Auto GPS logger that looks after itself?

[Phil_boat]

Does such a thing exist that will switch on and record a track that I can export as a GPX?

All I want is when powered by 12v / USB it starts recording. When powered off it stops & saves it.

Then periodically I want to export all the GPX tracks, ideally over Bluetooth to my phone.

Has to be simple, not looking for a hobby / project building something

 

[MoodySabre]

Garmin Navionics app on a tablet or phone will record and save tracks. You have to press Start and Save. These tracks can be exported as GPX. If you use the app then they are already on your phone!

 

[Minerva]

Any generic Garmin bike computer would do that for you, provided you were happy to turn on and press start / stop recording.

 

[Phil_boat]

Cheers both.

I know there’s loads of ways of doing it I start / stop it or have an app etc

I specifically don’t want to interact with it. Power on = start. Power off = stop.

 

[Minerva]

You can get gps car trackers for cheap on Amazon and the like, and they do as you say. But, they are so hands off that they upload via their own 4g SIM card, thus a sim data plan subscription is required...

 

[Phil_boat]

You can get gps car trackers for cheap on Amazon and the like, and they do as you say. But, they are so hands off that they upload via their own 4g SIM card, thus a sim data plan subscription is required...

Yeah I have one of those in my campervan. I don’t know if I can export the GPX, I assume I can but never tried.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Both Android and Apple have GPS loggers that work from the phone's GPS and can export the data. Search for something like "My Tracks" or "GPS Logger". You obviously have to activate the App to start recording, but to will keep going until told otherwise.

 

[mogmog2]

Our berth is rather tight and I find that in the heat of the moment of casting off & getting out without hitting anything, I forget to start recording and we're well at sea before I remember.

The OSM Android app OSMAND has a feature that detects movement (from a point) and starts recording. I've tried it a couple of times but IIRC there was something that I didn't get right (it's not the most intuitive app) but need to look at again.

 

[cpedw]

Depending what you want to do with the data, ICS Nav6 Navtex might help. It can record Position, COG, SOG, Heading,Water Speed, Wind Direction,Wind Speed, Depth and Distance at set intervals from 15 minutes to 12 hours. It only records when moving. The data can be exported digitally but not as a GPX file.
Of curse, it needs to be connected to instruments to get the data.

 

[dunedin]

We simply use the Raymarine chartplotter on the boat for this.
Have compiled a full track of everywhere we have been for the last 12 years and no effort or memory needed.

 

[wonkywinch]

Cheap android phone without sim card, install Navionics Boating app without maps (it will still export gpx).

 

[ylop]

We simply use the Raymarine chartplotter on the boat for this.
Have compiled a full track of everywhere we have been for the last 12 years and no effort or memory needed.

We have an old lowrance plotter which came with the boat and has not been removed as it might leave a bit of a mess - we don't routinely use it, but it is automatically tracking whenever the instruments are turned on. I did once consider printing each season but spend too much time on here having silly arguments to do creative stuff like that!

 

[Phil_boat]

We simply use the Raymarine chartplotter on the boat for this.
Have compiled a full track of everywhere we have been for the last 12 years and no effort or memory needed.

This is what I’ll do with the Garmin

It’s a bit of a faff as it doesn’t automatically split the tracks by day or each power up of the plotter etc but with a bit of playing in a GPX app I can split them as needed.