Use RouteLoops on an Android Device!

You can use RouteLoops on an Android device! Find out how. Start using it. Have fun!

RouteLoops can now easily be used on an Android device. We haven't created an app, because all the functionality exists without a separate app being required. Using an existing app from the Android Market (OsmAnd) and any browser, you can already have an amazing RouteLoops experience. (In fact, don't tell your iPhone friends, but it's much better than what is available for the iPhone.) The process below may seem complicated, but it's not. I'll walk you through it, step-by-step, and once it's working, it's terrific. Trust me.

1. Using RouteLoops on an Android Phone


Use the browser on your Android phone to go to http://www.RouteLoops.com.
  1. The site will detect that you are using an Android phone, and will ask if you want to visit the Mobile Site. Answer "OK".
  2. After the splash screen (click on it to continue) you will be at the main page, where you can configure your route (see left). Do that.
  3. When you have made your choices, touch the "Loop" button at the bottom, and RouteLoops should create a loop for you (see right).
  4. That route, displayed on the browser, has much of the functionality available in the non-mobile version. Significantly, you can drag and drop the route, just as you would do on a PC.
  5. Play with the route, or create new routes (by hitting the "Loop" button) until you have a RouteLoop that you like.
  6. Now comes the fun part. Go to section 2, below, to get this route into OsmAnd.

Top Menu

  • In: Go to the inputs page
  • Map: Go to the map page
  • Cue: Go to the cue sheet page
  • NAV: Open route in Google Maps
  • p-link: Create a permalink, for saving the current route
  • gpx: Download a GPX file. See below for use with OsmAnd.
  • Mail: Send email, including permalink of the current route

Bottom Menu

  • Loop: Make a new loop with current settings
  • Fit: Fit the current loop on the screen
  • Traffic On: Real time traffic info
  • Markers On: Distance markers on route

2. Follow this route using the OsmAnd app!


First, you will need to install the OsmAnd app from the Android Market. Use the paid version. It's much, much cheaper than buying a GPS device. All of the rest of these instructions assume that you have OsmAnd installed.
This is the best part. The OsmAnd app (http://www.osmand.net) lets you turn your Android phone into a GPS device.
What follows are the steps for using the RouteLoop you just made with the OsmAnd app.
  1. On the RouteLoops "Map" page, touch the button that says "gpx" (see left). This will cause a file to be downloaded to your device. You will see the small download indication in the top-left of the screen.
    • Some browsers make the process below even easier, by letting you choose where this downloaded file will go. For example, the Opera browser for Android will give you a "Download File" prompt, and you can then choose to download the file directly to the osmand/tracks directory. This is where it needs to be, as described below.
  2. The name of the file that has been downloaded will be gpxRL.txt. (It may have a number attached if you have done this more than once and there is already a file with that name in the download directory, so it may be gpxRL-3.txt, for example.)
  3. Go to your list of apps and find the "Files" app. The icon looks something like this. Open the Files app and go to the "download" folder (go to "Phone Files", then "download"). In this folder locate this gpxRL.txt file. If there is more than one, find the latest one which is the one with the highest number after the dash.
  4. Press and hold on the file name. A menu will appear, and you should choose "Move". The words "Move" and "Cancel" will appear at the bottom of the screen. Do NOT press "Move" yet.
  5. Now, navigate to the OsmAnd "tracks" folder by going to "Phone files", then "osmand", then "tracks". It's not hard to do. At the top of the screen where it now says "download", select Phone Files, then osmand, then tracks. When there, NOW you press the "Move" button at the bottom of the screen. The file gpxRL.txt should now be in the "tracks" folder.
  6. Press and hold on the file name again, and rename it to something meaningful to you, with ".gpx" at the end. (This is important. You have to end the file name with ".gpx") So, for example, My10MileRouteLoop.gpx.
  7. And you are done! The route is now available to OsmAnd! Not only can you follow it, but OsmAnd will give voice commands! It's brilliant! (See the OsmAnd image on the right, and compare to the RouteLoops image on the left.)
  8. Details for getting OsmAnd to display your route are in section 3, below.

3. Quick Comments on Using OsmAnd with RouteLoops:

  1. Now that you have your RouteLoops safely stored away, open up the OsmAnd app.
  2. Touch "Map" on the main screen (see left).
  3. Touch the menu button on the phone (not the app) (it looks something like this, and select "Directions" (see right).
    • You may get a message that says "Please select destination first". You need to select a destination for OsmAnd, even though your route will overwrite this. So, press and hold anywhere on the map. A small box will appear that says "Point on map:". Tap that box and choose "Navigate to point". Then just continue with the instructions, below.
  4. When presented with a choice, choose "GPX route". This will open up the list of files in the "tracks" directory, and you can choose the one you want, such as My10MileRouteLoop.gpx.
  5. When presented with the next set of options, choose "Pass along entire track" and hit "Apply" (see far right).
  6. And that is it! The track will appear, and OsmAnd will track you along the route, and will give voice commands if all of the options are set correctly.
  7. For much more detail on OsmAnd, see their information at http://www.osmand.net.