Recording routes on an I Pad

[steveindenmark]

I have Garmin GPS but it appears that I Pad does not support Garmin. Is there any way I can download my routes to an I pad, even if it means buying another bike computer?

 

[andym]

See my answer on the other thread. I know it's clunky, but it will work.

The other possible alternative is the camera connection kit and an SD card adapter to read the data from the micro-SD card.. Although I suspect the iPad will ignore any file that isn't a picture.

You might also want to check out the TwoNav app from CompeGPS - who are a continental European rival to Garmin. However, I think it is designed to turn your iOS device into a navigator not to work as an adjunct to a gps.

The big problem is that iOS doesn't have USB what-do-you call it - to enable it to connect via USB to another USB device other than a computer. So you either need a gps that you can connect to by Bluetooth. Or you need to find a way to write to the device's memory card over WiFi (or Bluetooth).

Or alternatively simply upload a bunch of tracks to the sdcard before you go. If you get a current generation gps with a decent-sized memory card you can carry a shedload of tracks with you and record and store a pretty much unlimited number - only you'dneed to wait until you got home before analysing them.

I'm a big fan of Apple, but you really might find it easier to get an Android tablet.

 

[Iain M Norman]

Could you upload via your dekstop to Strava and then view routes on your ipad with the Strava app? Or do you not have a desktop computer at all?

 

[andym]

Could you upload via your dekstop to Strava and then view routes on your ipad with the Strava app? Or do you not have a desktop computer at all?

I think (from the previous thread) that he's looking to take an iPad and gps on tour, plan routes on the iPad and then send to the gps - and upload tracks from the gps.

 

[steveindenmark]

Yes that was the idea Andy.

Steve

 

[CopperBrompton]

Andy's clunky workaround should do the job. Personally I used the faff-factor as an excuse to treat myself to a MacBook Air (I've been looking for an excuse to buy one of those for years!). :-)

 

[andym]

Andy's clunky workaround should do the job. Personally I used the faff-factor as an excuse to treat myself to a MacBook Air (I've been looking for an excuse to buy one of those for years!). :-)

I was thinking the same thing myself only yesterday. 400gs difference in weight (although I don't know how much an iPad case doobrie weighs, but greater flexibility/utility. Mind you, if they bring out a retina-display IPad mini it would be a dilemma.

'USB Host' was the term I couldn't remember.

 

[CopperBrompton]

The iPad Mini is too small for my tastes - I'd even go slightly larger than the standard iPad if I could. The MBA 11 screen is the perfect size for a fully-mobile device IMV.

 

[andym]

The iPad Mini is too small for my tastes - I'd even go slightly larger than the standard iPad if I could. The MBA 11 screen is the perfect size for a fully-mobile device IMV.

Well maybe. If, like me, you were posting this using an iPod Touch then an iPad Mini looks like an awful lot of screen real estate. If I could process RAW photos and edit gpx tracks with one I'd happily leave my Hackintosh (aka Dell Mini 10v) at home. I like being able to browse etc while lying down - although not ideal for writing.

Anyway, a quick comment on the faff factor. I've just planned a couple of routes using iPlanMyRoute on the iPod, and loaded the gpx tracks onto the GPS in a few minutes - mainly because I was too lazy to get the Hackintosh out of the pannier. So it is a practical proposition - but a bigger screen would definitely help.

 

[swarm_catcher]

current generation gps

Like Garmin Etrex 20?

I'm in the same position where I'd like to have all my 22 tracks plus velomaps of 7 countries on my device. I'd take a backup SD card (as opposed to using the iPad as backup store). I have a Garmin Etrex at the moment and don't think the 22 tracks will be a problem, but the maps will be. Would an Etrex 20 do the job? I'm looking for the lowest tech 'upgrade'. Else, I'll stick with what I have and print out maps around my route.

 

[andym]

Like Garmin Etrex 20?

I'm in the same position where I'd like to have all my 22 tracks plus velomaps of 7 countries on my device. I'd take a backup SD card (as opposed to using the iPad as backup store). I have a Garmin Etrex at the moment and don't think the 22 tracks will be a problem, but the maps will be. Would an Etrex 20 do the job? I'm looking for the lowest tech 'upgrade'. Else, I'll stick with what I have and print out maps around my route.

One of the major improvements Garmin have made is that you can save a number of maps to your SD card (ie they don't have to be called gmapsupp.img or whatever it was) so you can have Italy.img or whatever.

I've never tried to install more than four maps at one go and use a card larger than 4Gb, so I can't one hundred percent guarantee that you could put in say a 16Gb card with all seven countries on it. But you could quite easily carry two 4Gb cards with 3 or 4 countries on each.

You can also save tracks to the card which (so far as I can remember), you can't do with the older generation models - and I think, but couldn't swear to this, that they are limited to 20 tracks.

Garmin have made a lot of improvements under the hood which mean that something like the eTrex 20 is a worthwhile improvement - at least if you are finding yourself bumping up against the limits of the older generation devices.

There are workarounds if you don't want to spring for a new device - eg you could mark your route using POIs, (or simply just do some editing to turn 22 tracks into 20) and you could have the maps for each country on a separate card (microSD cards these days are as cheap as chips - if you'll excuse the pun) - or group smaller countries (eg Benelux) together.

 

[swarm_catcher]

andym, I appreciate your reply. Very helpful. Thanks very much.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I can say that my MacBook Air approach is working really well, doing everything: mapping, blogging, B&B-finding, transferring pics and video from three different cameras, etc.

For anyone who wants to follow the blog, it starts here:
http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/northsea/00-prep/
and currently goes up to day four (link to the next page is always at the bottom).

 

[Havoc6]

You can always use Dropbox to upload any file to an ipad

 

[CopperBrompton]

That bit is easy, but how do you then load it onto the GPS?