Welcome to this second GPS Training podcast for this month, it’s our 37th episode.

With the current lockdown in the UK we are creating two Podcasts a month, rather than our usual one to hopefully keep you entertained.

In this month’s podcast we –

Have a chat about the Garmin Explore appRaster and Vector maps, what are the differencesWe then will look at monitoring your daily activity with a GPS watchIan’s FAQ, the frequently asked question Ian gets asked whilst supporting our customers.

The first thing we are going to look at on this month’s podcast is the Garmin explore app

So, Ian, what is the Garmin Explore app?

What Garmin GPS units does it work alongside?

How do we get it to work?

2. The next thing on this month’s podcast is to look at the differences between Raster and Vector maps

I wrote a short piece for the GPS Training website looking at this subject and received lots of feedback.

Differences between Raster v Vector maps?

Vector mapping data

SatMap call this type of mapping an Adventure map, whilst Garmin call it Topo Active mapping, but really it is just open sourced map data.

These maps (open sourced map data) has come from an open data project that creates and distributes geographical data for the world. It is consistently updated as people around the world update the map data in their local area.

These are proper ‘digital maps’, as you zoom in you get more information, as you zoom out you get less.

The key thing is as you move in and out on the map the clarity stays the same.

The only problem with this map type is that as it is not Ordnance Survey based it sadly does not show paths as Footpaths or Bridleways, it just shows everything as a path or track. Often these paths and tracks could be a private drive or something similar.

Raster mapping data

Raster data can be thought of as being similar to a digital photograph.

The reality is in the UK raster maps are just a scanned image of the Ordnance Survey map. Therefore, as you zoom in the map just gets pixelated.

But as most outdoor enthusiasts in the UK want to use Ordnance Survey maps on their Outdoor GPS unit the raster maps are used the most.

To watch a video comparing each of these map types please just go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk – click on reviews – and then click on the article - Raster v Vector maps for the UK GPS user

3. Monitoring your daily activity with a GPS watch

We have seen a massive increase over the past few weeks with GPS watches.

People monitoring their daily activities.

StepsHeart rateStress levelsSleepTracks (and navigates you) on your daily walk

Garmin Instinct range - £249.99

Garmin Fenix range – starting from £599.99

Don’t forget in the GPS Training online resource we have training videos for both of these watches

22 videos for Instinct and 22 on the Garmin Fenix watch, including a couple of videos on the explore app, which we discussed at the start of the podcast

To find out more about GPS Watches please go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk – click on gps store – multi activity gps watch and then choose Garmin or Casio

4. Ian’s FAQ’s

Garmin

I’m unable to sync with or connect my watch or GPS to my smartphone

Solution I find that the pairing process can be a little 'troublesome' from time to time. I think that a lot of the problems arise from the Garmin Connect app keeping up with smartphone updates and vice versa.

It appears there is no real 'solution' to sorting the pairing problems out other than I'm afraid a little bit of perseverance.

I have found recently that should your GPS be paired with an iPad/tablet, disable the Bluetooth on it and then the phone and GPS connect/sync (you should be able to have both connected at the same time but I have found that this doesn't appear to be the case at present).

Options that you have, to try and achieve the pairing process are: