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Downloading Maps

Dan
Updated

DOWNLOADING MAPS

(FOR DISCUSSION ON "MAP PACKAGES" CLICK HERE.)

 

 

Locate a specific location/point of interest you want to download for offline use.

Click on Places Icon places.jpg and Search for an area

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When you've reached your area/place of interest click on the Layers Icon Layers_icon.jpg and choose "SELECT AREAS FOR DOWNLOAD"

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1. Selecting map tiles

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1. Select - Allows the end user to select specific areas in the map for download (represented by highlighted blue squares)

2. Scroll - Allows the end user to scroll / pan around the map layer.

3. Download - Allows the end user to download the map areas selected.

Y. Context Menu - Opens up additional options:

  • Delete - deletes the tiles selected
  • Map Layer - takes you to the map menu to
  • Undo - removes the last rectangle marked.
  • Help - gives tips on this page

X. Back button

 

 2. Panning across the map - allows you to move around the map to select more tiles to download.

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Then when you're satisfied of your selection, click on download  select4.JPG to begin downloading the map tiles.

 

 

Select on the zoom level you want.

Note : The higher the zoom level (the closer you zoom in, in the map), the lesser the amount of tiles that need to be download which is also lower in file size/memory requirements. 

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Choose "MAIN TILE CACHE" as the Map Package (more details about map packages will be discussed in a separate thread - link below)

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Before you actually download the map tiles, you are given an estimate on how much data and memory it will consume.

 

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And voila! your off! Pull down your notifications window to see your download's progress (you can click on it to cancel the download)

Please Note: This notification will appear wherever other notifications appear on your phone, for example, where you get the notification about a new email message. This may look slightly different on each devices. On tablets, this is often in the lower right corner.

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 You will then be notified when you download has completed via the notifications window.

 

 

  FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON MAP PACKAGES CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

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Comments

42 comments

Date Votes
  • Dan

    Hi Pete,

     

    I hope you find them - did you update your OS by any chance? new external SD Card?

     

    Hi Ollin, 

     

    We did not receive it. Can you please try again? I will need that to escalate this to our dev team - 

    Your Nexus Tablet is NOT on a custom ROM, right?

    since after the pop-up about choosing your email application, it's an Android call function already to open up another app (for emailing the log) and not within the app's scope I believe. 

     

    thanks,

    Dan

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    I'm going to head off to Arizona for two weeks in less than a week.  I will have 1 1/2 weeks spare to bump around the hinterlands as I feel like on the fly.  I managed to download all US Forest service maps of AZ and the western half of NM, and now I'm trying to download the OpenStreemap data of the same area.

    While I really love most things about Back Country Navigator Pro, the download process seems neelessly tedious and error prone.  Unless I'm missing something, you can only mark areas for download at zoom level 10, which is very small for size of AZ.  Even so, when I laboriously scroll and define all the rectangles, it doesn't download everything, but doesn't tell me anything went wrong or try to fix it.  There are various random gaps at various zoom levels.  Since it's effectively impossible to check all data at all zoom levels is really in the cache, I can't trust it.  I don't want to be hiking around and find out the area I happened to be in is missing.

    Yes, I know I'm asking for lots of data.  However, if that's how I want to use the memory on my device, my internet bandwidth, and am willing to wait a few hours, that should be my business.  I see above that you do "not encourage" downloading large areas, but why do you care?  I don't know where I'll be in AZ and western NM, and want all of that data on my device.

    I found that downloading one screen full only at a time seems to work better, but it's a very slow and tedious process because every 30-60 minutes I have to interact with the device to acknoledge something or select more to download.  I want to plunk one large rectangle over AZ and western NM, then let it crank for a whole day if that's what it takes, as long as in the end I can trust all the data is really there.

    Another tweak that would make this process easier is not to have to wait for it to calculate the download size, then have to acknowledge it again.  I want the button that say "Yes I know it's a lot of memory.  I don't care.  Just do it.".  If I run out of memory, it can stop and throw up a error window or something.

    Sometimes it's been taking much longer than usual downloading screen-size areas.  Late Saturday it stopped working, didn't work Sunday at all, and now seems to be downloading but very slowly.  It's been stuck at 6% downloaded for the last 10 minutes.  At this rate, and considering I have to work a day job, I'm not sure I can get everything downloaded by the time I leave and won't have internet access anymore.

    Am I missing something?  Is there a better way?  If not, any comments on why it needs to be this way or, hopefully, that this will be addressed in the future?

    In case it matters, I'm running Back Country Navigator Pro on a Nexxus 7 tablet running the latest version of Android.

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Olin,

    I'm not sure why but can you confirm before downloading, the max zoom level you can choose is level 10? I tried it and I can go to level 15-16 and choose the "MAX ZOOM LEVEL" as well after you hit the "download" tiles icon.

     

    Another tweak that would make this process easier is not to have to wait for it to calculate the download size, then have to acknowledge it again.  I want the button that say "Yes I know it's a lot of memory.  I don't care.  Just do it.".  If I run out of memory, it can stop and throw up a error window or something.

    > There are actually limitations with how much you can download at a time within android. for now, it's maxed at 4Gb and there is no work around for it. 

    The maps are handled by various servers and the download rate maybe affected by the number of people downloading/accessing that particular map source. Some of them are public. 

    Our devs are working continuously to make the downloading process as seamless as possible. Please bear with us as we have a particularly small dev team trying to accommodate everybody's requests.

     

    Thank you for your consideration.

     

    sincerely,

     

    Dan

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    Hi, Dan.  The max zoom level for download is 16.  That's what I need.  I will be hiking with the tablet in the back country, so I need the detail.  I need that large area because I don't know where specifically I'll be, other than various places in AZ and western NM.

    I've had no success in the last few days getting anything except tiny test patches to download.  Downloading screen-size rectangles at zoom 10 worked fine during the day Saturday, but stopped Saturday evening and hasn't been working since.  I've tried two different WiFi hotspots with completely different internet feeds, and it makes no difference.  Both are working fine for other internet access.  Last night one download started and got to 6%, then hung there for 45 minutes when I killed it.  The first 6% only took a few minutes.

    Just now I tried a small patch of only around 1000 tiles.  It blasted thru them in a few second until it got to 70%, then froze up for 10 minutes when I gave up.

    This really smells like something related to the software, not the internet connection or the server. It's now only a few days before I get on a plane, and I'm getting worried.  This was going to be the first serious use of the software since I got it, but without the stored maps it won't do me any good.

    Is there perhaps some issue with the software so that it has problems downloading if the cache already has 10-15 Gb in it?

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Ollin,

     

    It could be the cache - have you tried clearing the app's cache and Android's Cache (Menu > Android Settings > Storage > Cache storage)?

     

    please advise if it does help and sorry for this frustration.

     

    Thanks,

    Dan

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    Hi, Dan.  I don't have the tablet where I am now.  I'll try this evening.

    I can see the point of clearing the Android cache (I didn't know it had one), but wouldn't clearing the app cache delete all the tiles I did manage to download?  I don't have time between now and when I leave to recover from loosing everything I have so far.  It was pretty tedious getting all the National Forest data for AZ and western NM.  I'd rather not do that again, and I probably don't have time for that before I leave anyway.  I'd rather do nothing than risk loosing data I already have (around 15 Gb).  Unless you tell me that the "tile cache" is different from the "app cache", I don't want to take a chance on messing with it.  Please let me know.

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Ollin,

    but wouldn't clearing the app cache delete all the tiles I did manage to download?  > this is the cache for the map tiles saved on your device's temp folder for Maps that are "streamed". 

    If you downloaded the tiles - it should still be saved there (either on the main tile cache or a specific map folder/package)

     

    Also, it would be sound advice if you back-up your downloaded data to your PC - this will save you a lot of headache in the future.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Dan

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    I got home and tried it.  From the Android "internal storage" screen, I deleted all cached data.  Just in case, I then powered off the device and had it completely reboot.

    I tried downloading a small part of a screen at zoom 10, about 17,000 tiles (a full screen is around 160,000 tiles).  It went OK for a while, then hung when it got to 50%.  After that, the app won't even load tiles anymore interactively as I'm panning around.  It seems getting any kind of data over the network is now completely hosed.  I checked, and "Online&Cached Tiles" is checked.  Other network access works fine, so it doesn't seem to be the WiFi or network connection.

    Now what do I do?

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Ollin,

     

    Can you please send a log while the download hangs up? (http://support.crittermap.com/entries/20061131-how-to-send-a-log-to-support)

    After you send that log, I will escalate this to our devs. 

     

    Thank you,

     

    Dan

    0
  • Pete Larson

    FWIW, any area worth downloading is worth saving to its own created and named map folder, IMO.  Although I'm currently tearing my hair because my map folders disappeared a few days ago.  If I don't solve this it will become another topic.

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    Dan, I just sent a log as requested.  This was trying to download a small patch of western NM from the OpenStreetMap database.  It said the patch size was 208.59 Mb and 32,344.  After about 10 minutes it was still at 0%, which is when I sent the log.  The subject was "Download hang".

    I'm not totally sure it got sent.  I hit SEND, and another little window popped up saying something about I'd have to choose my email application.  I hit OK on that, and it just poofed away without further acknoledgements.  I hope you got it.

    0
  • Joe Sauer

    What I really need is the PCT in Washington. The ability to load PCT maps by state would be wonderful! It seems pretty clunky to me to have to do the select-and-drag through an entire state.

    0
  • Pete Larson

    Hi Dan,

     

    The fact is, I have never upgraded the OS from 4.3 so my GS3 perpetually tells me it has a system update downloaded for me to install.  I lost these folders once before a couple months ago and I'm trying to remember what on earth I did to get them to reappear.  My Download History shows all the packages I've got but I'm at a loss.  This disappearance just happened after I went kayaking last Sunday and tracked the route.  I reported the stats to my paddling friends and later when I went to look at it again, everything was vanished, track, stats, map, folder, etc. plus my other dozen folders..  My folders and maps represented a lot of work and I fear I may just blow away all the cryptic numbered data and start over.  Not a happy thing.

     

    Pete

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Pete,

     

    Have you tried checking your bcnav folders if your downloaded package folders are still there?

    I'm also baffled as to what happened to your files.

    Thanks,

     

    Dan 

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    Hi, Dan.  It's apparently going to take some futzing around to get a dump to be sent to you.  It's wierd that it tells me that I have to choose some email application, I clicked OK, but then nothing popped up to let me chose a email application.  I don't know what that means, so this will take a little while.  I've never used email on that tablet, and never intended to.  If your software is expecting to send mail via a previously set up email client instead of contacting your SMTP server directly, I can see how that wouldn't work. Unfortunately I'm getting on a plane in a few hours, then won't have internet access for the tablet for a couple of weeks, so this will have to wait until I get back.  I will have intermittent email access via my laptop and a cell modem, but that won't help getting email to you from the tablet.

    I guess for now I'm stuck with whatever maps I did manage to download.  Hopefully I don't encounter any additional problems on the first serious use of your software.

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    Just a comment while on a trip.  I'm sticking to the areas of AZ that I was able to successfully download maps of, and it's working great.  It's really awesome to have all the National Forest maps (the contiguous NF from west of Flagstaff into western NM is larger than Switzerland) handy and to be able to see where I am along the trail at any time.  I was hiking a loop in the Coconino NF, and was able to see whether it was shorter to return or continue when a thunderstorm rolled in.  That's harder to do with paper maps as there aren't always a lot of identifiable nav points like intersections for you to know where you are along a trail segment.

    Again, I really love BCNAV, but downloading large areas needs to be fixed.  I'll try to send you better information on that when I get back.

    0
  • Olin Lathrop

    I'm back now, and having all kinds of issues with BCNav.  I still can't download any new data, and now exporting GPX files of tracks I took for mapping doesn't work either.  I have setup email on the tablet and tried to send another log while it was in the middle of trying to download data.  This time I didn't get any popup about choosing a email application, so maybe it got sent.

    I'm pretty much dead in the water with BCNav.  Let me know what I can do to help you diagnose this.  I'll send you the tablet if you think that would be useful.

    0
  • mark

    I just purchased the Pro version of Backcountry Nav.

    I am trying to download maps using the instructions above.

    The the SCROLL/SELECT is very cumbersome. Is there a way to select large areas in one action for download?

    I would like to get CONUS in 100k and the western USA (rockies to the west) in 24k.

    I can't determine which maps are free and which maps are purchased and how to view samples of the maps that must be purchased.

    Also, why are the solicitations on the paid version of the app?

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Ollin,

     

    Apologies for being late in responding. We manage the helpdesk query faster than the forum here.

    What App version do you and and what android version does your tab have?

     

    Can you please send a log? this goes directly to our helpdesk: http://support.crittermap.com/entries/20061131-how-to-send-a-log-to-support

     

    Thanks,

     

    Dan

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Mark,

    You can try zooming out and download larger tile segments, then just be sure to download to the max zoom level so that you get most of the tiles - please be advised that we do not encourage large downloads (e.g. whole states) in one go since, there are times the map server encounters hiccups, which would lead to your download looping - we cannot control nor predict this.

    Also, you can try downloading them using Map Packages, makes organizing much easier: http://support.crittermap.com/entries/22268768-using-map-packages

    The maps on the map layer section are free mostly, other than the hybrids with AccuTerra which requires a purchase.

    When you go to Menu > Settings > Purchase add-ons - each map should have a link to its website or to its sample.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Dan

    0
  • Nathan

    Hey Mark.

    Look at your Map Layers Menu and look at the link that says "Whats this" next to prebuilt map.

    You'll find some maps that are much easier to use covering large areas.

     

    0
  • kurt finvik

    I got a samsung s4+. I have downloaded maps on my device. Almost full memory. Can i move the maps over to a SD card?   Kurt Finvik

    0
  • Pete Larson

    I don't see mention of what is done about the overlapping rectangles.  Are these automatically corrected so they are downloaded just once or are they downloaded twice?  I may have read something about this before but I don't remember and I'm studying these guides to try to get a better handle on the details.

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Pete,

    Yes. The application automatically sorts out any tiles you've downloaded previously and does not download it again.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Dan

    0
  • James Finlay

    I am a newbie and downloading a map selection to an LG G tablet 8.3 (running Android) and do not see any download status indication.  Where can I check to see if the map is fully downloaded?  

    0
  • Dan

    Hi James,

     

    It should be on the notification panel(top). 

    What version of Android are you using? you might want to see this: http://support.crittermap.com/entries/27671140-Samsung-Devices-External-Storage-locked-after-4-4-updates-

     

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  • Rick Harris

    I don't see the progress as % complete. All I see is a bar with bands moving along it. It's been downloading for 45 minutes now.

    0
  • Dan

    Hi Rick,

     

    What version of Android do you have? Where do you currently set your default storage to?

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  • Sebastian Dollinger
    How can I change the location the maps are saved to? I'd like to use my external sd instead of the internal one.
    0
  • Dan

    Hi Sebastian,

     

    What Android OS version do you have?

    You can go to Menu > Settings > Storage Options and choose a new directory/path.

     

    If you are on Android KitKat 4.4.x - please see this: http://support.crittermap.com/entries/27671140-Samsung-Devices-External-Storage-locked-after-4-4-updates-

     

    Thank you,

     

    Dan

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