GPS tracking App for Android

[Oakie]

I'm off on a 4 day trip next month and I want Mrs Oakie to be able to track my location by tracking my Android phone 'just in case'. Do these apps suck credit or noticable battery life off your mobile? Any recommendations?

[TheDemonLord]

I'm off on a 4 day trip next month and I want Mrs Oakie to be able to track my location by tracking my Android phone 'just in case'. Do these apps suck credit or noticable battery life off your mobile? Any recommendations?

Location services does use Battery Life - I personally keep it off, not so much for the battery more for Privacy.

In terms of Credit - not really, I'm sure there are some cellular data charges, but they will be miniscule, it's mainly using the GPS functionality.

The biggest factor in Battery usage is how good your GPS signal is - if you are in an area with a good view of the sky, you'll be fine - the harder the phone has to 'work' to get a GPS signal, the more it will use the Battery.

[Gremlin]

You can share your location via Google Maps from memory, no need for additional apps that steal your information.

It needs location services (to pin point you, and make sure it's got a good fix, not warning about needing to be calibrated etc) and mobile data to transmit that information. Coverage matters as Lord says. The worse it is, the harder the device works to get a signal.

[Berries]

Well my idea won't work.

[F5 Dave]

WhatsApp is pretty easy to drive, just add location as attachment every day sent to her.

[Oakie]

WhatsApp is pretty easy to drive, just add location as attachment every day sent to her. Yeah it's more for my safety actually ... so in case i have whoopsie and can't use my phone she can at least see where I am. Just thinking of cases like that one a couple of weeks back where a car drove off the road and wasn't found for over a day.

[FLUB]

We use Google Maps Share Location. My wife can see me (health issues) and I can see when she goes shopping. Seems reasonable.

Sent from my SM-A536E using Tapatalk

[JATZ]

I shared Google location on the last trip which seemed to work. I also carry a plb in a pocket for if things go pear shaped properly.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah it's more for my safety actually ... so in case i have whoopsie and can't use my phone she can at least see where I am. Just thinking of cases like that one a couple of weeks back where a car drove off the road and wasn't found for over a day.

Yeah it's real-time. We use it touring to see where the others are or if missed a turn. You set a time limits so it doesn't stay on forever so once a day is fine.

[Oakie]

Thanks guys. I'll check out both those options.

[Berries]

Make sure you turn it off if you head into a massage parlour to get your sore shoulders seen to after a long ride.

DFAMHIK.

[Oakie]

Make sure you turn it off if you head into a massage parlour to get your sore shoulders seen to after a long ride. DFAMHIK.

Ah yes. Good point.

[Oakie]

One question if I go the Google Maps route ... assuming I am under coverage, do I have to have Maps open on my phone for Mrs Oakie to be able to see me or is it just enough to have the phone turned on?

[release_the_bees]

Maps doesn't need to be running for that feature to work. The phone will still send the location to Google every few minutes, which people you've allowed to see your location information will be able to see.

Sent from my SM-S901E using Tapatalk

[Oakie]

Cheers all. That was ridiculously easy to set up.