Starlink and internet access throughout Africa

[Danie Kotze]

Hi all,

I saw an interesting comment on the 4x4 Community Comment that if/when Starlink really kicks off in Africa, mobile data would become more accessible. Many people, or maybe some people, are moving away from dedicated GPS units to mobile apps. The younger generation might be keener to not go out and buy a dedicated GPS unit. This could then potentially threaten the future of T4A for instance. The suggestion was then also that T4A would not have a choice than to try and parter up with the likes of Google Maps or any of the other mobile app providers out there.

I have played around with some apps, apart from the "standard" Google maps, and some of them are actually pretty good in navigating and general use. I have played around with Magic Earth and especially liked the 3d like view when routing/navigating. We know that the data that lays underneath the map/application is what puts it apart from the rest and as such many/most of us appreciate the time and effort that goes into maintaining this standard in T4A.

Personally, I would probably not move away from having a dedicated (or in my case 2) GPS units on the dash. I do however make extensive use of Google Maps when I need to be at the airport or have to drive somewhere in the city as the traffic handling is superior to Garmin, in my opinion.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this Friday afternoon?

Cheers.

Danie Kotzé

+27 64 045-2693

[Johann Groenewald]

Hi Danie,

We are indeed working on the Tracks4Africa app to have route calculation capability in the future.  I want this to be working offline though.  The reality is that relying on connectivity is just another point of potential failure.  

The current Trip Planner can already calculate routes using our own data and our own routing software.  To make this available on the app as an online service would have been one way to achieve this goal however I feel that we need to do this offline and the challenge now is to make this technically possible.

Kind regards

Johann

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Kind Regards

Johann Groenewald

[Zoltan Szecsei]

The older ones too :-)
Why would anyone want yet ANOTHER gadget blocking their dashboard/windscreen???

I too am drumming my fingers on a desk, waiting for T4A to release an App version of their 5yr GPS maps......
(and I am in my 2nd 5yr subscription with no actual GPS unit, as the info alone is worth it)

Yoooo hooo.......😉

Regards,
Zoltan

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=============================================
Zoltan Szecsei GPrGISc 0031
Director, Geograph (Pty) Ltd.
GIS and Photogrammetric Services

Cape Town, South Africa.

Mobile: +27-83-6004028 (Signal, not WhatsApp)
        +36-20-3594428

www.geograph.co.za
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[M C]

Hi Danie, 

some say gps units are better at handling heat than cell phones.  That may be a thing when hiking but in the car aircon or the fridge does the trick. So I have moved away from dedicated gps unit but now have a plethora of apps and cellphones which would otherwose just be lying around ( backup units are a good thing ) . In terms of apps alltrails i use for hiking but it is not as user friendly as it should be especially when wanting offline maps.  but i am learning it still. mapsme seems the simplest and fairly comprehensive but not easy to read in the sun. same with osmand which is overly sophisticated for my use but allows useable, satellite imagery free. Ioverlander is marvellous for up to date info and for integration to google maps. It once put me right in front of a moneychange guy in lubango , in rush hour traffic and driving on the right side of the road. So the integration from point of interest in ioverlander to googlemaps was a good solution for me. Also just recently i was trying to find lekhubu camp in central kalahari and googlemaps had it already. So Google is getting better for my use. I use the tracks4africa non routing on my android phone and it outshines the rest by far in terms of trustworthy data.  I don't miss routing at all , the occasional glance is ok for what I get up to. 

I can't wait for a satellite data signal to connect to but quite frankly I hope it isn't musk. I find him unhinged at best , but then maybe they all are :)

regards

Martin

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[brettb...@gmail.com]

HAHA Martin… it’s Friday afternoon, let’s not wander into the politics of Musk 😂😂

 

@Lizette – thanks for the Starlink info! I’ll track down that FB group (though confession time: I don’t have FB on any of my handheld devices… clearly living in the digital Stone Age).

 

As for dedicated GPS units – I’ve never owned one. For my December two‑week road trip, I used T4A Trip Planner to sketch out the route. No accommodation booked in advance, just followed T4A from POI to campsite and everything in between. Honestly, I wouldn’t bother with a dedicated GPS unit either. T4A did the job beautifully, and I went full retro with an old‑school paper map spread across the bonnet. Between the two, everything worked like a charm.

 

Disclaimer: I am not an employee of T4A, nor do I get paid for singing their praises 😉

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