Display GPS quality / satellites

[kds112]

When I am hiking sometimes the GPS of my smartphone fails and no satellite is locked (a reboot helps in that situation). But I do not recognize it, the arrow just remains at the last known position. Is it possible to implement an option to show (maybe near to the map scale) a satellite symbol, the number of locked satellites, the number of satellites available and the possible error distance in meters? In the app "GPS Status" all these parameters are available. It would be a great help to see directly on the Cruiser map whether GPS is okay or not.
Thanks a lot!

[devemux86]

@kds112 thanks for the suggestion!

It would be indeed a useful feature for everyone, I will put it in my implementation list.
Probably as a new panel at top right.

[Ciutnik]

Oh, I didn't remember that the users wish was a fixed circle size. Of course, I respect that and in fact, with a big position error, it might look bad.

I've gotten used to it by now and would rather not turn it off now 🙂

[devemux86]

I remember when Android started, all map apps had variable location accuracy circle.

Is it still popular these days or do you see it less often in map apps?

[Ciutnik]

I remember when Android started, all map apps had variable location accuracy circle.

That's how I remember it, which is why it came to my mind now as a clever solution I've always used 🙂 Google Map still uses it! Also OsmAnd and Locus.

Another thing is that huge accuracy errors happened much more often than now.

[kds112]

What about the accuracy circle as an option?

[devemux86]

What about the accuracy circle as an option?

This is easy, as the implementation already exists. 🙂

We could have it with 3 options to cover all cases?

• Default (fixed circle)
• Accuracy (variable circle)
• Off (without circle)

[devemux86]

We currently have 5 info panels that can work outside navigation:

• Speed
• Average speed
• Altitude
• Current time
• Battery level

I understand that "Current time" and "Battery level" can be used at any time.

But "Speed" / "Average speed" and "Altitude" take their values from the GPS.
So does it make sense to show these 3 when we don't have follow enabled?

[ramondevic]

Yes me too.

Also, if we don't use BRouter, we cannot see Altitude ?

[devemux86]

if we don't use BRouter, we cannot see Altitude ?

BRouter routing and BRouter elevation are separate services.
If BRouter data are installed, we can query them, regardless of routing.

[kds112]

And please add a new optional panel with locked and visible satellites plus accuracy in meters. Thanks! :-)

[devemux86]

You can test the display of altitude / battery level / current time outside navigation and follow in:

• Cruiser 3.0.32 (Beta) #299

[devemux86]

For those who only want them in navigation / follow, we should probably change the toggle to options like in other settings:

• Always
• Navigation / Follow
• Off

[devemux86]

New "Settings | Location | Appearance | Location circle":

• Normal
• Accuracy
• Off

[devemux86]

• Altitude / Current time / Battery level can be adjusted to display Always or Navigation / Follow or Off

• Location circle was added in location appearance settings with options for Normal or Accuracy or Off

Available for testing in:

• Cruiser 3.0.32 (Beta) #299

[Ciutnik]

Although we should probably only offer the "Normal" location appearance.

Sure. If "Advanced" (except for a slightly nicer shape for me) does not bring much from the user's point of view, it is worth limiting options that are easy to forget what they are for 🙂

[devemux86]

OpenGL is complicated, any update requires (not simple) changes in the GL shaders.

With normal appearance, if we want a different marker / arrow, we only have to change the icon.

[Ciutnik]

OpenGL is complicated

It is all the more worth limiting the options so that it is easier for you to embrace the increasingly complex matter that is Cruiser 🙂

[airald]

I see always the arrow...

[devemux86]

@airald check with location circle "Off" and location appearance "Advanced".

It is probably another option we can remove for less user confusion,
as "Normal" allows greater flexibility and is more simple to maintain.

[airald]

Using normal and circle off, the arrow disappeared.

I use advanced, but I tested Normal, I think is enough. Even the position dot is better, its orientation arrow is more visible than in Advanced mode because overlaps with circle.

[devemux86]

Using normal and circle off, the arrow disappeared.

@airald are you sure about the "Normal"? Or it was "Advanced"?

[airald]

sorry, I would say Advanced!!!

[devemux86]

GPS info will be available in the next Cruiser:

[devemux86]

@kds112 there is no problem!

The location circle radius is the estimated horizontal accuracy radius in meters, as reported by the GPS.
Usually it can be compared with the map scale bar to see if it is correct.

Have you seen something else?

[devemux86]

Note: location size can be changed in Cruiser settings.
But this does not affect the accuracy circle!

[Ciutnik]

@kds112
Interesting observation! I did a simple test by running Cruiser and GPS Test at the same time.

If such a test makes sense at all, it seems that the circle is drawn roughly well. Of course, we assume that while we can expect precision from GPS Test, we don't expect it from the accuracy circle 🙂

[devemux86]

Such GPS apps may read the NMEA values directly from the sensor.
Map / navigation apps usually work with the Android API (better battery).

Note that it is the horizontal accuracy (not vertical).
Also may be rounding cases here and there, conversion of distance to screen pixels, etc.

[Ciutnik]

@devemux86
Sure! The test only confirmed the correctness of drawing a circle, knowing its advantages and disadvantages. I already liked him and he will remain my choice 👍

[devemux86]

GPS info panel and location accuracy are available in Cruiser 3.0.32.