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Android GPS

L

ledgehammer

Lurker
Hi,

I do a lot of tracking and need a way of storing accurate GPS coordinates, in the field, I then need to transfer this data to a map which is compatable with other programs such as google e.t.c

Currently I am using the compass app which records co-ordinates, saving this to catch.com and copy and pasting between windows into my gps software when I get home.

Either the GPS software is not running properly or the coordinates given by the phone are NOT very accurate, although they seem o.k.

Has anyone got any ideas or solutions that might work?

Tom
 
GPS location coordinates are subject to the accuracy of any given phone. Note that some phones use only cell-tower triangulation to get coordinates. While this can be fast, it suffers in the accuracy dept.

Phones that use GPS satellites (such as most HTC phones) tend to have much better accuracy.

Note that NO cell phone will be as good as a real GPS unit...
 
While this won't help you get more accurate results, using the "My Tracks" app by Google might make capturing GPS data easier.
 
Location-sending-apps often send the coordinates shortly after they get the GPS lock (or some do this without GPS lock)
So there are not many satellites for the coordinates calculation.

My solution is GPS Test (Mike Lockwood).
I start the app, wait for the desired accuracy and push the phone's Home button. Note, the GPS lock remains because the app remains running in background (that is the reason because I choose the app :)
Then I start my primary GPS app (e.g. a location-sending-app).
GPS Test can send the coordinates too, but only via email.

Harry
 
hi,

Thanks for your responses, I friend of mine told me GPS is probably not suited to some of the tracking. I track magnetic energy patterns, I think for the kind of accuracy Im looking for it would cost and be inconveinient? The readings tend to curve within a few feet , which makes plotting the data very difficult if it is not accurate to a few inches. I think I may have overestimated the technology slightly!

My Tracks is a good app. It reminds me of my friends I phone when we climbed mt Scarfell, we looked at the pictures and the track when we got back...

Tom
 
On my phone the error is sometimes +/- 50 feet. I sometimes use the phone GPS to track my runs on runkeeper. If track properly, it will record what I know to be a 2.15 km route. When the GPS acts up, the GPS tracking zig zags all over the place and the same run may end up being recorded as about 3 km. For me the phone GPS is a cheap add on feature which could be used in a pinch. If you need accurate GPS, I would suggest that you buy a proper GPS device.
 
Hi,

Yes I was in "nasa" mode!..

Do you know of any mapping apps, the coordinates themselves are not important, being able to see a "map" of the points I manually input for the sakes of recording a pattern?

perhaps a metal detecting app e.t.c

regards

Tom
 
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