Frequently Asked Questions
What SmartPhone do you need?
MyOMaps runs on Android and iPhones (all models).
It runs well on low-end devices Android eg devices in the $80-$100 range. The minimum Android requirements are:
- An android device with a GPS (most have a GPS, but not all Tablets do)
- Some “External Storage” either as part of the main memory of the phone or as an sdscard to allow you to export data files
- Android v4+ is recommended
Devices that have been used extensively with the App are:
- iPhone 6; iPhone SE; iPhone 7
- HTC Desire C 600Mhz processor Android 4.0.3 – Total storage 4GB, RAM: 512MB Display 3.5” (Approx $100)
- Huawei Ascend Y300-0151 Android 4.1.1 Display 4.0” (Approx $80)
- Samsung Galaxy Young 1GHz processor, 4GB memory– GT-S610T - Android 4.1.2 Display 3.3” HVGA (Approx $100)
- Motorola RAZR-M 4G Android 4.1.2 – 1GB RAM; 8GB ROM; Display 4.3” 960x540
- PendoPad 8" 1.2GHz dual core processor - Android 4.0, RAM 1GB,8GB storage (Approx $89)
- Also used on:
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Nexus 7 (Tablet) Android 4.3
Do I need a SIM/Data Plan?
A SIM card is NOT required. That is, you don’t need to be able to make calls from the phone nor have a data plan to use the Internet.
You will need access to the internet to:
- Install the App,
- Download a map and course (unless you connect your SmartPhone to your PC via USB),
- Upload your results
This can be achieved without a SIM card by:
- Using wifi at home
- Using wifi at the event provided by the organisers
- Using a wifi hotspot off another smartphone that has a SIM
Does there need to be phone coverage over the map?
No. You need to connect the phone via the internet or a cable to load the map and course files initially. But once loaded, the files are stored on the device, and all that it needs is a GPS signal from the GPS satellites. Essentially, you can have “off-line” maps.
What options do I have for storing and accessing maps and courses?
The full Android version of MyOMaps offers three options:
- From the MyOMaps server
- From your Google Drive (Android version only)
MyOMaps runs on Android and iPhones (all models).
It runs well on low-end devices Android eg devices in the $80-$100 range. The minimum Android requirements are:
- An android device with a GPS (most have a GPS, but not all Tablets do)
- Some “External Storage” either as part of the main memory of the phone or as an sdscard to allow you to export data files
- Android v4+ is recommended
Devices that have been used extensively with the App are:
- iPhone 6; iPhone SE; iPhone 7
- HTC Desire C 600Mhz processor Android 4.0.3 – Total storage 4GB, RAM: 512MB Display 3.5” (Approx $100)
- Huawei Ascend Y300-0151 Android 4.1.1 Display 4.0” (Approx $80)
- Samsung Galaxy Young 1GHz processor, 4GB memory– GT-S610T - Android 4.1.2 Display 3.3” HVGA (Approx $100)
- Motorola RAZR-M 4G Android 4.1.2 – 1GB RAM; 8GB ROM; Display 4.3” 960x540
- PendoPad 8" 1.2GHz dual core processor - Android 4.0, RAM 1GB,8GB storage (Approx $89)
- Also used on:
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Nexus 7 (Tablet) Android 4.3
Do I need a SIM/Data Plan?
A SIM card is NOT required. That is, you don’t need to be able to make calls from the phone nor have a data plan to use the Internet.
You will need access to the internet to:
- Install the App,
- Download a map and course (unless you connect your SmartPhone to your PC via USB),
- Upload your results
This can be achieved without a SIM card by:
- Using wifi at home
- Using wifi at the event provided by the organisers
- Using a wifi hotspot off another smartphone that has a SIM
Does there need to be phone coverage over the map?
No. You need to connect the phone via the internet or a cable to load the map and course files initially. But once loaded, the files are stored on the device, and all that it needs is a GPS signal from the GPS satellites. Essentially, you can have “off-line” maps.
What options do I have for storing and accessing maps and courses?
The full Android version of MyOMaps offers three options:
- From the MyOMaps server
- From your Google Drive (Android version only)
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- Locally on the SmartPhone
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To select the option to use:
- Go to >Settings>Map and Course File Location
How accurate is the GPS in SmartPhone?
This depends on your Android/iPhonr device, but with a good quality Smart Phone, you can expect to get as good a track as you would get from a commercial GPS watch or hand-held GPS unit.
How big an image file can I use to create my Map?
This depends on the capacity of your SmartPhone’s memory.
Typically an 8 megapixel Camera in SmartPhone will produce an image of 3 – 5MB of 3000x2000 pixels. To allow for all types of devices, MyOMaps reduces the image size of the image it uses to create a KMZ to 1024 x 1024 max. An image file that shows a maps of 3km x 3km would be usable with each pixel representing 3mx3m.
What are recommended screen settings on the SmartPhone?
The App continues to function even when the phone goes into sleep mode (screen blanks and you need to tap the power button to wake it up). So you can tap to power button to put it to sleep mode and throw it in your Arm-Band if you are going for a run.
But, if you are using the App where you want to see the map frequently I recommend:
- Change your Display setting to sleep after the maximum time (eg 10 mins or 30 mins)
- You might like to adjust the screen brightness (depending upon the level of ambient light)
- I prefer to have Auto-rotate screen turned off - so the map doesn’t keep flipping around by 90 degrees
How close do I need to be to a Control for it to be recognised?
This is a setting that is adjustable within the code – but is not provided as a user setting at this point.
The setting is currently 10m (a standard control circle on a 1:10000 map, has a 30m radius). The setting is a compromise between:
How can I change how MyOMaps zooms and auto-centre the map when recording a track?
If you are using the full Android version of MyOMaps in MyTracks mode, where you are displaying your location and track as you go, you may want to change the way the app zooms and auto-centres. This is particularly so, if you are using it while mapping, scouting during course setting or placing controls.
The standard behaviour (from MyTracks) is that, when recording or the “Present Position” is pressed:
There are settings available to change this behaviour. Go to >Settings > Settings > Recording >
Auto Zoom
- Switch this on or off to set whether the App auto changes to the “standard” zoom level or remembers your current setting
Show full recorded track
- Switch this off to disable the feature where, upon resume, the whole recorded track is shown.
With these two setting turned OFF, MyOMaps:
If while you are recording a track, you want to pan around on the map and zoom in at a location that is not near your current location, MyOMaps will keep pulling you back to a view of your current location as it continually tries to keep your current location on the screen. If you want to pan to other locations and inspect detail at other sites, it is best to stop recording a track while you do this.
- Go to >Settings>Map and Course File Location
How accurate is the GPS in SmartPhone?
This depends on your Android/iPhonr device, but with a good quality Smart Phone, you can expect to get as good a track as you would get from a commercial GPS watch or hand-held GPS unit.
How big an image file can I use to create my Map?
This depends on the capacity of your SmartPhone’s memory.
Typically an 8 megapixel Camera in SmartPhone will produce an image of 3 – 5MB of 3000x2000 pixels. To allow for all types of devices, MyOMaps reduces the image size of the image it uses to create a KMZ to 1024 x 1024 max. An image file that shows a maps of 3km x 3km would be usable with each pixel representing 3mx3m.
What are recommended screen settings on the SmartPhone?
The App continues to function even when the phone goes into sleep mode (screen blanks and you need to tap the power button to wake it up). So you can tap to power button to put it to sleep mode and throw it in your Arm-Band if you are going for a run.
But, if you are using the App where you want to see the map frequently I recommend:
- Change your Display setting to sleep after the maximum time (eg 10 mins or 30 mins)
- You might like to adjust the screen brightness (depending upon the level of ambient light)
- I prefer to have Auto-rotate screen turned off - so the map doesn’t keep flipping around by 90 degrees
How close do I need to be to a Control for it to be recognised?
This is a setting that is adjustable within the code – but is not provided as a user setting at this point.
The setting is currently 10m (a standard control circle on a 1:10000 map, has a 30m radius). The setting is a compromise between:
- Allowing for the inherent inaccuracies of GPS. Too small a setting could mean that when the runner is exactly at the control, the GPS still thinks they are 12m away and so would not register this as a punch.
- Requiring the runner to accurately locate the control. Too large a setting, could mean that the runner receives acknowledgement that the control has been punched whilst they are still 20m away from the actual control site.
How can I change how MyOMaps zooms and auto-centre the map when recording a track?
If you are using the full Android version of MyOMaps in MyTracks mode, where you are displaying your location and track as you go, you may want to change the way the app zooms and auto-centres. This is particularly so, if you are using it while mapping, scouting during course setting or placing controls.
The standard behaviour (from MyTracks) is that, when recording or the “Present Position” is pressed:
- The screen is centred on the current location at a “standard” zoom level
- The screen can be zoomed, panned or rotated provided the current location does not go off screen
- If the current location does go off screen – the app recentres the screen on the current location at the “standard” zoom level.
- This remains whilst the current location is on the screen
- Once the current location is off the screen, the screen recentres at the standard zoom level.
There are settings available to change this behaviour. Go to >Settings > Settings > Recording >
Auto Zoom
- Switch this on or off to set whether the App auto changes to the “standard” zoom level or remembers your current setting
Show full recorded track
- Switch this off to disable the feature where, upon resume, the whole recorded track is shown.
With these two setting turned OFF, MyOMaps:
- Starts at the “standard” zoom level
- Returns the current location to the centre of the screen if it goes off the screen
- Remembers the zoom level and doesn’t change it neither in re-centreing, nor in resuming.
If while you are recording a track, you want to pan around on the map and zoom in at a location that is not near your current location, MyOMaps will keep pulling you back to a view of your current location as it continually tries to keep your current location on the screen. If you want to pan to other locations and inspect detail at other sites, it is best to stop recording a track while you do this.
