Pedestrian navigator for Android. Yandex.Maps has learned to lay out walking routes

Features of the program

The free Android application Yandex.Navigator has the following features that will be useful for both pedestrians and car owners:

Drawing up detailed routes for major cities in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus.
Construction of pedestrian routes between various urban infrastructure facilities.
Displaying the following events on the map: traffic jams, road works, accidents, security cameras, bridge openings, slabs.
View data about objects: name, purpose, opening hours, exact address.
Drawing up routes by name, address.
Voice assistant.
Display of road signs.
Displaying adjacent areas of the territory when viewing a route.
Save routes to favorites.
Changing the route in case of traffic jams, accidents and other situations.
Displaying the map in 3D mode.

Installation and usage features

To install Yandex.Navigator on Android, just follow the link above and download installation file and run it on your mobile phone. After installation, the program’s start menu will appear on the gadget’s screen. Initially, you will need to log in so that the route history is saved.

Your search history will open. Select the “Categories” tab.

Select any category from the list.

If you need to find an object by address, then you should copy it into the search line.

To plot a route, set the starting point on the map and select “Start”, then select the end point. The program will calculate the time and distance between objects, and also plot a route.

If you click on the “Microphone” icon and say “Listen, Yandex, let’s go to Lesnaya 22,” then the program will react and create a route. In this case, the program will independently determine the user’s location and plot a route taking into account traffic jams, the presence of closed areas or dangerous areas.

If you enlarge the map as much as possible, road signs will also become available.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Among the advantages of the program it is worth highlighting:

Detailed maps of more than 100 cities around the world.
Convenient search.
It works free of charge.

Among the disadvantages it is worth highlighting:

Requires network connection. If the connection is poor, it may take several minutes to download the map.

Analogues of Yandex.Navigator on Android

Yandex.Maps - simple and convenient program for laying routes, determining the distance between objects, searching required addresses. Like Yandex.Navigator, the program has the ability to create road and walking routes, display traffic jams, accidents, detailed information about urban infrastructure facilities. Unlike Yandex.Navigator, it has satellite photographs of the area, more maps and is more accurate.

OsmAnd free navigator for Android devices, which can work both online and offline. Allows you to create routes and search for objects by address. Has voice assistant. To work offline, you need to download maps of the region.

Conclusion

Yandex.Navigator for Android is a simple and free application, which will help you quickly find the desired object at the address, laying out the most optimal route to it.

Watch the video for the basic principles of Yandex.Navigator:

GPS navigation on a smartphone for modern man is one of the most requested features. After all, it is so important to be mobile and have up-to-date access to data about your location. Not only when exploring a foreign city, but also if you need to find some street in your own, traveling or following some route for work purposes, it is important to get to the required place as quickly as possible.

But how to find the most best navigator for Android? After all, there are a huge number of such navigators. And there is simply no time to test each one. That is why we carefully analyzed this software and especially for you we compiled the top navigators for Android in 2018-2019, which will help to significantly optimize traffic on pedestrian and automobile routes.

#10 – MapFactor

This program is free and can be used on phones and tablets on the Android platform. Since the cards are installed directly into the gadget’s memory (optionally on an SD card), it is quite possible to use them without an Internet connection, which is very convenient. Maps are updated periodically. As a rule, this happens once a month.

The functionality of the application allows you to plan your route in advance, choosing the most best option from the list of those offered to choose from. What is noteworthy is that if you exceed the speed limit, a characteristic sound warning appears. In addition, this free program fully satisfies the demand for full-fledged satellite navigation.

Important features of this program are:

Drawing up a route plan;
Intuitive navigation in various languages;
Color schemes (day and night);
You can add your own routes and places;
Rotate the map in the direction of your movement;
Permanent updates and periodic map improvements;
Work in 2D and 3D display format.

#9 – SYGIC

The SYGIC program has a worthy place in the category of the best navigators for Android. This modern application, which brings together 3D offline maps from TomTom. The functionality allows you to find your way even in a completely unfamiliar place. Since the developer is trying to be among the leaders, an innovative option is provided to give commands by voice. The main purpose of such an application is to help motorists. Using the functionality of the program, it is easy to control the situation on the road, create your route almost instantly, without wasting time on traffic jams.

Ability to work offline without availability active compound with the World Wide Web;
Projection (navigation recommendations can be projected onto the windshield of a car, this is the highlight of the program);
Search for the most successful route among the many offered to choose from;
Driver warnings about speed limits, sharp turns, cameras that monitor traffic;
Maps are constantly updated;
Built-in information about attractions.

No. 8 – OsmAnd

The program will become a good helper for tourists, drivers, those who are in a foreign city on a business trip. It is implemented in two versions - paid and free. Unfortunately, the functionality free version substantially cropped. For example, it is limited in loading maps and does not provide support for local Wikipedia. Paid version can also be used in away mode active connection to the Internet. Access to the network is only required to download the program, maps, and then you can use the navigator offline.

Features of the program are:

Availability of free and paid versions;
Switching to night and day mode;
Possibility of use without an Internet connection;
The presence of useful functions - changing the text size, the option “show horizontal lines”, “drawing style”, etc.

No. 7 – Navigator Seven Roads

If you need high-quality navigation in Russia, this option is quite suitable. What are its advantages and features? On the Play Market, about 15 thousand users rated this navigator 4.2 points, which is quite good. The program itself is easy to use, its interface is very comfortable and intuitive.

The main features of the application are:

Ability to use maps offline: download once and use;
You can search for an object by name, not just by address;
Choosing the most convenient and shortest route;
Voice prompts;
Saving routes;
Customizing the program to suit your requirements.

No. 6 – Offline navigator OsmAnd for Android

A very worthy option for high-quality navigation that captivates simple interface and a whole package of convenient options.

Among the features of the program, the following deserve attention:

Possibility of use without a connection to the World Wide Web.
Smart routing functionality.
In case of deviation from the previously specified route, it can be recalculated.
Determining the time remaining before arriving at your destination.
Ability to track movement on the map and zoom objects.
Voice prompts.

No. 5 – Navitel GPS & Maps

The program attracts with its very accurate navigation even in offline mode, detailed high-quality maps of 64 countries and other useful functionality.

Main features of this application:

Ability to work on almost all phone models, even the weakest ones;
Accuracy, speed and a whole set of the most accurate and up-to-date maps for many cities in the world;
Work in the absence of an active Internet connection;
Convenient navigation;
Informative cards.

#4 – Waze

Free program for fast and easy-to-use navigation. The program is available not only on the Android platform, but also on almost all other platforms. operating systems, which makes it especially convenient.

The features of this application are:

Ability to monitor traffic conditions online;
Laying out the most optimal and shortest routes;
Providing information about the location of radars.

No. 3 – 2GIS

High quality modern program for comfortable navigation, with a pleasant interface that is convenient enough for daily use.

The main features of this application are the following:

Selection of the most successful route option, taking into account the current traffic situation;
You can calculate the time it will take to achieve the final goal;
Displays information about the distance between objects;
The ability to automatically change the route, taking into account open bridges, traffic jams, blocked streets, etc.;
Warning about speeding and presence of traffic police cameras;
Building a route bypassing toll roads;
Availability of night mode;
Possibility to work offline, but in this case you will not be able to use the option to build a route, taking into account the current traffic congestion.

#2 – Google Maps Navigation

This application is an indispensable assistant on the road. It has truly powerful functionality that will delight you with its comfort and ease of use. Using such a program, you will spend a minimum of time on the road even during the busiest times. You can easily find a cafe, restaurant or gas station along the road, or find your way around a completely unfamiliar city.

The important features of this application are the following:

GPR navigation support;
Traffic information, public transport;
Automatic route restructuring, taking into account the current situation on the road;
In addition, such an application will tell you in advance which lane is best to choose for exiting or turning;
Use offline, without an active Internet connection;
You can plan your route by car, on foot or by public transport;
The application database includes data and maps of 220 countries, descriptions of over 100 million places.

No. 1 – Yandex Navigator

The main features of this program are:

Ability to plan a route taking into account traffic jams;
Voice prompts, including in the background;
Reflection of traffic events and even house plans;
Demonstration of the current speed, distance to the target and the expected time it will take for the route;
Option to search nearby for necessary facilities, such as restaurants, cinemas, gas stations;
Work online and offline;
Constant traffic updates in real time;
Travel history;
Reflection of data on permitted free and paid parking spaces;
Hints that a parking space has become available;
Adding your own comments to places or routes;
Markings on maps – information about road accidents and road repairs;
Satellite view.

For modern user There are many high-quality navigators to choose from. The functionality of each program is different, but each of them is able to satisfy basic needs when moving around a large city or an unfamiliar place. Which navigator is better to install on Android - the decision is up to you.

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Today there are special devices that will not allow a person to get lost while traveling. A navigator for a pedestrian, mushroom picker, or tourist will become a reliable assistant on a hike. How to choose the right device, what parameters to consider, which manufacturer to give preference to? Tourist navigators do an excellent job of their direct responsibilities: they help navigate the area, indicate real location person, the desired direction of movement. Forest navigators are a great gift for lovers active image life.

How to choose a portable navigator

For greater confidence, mushroom pickers, fishermen, and hikers will definitely need satellite navigation. Modern devices guarantee trouble-free operation even in bad weather, in mountainous areas or dense forests. A navigator for a pedestrian, mushroom picker, or tourist will help you choose knowledge of the basic requirements that the device must meet.

The number of navigator points affects the duration of the track, that is, the path traveled by a person. Naturally, the more there are, the longer the route the device will remember. Even if you don't plan to use this feature, it is useful to have it in your navigator. Installing markers will make it easier to navigate in completely unfamiliar areas and mark places where you stopped or passed. Many people generally prefer to save successful routes on a personal computer.
Built-in memory primarily affects the number of maps that can be loaded. The amount of memory affects the ease of use of the device, that is, the ability to scale up. The question arises, which tourist navigator is better to buy - the answer is clear - give preference to devices with a large amount of built-in memory, or purchase an additional memory card.
Battery life is a very important parameter, so it cannot be ignored. It’s hard to imagine a person going out to pick mushrooms for just thirty minutes; usually such trips last for a long time. Accordingly, a navigator for mushroom pickers should work for at least several hours. Sometimes various unforeseen circumstances arise during a hike, so running out of battery in an unfamiliar area can be very untimely and problematic. It is better to give preference to devices with the lowest possible power consumption and large battery capacity.
Convenience, speed of map scrolling or zooming depend on the processor. Many people correctly choose navigators with more clock frequency, because such devices load and work faster.
Dimensions. Which tourist navigator to choose, what should be the dimensions of this device? Every traveler knows: extra grams cause inconvenience on the road. If you don’t climb mountains or travel tens of kilometers a day, you can ignore this parameter. Otherwise, experts recommend choosing small navigators that easily fit in the palm of your hand.
Strength characteristics are no less important. If you don’t want to navigate by the stars, choose a navigator with a body made of reliable and impact-resistant material. Poor quality plastic may break at the wrong time, leaving you in a rather difficult situation. In addition, while hiking there is always a chance of getting caught in the rain. Moisture resistance is an important parameter of a travel navigator, so you should not buy a device without moisture protection.
The screen of your navigator should not be very small, otherwise instead of the necessary image you will see only incomprehensible glare.

Best models

It’s clear how to choose a tourist navigator, let’s look at it further popular models for ordinary walks or tourism. Today, navigators can easily replace ordinary paper maps and help you get out of even the most impassable thicket.

The Etrex series was appreciated by mushroom pickers, hunters, and ordinary tourists. All devices are very clear, easy to use, controlled by a special joystick located above the screen, as well as buttons located on the sides of the device.

Garmin GPSMAP 64ST is the best travel navigator. Hiking enthusiasts liked this device for its durability and functionality. In addition to the gadget itself, in the box you will find a cable for connecting to a PC, a carabiner for ease of use, a warranty card and an instruction manual. There are no accumulators or batteries included. The navigator boasts a high-quality build. The body of the device, made of durable plastic, looks monolithic and weighty, and is characterized by moisture resistance and impact resistance. Control is carried out using convenient buttons located on the front panel. In addition, the gadget has a massive antenna, a micro-USB port and a connector for additional antenna. By the way, the antenna recognizes signals from a large number GPS satellites, as well as the Russian analogue of GLONAS.

The resolution of the 2.6-inch color display is small (160 by 240 pixels), which means there is graininess, which, by the way, practically does not interfere with working with the navigator. Thanks to the convenient backlight, you can work with the gadget in the dark. The software works stably, the built-in memory (8 GB) is enough to keep in the device not only a road map, but also other interesting places, it is possible to increase the volume by connecting external memory. The navigator does not require recharging for 16 hours and is easily synchronized with a smartphone and other devices.

The Garmin eTrex 10 is the cheapest navigator and has a simple black-and-white 2.2-inch LCD display. Since this model does not have touch support, control is carried out using a joystick. The image on the screen is perceived well regardless of the illumination of the area. The dimensions allow you to carry the navigator in your pocket, and the recesses and bulges on the body make it much easier to use. Accidental exposure to water will not affect the quality of work. It is also worth noting the exceptional strength of the product, its resistance to impacts, ubiquitous dust and dirt.

This, at first glance, quite ordinary navigator can boast of fairly long operation (at least 25-30 hours). Working with GPS and GLONAS opens up the opportunity to travel without fear of getting lost. By the way, Russian system usually finds a location faster than the world one. The navigator's shortcomings are minor: low screen resolution, lack of locking.

The review will continue with the improved Garmin eTrex 20, which replaced the budget eTrex 10 on the market. The gadget is compact in size, the body has rubber inserts, the necessary fastening devices, and fairly large buttons that make operation easier. This model interacts with GPS and GLONAS, and is produced with an already built-in package of “Roads of Russia” maps, which is an additional advantage. Information is displayed on a color screen, thanks to the use of 65 thousand colors, the picture turns out natural. Availability of built-in memory (1.7 GB), part of which is already full useful information, will significantly increase the efficiency of the device. Etrex is the best forest navigator in the mid-price category. Such a device will be able to catch and record the signal even in the most difficult conditions.

The rating will continue with Garmin eTrex 30x. This model represents the next generation of navigators and costs slightly more than the previous device. Let's look at whether this price is justified by comparing tourist navigators from this manufacturer. The diagonal of the color display is the same - 2.2 inches. Thanks to the special IPX7 system, the device is completely waterproof. Experiments carried out with the navigator confirmed this statement. Even after twenty minutes in the water, the device continued to work. In addition, falling on a hard surface also did not disable it.

The navigator is equipped with an altimeter that measures altitude; the lunar calendar in the device will give you information about sunrise or sunset. Naturally, the device supports all cards, and it is possible to transfer information to other similar devices. Sensitivity to satellites is excellent, the device will quickly determine its location.

It will not be possible to install maps a lot of work. Charging is enough for 25 hours of operation. By inserting lithium batteries, you will further increase the operating time. The uniqueness of this model is that it can be used by motorists. Even the longest journey with such a device will become pleasant and easy.

The Garmin Dakota 20 is a compact navigation device. The small gadget feels equally good in male and female hands. The sensor occupies almost the entire front part of the device; there is only one button designed to turn it on/off and change the backlight. Naturally, there is a strap holder. The battery is insulated from water and dust with a special cover and a thin rubber band located around the perimeter. Unlike eTrex, which last up to 30 hours, the Dakota will last no more than 12. Another drawback of this model is the weak screen backlight and the inability to use it with a laptop as a signal reception.

Famous Chinese company known for the production of navigation equipment. The line of navigators is represented by four devices: nava 200, nava 300, nava 400 and nava 600. These devices are designed not only to obtain the necessary cartographic data, but also to carry out various measurements. The scope of navigators is wide: from tourism to use in agriculture and forestry. Such devices have a good price and decent functionality.

The nava 200 model is a compact device with a sensitive GPS receiver and a loaded world map. The case reliably protects the device from water, dust, and shock. Thanks to the rubber pads, the navigator is easy to hold in your hands, which is especially valuable in rainy weather. The small size allows you to carry the device in your pocket or on your belt. By the way, the kit includes a special lanyard for carrying. The interface is clear and simple, control is carried out with minimal button presses. Routing can be done in automatic mode. The device easily synchronizes with other devices. Charging the navigator lasts for 15 hours.

We will conclude the rating with the inexpensive tourist navigator nava 600. This full-featured model copes with all the tasks that high-quality navigators are designed to perform. The device is equipped with a color display that guarantees excellent quality pictures. This device can be used regardless of the time of day, the resolution is 240x320, stores up to 50 tracks and 5 thousand points in memory. The navigator is equipped with an electronic compass, calculator, thermometer and altimeter, has a hunting and fishing calendar, and provides information about the moon and sun. The device is not afraid of falls, high humidity, dust and dirt. Its light weight and size allow you to carry the navigator in your pocket, on your belt or around your neck.

There is probably no tourist who is not afraid of getting lost. Paper maps and compasses are gradually becoming a thing of the past, giving way to more advanced gadgets. Modern nava or eTrex will solve any problem on the ground: from determining the location to calculating the direction of movement. These devices work for a long time and are equipped with many additional functions.

As an ordinary pedestrian or hitchhiker, it never hurts to have a navigator on your Android smartphone with useful functions at hand. Find the way to a specific object on the map, show a place for a possible overnight stay or snack, provide information about public transport in an unknown city. Some applications can give you all this, you just need to select and install them on your device. Let's look at several navigators on Android that can help a pedestrian navigate unknown terrain.

Maps with GPS navigation from the developers of the giant Google. The most common navigation application that is present out of the box on most Android smartphones. If you are a walker and need a guide, then Google Maps can easily help you with this.

The navigator will lay out a route in several options and show photographs of the area currently around you. He will tell you about public transport that can take you to the desired location. He will not miss useful places in the form of shops, pharmacies, ATMs and other organizations. You can also use maps offline by first downloading them to your device.

Yandex.Navigator

Another application from a well-known brand that offers users many useful and high-quality services. The Yandex navigator performs its functions perfectly. It has a simple interface and quickly creates several route variations. If on the way to the desired place you see something interesting or some incident happens that may interfere with movement, then you can put a comment about the event on the map.

Once it is published, other users will immediately see it on their Android devices. Some nice additions include changing the simple green triangle cursor used in each navigator to some others in the form of a car from the Transformers movie, a jeep and several more. The voice-over of the announcer was not left aside; in addition to the standard female and male voices, the application also contains the voices of some Russian actors and characters from films. Within the framework of this topic, the application still has one drawback - it is focused only on drivers, which it copes with at the highest level.

HERE WeGo

A small application also aimed at pedestrians. HERE WeGo offline maps compared to previous applications, have a small set of functions. But if you move on your own two feet, the navigator will help you with the fastest route planning or provide information about passing public transport.

When traveling to other cities and countries, he will indicate where you can eat, shop and find other useful places. Work offline when pre-loading maps of the desired area is not ignored. And here the disadvantage of the navigator is files with a large amount of memory, since there is no breakdown by city (to get your city you need to download a file weighing about 500 MB).

MAPS.ME

A navigator that is fast in its work and offers no less interesting features than the previous ones. Mapsmi has in its arsenal the same navigation capabilities as the applications discussed above. There is an offline mode with downloading maps, and useful places in the form of catering outlets, shops and other things.

The presence of a pedestrian mode and setting various markers or adding missing places on the map does not make MAPS.ME less attractive compared to its competitors. IN lately With the development of online taxis, the integration of the well-known taxi service has been conveniently implemented here, which can be called without resorting to the official application.

MapFactor GPS Navigation Maps

The last navigator in the collection, working with maps from two sources (OpenStreetMap and TomTom). When you log into the application, you will need to choose which ones you will use. A little complex, but at the same time having a full range of functions for high-quality work with route planning. In addition to constructing the movement by the application itself, this can also be done manually, specifying certain points in advance.

When managing maps, you can set prohibited areas so that the navigator does not take this area into account when building a route. A fairly important tool is the function "Simulate route", which will help you look ahead to places to eat, spend the night and other important details of your upcoming trip. The disadvantage of the program: it is impossible to use it without first downloading certain maps, which is what you are asked to do the first time you start it.

It would take a very long time to list the navigators that are freely available, and they will all work at approximately the same level. But the applications listed above include all the functions you can imagine. What to use is up to the user.

Mandatory!

The problem of turning a smartphone into a hiking GPS navigator has been solved. The main navigator is now a smartphone; in terms of functionality and ease of use, it leaves far behind all existing special travel navigation devices. GPS navigators. And in terms of reliability, sensitivity and battery life, it is on par with them.

I must say, it was not me who solved the problem, but the manufacturers of smartphones, batteries and software. I only selected worthy candidates and tested them in practice. I won’t make any secrets, I’ll be happy to share detailed recipes, use them and continue experimenting.

First about the software.

There are dozens of programs that turn a smartphone into a navigator. The choice according to my requirements left only one program: Locus Map (Locus Map). It is written only for Android, so the choice of smartphones has narrowed significantly. There is a free, slightly trimmed version of Locus Free, the full version of Locus PRO costs $6 one time, I advise you to install it right away, because when upgrading Free to Pro, you will have to do all the settings again, and there are a lot of them.

So, the main advantages of Locus, because of which it turned out to be out of competition:

Availability of high-quality free offline vector maps of the whole world based on OSM (Open Street Maps). Here's a link to one of them. There are terabytes of regularly updated maps.
The program understands raster maps, which are easy to make yourself from scanned paper maps. For example, using the Mapc2Mapc program. The beloved General Staff will easily take root here. Here is a gift for you: a map of Crimea and the Lycian Way in Turkey that I made. You will find instructions for using the Mapc2Mapc program just below.
Convenient recording of track and waypoints. You can draw a track manually and place waypoints anywhere, not just at your current location.
Conveniently upload your tracks and points. Both of them can be placed in an unlimited number of folders, enabled/disabled by folders, or individually.
There is no limit on the number of points, tracks and points in tracks.
The ability to disable auto-locking of the display (the display will still turn off to save energy) and assign functions to the volume keys, such as zooming. In practice, this means that the navigator can be controlled without pressing the screen. This is also true when the screen is wet and does not respond correctly to gestures.
It is possible to locate directories with maps on an SD card.
Absolutely everything is customizable: the type and size of the cursor, its position (in the center or on ¼ of the screen), the color and width of the tracks, the size of the point icons, options for displaying the names of the points (permanently, open by tap or when approaching)…
Unlimitedly customizable trip computers: amount of data, location, font (size, transparency and color) - in any combination.
Fine-tuning the recording of track points by time, distance and accuracy. This allows you to record only the points of real movements, and not wandering around the bush and jumping hundreds of meters when bad connection with companions.
Configuring the use of the internal compass and barometer: filtering depth, on and off limits.
Setting the GPS receiver to turn off to save power (always on, always off, only on when in use)
Customize all buttons on the top and two side panels, auto-hide.
Running the application as a service, which eliminates failures when other applications are running simultaneously (calls, photos...). For example, for me, track recording pauses during calls, if not turned on as a service.
The program is developing and constantly improving, new convenient functions appear, bugs are fixed when working on new smartphones and versions of Android.

Is it really more than a list? I only wrote down what was interesting to me. The program's capabilities are simply incredible; the developers are trying to create the most universal application on GPS based. Due to the huge number of settings, it is not easy to understand them. I will describe how to make the most necessary things for the hike.

This is what my program window looks like with a vector map of Crimea. The difference from the default one is only in the buttons at the top, on the side and in the trip computer.

Setting up Locus.

1. Select all default directories- in the phone memory, Not on external map SD. This is done in the settings - miscellaneous. Directories for vector maps locus/mapsVector and raster maps locus/maps can also be placed on an external SD card by specifying this in the program settings.

2. Download a map of the area where you are so that you have something to work with.

First, copy vector maps (in .map format) to locus/mapsVector, and raster maps to locus/maps. If you took a vector map from the link above, then they come with their own styles, which Necessarily you need to install it by going to the site with maps from your smartphone https://www.openandromaps.org/en/legend/elevate-mountain-hike-theme. In the column " Quick install in Android" Click Locus. Then you need to enable themes. First, activate the vector map. Then drag the bookmark at the bottom left. there you select “external” and there will be “Elevate” and “Elements”. They are exactly the same, but the first is, by default, designed for wild areas, the second for the city. The only difference is in the checkboxes that include different elements on the map. The theme needs to be installed once, suitable for all cards.

The map can be downloaded directly to the smart phone. The maps are multilingual, the language can be switched for each map separately, click the three dots in the catalog with maps to the right of the map name.

There is a big drawback to maps from the openandromaps.org resource. The problem is with street names in populated areas. There are either none, or they are displayed only on a couple of scales. But in terms of detail in the wilderness, these maps have no equal.

It happens that the program sees newly downloaded maps after rebooting the smartphone.

3. Now some important settings. The rest can be left as default.

If you don’t want to deal with long disputes, you can just copy my settings. Download the settings file, copy it to the phone in the Locus/Backup folder (do not unpack it, just as downloaded, with the .zip extension), and then in the program menu select “Additional functions” - Backup manager - Restore. Please note that in these settings, map folders are configured in the phone memory by default. If you want, change to an external SD card. You can also pick up my Trip Computer. This trick only works in Pro versions. Download the computer file, copy it to the Locus/data/dashboard folder. Then select it (called kravchik1) with a long tap on the computer icon (with the eye, top second from the right).

If you still want to figure it out yourself (due to constant updating of the application, the settings may be in other sections and renamed):

Editing the top and right sidebar buttons.

Entering the editor - long tap on any element of the panel - panel settings. Set the number of buttons to top panel 5, right panel 2 and change the elements (remove unnecessary ones and add new functions): GPS, Data, Maps, Track recording, Trip computer, New point, New route. Move elements by clicking on the icon. "GPS" is the satellite visibility icon. Yellow - no signal, green - there is a signal. “Data” is a directory of your tracks and points. “Maps”—entrance to the catalog with maps. "Record Track" opens additional panel track recording (it can be adjusted, I recommend placing it below). “Trip computer” turns on/off the selected computer, and with a long tap you select the computer. You can draw whatever you want through settings/additional functions/route editor. I didn’t like any of the ready-made ones - the symbols were too large and covered half the screen. I made simple little black numbers at the top of the card, on the left. It shows speed, altitude, distance traveled. "New point" records the center of the screen as new point, asks for the name and destination folder. “New Route” allows you to draw a route manually. I use this function as a distance meter.

The first five buttons will be on the top panel, the rest on the side panel.

The sixth, leftmost element of the top panel changes differently: just click and select from several options. I advise you to choose GPS here. Will show accuracy and quantity visible satellites. If the accuracy is displayed at, say, 50m, then the navigator can fool you at 300m; you should not take such readings seriously.

Controls/Screen:

“Lock auto-rotate” - check “all screens” and “ portrait mode"(this will disable auto-rotate display)
“Disable screen lock” - check the “Disable all locks” checkbox (the screen will still turn off when not in use, but it will not need to be unlocked with gestures)

Controls/Map Screen

hardware buttons: zoom control

Controls/panels and buttons

left panel buttons - map style switch - check the box. This is a switch of those very topics. Different themes for different purposes
It is better not to enable auto-hiding of the top, bottom and function bars, they do not interfere if the screen is more than 4.5 inches

Recording tracks:

pedestrian profile: 20m/10s/35m
view of the track recording panel - bottom panel

GPS and sensors:

launch at application startup - always
Disable when inactive - I advise you to uncheck the box.

compass-auto switching, 2km/h
use true path angle: yes

Miscellaneous:

exit confirmation: yes
Locus as a service: yes

Points and tracks:

track line style: I advise you to choose purple color so as not to blend in with any symbols on the map, track width: 4px

Instructions for converting raster maps into the Locus.sqlitedb format using the Mapc2Mapc program.

Download the Mapc2Mapc program and install it. In the free version, the functionality is the same, but the map will be littered with red crosses. If this is critical for you, the license costs a one-time fee of $20. Or look for the broken version. I've only seen older versions, they have a lot of bugs and worse functionality.

The program has the ability to link a card: File/load image for calibration. But I haven’t figured out this option and am linking maps in oziexplorer. How the binding is done is a separate topic, read specialized sites and forums.

Opening the desired card: File/Load calibrated map. Sometimes the program finds it difficult to select a projection. For example, for Pulkovo1942 (our favorite General Staff) you need to choose from the list, this is Russia, Georgia or Asia.

Then File/Write map for mobile device, select from the list Locus/Rmaps/Galileo .sqlitedb. You can leave Zoom and all the checkboxes as default. Click OK. Now attention! A page will open where the map is divided into squares and you can disable any. If you click OK here, the number of squares increases 4 times so that you can select more accurately. If you do not need to throw out individual pieces of the card (or you have already thrown it away), check the “No more selections” checkbox and click OK. The conversion will begin. Depending on the size of the card and the performance of the computer, it can take a lot of time, up to several hours. Look for the converted map next to the original one.

About smartphones and increasing their reliability.

Once Locus is selected, Iphone and others automatically disappear, leaving only Android. It would be nice to use a special protected smartphone. They are not only protected from damage and water, but can also work normally in temperatures down to -20. True, they are so hefty that you don’t want to carry them around in everyday life. And if you don’t have the means to buy a separate device for a hike, you can get by regular smartphone with water protection. Super impact protection is useless. You need to put the smart in silicone, stick it on safety glass and tie the device with a cord to your backpack or belt. The cord is ordinary, 35-40 cm long, so that the phone does not reach the ground and does not interfere with putting it to your ear. If your phone does not have an eyelet for a lanyard, you can attach it to the silicone case.

This is how I carry mine in my backpack pocket.

Experience has shown that the minimum requirements are: 4-core processor 1.2 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, 4.5″ screen. It is vital that the screen can be operated normally in the rain, that is, when there are drops of water on it and your fingers are wet. For example, Samsung S7-S10 has such screens. I'm currently using the S7 edge and am very pleased.

Autonomy of the smartphone.

Conventional devices can withstand 1.5 hiking days under the following conditions: constant track recording, moderate use of the screen, constantly in touch, 10 minutes of calls, 5 MB of Internet (mail, weather forecast). If you turn off the connection, it lasts for 2 days. Not too much. Removable batteries are a thing of the past, now there is only one option - to charge. Charging option from solar battery Not suitable for active hiking. Attaching it to a backpack is inconvenient and ineffective. Normally, you can use solar charging only on vacation.

Therefore, there is only one way out: charging from a power bank with lithium-ion batteries. I have already tried a dozen of them, of different designs. You need to choose according to the optimal combination of main parameters: capacity, weight, price, reliability and convenience. With weight and price, everything is simple and clear. But with the most important thing - capacity, manufacturers are messing up. First: absolutely everyone indicates the capacity of the internal battery for a voltage of 3.7V. But it comes out of the power bank 5V. Second: no one indicates the efficiency of the converter from 3.7 to 5V. And it ranges from 70 to 88%. Typical figure is 80%. So it turns out that it is written 10000mAh, but in reality it is 5400-6400mAh. This power bank will charge a 3600mAh smartphone battery from 5 to 100% 1.5 times.

Manufacturers also mess with the charge and discharge current. Of course, to a lesser extent. The higher the charge current, the faster the power bank charges. And the greater the current supplied (per discharge), the faster the phone will charge. Take power banks with fast charging capabilities, this is very important when you only have a short opportunity to connect to an outlet while on a hike.

From the point of view of reliability and convenience, I consider it optimal to use power banks with a “written” capacity of around 10000mAh. One large one is certainly more economical in price and weight. But power banks are often lost, forgotten and broken. Therefore, it is safer to take several smaller pieces.

A solar panel on a power bank is a useless weight. It takes 2 weeks for her to charge it!

The built-in flashlight is a dangerous thing because it likes to turn on accidentally and wastes its charge in vain.

I measure the capacity of power banks with a USB tester. And it’s even better not to compare capacity, but Watt hours. Then we avoid the need to take into account the voltage, which changes during the measurement process and produces an incorrect result.

Here are some tested options for comparison to get an idea of how different they are.

Globex 11500mAh: weight 240 g (plastic body), real capacity 6000mah/30Wh. Charges with a current of 1A, outputs up to 1.5A. Full charge time 10 hours.

Drobak power roverII 10000mAh: weight 280 g (steel case), actual capacity 5400mAh/27Wh. It charges and produces 0.85A. Full charge time 12 hours.

Xiaomi 10000mAh: weight 210g (aluminum body), actual capacity 6400mAh/32Wh. Charges 2.2A, outputs 1.8A. Full charge time 5.5 hours.

Xiaomi 2 10000mAh (with fast charging): weight 222g (aluminum body), actual capacity 6520mAh/32.6Wh. Charges 2.2A/5V, 1.5A/9-12V, outputs 2A/5V, 1.5A/9-12V. Full charge time is 3-5.5 hours.

If you consider that Xiaomi is also not expensive, then they win in all respects! Here is a photo of the hero:

One BUT: the market is flooded with fakes of terrible quality. Look for an original item in trusted stores with a good reputation, and under no circumstances look at one-page sites with a discount of many%. By the way, do not buy anything on such sites! The real price per 10,000 is 15-20 dollars.

The rest of the tested power banks were collapsible, using standard 18650 batteries. Here is the best of them, TOMO:

The charger separately weighs 108 grams, each battery weighs 46 grams. All together weighs 292 grams. It charges and outputs 1.8A. For the money, it’s a little more expensive than the previous ones. TOMO has 4 independent charge/discharge channels, one for each battery. There is a charge indicator separately for each battery. And it even shows the strength of the recoil current. It is not necessary to insert all 4 batteries, it will work from one. Of course, the key here is the quality of the batteries. And I took the best ones - industrial Panasonic NCR 18650B with a real capacity of 3300-3400 mAh. This is the discharge capacity, measured with a special charger. That is, the total was 13400mAh. When discharged, 7200 mAh comes out of the TOMO. Obviously, the efficiency of the converter is only 72%. Very bad. More important nuance: when switched off, the discharge current is 0.34 mA per battery. This means that 8% of the charge will go to waste in a week. So you need to remove the batteries if it is temporarily lying around idle.

I also tested similar charges, but with one charge/discharge channel, with parallel connection batteries. The results are similar to TOMO, but the execution is poor and the quality is low. During the hike, I didn’t dare rely on such things; they would let me down at any moment. One plus is that when the device is turned off, there is no discharge at all.

What are the advantages of charging on 18650 batteries: You can take one charger for 2-4 batteries, and take as many batteries as you need! Yes, at least 10. It will be cheaper and easier.

The main drawback was discovered on the very first trip. Often poor contact with batteries. You have to wipe them and rotate them. You think it's charging, but it's not really charging or it's weak. Such a serious drawback offsets the advantages in price and weight. In addition, all of them have low efficiency. So I recommend non-separable power banks.

Another use for power banks is charging batteries for cameras and video cameras. If their charging only works from 220V, it doesn’t matter: on aliexpress you will find USB 5V chargers for all types of batteries.

Please note: per month lithium ion batteries self-discharge by 10%. Therefore, be sure to recharge them before going on a trip.