Tracking App Internet Usage

[Holy Warrior]

Hey guys, for all these app's which track your progress on the bike like Strava and Mapmyride etc, what is the general internet usage level? I have a contract which gives me 700 whatevers, how much would say a 4 hour ride use of this please?

 

[CopperCyclist]

None. It uses your GPS, not your Internet connection. It may use Internet to upload once finished, but this would be minimal.

Unless your app uploads 'live', I.e. as you are doing it, don't worry about it.

 

[Hacienda71]

Yep as said the app uses GPS to track you. I have used Endomondo in France with data turned off then uploaded the ride when I was in a wifi hotspot. So if you are worried about useage just turn the data off and upload when you have finished the ride.

 

[Holy Warrior]

Oh really, i'm sure I saw in the preferences that unless you put it where it can see the satellites, like mounted on handlebars, you used it. I'll find the bit i read hang on...

Here: use gps - locate to street level (requires view of sky)
use wireless networks - location determined bywi-fi/ and or mobile networks.

Could you clear that up for me? I can't mount it, I don't have the mounter. Plus really where i live I wouldn't want to be putting my phone on such show. Use wireless networks really does sound like its gonna be constantly using my internet.

 

[Hacienda71]

I put my phone in the back pocket of my jersey in a plastic bag to avoid moisture/sweat damage. No problems doing that to date. Not so sure a saddle bag would be a good idea.

 

[SquareDaff]

Even using WIFI and phone masts it won't use the internet. It detects the presence of those devices and uses them to triangulate your position rather than directly using them.

 

[Panter]

If you have an Android phone then Watchdog 3G is fantastic app for monitoring your data usage. Don't know if it's available on any other platforms?

 

[MrJamie]

The .gpx exports from my rides (which still contain all kinds of pause data and all points) vary between 50-500KB and Id be suprised if the handset is uploading significantly more than that even if you do upload the exercise over data rather than waiting for wifi. So probably thousands of logged rides a month, or hundreds everyday to use up your limit singlehandedly. Some apps might have features which are data heavy, but I havent really seen any - I dont think live tracking uses much. You could get a free net usage app and check the usage before and after a ride if you want to be safe, but as I also have a 700MB data allowance I dont even consider gps tracking when i think of how much Ive been using.

The warning is just the App using Assisted GPS, where it gets assistance from the cell towers youre connected to which makes the tracking a little more accurate and helps eliminate rogue points, but still relies on your GPS. Some info here if you want to understand it better. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS The wifi option though will probably eat your battery if its constantly scanning for open wifi networks, you can probably just turn wifi off before your ride to fix that - works for me.

The better the line of sight to satelites the better the accuracy, but a pocket seems to be fine which is where mine usually is. If it rains heavily ill sometimes transfer it to my waterproof saddlebag and the signal is always a bit poor, possibly the rain, possibly the position im not sure, probably both.

 

[4F]

I put my phone in the back pocket of my jersey in a plastic bag to avoid moisture/sweat damage. No problems doing that to date. Not so sure a saddle bag would be a good idea.

Yep same here, works a treat

 

[Holy Warrior]

This is fantastic news Thanks gang.