Anything easier than Google Maps?
Discussion
I regularly plan drive outs for a group of us but I was wondering if there is a better to use app than Google Maps.
The issue with Google maps is that you have limited stops available and if I send the route to someone it recalculates it and screws the whole route up.
Any suggestions ?
Many thanks
The issue with Google maps is that you have limited stops available and if I send the route to someone it recalculates it and screws the whole route up.
Any suggestions ?
Many thanks
Mappite or Myroute. You need to create GPX files and then use an app to read them. I tried TomTom for this reason but couldn’t get it to work. No doubt someone will be along shortly to explain better.
The easiest way in Google Maps is to add proper waypoints (not just click the map on your desktop) but there is a limit on this. The app will always try to take you from A to B the fastest way, which screws up your carefully plotted routes.
The easiest way in Google Maps is to add proper waypoints (not just click the map on your desktop) but there is a limit on this. The app will always try to take you from A to B the fastest way, which screws up your carefully plotted routes.
My group uses a combination of Routes (Android) and Scenic (free version) to follow GPX files without re-routing.
In my drive group of, a few of the planners, have Scenic paid version but you can create a routes in google maps and using a free website, the name of which I forget but I’ll have a look after.
Edit it’s https://mapstogpx.com/
In my drive group of, a few of the planners, have Scenic paid version but you can create a routes in google maps and using a free website, the name of which I forget but I’ll have a look after.
Edit it’s https://mapstogpx.com/
Edited by FriedMarsBar on Friday 27th December 21:31
MyRoute is best. Google Maps serves a purpose but the other issue is if you create a route on iOS and then share it with an Android user, they don't get the waypoints, just a list of the directions. Very odd.
The workaround to this is to use the 'Google My Apps' website and then share the routes there. But this forces you to desktop to create the route
The workaround to this is to use the 'Google My Apps' website and then share the routes there. But this forces you to desktop to create the route
As Turn 7 mentioned, we have been using MyRouteApp (MRA) for our Caterham Owners Club meets and drives for the last three years.
The latest edition of the App allows you to plan routes on a desktop (or tablet / phone) and then create 'events' to share the routes among your friends - the same App (with a paid subscription) then converts this route to a turn-by-turn Satellite navigation guide on your phone which includes audio instructions and the onscreen guide similar to Google Maps.
A key benefit of MRA when planing routes is the use unlimited number of waypoints – allowing for exact routing that does not get 're-planned' by the app during your drive. The paid version also includes other useful tools such as "reverse" where a route can be flipped to the other direction to make a journey home. Route planners have a nice suite of tools, plus the option to plan on multiple basemaps - including the Google Maps layer, Michelin mapping, Open Street maps and others. Routes can also be exported to .GPX files for anyone who uses a standalone SatNav unit (Garmin / TomTom etc).
Drivers who only want to follow Route can use the latest (paid for) MRA Navigation Next App, join the event to access the route(s) and then have them loaded directly in to the Navigation App for display and audio directions.
Desktop Planner: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/information/routepla...
Navigation App: https://mranavigationnext.app/
… and because it's a single account for both, the planned routes appear seamlessly in the other, and vice versa with tracklogs from the Navigation.
An elegant solution that has all the look and feel you will recognise from Google Maps, but with useful tools and the unlimited waypoints.
The latest edition of the App allows you to plan routes on a desktop (or tablet / phone) and then create 'events' to share the routes among your friends - the same App (with a paid subscription) then converts this route to a turn-by-turn Satellite navigation guide on your phone which includes audio instructions and the onscreen guide similar to Google Maps.
A key benefit of MRA when planing routes is the use unlimited number of waypoints – allowing for exact routing that does not get 're-planned' by the app during your drive. The paid version also includes other useful tools such as "reverse" where a route can be flipped to the other direction to make a journey home. Route planners have a nice suite of tools, plus the option to plan on multiple basemaps - including the Google Maps layer, Michelin mapping, Open Street maps and others. Routes can also be exported to .GPX files for anyone who uses a standalone SatNav unit (Garmin / TomTom etc).
Drivers who only want to follow Route can use the latest (paid for) MRA Navigation Next App, join the event to access the route(s) and then have them loaded directly in to the Navigation App for display and audio directions.
Desktop Planner: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/information/routepla...
Navigation App: https://mranavigationnext.app/
… and because it's a single account for both, the planned routes appear seamlessly in the other, and vice versa with tracklogs from the Navigation.
An elegant solution that has all the look and feel you will recognise from Google Maps, but with useful tools and the unlimited waypoints.
Our motorcycle bunch also use MRA (MyRouteApp) and have done for several years now. Until recently one of our group still used TomTom on his mobile, so he'd have to import the routes as GPX or whatnot.
A feature that made this less painful - when we discovered it exists - is that in the route planner part you can get it to show the route using both the TomTom engine and the HERE/Garmin of whatever the other one is called. This meant we finally found out (and fixed) why we sometimes had that guy saying "left at the junction yeah?" and the rest of us responding "erm, right actually!"
Now we all use MRA for navigation too, but before this, whoever was building the route would do a quick compare between the two engines and add waypoints as required to get them to align. It's very nice to never have to mention that horrible gpx thing!
EDIT: Oh yes, there's a cost somewhere for all this. I have lifetime for both the planner and the nav.
A feature that made this less painful - when we discovered it exists - is that in the route planner part you can get it to show the route using both the TomTom engine and the HERE/Garmin of whatever the other one is called. This meant we finally found out (and fixed) why we sometimes had that guy saying "left at the junction yeah?" and the rest of us responding "erm, right actually!"
Now we all use MRA for navigation too, but before this, whoever was building the route would do a quick compare between the two engines and add waypoints as required to get them to align. It's very nice to never have to mention that horrible gpx thing!
EDIT: Oh yes, there's a cost somewhere for all this. I have lifetime for both the planner and the nav.
I use Tyre https://www.google.com/search?q=tyre+route+planner...
You can create routes on pc then export them in multiple formats or send direct to Garmin or TomTom devices, or use routes app or similar (TomTom did have a free one called GoRide that was perfect but it is discontinued unless an APK can be found online)
You can create routes on pc then export them in multiple formats or send direct to Garmin or TomTom devices, or use routes app or similar (TomTom did have a free one called GoRide that was perfect but it is discontinued unless an APK can be found online)
brisel said:
Out of interest, if you leave the route for any reason, will the apps direct you back onto the route effectively?
MRA will always direct you to the next waypoint in numerical order - and now gives you the option to 'skip' a waypoint if it calculates you are closer to the next one… ether automatically, or after an on-screen prompt asking you to confirm the 'skip'…so yes you will be directed back on to the planned route but not always at the point you left it.You can also set some waypoints as "Via" which means you cannot skip them… useful for coffee stops and rendezvous points.
Arnold Cunningham said:
Yes, it does
It's definitely not as easy to add in stops on waze, and last time I checked it only allowed me one or two additional stops? Google Maps allows 7 additional stops iirc?Seeing as Google now own both maps and waze, I'm not sure why they can't combine the best bits of both into a 'super' maps system. Make it adaptable so you can pick and choose what bits you want on your system.
Tupwood said:
As Turn 7 mentioned, we have been using MyRouteApp (MRA) for our Caterham Owners Club meets and drives for the last three years.
The latest edition of the App allows you to plan routes on a desktop (or tablet / phone) and then create 'events' to share the routes among your friends - the same App (with a paid subscription) then converts this route to a turn-by-turn Satellite navigation guide on your phone which includes audio instructions and the onscreen guide similar to Google Maps.
A key benefit of MRA when planing routes is the use unlimited number of waypoints – allowing for exact routing that does not get 're-planned' by the app during your drive. The paid version also includes other useful tools such as "reverse" where a route can be flipped to the other direction to make a journey home. Route planners have a nice suite of tools, plus the option to plan on multiple basemaps - including the Google Maps layer, Michelin mapping, Open Street maps and others. Routes can also be exported to .GPX files for anyone who uses a standalone SatNav unit (Garmin / TomTom etc).
Drivers who only want to follow Route can use the latest (paid for) MRA Navigation Next App, join the event to access the route(s) and then have them loaded directly in to the Navigation App for display and audio directions.
Desktop Planner: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/information/routepla...
Navigation App: https://mranavigationnext.app/
… and because it's a single account for both, the planned routes appear seamlessly in the other, and vice versa with tracklogs from the Navigation.
An elegant solution that has all the look and feel you will recognise from Google Maps, but with useful tools and the unlimited waypoints.
What are you paying in terms of subscription please? What level is that?The latest edition of the App allows you to plan routes on a desktop (or tablet / phone) and then create 'events' to share the routes among your friends - the same App (with a paid subscription) then converts this route to a turn-by-turn Satellite navigation guide on your phone which includes audio instructions and the onscreen guide similar to Google Maps.
A key benefit of MRA when planing routes is the use unlimited number of waypoints – allowing for exact routing that does not get 're-planned' by the app during your drive. The paid version also includes other useful tools such as "reverse" where a route can be flipped to the other direction to make a journey home. Route planners have a nice suite of tools, plus the option to plan on multiple basemaps - including the Google Maps layer, Michelin mapping, Open Street maps and others. Routes can also be exported to .GPX files for anyone who uses a standalone SatNav unit (Garmin / TomTom etc).
Drivers who only want to follow Route can use the latest (paid for) MRA Navigation Next App, join the event to access the route(s) and then have them loaded directly in to the Navigation App for display and audio directions.
Desktop Planner: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/information/routepla...
Navigation App: https://mranavigationnext.app/
… and because it's a single account for both, the planned routes appear seamlessly in the other, and vice versa with tracklogs from the Navigation.
An elegant solution that has all the look and feel you will recognise from Google Maps, but with useful tools and the unlimited waypoints.
If someone could briefly explain the different options in MRA I'd be grateful, I keep being offered discounts but they seem to keep changing / evolving the names / options
MRA Navigation
MRA Navigation Next
MRA Route planner
MRA Route Planner Gold
MRA All In One (which I assumed meant everything but when I looked, didn't seem to)
MRA Navigation
MRA Navigation Next
MRA Route planner
MRA Route Planner Gold
MRA All In One (which I assumed meant everything but when I looked, didn't seem to)
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