I'm finding that UsynligO is an excellent way to help beginners get past the initial threshold of difficulty in orienteering.
They can use the app to get hints about the next control. They can also use it to navigate back to the start/finish in case they get really lost.
Yes, those are really good features. However, we have spotty cell signal in many of our usable areas here, so I can't require people to use it.
Doesn't it rely on GPS? I guess you need to have reception at the beginning to download the info.
Yes, exactly. You need to press start before even going to the event, and it's basically impossible to enforce that.
I just emailed the developers about implementing a feature to let participants download the course to have in their phone before going to the event. There are lots of maps around here that have no cell signal, so we're in the same boat.
Still not ideal, but a better situation.
Good idea! The developer has been very responsive to me so far.
With MapRun (which we use), you can download the info at anytime once it's published. As course setter you can add a code to keep it secret until the event (or only accessible by certain people) if you like.
Does Usylingo have a Garmin version too? MapRun rolled one out a couple of months ago and it's a total game changer.
Is this MapRunF? How do you upload an event to it? I'm interested in trying it out, but that part doesn't seem intuitive.
So, I really like MapRunF also, but I haven't been using it or teaching others to use it yet because setting up events is less intuitive than O-range and UsynligO.
Exporting the XML from Purplepen and uploading it directly to UsynligO is quite simple. MapRunF and MapRunG's processes are more complicated, but having the option to use a Phone or a Garmin is huge.
I've heard rumors of UsynligO developing a Garmin app too.
Yes MapRunF. So I don't know the definite answer as someone else in our club is the designated expert. But I think that:
- you need a MapRunF account created so that your events show up in their filing structure
- then you need KML and KMZ files to create each event; these can be automatically exported from OOMap for example; not sure about Ocad etc.
- once that's done, the actual event setup is quick as our club expert turns them around in no time.
So, a bit tricky to get into it but easy(ish) once you're up and running.
Also, all events uploaded to MapRunF are automatically accessible on MapRunG, which is an end-user watch app only.
QOC is looking into using MapRun because of the code/locking feature, so we can (?) still charge people for the map (for insurance purposes). Maryland has been really tough on getting permits for events, so this will be in place of races in the state. (Virginia has been much easier; all of our events this fall have been there.)
Several of us have been using UsynligO, and I thought it looked easier to set up, but you can't control map usage with it.
I'd love to try O-Range but my Garmin model doesn't support it (and I emailed the developers who told me they wouldn't be able to make it work for my model).