maps / navigation issues (was: Did anyone think about changing to a smartwatch à la Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy?)

Being frustrated with how much my Garmin Fenix 5 Plus cost and how badly many functions are integrated, I was looking around what else there is. As I would like to have maps (one of the main reasons, I bought the F5+, and it just doesn't work reliably), I guess it would need to be sth like the Apple Watch (horrible design IMHO) or the Samsung Galaxy Watch (looks pretty nice IMHO).

I think one major drawback would be battery life, but ok. I think that there should be a way of getting offline maps on the watches as well, or at least in combination with the smartphone, important for me would be though that it's really offline. What I would loose as well would be training status. It would be a pitty as I like the green bar thingy. But I think strava offers something similar (not for free, but I am fine to pay, I just want sth that conveniently works).

Seeing how much a Galaxy watch cost (about 1/3 of what I payed for my F5+), it seems a good alternative.

Any experiences, opinions?

Top Replies

All Replies

0 JanH over 5 years ago in reply to AJRykala

Thanks for sending the link and your help! It's really appreciated!

0 AJRykala over 5 years ago in reply to JanH

No worries mate. Hopefully it'll at least identify where the issue is...

My problem with the GArmin maps were that there were no contours. I'll try and find the link to the maps I use, where you can download the contours seperately - for an activity you can select multiple maps and it will overlay, so it gave me contours l)

I also bought the Basecamp satellite imagery for ultra's, which is very useful!

Here is another source, that's really good - and the contour lines can be installed seperately!

http://garmin.opentopomap.org/#download

0 AJRykala over 5 years ago in reply to AJRykala

Plus with that second link (the one above) - you can browse the maps online as well!

0 AJRykala over 5 years ago

This link - https://opentopomap.org/#map=5/46.149/12.261 - should enable you to browse and zoom the maps online ;)

0 Sam201176 over 5 years ago in reply to JanH

Uploading a new map is a good idea to see if it's the watch or the pre installed maps...

Also garmin might factory reset your watch... but also have the capability of replacing your Garmin folder from scratch... to see if that solves the problem...but I understand its not nice to be without your watch... happened to me before : - )

0 AJRykala over 5 years ago in reply to Sam201176

Yep - My Fenix 5 (watch before this) went back for repairs for a week. I was lost!

0 JanH over 5 years ago in reply to AJRykala

Wow. The rendering is super nice, mapnik is doing a great job there. I wish OSMand+ would have the same engine.

0 AJRykala over 5 years ago in reply to JanH

Not bad is it! Plus they’re updated quite regularly. Ok you have to do the updates yourself but it’s a small price to get the maps. There’s been a major trunk road renovation on my area and the maps seem to be keeping up with the changes really well!

0 JanH over 5 years ago in reply to AJRykala

To do the updates from time to time will be fine... Anyway, I guess they are much more up to date then the Garmin Topo maps...

Did a first trial with the Swiss map + contour lines and it seems to work nicely. Only issue: I need to find out how to disable all the shops it's showing me... I can barely see the street with all the shops:

...probably less of a problem when out in nature though.

0 AJRykala over 5 years ago in reply to JanH

LOL! Yeah, I think the more you zoom in though, it does clear up a bit! Let me know how you get on!