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Auto Track

SpikySimonW
over 3 years ago

Per my other post, I plan to use the Mini as a race tracker for a 2 week multi-stage event. In this instance, the Auto Track option makes sense in terms of simplicity: turn the device on and good to go, turn it off several days later when "time is off" at a checkpoint, turn it back on again when setting out on the next stage etc.

In the past, due to a combination of my own experiences with older devices and technical rumour :)I've generally made sure I've switched on my Mini a bit of time ahead of setting off and then starting tracking as I leave - getting a good GPS lock and letting the Mini do it's sat. check-in thing successfully at least once before starting tracking has always resulted in good accuracy of initial send points and battery life throughout the trip.. whereas jumping out of the car and immediately starting the tracker and setting off has produced variable results on both accounts.

So with Auto Track enabled, would it be a case of powering on the Mini say before starting to break camp, the thinking being it'll have sorted itself out in the 10-15 minutes before setting off, and the fact it's actually been 'tracking' during this mostly stationary time will make little difference?

Or is this whole "give it time to settle" that I've been following all a load of rubbish anyway?!  :)

Finally, when it comes to the end of a trip, I've always made sure I've stopped the tracking and then left it on for a bit to let it 'flush' the final send points before powering off. How does this work with Auto Track enabled? Is it still possible to do the same - ie manually stop the tracking, leave it on for a bit, then power off, with the Auto Track then kicking in again at the next power-on?

Thanks in advance. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    It's not so much a matter of "settling" as it is a matter of getting an initial fix. The Mini is notorious for being slow to acquire, especially from a cold start. Using Auto Track does not affect this. The only thing is that the initial track point may be out of position (or may not have a position at all) if the unit has not yet acquired. I don't see where this hurts anything except for that one bad sent point.

    If the conditions are likely to be challenging, completing the initial mail check before setting out is also a good idea.

    Personally, I always make sure the device has a fix before I set off. I don't use auto track, so I typically start tracking after I see that the unit has a fix and before I start off. This usually also means that the power-on mail check has been completed as well.

    Auto Track really only affects things when you power up. No effect on your shutdown sequence, which is a good idea.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

    Great, pretty much as I thought.

    For those interested my planned sequence will be as follows (with auto-track enabled):

    --> Setting off: power on around 10-15 minutes before setting off.

    --> Overnight stops: stop tracking, send a preset message "resting", leave for 10-15 minutes while setting up camp / having a bite to eat, power off (making sure no warning about unsent track points / messages).

    --> Repeat, charging during the rest time as required (or even on-the-go if things get desperate).