GPS Mapping with Android Phone

[martinireland]

My phone seems to only last 2 - 3 hrs running mapmyride and was wondering if anyone has tried using one of the external battery chargers that are available. Im just one click away from getting one on ebay. I would like to leave the phone signal on as would like to be able to receive calls/messages to the phone. Do you think one of these devices would be worthwhile ?

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Check first to see what is running your battery down. Check Settings. Secondly try another app say Endomondo. I used mapmywalk at one point and had no issues.
First thing I make sure each time I use any Android device is make sure Location is switched off.
Hopefully someone else may be along with a solution, I take it your battery lasts when not using the app?

 

[DefBref]

I've used one of the usb battery packs in the past with iphone on the bike. It was pretty good with the iphone fully charged and the battery plugged in, It recorded a full 9 and half hours ride and iphone still was 90% charged at the end, the battery was expended as expected. It was a 5000mAh battery, now it seems that most of the ones available are > 10000mAh so should last twice as long.

Switched to Garmin now, as iphone holder on bike broke and ended up smashing the phone!

 

[Lavender Rose]

I use mapmyride on my Sony xperia sp. You can get good free battery management apps on playstore.

I often go out first thing with a full charge and like yesterday I cycled 2.5 hrs with low level music too and when I got back I was at 70%

Depending what phone. Just buy a new battery on eBay. Charge it and take it with you. I use to do that with my HTC.

 

[martinireland]

Check first to see what is running your battery down. Check Settings. Secondly try another app say Endomondo. I used mapmywalk at one point and had no issues.
First thing I make sure each time I use any Android device is make sure Location is switched off.
Hopefully someone else may be along with a solution, I take it your battery lasts when not using the app?

I will try Strava bike/run which I have installed on tomorrows ride. the battery would only last a day anway, is that usual for android ?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I will try Strava bike/run which I have installed on tomorrows ride. the battery would only last a day anway, is that usual for android ?

Not at all. I have a Samsung galaxy s4 and I carry around 2 spare batteries and a charger in my bag!

I have one of those battery packs and it's great. It's a veho one and I got is out of smiths for twenty of your earth pounds and it charges the phone twice.

 

[martinireland]

I use mapmyride on my Sony xperia sp. You can get good free battery management apps on playstore.

I often go out first thing with a full charge and like yesterday I cycled 2.5 hrs with low level music too and when I got back I was at 70%

Depending what phone. Just buy a new battery on eBay. Charge it and take it with you. I use to do that with my HTC.

I would like to use the music on phone too but don't think it would last long at all then. Its a Huawei y300 that im using so not a high end phone. I wouldent use an expensive phone on bike due to wet or vibration from the bars...... id hate to do that too a 500- 600 euro phone

I might look for battery app today...... any recommendations ? I will also check into a higher capacity replacement battery if one available

 

[uclown2002]

Sack the phone ffs and treat yourself to a Garmin!

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Sack the phone ffs and treat yourself to a Garmin!

I'd recommend this idea.
I use Endomondo as it lets my family know when to stick the kettle on.
I upload from the Garmin to Strava... Most sites allow this.
My S4 lasts no problem as long as I don't surf heavily.
After a two hour recording session, battery goes down roughly 16% on my phone.

 

[martinireland]

I have a edge 500 so will be using phone for mapping. Thanks for the replays keep them coming !

 

[PeteXXX]

I turn off Wireless and Data on my Experia S and just leave GPS running. Strava logs a long ride with a fair bit of battery power left.

 

[martinireland]

I presume that phone will record a ride without sim card and then upload to mapmyride or strava when I get home over WiFi. That would work well as I have an old smart 2 phone I could use just for GPS tracking..... Obviously without the mapping as it requires a data connection

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

You have one of the best GPS cycling devices available and you're worrying about using an old phone for tracking?

 

[martinireland]

You have one of the best GPS cycling devices available and you're worrying about using an old phone for tracking?

I run the battery to flat on the garmin and have a few times used the phone for the rest of the ride. The phone will also give voice directions which would be better than breadcrumb trail of the garmin.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I run the battery to flat on the garmin and have a few times used the phone for the rest of the ride. The phone will also give voice directions which would be better than breadcrumb trail of the garmin.

have you considered just getting a new battery for the edge 500 then? I ask because for £9.95 we have just done the same for an old edge 705 and it now lasts +20 hours before running out of power which is more than I get from my 3 month old edge 500 and I only get 36-48 hours of standby from my sony experia sp...