Archived: Using "generic" GPXs w/ OsmAnd. See link in description for a better way to do this.

Since I made this video, OsmAnd has added new features that make navigation with GPXs from the web much easier. See: • Navigating with GPXs f...
For an descriptive list of my GPS tutorial videos, see: sites.google.com/view/bartetu...

[@garretrees7316]

I watched all of your videos. They made a world of difference on my understanding of the app and how to configure and navigate using it. Thank you

[@barteisenberg]

So glad to hear! FWIW, I'm working on an update of kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJvFoqWMoKt4qrs.

[@hugbearsx4]

Thank you for the effort of putting these videos together!

[@barteisenberg]

You're welcome--I've learned a lot (about OsmAnd and video editing)

[@owenwilliams9582]

Many thanks Bart, stay safe.

[@guaresk]

Hi Bart, thanks for this video too. It happens that I use waypoints but in navigation I don't have the alert message with waypoint name and distance when I'm close to it. Do you enabled something in particular to see it? I don't use markers or intermediate distances, only wayspoints because you can save them. I have last android version. I also added a message to the group. thanks

[@barteisenberg]

I don't remember making any settings adjustments when I made the video, and nothing quite jumps out at me now. But I'll dig further and also monitor the board.

[@barteisenberg]

I saw your post on the OsmAnd board and replied there. I have no solid answer yet, but at least a hunch.

[@outdoor1640]

i don't seem to have these issues. My directions appear to be at mostly major turns and have the street names.

[@barteisenberg]

It depends on the software that created the GPX in the first place. In some cases, the street names are embedded in the GPX itself and the turning point are appropriate. That's the case, for example, with GPXs created from OsmAnd routes. Here, navigating with the GPX is almost identical to navigating the conventional way using OsmAnd. Other GPXs lack this information, and I tried to get that across by referring to these GPXs as "generic".

[@circle4922]

Could you please help me out? I've had Osmand for a little while now. But 99 times out of 100 I cannot look up an exact address; it will only find the street. For example, if I search for "143 Main Street", it will only suggest - or be able to find "Main Street". Then I either have to just go to that street and try and find stuff on my own, or exit the app and use Google maps (which I hate). It's really pissing me off and I'm about to remove it. Haha. I've downloaded the "base map" and my location's map. It's practically useless. Thanks.

[@barteisenberg]

You're not imagining it: address lookup pales in comparison to Google Maps. The problem is that the crowd-sourced data contained within OpenStreetMap (which OsmAnd relies on) often doesn't map down to individual street addresses. Unless people take the time record that kind of granular information, it's just not there. As a result, while OsmAnd has many virtues, this isn't one of them.

[@circle4922]

@@barteisenberg Thank you so much for the explanation, and for the quick response! I was just beginning to think that it wasn't something I was doing wrong. I quickly read a couple of forum questions/posts. Then I tried a couple other (non-Google) maps that I've had downloaded and I noticed that they also act this way. I suppose Google is the only option then, if one wanted this ability? Or are there other options? If not, would the next best thing to do be to download an "offline Google map", which one can apparently do now? I just don't want every detail of my daily life and movement tracked and recorded to the meter. Haha. Thanks again, Bart.

[@barteisenberg]

You're welcome. Google Maps is what I use; so I can't suggest any others. Re: privacy, it's a tradeoff for sure. Google has put considerable investment into its maps. Consider just the effort to power Street View. What pays for that is advertising, not user fees, and Google is at heart an advertising company. So maybe a loss of privacy is part of the bargain. If you download a map and turn off cellular data, that might help. But as Google itself points out, it's complicated: policies.google.com/technologies/location-data

[@circle4922]

@@barteisenberg I know all about google. Not a fair trade. I'd pay to not have them know and store every detail of our lives. Divide the cost over the billions of people that use their stuff. Problem solved. Thanks again Bart :)

[@Tintoycar]

Will this work on an Oppo Find X3 Lite smart phone?

[@barteisenberg]

I assume that the Android version of OsmAnd will run on any Android phone. But that’s just an assumption.

[@TwoUpTourer]

These videos are good in principle, but seem to get out of date quickly, because the version I installed today gets to a point after installing the GPX file the screens no longer match this video. Very frustrating.

[@barteisenberg]

That's inevitably true and is why I put the version number at the beginning of the video.

[@tugaminhoto4969]

Hi, this is one of the best gps navigator for android i see but it´s have a huge annoying problem, an excessive voice alert, speech every curve, every edge in the street and our trip go crazy with all that. Anyone know how turn off all that voice turn to turn indicator and keep only when we really need change our direction like Google maps do?!?! Thanks

[@barteisenberg]

Hi Tuga. A point I try to make in this video is that the problem is inherent to navigating generic GPXs--because OsmAnd is navigating the GPX, not the underlying map. That means the app doesn't "know" anything about streets, highways and path names, so it can't show them--only turns of the GPX itself. I suggest turning off the voice entirely. To get Google Maps-style turn-by-turn directions on OsmAnd, use the app's regular navigation features instead of a downloaded GPX. Set a destination, perhaps some waypoints, and OsmAnd works usually works as you'd expect--even off-road on hiking trails, as I show here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o37GqGehjtKZhs0

[@tugaminhoto4969]

@@barteisenberg useless receive a voice telling me every single curve on the way, the good point of this app is be capable to open gpx but it's don't means be a idiot telling every single curve, simple tell us when we need change direction, when wee need change from a road to another road like Google maps. Only a idiot need a warning telling to turn left, turn left then turn right, turn left turn right and so on. Only a rally pilot need this kind of spam about the route

[@harf4ng]

I prefer keeping the voice guidance on. No way ill have a GPS with just visual information. I never had issues with the voice guidance. Sure she speaks too much but that is OK. :)

[@barteisenberg]

The problem of loquacious voice prompts increases on curvy roads, decreases on straight ones. But agreed, voice guidance is overall safer. Also: on GPXs made on OsmAnd itself, the latest version works fine: turn-by-turn navigation just the way you'd expect it.

[@robozbeci]

Thank you so muh! Sadly OSMAND can't open these GPX files: www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/ferrata-foletti-sentiero-contrabbandieri-laste/ and the file www.bergsteigen.com/fileadmin/userdaten/tour/gpx/22150/Sentiero_Laste_Ferrata_Foletti_-_Sentiero_Contrabbandieri_-.gpx

[@barteisenberg]

I was able to open and view it--downloading the GPX from the first link you provided and viewing on the android version of OsmAnd. It shows up in My Places > Import

[@rbelatamas]

Thank you very much! Maybe the Osmand ios version has a problem :(

[@barteisenberg]

I found it trickier to locate the download and locate on my iPad 5. I succeeded using Chrome with a separate tab. But once I found the GPX, I could open and see it on OsmAnd for iOS v.3.14