Bicycle GPS with audio

CasperFabricius

I would like to use a GPS device on my bicycle while riding it in the city, so I would like to get audible route information in headphones, so I don't have look at an display.

What devices would you suggest for this? What kind of software would you suggest for this?
How do you handle issues with interaction, power (batteries) or mounting?

It would be great if the software could run on my cell phone or mp3 player in my pocket.

markyboy2005

I think the Nokia n95 can do this with Sporttracks software.

I have not really researched it properly, but heard some comments about it. Worth checking it out. I have the phone and it is very good.

As for mounting it on the bike - no ideas sorry, but usually an internet search will find some enterprising soul that has invented something suitable..

Hope this helps.

CasperFabricius

Hi MarkyBoy2005,

Thanks for your reply. So as I understand it, you have the N95, but you haven't tried this Sporttracks software on it? Do you use its GPS functionality?

Anyone else using the N95, or using some other device for GPS navigation on the bicycle?

markyboy2005

Hi Caspar,

I have used it once just to see it working and it was good and accurate. Voice navigation seemed to work, so all in all good.

I might do a wee bit of research on it later tonight.

Fact is that I don't drive or walk anywhere in Jakarta, so I don't really need the GPS. When I cycle here, I have the EDGE 305 for recording my workout, so wouldn't need the N95 to that. That is the reason I've not fully looked at the phones capabilities.

If I find out anything, I'll drop a message here with some links.

Cheers

easy

Hi Caspar,

I don't use GPS when riding my normal routes because I generally know where I'm going. However, I frequently use my bike to travel to places I've never been and find my telephone with GPS invaluable.

I just use a Sony Ericsson M600i telephone and have an application called Navicore Personal with their small Bluetooth GPS device. There may be better mapping options, but you can set Navicore to work for bicycle. Sadly, you can't really preplan your route on it. It works better as a here-to-there type device, but you can specify waypoints to help select specific routes. The worst thing with it is that you can't save your route before you leave.

Still, I find I can either put the phone in my Krusell case with the Krusell bike mount and use the map or can put it in my pocket and just listen to where it tells me to go through one earphone.

I find it a great way to do a 100km + ride across an unfamiliar area.

I hope this helps.

willbevan

CasperFabricius wrote:

Hi MarkyBoy2005,

Thanks for your reply. So as I understand it, you have the N95, but you haven't tried this Sporttracks software on it? Do you use its GPS functionality?

Anyone else using the N95, or using some other device for GPS navigation on the bicycle?

Sporttracks ins't really for that.

You install it on your PC, and can download GPS data from a device after, link Garmins etc....

can be found at :

http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/index.html

Will be interesting to see if the new Garmin Edge 605 and 705 will have any audible warnings, as they will have sat nav on them (if you buy the maps i think), tom tom, with heart rate, cadence etc...

markyboy2005

Will,

Yeah, that's what I use sport tracks for with my EDGE. But I had heard of some other functionality with the N95....or maybe I was drunk.

I'll have a sniff around online.....

markyboy2005

Okay, I was almost right....

Nokia have a bespoke programme you can download onto their phones called "sports Tracker" It basically records your movement data and turns your Phone into a kind of very basic EDGE unit. Once you have completed your work out you can download your ride data onto Google earth and look at where you have been. The sotware on the phone tells you how far, what speed etc. So a Basic cycle computer with downloading ability.

At the moment as far as I can see it does not allow uploading of routes that you can then follow.

However, it does have a GPS Routefinder type thing separate to that. In Asia when you buy the phone it has a programme called ASIA Maps installed and you get to download one city's maps (I chose Jakarta) free of charge.

You then use the phone like a basic GPS map thingy which tells you where to go with voice instructions and the rest.

So short answer is that there are two programmes currently on my phone. One that can tell me where I have been, how fast etc. Another that can direct me around the city.

Fact is I don't use either as I have an EDGE 305 that does the former and I only go very certain routes (for good reason here :shock: ) so don't need the latter.

Not sure if any of this helps, but a bit of research on tinternet will fill in the gaps for you.

Cheers

Markyboy

CasperFabricius

Thanks guys, I understand my different options quite a lot better now, and I'll do some more research on the Internet as suggested.

Lif30057840

i went for a garmin 205 but for what u seem to want a Motionlingo Adeo sounds just the job..

alansmithy

Folks,

There is a package called ViewRanger for Symbian smartphones (e.g. the N95) which allows you to preplan routes and guide you out on the route using OS 1:25k and 1:50k mapping. I have it and use the route planning mainly for walking, so I've not tried any audio guidance on it.

Just one note about the N95 - the internal GPS is located underneath the keypad, so to get the best signal, you need to have the keypad open. Not ideal on a bike...I actually have a separate bluetooth GPS module which I pop in the back of my jersey, keeping the phone safe in my seat pack (recording the GPS stream for subsequent upload).

A

infopete

Hi

I use an xda orbit with Tomtom Navigator. You get phone, GPS, and Sat Nav in 120grammes.

Plays MP3 too.

You can buy an extended (fat) battery too.

T Mobile have just launched the faster version of this phone.

Pete
pete@infonote.com

flyswallower

Hi, I posted elsewhere not having seen this thread:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12550770

Hope that's useful. For my bike mount I used a lump of foam and a thin elastic/velcro strap, but I know I deserve better But really I prefer to go cycling technology-free, I spend enough time with computers earning my daily crust...

schilbach

I've had a look at the Sports track website and I'll can't find a list of compatible devices...is it just N95..or just Symbian....can I use it with an Iphone?

cougie

Doubt it will work with an iphone - cos its a nokia program ? Could be wrong though ?

muggomagic

Viewranger doesn't have voice guidance. It has the ability to guide you on routes via on screen directions.
Eg,


It does give an audible alarm when approaching a waypoint or marker.

I must add I have been using viewranger for years and it is a fantastic piece of software.

Nokia maps can guide you and works in the same way as a Tom Tom. But there is a subscription charge for the guidance part of the package. Everything else is free.