GPS Loggers
I use GPS tracks to create maps in my WordPress blogs with the WP GPX plugin. Check them out below. I want to use just one GPS logging app to record all my travels, so I’m going to compare some of the top ranking apps on Android.
Wishlist:
- Easy to export a GPX file, preferably directly to my server
WP GPX uses gpx files and they are easy to edit, if you are comfortable with XML - Lightweight
My phone has enough crap on it - Low data use
I need to just record the gpx file. I don’t need active maps and interaction with my peers. - Low battery use
- Does not record when I pause, and gives me the option to start recording again later, eg I like to take out ferry trips from the record, and while I can split the gpx file into separate <trk> tags and … I’ll write something separately sometime soon about how I create and play with gpx files and WordPress.
Nice to have.
- Map display
- Ability to download pre-created maps and have step by step instructions.
- Connection with web site for social stuff, for those who want to interact.
I’m going to go for a short ride/drive, 5-10k with a few hills, with each of these apps recording my trip with default settings. You will see each of the maps and stats they produce, along with
- Usability
- Ease of exporting gpx files
- Filesize
- Number of points
- Altitude
- Speed
- Battery use?
- Changing preferences
Basic Air Data
The winner. Altitude is accurate, the gpx file is nicely formatted if I need to tweak it, exporting is easy
- Usability
- Ease of exporting gpx files 10/10. ANDFTP connects directly
- Filesize 721331
- Number of points c. 5172
- Altitude Yes – seems accurate enough
- Speed Yes
- Battery use?
- Changing preferences
20180428-125105.gpx
Max elevation: 39 m
Min elevation: 12 m
Total climbing: 113 m
Total descent: -98 m
Average speed: 28.48 km/h
Total time: 01:59:41
Bike Computer
- Usability
10/10
Perfect for biking. 3 options only, 2 really because the first two show the same info, but differently so choose whichever distracts you least – Display for current speed & distance, with the speed both in a speedo like graph & in large numbers. There’s a kcal readout too but I’m not connected to any fitness gear. Live stats screen is simply a grid of 4 large bold numbers, perfect for a quick glance, Map, predictably, shows Google Maps with everything.
Buried in the settings is a Statistics page to add up everything you have done so far. - Ease of exporting gpx files
6/10. The “sharing” link only uploads the file to the designated folder in your phone! That will be too hard to find and upload to this site while travelling, which is a great shame because the interface is so nice I want to use this all the time.
OK, so I found the file using ES File Explorer, and long pressing it opened up the usual sharing options, one of which is with ANDFTP which I have set up to upoload to the right folder within my WordPress site. A bit clunky, but not impossible
BUT. It only ever uploads and overwrites the existing track.gpx file. There is no option to set the naming style or to auto-rename the file. - Filesize 326067
- Number of points 1800
- Altitude Yes
- Speed Yes
- Battery use?
- Changing preferences
Not very many options provided. Cannot change interval, distance between points
Cons:
Not many options
Export is a hassle
I don’t need calory counter. Would be nice to have the option
It might have been the cause of slow charging on my phone. I removed it and my fast charging started working again.
Dropped it.
Max elevation: 65 m
Min elevation: 50 m
Total climbing: 53 m
Total descent: -60 m
Average speed: 23.39 km/h
Total time: 01:32:05
Mendhak
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mendhak.gpslogger
- Usability
- Ease of exporting gpx files
- Filesize 3757
- Number of points 13
- Altitude Altitude is wrong
- Speed
- Battery use?
- Changing preferences
Far too many options for my needs, but useful to have.
I might have to change the settings because this app has done better than this is the past.
Logging interval was set to 60 seconds. Changed to 2 for next test
No difference, still only 513 . Dropped it.
Max elevation: 73 m
Min elevation: 47 m
Total climbing: 174 m
Total descent: -167 m
Average speed: 21.63 km/h
Total time: 05:39:48
Easy GPS Logger
- Usability. Great. Turn on, turn off upload – all easy and fast
- Ease of exporting gpx files
- Filesize 910634
- Number of points 5100
- Altitude – wrong
- Speed
- Battery use?
- Changing preferences
No options offered
2018-04-28_12-51-07.gpx . Seems to be recording satellite accuracy, but not speed
Dropped it
Max elevation: 73 m
Min elevation: 46 m
Total climbing: 111 m
Total descent: -98 m
Average speed: 29.69 km/h
Total time: 01:58:39
Considered but rejected
Ultra GPS Logger Lite
Trial for 7 days before purchase. It wasn’t sufficiently different or better so I dropped it.
Ride with GPS
Great web site to plan with, but it seems to be hard to turn off. Auto pause engaged after 30 minutes sitting on my desk and there seemed to be no way to make it quit completely. I restarted my phone
Difficult to start and stop.
Might be good for route planning onlyAfter turning it on it wouldn’t turn off so I have uninstalled it. I’ll use the Web version only to produce gpx files
OSMAND
Just didn’t record that I could see.
GPS Tools
Exporting is a complete mystery