I don't understand how to use OsmAnd

[Terry Jones]

Hi all

I've heard and read uniformly good things about OsmAnd, and would like to try planning a long cycling route using it. But.... I don't understand how to use it. I feel like I'm probably overlooking the obvious. If you look at http://osmand.net/ it doesn't actually tell you how to use OsmAnd. After a bit of head scratching I guessed that maybe what I'm supposed to do is plan the route using other apps and then import the route files and maps etc., into OsmAnd. In that case, OsmAnd is a tool for following a route, but not for planning one. Is that right?

Thanks for any help, and apologies for such a basic question. I'm normally quite computer literate :-)

Terry

[john whelan]

I assume you've downloaded the area you wish to travel?

Basically you start with a starting point then search for your destination and say show the route.  I'd try it on a short trip first.

Cheerio John

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[Greg Troxel]

First, start the app and download maps. Understand that the main
operations are showing the map and computing a route to someplace from
your current location.

Routing is definitely complicated. OsmAnd will compute routes, and
there are some settings to bias the choices, but it is unlikely to
generate a pleasing bicyling route compared to a bunch of offline
thoughtful planning that's aware of not only elevation but which roads
are nice to cycle on vs too trafficy particularly based on time of day.

As usual, look at all the menus and understand all the routing settings.

The main operation is search, and then you can find a place, and you can
then calculate a route from here to there. For cars, or for pedestrian,
if you have no idea how to get there, the routes are usually ok, because
particularly for cars, a route that works and is close to the best is
awesome compared to being lost.

To force routing to go how you want, you can use intermediate points.
If you prepare a set of those points as a gpx, you can then route to the
destination and then add intermediate points. You might do this
interactively to see how many you actually need. Often the routes
generated are quite good and probably not that many routes are needed.
This gives you turn-by-turn at intermediate road junctions without
needing to program them all.

You should also check out brouter. I have not tried it, but as I
understand it, there is an android version and it calculates better bike
routes; you can use it as a plugin. You can also use other online
routers, I think, but I haven't done that either.

Also, you may find that the OSM map data is not quite right. You should
in those cases feel free to fix it. But make sure you are actually
representing reality, vs making a routing app make the choice you want.

[Terry Jones]

On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 4:22 PM, john whelan <jwhel...@gmail.com> wrote:

I assume you've downloaded the area you wish to travel?

Yes. Thanks John. I'm trying to start with something simple, as you suggest.

Terry

[Josef Kufner]

Long tap on map; Osmand will place orange temporary marker on map and
open toolbar on bottom of the screen. Hit the blue "navigate" icon and
navigation will start. You can place waypoints in the similar way as you
chose the destination.

It takes some time to get used to Osmand's interface, but it is a good tool.

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[Terry Jones]

Hi Greg - thanks for the reply.

On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 4:27 PM, Greg Troxel <g...@lexort.com> wrote:

First, start the app and download maps.  Understand that the main
operations are showing the map and computing a route to someplace from
your current location.

OK. I had done that, and can see a nice-looking and detailed map.
 

Routing is definitely complicated.  OsmAnd will compute routes, and
there are some settings to bias the choices, but it is unlikely to
generate a pleasing bicyling route compared to a bunch of offline
thoughtful planning that's aware of not only elevation but which roads
are nice to cycle on vs too trafficy particularly based on time of day.

So it seems a typical way to use OsmAnd for a long carefully-planned ride is to use some other app (e.g., RideWithGPS or Strava) for route planning, then to load the route onto your phone for navigation.

I don't see a convenient way to get GPX routes into the mobile app. When I click on the "GPX track..." item from the menu that opens when I touch the bike icon (top left), it has a blue button labeled "Add track". I click that and my options include (Google) Drive, Images, Videos, Audio, Downloads. I could copy a GPX file to Google drive, no problem, but I'd rather do things locally. When I add a GPX file to the phone's "Download" folder (note singular), it doesn't show up in the OsmAnd Downloads area (which is empty). The app tells me I can also add tracks to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/net.osmand/files/tracks but I don't see how to do that. I have to use AndroidFileTransfer, which doesn't show me a top-level /storage directory. It does have top-level /Android/data directory, but that does not contain a net.osmand directory. So I don't see how to get GPX files into OsmAnd, without using Google Drive.

As usual, look at all the menus and understand all the routing settings.

Yes, thanks. The phone app looks really good.

 

The main operation is search, and then you can find a place, and you can
then calculate a route from here to there.  For cars, or for pedestrian,
if you have no idea how to get there, the routes are usually ok, because
particularly for cars, a route that works and is close to the best is
awesome compared to being lost.

To force routing to go how you want, you can use intermediate points.
If you prepare a set of those points as a gpx, you can then route to the
destination and then add intermediate points.   You might do this
interactively to see how many you actually need.   Often the routes
generated are quite good and probably not that many routes are needed.
This gives you turn-by-turn at intermediate road junctions without
needing to program them all.

You should also check out brouter.  I have not tried it, but as I
understand it, there is an android version and it calculates better bike
routes; you can use it as a plugin.  You can also use other online
routers, I think, but I haven't done that either.

I'm looking at Brouter now, thanks. It would be great if it works well. I've had disastrous (and sometimes entertaining) experiences trying to follow routes made by some apps (like RideWithGPS, which uses Google maps AFAIK). The routing leaves a huge amount to be desired if you want a reasonably fast route, on roads, that doesn't go along stony/muddy forest paths, across empty fields, and a whole variety of other oddities... :-)
 

Also, you may find that the OSM map data is not quite right.  You should
in those cases feel free to fix it.   But make sure you are actually
representing reality, vs making a routing app make the choice you want.

OK, thank you. None of the route I'm planning is known to me, so I'll probably find some non-real things along the way :-)

Thanks again for the help!

Terry

[Terry Jones]

Hi Josef

On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 5:19 PM, Josef Kufner <jku...@gmail.com> wrote:

Long tap on map; Osmand will place orange temporary marker on map and
open toolbar on bottom of the screen. Hit the blue "navigate" icon and
navigation will start. You can place waypoints in the similar way as you
chose the destination.

OK, that works - great :-)
 

It takes some time to get used to Osmand's interface, but it is a good tool.

I like it a lot already. It's very attractive and seems quite comprehensive.

Thanks!

Terry
 

Terry Jones wrote, on 7.1.2017 17:11:
> Hi all
>
> I've heard and read uniformly good things about OsmAnd, and would like
> to try planning a long cycling route using it. But.... I don't
> understand how to use it. I feel like I'm probably overlooking the
> obvious. If you look at http://osmand.net/ it doesn't actually tell you
> how to use OsmAnd. After a bit of head scratching I guessed that maybe
> what I'm supposed to do is plan the route using other apps and then
> import the route files and maps etc., into OsmAnd. In that case, OsmAnd
> is a tool for following a route, but not for planning one. Is that right?
>
> Thanks for any help, and apologies for such a basic question. I'm
> normally quite computer literate :-)
>
> Terry
>
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> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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> <mailto:osmand+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>.

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[Poutnik]

Dne 07/01/2017 v 18:20 Terry Jones napsal(a):

 

Routing is definitely complicated.  OsmAnd will compute routes, and
there are some settings to bias the choices, but it is unlikely to
generate a pleasing bicyling route compared to a bunch of offline
thoughtful planning that's aware of not only elevation but which roads
are nice to cycle on vs too trafficy particularly based on time of day.

So it seems a typical way to use OsmAnd for a long carefully-planned ride is to use some other app (e.g., RideWithGPS or Strava) for route planning, then to load the route onto your phone for navigation.

You may as well want to use BRouter web front-end
http://brouter.de/brouter-web/

I don't see a convenient way to get GPX routes into the mobile app. When I click on the "GPX track..." item from the menu that opens when I touch the bike icon (top left), it has a blue button labeled "Add track". I click that and my options include (Google) Drive, Images, Videos, Audio, Downloads. I could copy a GPX file to Google drive, no problem, but I'd rather do things locally. When I add a GPX file to the phone's "Download" folder (note singular), it doesn't show up in the OsmAnd Downloads area (which is empty). The app tells me I can also add tracks to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/net.osmand/files/tracks but I don't see how to do that. I have to use AndroidFileTransfer, which doesn't show me a top-level /storage directory. It does have top-level /Android/data directory, but that does not contain a net.osmand directory. So I don't see how to get GPX files into OsmAnd, without using Google Drive.

Or the BRouter application generating trhe GPX directly on the phone,
aside of possibility to use it as local offline routing engine.

I'm looking at Brouter now, thanks. It would be great if it works well. I've had disastrous (and sometimes entertaining) experiences trying to follow routes made by some apps (like RideWithGPS, which uses Google maps AFAIK). The routing leaves a huge amount to be desired if you want a reasonably fast route, on roads, that doesn't go along stony/muddy forest paths, across empty fields, and a whole variety of other oddities... :-)

Currently, nothing beats BRouter in routing for bicycles.
It not only considers elevation profiles,
but is able to thoroughly evaluate road/track suitability
exactly according to wishes of  the routing profile author.

You may want to visit the link in my signature.

-- 
Poutnik ( The Wanderer )

My Brouter profiles 
https://github.com/poutnikl/Brouter-profiles/wiki

[Bart Eisenberg]

I've put a set of tutorial videos on Osmand fundamentals on YouTube. They are oriented toward outdoors use, as opposed to driving, but you might find them useful. https://www.youtube.com/user/barteisenberg

[Terry Jones]

Hi Bart - thanks, they are very clear and super useful. It's great to get so many helpful replies. OsmAnd looks wonderful :-)

Terry

[Terry Jones]

Thanks for the reply Poutnik.

On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 5:33 PM, Poutnik <poutni...@gmail.com> wrote:

You may as well want to use BRouter web front-end
http://brouter.de/brouter-web/

I have it open now - will look in detail.

Currently, nothing beats BRouter in routing for bicycles.
It not only considers elevation profiles,
but is able to thoroughly evaluate road/track suitability
exactly according to wishes of  the routing profile author.

Great. I was thinking earlier it would be nice to have access to a routing API (or ideally an app) that you could ask to only take you down roads that, for example, 5% of previous riders have ridden at a speed >25km/h. That way you could avoid ever being sent down a stony path that greatly reduces your speed. I don't know where such an app could get its data from, but something like Strava heatmap (and other data that Strava have) would help. Being able to set such a routing precondition would completely change the game - at least in my limited understanding / experience of what's currently possible.

 

You may want to visit the link in my signature.

Ooh, a github link :-)  Hmmmm... maybe your Profiles is something like what I wrote above. Investigating.....

Terry