WristRoute Help
WristRoute is a standalone Apple Watch GPS application for hiking,
biking, and other offline adventures. Neither the iPhone or
Internet is needed for operation.
Map
WristRoute displays your GPS position as a crosshair cursor in
the center of a topographic map.
You can zoom the map by turning the digital crown.
Scroll the map by dragging the screen with your finger. The scrolled
map will return to the GPS position the next time the screen turns
on, such as when you raise your wrist ("wrist up").
Map images are downloaded from the internet as they are needed. Maps
are stored in a persistent cache for later offline use.
The map displayed is US Topo, the latest topographic map from USGS.
Outside of the continental United States a map based on
OpenStreetMap is used instead.
GPS reception quality is displayed as zero to four small squares at
the upper left of the screen. If GPS reception is good (3 dots or
more, horizontal accuracy 32 meters or better), WristRoute adds a
yellow dot to the map at your position. A new dot is added every 100
feet of motion.
Once your direction of motion is established a direction arrow is
displayed under the cursor. Note that since the Apple Watch does not
have a compass, it uses successive GPS positions to determine your
heading. Consequently, the arrow is most accurate when you are
moving in a straight line.
Permissions
When first run, WristRoute will prompt to enable access to your
location (i.e. use the GPS). Prompts appear on both the Apple
Watch and the iPhone. The permission must be granted on the
iPhone.
iPhone
The iPhone side of WristRoute is used to transfer GPX (Global
Positioning eXchange) files between your iCloud drive and the
watch.
GPX files contain waypoints, routes, and tracks. You can find GPX
files for many popular routes on the internet. Download the GPX file
to your iCloud drive, then transfer it to the watch. You can also
create GPX files with programs such as Eastridge Technology's
Route3D.
Menu
Pressing the menu symbol at the upper right of the watch screen
displays the main menu.
Scroll down with the Apple Watch digital crown to see all of the
menu.
Each of these menu entries will be described in turn.
Trip
Trip shows elevation, including gain and loss, distance traveled,
elapsed time, speed over the last 100 feet, and average speed since
the trip began.
Elevation is as reported by the GPS and does not include built
structures such as stairs.
Scroll down to reveal the Reset button. Reset zeroes all trip data.
Route/Track
The Route/Track menu is used to save the current trip data in a
track, or to activate a route or track from the GPX file. Routes
and tracks are treated the same, and both are referred to as track
below.
Selecting a track from the scrolling list (or on the map) brings up
a track title page. If the track has a description it appears below
the button area.
Map draws the track as a white line on the map, with a the
name of the track in yellow marking the start.
Cache returns to the map screen and animates the route, which
caches all the map images at the current zoom level for later
offline use. The display may pause as images are downloaded.
Rename brings up a screen which allows the track to be
renamed. Note that dictation only works if the iPhone is in
communication with the watch.
Delete deletes the route.
Profile
Profile displays an elevation profile of the current track. The
white line cursor shows your position along the track
The profile can be expanded and contracted by turning the digital
crown. You can drag the cursor to check elevations and to scroll the
screen.
If the profile is flat then the track may not contain elevation
data. Route3D can add elevation to a track if needed.
Waypoint
The Waypoint menu is used select a waypoint from the GPX file. New...
saves the current position as a new waypoint.
The list is sorted by distance from your current position. To sort
by name, firmly press on screen and select Sort by Name.
Selecting a waypoint from the scrolling list (or on the map) brings
up a waypoint title page. If the waypoint has a description it
appears below the button area, along with latitude, longitude, and,
if recorded, elevation.
Map shows the waypoint on the map screen.
Rename renames the waypoint.
Delete deletes the waypoint.
Heading shows a screen with heading and distance to the
waypoint from the current GPS position, as well as the current
elevation.
The heading arrow is relative to the direction of motion. Apple
Watch does not have a compass, so heading is determined by
successive GPS locations. This works best when moving in a straight
line.
To measure the distance from a map location other than the current
GPS position, move the map cursor to the point to measure from and
then call up the Heading screen. "Elev" at the top of the screen is
replaced with "Measuring" and the arrow turns blue, showing an
absolute compass bearing to the waypoint. The distance displayed is
from the scrolled map position to the waypoint.
Settings
GPS Power
GPS power has three settings: Off, Battery Saver, and On.
When GPS is off, no position updates occur. This is useful when
scrolling the map to avoid automatic redisplay of current position
whenever you raise your wrist, or to save battery when in an area
with no GPS coverage, such as a cave, deep canyon, or densely
forested north slope.
With Battery Saver the GPS is powered on from wrist up until shortly
after a stable GPS reading is received. While this saves battery
power, the GPS needs several seconds to stabilize after being turned
on, so the initial GPS readings may be jumpy.
When Gps is on, GPS power remains on for 60 minutes after the last
wrist up. Since the GPS remains on it can continue tracking position
and course in the background.
Map
The Map switch enables map display. If the map is not essential to
your activity then turning it off saves battery and makes the
display more readable in bright sunlight.
Overlay
The Overlay switch enables display of waypoints and tracks.
Sometimes it is desirable to study the map without the overlays.
Clear Cache
WristRoute downloads maps from the internet as they are needed and
stores them permanently in an internal cache. The Clear Cache button
clears contents of the cache.
GPS Status
This screen lists the unfiltered status of the GPS.
About
WristRoute 1.0
Copyright 2018 Eastridge Technology
Email info@e-t.com for support
US Topo maps courtesy of USGS.
Esri World Street Mao Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, Intermap,
INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri
Korea, Esri (Thailand), NGCC, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the
GIS User Community.
Thank you for using WristRoute.