NavFree for Android released at last!

[Guest trevor432990]

You may all be interested to hear that the NavFree application is now available for the Android. It promises to be useful as it allows you to download UK maps to the device meaning you don't need to use a 3G dongle or tether to a mobile as all the data you need for route planning and map navigation will be on the Vega.

Obviously you will still need a GPS source which for followers of my other thread will know my preferred device is the Wayfinder Bluetooth GPS Receiver so the step-by-step instructions which follow assume you have read this thread and understand how to set-up the GPS and additional apps already.

1. Firstly go to the Expansys.website located here

2. If you are using a Froyo 2.2 based kernel then follow the link which will be emailed to you (preferably on the Vega) or if you are using Gingerbread 2.3 or above then follow this new link to download the app

3. Install the NavFree application (Note:- Takes about 4 mins and uses 72 mb approx of internal memory so ensure you have space first))

4. Start Bluetooth on Vega

5. Start Bluetooth GPS Provider app on Vega

6. When GPS device is ready turn on the GPS on/off widget

7. Start the NavFree application (it starts in portrait initially)

8. Click on REGISTER and enter your email address (beware keyboard covers what you are typing unfortunately)

9. Click on the 'In-app Store' icon then Products tab

10. Select 'UK and ROI maps' and download

11. Repeat the above for 'Postcodes' file

You should now be able to go into the main parts of the NavFree application and on the map see your current location and use the other menu commands to navigate in theory. As this app has only just been released I expect there are quite a few bugs in it but considering it's free I shall give it a run for a while. If you get stuck then let me know and I'll try and help if I can. Good luck :unsure:

Edited June 29, 2011 by trevor432990

[Guest NeilLewis22]

Just what I have been looking for. Got GPS working with wayfinder but was killing my phone battery while driveing and didnt want to have 3 things pluged into the car port thanks mate

[Guest NeilLewis22]

Just what I have been looking for. Got GPS working with wayfinder but was killing my phone battery while driveing and didnt want to have 3 things pluged into the car port thanks mate

just done it and works great. dont download maps with your wifi hotspot a they take awhile :unsure:

[Guest beepo666]

Have iPhone/Tomtom for UK, still looking for global solution, would prefer android if possible but am yet to find anything... I'm currently in Thailand but who knows where I'll be next month and I'd love to be using my Vega while driving around the world :-)

[Guest Dave Marchant]

Many thanks - instructions were perfect. Seems to be working fine for me with the Wayfinder. It was a bit of a struggle to clear the RAM space though. Maybe I need to partition my SD card and get an ext2 area set up.

Edited May 10, 2011 by Dave Marchant

[Guest rubbery]

You may all be interested to hear that the NavFree application is now available for the Android. It promises to be useful as it allows you to download UK maps to the device meaning you don't need to use a 3G dongle or tether to a mobile as all the data you need for route planning and map navigation will be on the Vega.

Obviously you will still need a GPS source which for followers of my other thread will know my preferred device is the Wayfinder Bluetooth GPS Receiver so the step-by-step instructions which follow assume you have read this thread and understand how to set-up the GPS and additional apps already.

1. Firstly go to the Expansys.website located here

2. Follow the link which will be emailed to you (preferably on the Vega)

3. Install the NavFree application (Note:- Takes about 4 mins and uses 72 mb of internal memory so ensure you have space first))

4. Start Bluetooth on Vega

5. Start Bluetooth GPS Provider app on Vega

6. When GPS device is ready turn on the GPS on/off widget

7. Start the NavFree application (it starts in portrait initially)

8. Click on REGISTER and enter your email address (beware keyboard covers what you are typing unfortunately)

9. Click on the 'In-app Store' icon then Products tab

10. Select 'UK and ROI maps' and download

11. Repeat the above for 'Postcodes' file

You should now be able to go into the main parts of the NavFree application and on the map see your current location and use the other menu commands to navigate in theory. As this app has only just been released I expect there are quite a few bugs in it but considering it's free I shall give it a run for a while. If you get stuck then let me know and I'll try and help if I can. Good luck :unsure:

Trevor what rom are you on at the mo? I can't get it to start on cm7.

[Guest trevor432990]

Trevor what rom are you on at the mo? I can't get it to start on cm7.

I'm on MCK-r2 kernel r7 ROM at the mo. Are you getting any error message?

[Guest trevor432990]

Have iPhone/Tomtom for UK, still looking for global solution, would prefer android if possible but am yet to find anything... I'm currently in Thailand but who knows where I'll be next month and I'd love to be using my Vega while driving around the world :-)

Well they are adding country maps all the time but I haven't figured out how to get them right now but if I do I'll let you know. Love Thailand have a good time.

[Guest mudcruzr]

Trevor what rom are you on at the mo? I can't get it to start on cm7.

Me neither - also on CM7. No error messages just blank black screen for a few seconds then dumped back to home screen.

- mud

[Guest trevor432990]

Me neither - also on CM7. No error messages just blank black screen for a few seconds then dumped back to home screen.

- mud

Is this the first time you have tried using GPS on the Vega or did you get it going with Google Maps before? If this is the first time you'll need to read the other thread (see link above) to understand how to set the Vega up so it all works.

[Guest mudcruzr]

Is this the first time you have tried using GPS on the Vega or did you get it going with Google Maps before? If this is the first time you'll need to read the other thread (see link above) to understand how to set the Vega up so it all works.

No not the first time, both mapdroyd and google maps/navigation are working fine. BT GPS Provider is showing a good position lock.

- mud

[Guest trevor432990]

No not the first time, both mapdroyd and google maps/navigation are working fine. BT GPS Provider is showing a good position lock.

- mud

Hmmm ok did the download and install for the app/maps/postcodes run through alright? Just trying to figure out what steps you've taken beforehand according to my list what step are you on now would you say? Might be a CM7 issue but can't see why if the other apps you mentioned are running.

Edit:- Just had an afterthought when you first try and run NavFree it can take a minute or two of black screen before it runs try it again if you didn't leave it that long.

Edited May 10, 2011 by trevor432990

[Guest rubbery]

Hmmm ok did the download and install for the app/maps/postcodes run through alright? Just trying to figure out what steps you've taken beforehand according to my list what step are you on now would you say? Might be a CM7 issue but can't see why if the other apps you mentioned are running.

Edit:- Just had an afterthought when you first try and run NavFree it can take a minute or two of black screen before it runs try it again if you didn't leave it that long.

yep just stops for me too.

However google maps and navigation works better on cm7 than on Paul's rom or Corvus which is odd.

[Guest trevor432990]

@rubbery & @mudcruzr - Think I need to have a beer and a sleep on this problem maybe something will come to mind cos I've no idea what could be wrong. I installed from /sdcard folder rather than /system if you did it differently. Anyway I'll retire to the bar now and catch up with you later. Cheers

P.S. Forget this edit message mellarcky as I lost track already hehe just post new posts ok :unsure:

Edited May 10, 2011 by trevor432990

[Guest mudcruzr]

Hmmm ok did the download and install for the app/maps/postcodes run through alright? Just trying to figure out what steps you've taken beforehand according to my list what step are you on now would you say? Might be a CM7 issue but can't see why if the other apps you mentioned are running.

Edit:- Just had an afterthought when you first try and run NavFree it can take a minute or two of black screen before it runs try it again if you didn't leave it that long.

Erm, 7.

On first run and also after clearing data and also after uninstall, reboot and re-install it does show a dialog on the black screen for a couple of minutes saying initializing (or similar).

I've never stopped it running, it throws me back to the home screen all by itself.

- mud

[Guest rubbery]

Rather than fill the topic with lots of messages I shall just keep editing this post with suggestions on what to check until we get to the bottom of the CM7 problem and I suggest those affected do the same on their next post ok?

@rubbery - Can you go to manage applications and select NavFree and tell me what size it is? just wanna check it's same as mine

@mudcruzr - Are you still having same issue ?

72.63mb - apologies for not answering previous question I was at step 7, so Bluetooth started and location locked in, and then start app, screen goes black then after 10 seconds i get returned to home screen. Also quick note of thanks for all the work you've done on navigation, your other original post which I've kept eye on from start was very useful indeed.

[Guest mudcruzr]

Rather than fill the topic with lots of messages I shall just keep editing this post with suggestions on what to check until we get to the bottom of the CM7 problem and I suggest those affected do the same on their next post ok?

@rubbery - Can you go to manage applications and select NavFree and tell me what size it is? just wanna check it's same as mine

@mudcruzr - Are you still having same issue ?

Sorry Trevor, we posted at the same time..

Fyi, the actual dialog says "Installing..." for about 2 minutes.

My download size is 64.13mb

In manage applications it's

Total 72.63mb

App 72.6mb

Data 28.00kb

- mud

[Guest beepo666]

Well they are adding country maps all the time but I haven't figured out how to get them right now but if I do I'll let you know. Love Thailand have a good time.

Was here for 6 months last year, finally building the house but it would be great if I could get Tomtom style gps. Would mean I don't have to depend on local directions :-P

[Guest trevor432990]

Was here for 6 months last year, finally building the house but it would be great if I could get Tomtom style gps. Would mean I don't have to depend on local directions :-P

Garmin do a map of Thailand and there's a guy in Pattaya who sells the maps and a Garmin Nuvi is really cheap on eBay. I'm keeping mine for the next trip there.

[Guest trevor432990]

Rather than fill the topic with lots of messages I shall just keep editing this post with suggestions on what to check until we get to the bottom of the CM7 problem and I suggest those affected do the same on their next post ok?

@rubbery & @mudcruzr - Think I need to have a beer and a sleep on this problem maybe something will come to mind cos I've no idea what could be wrong. I installed from /sdcard folder rather than /system if you did it differently. Anyway I'll retire to the bar now and catch up with you later. Cheers

P.S. Forget this edit message mellarcky as I lost track already hehe just post new posts ok :unsure:

Edited May 10, 2011 by trevor432990

[Guest rubbery]

Rather than fill the topic with lots of messages I shall just keep editing this post with suggestions on what to check until we get to the bottom of the CM7 problem and I suggest those affected do the same on their next post ok?

@rubbery - Size is virtually the same. Thanks for the thanks glad to be of help. Have you tried re-booting the Vega and re-trying the app yet?

@mudcruzr - Size is identical though my total is 72.68mb rather than your 72.63mb. Did you try re-booting by any chance?

Hmmm that was supposed to be an edit odf the original sheesh

Yep done a couple or reboots now.

[Guest Gavjbrown]

Thanks Trevor, Just put it on my streak to give it a try.

The ad banner is pretty annoying, its placed over the text box so you cant see what you've typed.

[Guest beegee1962]

Anybody knows how to add other maps :unsure: . UK maps are quite useless for me here in Japan :)

[Guest trevor432990]

Anybody knows how to add other maps :unsure: . UK maps are quite useless for me here in Japan :P

Yes quite. If you go to the http://www.navmii.com/Support/ website and use the support links given you will get to a page which tells you which country maps have been requested and what stage of development they are at. :)

[Guest trevor432990]

Thanks Trevor, Just put it on my streak to give it a try.

The ad banner is pretty annoying, its placed over the text box so you cant see what you've typed.

Good glad you got it working. The ad banner placement has been reported to the NavFree development team already and I shall be posting the link to their support site below.