I noticed an annoyance with Bing maps today, specifically with trying to follow the OS map link from a G. summit page, which takes you to Bing mapping. Usually this happily shows their OSGB layer, but today it switched to “Beta” mode and only showed their own sketchy maps.
Feeling rather annoyed by this I quickly gave Bing my feedback!
However, all is not lost. By going into the site settings on my browser (I was using Chrome) and clearing the Bing cookies I was able to get back to non-Beta and a proper map.
I do hope this doesn’t presage any imminent forced OS-less switch-over.
I’ve been unable to get the OS maps to display. Clearing cookies didn’t help. There is supposed to be an Exit Beta button but that doesn’t seem to exist. I even installed Firefox to see if it was a Chrome issue but that doesn’t help.
Typical Microsoft. How can it be Beta if it’s the only option?
It seems as if Bing Maps have made OS maps impossible to access.
However the Trigpointing WEB site has the OS maps.
If the summit has a trig then it is an easy search, BUT not all trigs are named after the summit name. e.g. TP3773 - High Blind How is SOTA Claife HeightsG/LD-053
I don’t know if the SOTA management team have looked into funding access to the OS Maps but it is a bit tricky with international implications as to who’s countries get their maps funded.
Anquet Maps gives unlimited access to OS 1:25k, 1:50k, OS Road Maps (and HD variants) plus other maps such as OS Groundranger, OS Streetview for the princely sum of £36 year. For this you can download the maps to your device so online access is not required. If you have limited storage then you can download just the areas you will be visiting. It runs on Windows, OS-X and Android and has many features for planning walks and managing the routes across devices. You get 4 quarterly OS updates in the subscription.
For me at £36/yr it’s a no-brainer. But beware, downloaded maps are only accessible whilst you have a subscription running. They have regular promotions running, i.e. get 12months access for half price etc.
I have no involvement other than a customer for various releases of their software since 2007.
if you are super-tight, you can get the online only subscription for £24 and as long as you remember to view all the areas where you will be, you can cache the downloads so you still don’t need to be online. But a solitary pound/month extra, I don’t have enough minutes left to waste time faffing about like that.
FYI, the Windows version runs just peachy in a VM and my Windows entire UK maps at 1:25k,1:50k, Roadmap HD takes about 61GB of disk space.
I also got an Black Friday deal on OSMaps. However recently I have been using the Organic map app on my phone. On some summits I actually find it clearer. It is based on Open Street Maps but with a few variations on mapping style. I know there are issues with OSM but it has matured into a really useful resource.
They do the same deal 2-3 times a year as well. Plus it stacks with your existing subscription.
Memory-maps sell OS maps. You can buy the whole UK for lifetime access (to that version you bought) if you’d like. I know Fraser, @MM0EFI, uses it. He probably bought it back in the day with 3x clubcard points conversions.
I was in two minds as to switch to Memory Map as they did a native Linux version but it’s very early stages and missing most of the features from the Windows etc. versions. I did try to install my 2014 Anquet on my Windows VM but Anquet don’t provide the binaries on their website now. I did think I had the app saved to disk but it was only the downloader / installer Now I have a subscription I can install the 2014 maps I have and use them but there’s little point as I get updates every 3 months now.
OSM is something I used for a long time on my phone with Orux maps (there are many Android OSM map programs). It gets used for non-UK mapping. I also use the OSM maps with Garmin’s BaseCamp again for non-UK route planning.
I went the other way, and changed from Memory Map to the OS subscription model about 8 years ago. I found it much more flexible when using multiple devices
Although I had invested in Memory Map 1:25k licenses, the licence server seemed to become a bit clunky. It may have changed now, but you never used to get updates. With OS subscription you always have the latest maps.
OS Maps for me !
I have been using OS Maps for many years now, well before I discovered SOTA !
Particularly useful feature is the download for off-line maps.
… always backed up by paper map & compass !!!
It has always served my needs VERY well, it has useful routeing optioons, measuring and i think you can download to a GPS file to upload it to a GPS! its split view with google sattelite view and access to Street view ETC is very useful too!
Now I have a subscription I can install the 2014 maps I have and use them but there’s little point as I get updates every 3 months now.
