Smart phone tracking app for smart phones

[JohnClimber]

A mate recommended an app called Glympse last week,

He said
"I've just been playing with this app which looks great if you're out riding on your own and want someone to be able to see where you are in case you have a serious problem. You can set a time limit for the person to have visibility of your location and they don't need to have Glympse installed on their phone. Emergency services could use it to locate the user.
Could also be useful when you're with someone in a theme park, skiing, or just need to meet someone to collect them"

I've used it myself on 2 rides since downloading it and I've found that it's great, you can set up and send in just 2 clicks a simple message saying "I'm doing ok" send it to your wife and leave it open for up to 4 hours, then the person you send it to can follow your little dot for that said 4 hours.

[Mart]

the kids track my iPhone with the 'Find my Phone' feature on their iPads

[dlovett]

Those are great until you run out of service. Spot's are great if you are happy to pay for it.

[Dave42w]

I've been using Real Time GPS Tracker 2 (RTT2) on Android with great success for road cycling. See http://www.greenalp.com/RealTimeTracker/

However, for Ford Fiesta, WRT and my sabbatical I decided a SPOT would give more peace of mind as it would not be restricted by phone battery or signal.

[wfbroddy]

......... I decided a SPOT would give more peace of mind as it would not be restricted by phone battery or signal.

Okay I get the spot thing has better battery life but do they not suffer from the same signal restrictions as a mobile phone?

I'm not talking about the tracking function as that's GPS tech, but the SPOT function isn't that normal mobile signal?

[Dave42w]

......... I decided a SPOT would give more peace of mind as it would not be restricted by phone battery or signal.

Okay I get the spot thing has better battery life but do they not suffer from the same signal restrictions as a mobile phone?

I'm not talking about the tracking function as that's GPS tech, but the SPOT function isn't that normal mobile signal?

Nope it is all via the satellite system. See http://www.findmespot.eu/en/index.php?c ... howitworks

[dlovett]

The Spot system uses satellites so it works pretty much anywhere. I've had one for work since the first gen, they just work.

[Dave42w]

Might be worth looking at https://spotwalla.com/help/devices.php you get a web tracking page that works with a wide variety of devices including smartphones and SPOT.

[wfbroddy]

Thanks for the clarification on the SPOT thingy

Might be worth looking at https://spotwalla.com/help/devices.php you get a web tracking page that works with a wide variety of devices including smartphones and SPOT.

just created an account and using the phone, so far it looks okay.

PS sorry for the hijack John :0)

[Dave42w]

Thanks for the clarification on the SPOT thingy

Might be worth looking at https://spotwalla.com/help/devices.php you get a web tracking page that works with a wide variety of devices including smartphones and SPOT.

just created an account and using the phone, so far it looks okay.

PS sorry for the hijack John :0)

Will be very interested in hearing how you find it.

I wonder if it could handle 2 simultaneous devices. Phone for frequent updates and SPOT for filling in the coverage gaps.

[ScotRoutes]

Why?

[wfbroddy]

...I wonder if it could handle 2 simultaneous devices. Phone for frequent updates and SPOT for filling in the coverage gaps.

Apart from there would be no need especially if you have the SPOT and there coverage would appear to be better than mobile phones so just use SPOT ?, the spotwalla site does say something about not having 2 devices updating at the same time as it confuses the system and you can look like being in 2 different places at the same time

[Dave42w]

...I wonder if it could handle 2 simultaneous devices. Phone for frequent updates and SPOT for filling in the coverage gaps.

Apart from there would be no need especially if you have the SPOT and there coverage would appear to be better than mobile phones so just use SPOT ?, the spotwalla site does say something about not having 2 devices updating at the same time as it confuses the system and you can look like being in 2 different places at the same time

The "need" (pushing it a bit to claim that) is that on the standard plan a SPOT device updates every 10 minutes. On a group ride in 2014 we used a smartphone tracker for a support team to find us and it made that very easy. With only 10 minute updates that gets harder as you could be several miles away.

[ScotRoutes]

The "need" (pushing it a bit to claim that) is that on the standard plan a SPOT device updates every 10 minutes. On a group ride in 2014 we used a smartphone tracker for a support team to find us and it made that very easy. With only 10 minute updates that gets harder as you could be several miles away.

In which case you're pedalling too fast

[Dave42w]

The "need" (pushing it a bit to claim that) is that on the standard plan a SPOT device updates every 10 minutes. On a group ride in 2014 we used a smartphone tracker for a support team to find us and it made that very easy. With only 10 minute updates that gets harder as you could be several miles away.

In which case you're pedalling too fast

Pedal?

I'm referring to downhill with a following wind ;-)

[wfbroddy]

........

Might be worth looking at https://spotwalla.com/help/devices.php you get a web tracking page that works with a wide variety of devices including smartphones and SPOT.

.........

Will be very interested in hearing how you find it. .....[/quote]

Sorry for the slow reply, I've used this in various scenarios and been quite underwhelmed by the app to be honest, its a good idea and if you happen to be in an area that has good mobile coverage then its got it advantages, though I still think you would be better buy the paid version so you can send updates a bit more often especially if you're doing anything that has a bit of speed about it, so it has a chance of being reasonably accurate.

but if you happen to be hoping to use in more remote areas where the mobile signal is poor, then all that happens is the phone battery depletes quickly as the phone is searching for a signal all the time and if its also trying to send a text as well then it goes does faster and when it does finally get the text off with the coordinates then you're miles away from the point.

so nice idea but limited in its usefulness I feel.

[johnnystorm]

Saw an ad for this on Twitter, haven't used it so no idea if any good.

https://www.roadid.com/ecrumbs