps and then what?

I've gone on outdoor active and I seem to have full coverage in 1:50 and 1:25

Which I nice but I want my tiles permo!

All I know is what I quoted above from the website regarding "if you made one-off payments...".

It's such a modern thing to ask questions about a product/service, to everyone except the actual company providing it 😉

I've contacted support for more details.
Just what do you mean by 'free access to a set of maps'. Mine? A random map of Leeds?
How long do I get access to my paid for maps?
Can I get a refund on my paid for tiles/maps?

And where is my post preview button?

Gaia GPS is worth a look at. I'm using the Android version.

By moving your account to OA you are relinquishing your rights to any bought maps. You did read those T&Cs, didn't you? You should end up with better map access than you had before, eg if you had a small area you'll now have the whole country. The only confusion is the pro features like downloads but the guy I spoke to said they can give that feature to viewranger users on request, which is a faff but a small one, as long as they honour it.

@nickjb
Yes I read them and that's the issue. As quoted above what exactly are 'a set of maps'? Once I give up my rights can they just turn off my free access to my paid for OS tiles/maps. Why don't they just say you will still have access to your paid for maps for life?
I understand I'll have free access to the whole of the UK, but that is of no interest to me. I just want to keep the maps I've paid for.

From UKC Hill walking forum:

'I think many people do not realise that offline access to already purchased VR mapping will not be available unless you pay for a premium subscription every year. Not much use when in the mountains'.

When I downloaded Outdooractive over Chirstmas and opened it, it gave me 1:50k and 1:25k OS maps for the whole of the UK, without me having to do anything.

I had the whole of the UK at 1:50k on VR, bought on one of their deals a few years ago, and was expecting to lose all of that, but seemed to get 1:25k for free, as well. Not really sure how or why.

So far I think OA seems fine although I've only really used it for tracking and wayfinding on walks, haven't tried using it for route-following yet.

Or route planning, which was great on VR with an ipad and pencil.

I got an Apple Watch for Christmas and the integration with that seems good too.

edit: come to think of it I haven't checked my subscriptions lately; maybe I automatically signed up to something without realising?

Just had a reply from VR support:

'You'll be given the whole of OS GB and IGN France at 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales. Those are permanent and free.

Also a year of free Pro+'.

I did purchase some IGN tiles, so maybe that's why I'm getting IGN access. Bonus for me.
I'm assuming these are not on the phone though and will need to be downloaded. I think the tiles/maps I purchased are in my phones memory? Is this correct?

The best free site with OSM cycle map and a route planner that doesn’t auto avoid all the good stuff (Strava) is https://www.plotaroute.com

It’s a bit clunky routing via phone, but does what I want which is just being able to view the map while out, and can be easily switched between cycle/satellite/hybrid etc, views and planning via a laptop laptop/desktop is excellent.

Just posting to say +1 to Backcountry Navigator so thanks to others who've recommended that here. It suits what I want which is purely to take OS maps offline rather than route-plotting etc. Lots of stuff to turn off in the menus to make it simple, but it seems to work.

OutdoorActive is totally unreliable on my two Android devices; with both online and offline maps I am frequently looking at a blank black screen which is frustrating after years of the reliable ViewRanger.

I tried Backcountry Navigator on a ride at the weekend. Got back to find my phone had turned off 2/3rds of the way round (still had 50% battery when I turned it back on). Could have been unrelated, but it's never done that before.

OutdoorActive is totally unreliable on my two Android devices; with both online and offline maps I am frequently looking at a blank black screen which is frustrating after years of the reliable ViewRanger.

FWIW I think that's more good luck with VR than especially poor luck with OA. I regularly used to have blank maps or maps stuck at roadmap scale and the like with VR, not yet had that with OA

Should anyone else be similarly inclined the android wear navigation is not intuitive at all on OA and I seem to struggle to get the map on screen on my watch whilst following a route.

Emails come out today saying website and app shut down from Feb 22.

Emails come out today saying website and app shut down from Feb 22.

Back country navigator does all that on Android. Don't know if that's on iOS too.

I found outdoor active to be poor when I briefly tried it.

there's a BackCountry Navigator XE by CritterMaps? Will check it out, ta!

EDIT: ugh, you can tell it was developed as an Android app first - UI/UX is absolutely woeful 🤣 still, will persevere & see if it can do what I want!!

OA is frustrating me but no doubt some user error. If I search for a point using a grid reference, or I long press on the map at my chosen location, I can then save that point. How do I then find that point again. I have saved three locations and I cannot see them on the map or find any way of locating them, but I know they are saved.

Anybody tried Maverick?

So I'm probably very late to this party but, having just logged in on my desktop there is a tick box and "agreement" in there to use "viewranger legacy maps" I'm currently on a freebie until month end so can't tell easily but I assume this means all my previously owned mapping should now be on OA...

... So after synching I now have an additional option in maps as "os" this lacks some of the various options shown for Topo so is distinct from that but looks to have my viewranger stuff on. Will have to see once my freebie expires to be sure but that it's there is a good sign.

but I assume this means all my previously owned mapping should now be on OA

In theory yes. It won't be "your" maps. If you had some UK os maps then you'll now have access to all the uk in 25k and 50k. Similar for other countries. There is still some confusion over the ability to download maps for offline use but it sounds promising.

I attempted to move my routes and maps into OS Maps but it didn't seem very user friendly, and I managed to easily transfer all my walking routes and my OS map from ViewRanger into Outdoor Active and have just returned from walking a previously unwalked route, following the GPS on the Outdoor Active on my (Android) phone. I'm amazed I didn't get lost! The 'dot' thing showing my location on the App is SO small I could hardly see it; it moves spasmodically, doesn't show a directional arrow and the voice is forever saying "You are not on the route" followed immediately by "You are on the route". Is anything I can do to change this? A different voice? A larger dot? ViewRanger suited me perfectly - not at all sure I'll be able to used this third rate, half cocked app! All help appreciated including views on better apps which allow route planning and decent GPS whilst exploring routes, and the ability to create and keep a large number of routes.

Assuming your phone is a decent modern device with accurate GPS and a good view of the sky and reasonable samply rate, you shouldn't be have the random movement of your position. Recalibrate your compass.

A) turn off the voice assistant.

B) the dot on mine is about 3mm wide, much the same as VR, how big is [s] yours [/s] your dot?

There is still some confusion over the ability to download maps for offline use but it sounds promising.

My sample sub should be up today I think. I'll feed back on this tomorrow (assuming it is)

Thanks very much for responding. My phone is a Moto G6 Play which apparently doesn't support a compass.
Can you please provide some details as to how I turn off voice assistant?
My dot is also around 3mm and varies between a pale grey (which merges into the background) and a pale blue - equally difficult to identify on a map with other blue & grey items - viewpoints, parking, lakes, streams, campsites and sea.

Ok the grey/blue fading is down to the GPS, blue is a fix, grey is approximate. If you can see it transition anything other than quickly grey to blue after you start your gps, that's "bad". Probably your phone is killing the GPS when the screen goes off that or it doesn't like the lead mesh lined* pocket you're keeping it in. The solution might be a dig in your phone settings,I don't think it's likely to be in app.

From Here (my bold)

The speech output that has been included for navigation means your smartphone can remain in your pocket throughout the duration of the route and is available for all live system languages.

Useful tips:

The language used in the app (and therefore also in the Navigation function) depends on the language setting of your device
Please ensure you set the media volume of your device accordingly to get the best out of Navigation’s speech output

You can deactivate the speech output by selecting the 'mute' icon at the top of the screen.

Android: If speech output does not appear to be working, please check your device's settings. Select "System/General management" → "Language and input" → "Speech" → "Text-to-speech". Default settings may vary depending on the device you have. You can press "Play" at the bottom of the screen to check whether the speech output works in general. You can also change the "Preferred Engine" if necessary. Under "Language" you will most likely want to "Use system language".

*All seriousness it's not in some silly rfid/NFC proof case of the like is it?

(a quick Google of GPS on the g6 returns a number of discussions about it becoming inaccurate after an android update and a high accuracy mode. I don't know any of the sources so I won't repost but you should be able to Google and make up your own mind)

So my sub has lapsed this morning and I can confirm there is no offline functionality. I can't download maps nor routes (including one's I've previously saved or uploaded) as a non pro member.

The os layer does however work fine on both 1:25 and 1:50k online, routes can be viewed on that layer fine and it'll let me launch nav.

I can create a new route of my own and import fine.

It does appear my previously saved maps are all there though in so much as I can zoom to areas I've saved for offline use whilst I had my pro membership.

My phone is in a plain leather case - not metal and viewranger GPS worked very well.

Transferring all my routes into Outdoor Active was simple..............and my one experience with OS Maps wasn't successful at all. Has anyone successfully moved all their routes over to OS Maps in one smooth operation? I'd really like to trial OS Maps before making a decision.

Despite remaining thoroughly chewed off with the whole situation, and actively investigating the alternatives (bought a year's OS Maps subscription when it was on offer, but so far not very impressed), I've realised I've got nothing to lose by playing along and seeing what use I can get from Outdooractive. Since all my data's been transferred from Viewranger (556 tracks and 338 routes going back to 2013), it might at least make a convenient place to store that data, since transferring it somewhere else would be a nightmare (though I do have all the tracks backed up as GPXs).

So I reluctantly signed the waiver, since realistically I'm not going to take anyone to court over some maps. I can't even see the option for OS maps in the route planner. Are they only available in the app?

I sent a support request about the above, and had a little (polite) dig about Viewranger being killed off, and, to their credit, they replied very quickly and thoroughly. They've given me another year of Pro+ (I think I might have already had a free year from when they announced the switch over a year ago, but never used it) which means I can access the OS maps, but I'll still be able to use them afterwards:

In Outdooractive we only offer whole countries, no tiles or pre-named areas. You have the whole OS GB, Slovenia, LINZ New Zealand and Kompass maps permanently free in Outdooractive.

I've also added another year of free Pro+. Once that expires you'll retain the maps above permanently free at all scales under the legacy agreement.

I'm not going to be placated with freebies, I'd much rather they just continued supporting Viewranger, or, since they're not going to do that, worked to add all the good things a out VR into OA. Perhaps they're also keen to improve relations with disgruntled VR users. Maybe there's hope.

Is there a way to stop the map rotating on OA so that North is always up?

I still don't know what to do or what I've really got.

My existing VR sub is

Subscription name Valid from Valid to Trial Period Will Auto Renew
PREMIUM Subscription 18 Sep 2018 Lifetime Subscription No No

This comes from way back, long before 2018, more like back in old Nokia days as I bought something that gave me the app for life on any phone I installed it on. Not sure it gave me much more. OS maps are pretty low scale. Road map basic really.

Main thing that's important to me is Open Cycle/Street Map at the current detail I get. I depend on it a fair bit to check where I am and what's about with good detail.

Is there a way to stop the map rotating on OA so that North is always up?

I don't think so. It was an option in VR. Write to them and ask. The app is still in development so hopefully if enough people request it then it could get added. Google maps is the same. Who on earth wants to rotate a map like that anyway?

They’ve given me another year of Pro+ (I think I might have already had a free year from when they announced the switch over a year ago, but never used it) which means I can access the OS maps, but I’ll still be able to use them afterwards:

Its worth asking them but aiui you'll have lifetime access to os maps. The pro+ let's you also download for offline use. When I queried this as I had lifetime offline previously they said after a year if I message them they reinstate the pro+. That's a bit of a faff but a reasonable compromise if it works like that. It is relying on their goodwill but they've been decent to deal with in the past

I got the email a couple of weeks ago, didn't know anything about VR closing until then (appreciate from this thread it was flagged earlier but obviously missed it.) Pretty hacked off given the money I ploughed into it buying tiles for OS areas of interest..

Anyway, tried following the link to transfer tacks, POIs etc to Outdoor Active, but keep getting this error:

We have found some suspicious activity in this client's account and this link had been blocked for your safety.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
If you think the link is safe, please contact the sender of the email.

Anybody else get this? tried different networks, devices, browsers, VPN... all the same.

Are you sure it's genuine and not phishing? I'd contact them directly through the website

Is there a way to stop the map rotating on OA so that North is always up?

Press the button that centres the map on your current location again. There appear to be two modes, cross hair which maintains North up, or bishops hat which spins the map until you're sick.

Generally I've found the OA app to be okay so far, but I'll still use Viewranger until the day it dies as my own form of protest.

I made a support request about not being able to download the OS map areas that I had under ViewRanger without a Pro subscription and they replied quickly and have enabled offline mapping for those maps without a sub for my account. So do get in contact with them.

Press the button that centres the map on your current location again. There appear to be two modes, cross hair which maintains North up, or bishops hat which spins the map until you’re sick

Not quite. Cross hair is manual spinning, the triangle is auto spinning, but both still spin.