What online canal map systems are there?

[Andrew Denny]

I'm looking to draw up a list of all the different online canal map systems there are.

So far I have got... 

Canal Plan

Water Nav

Open Canal Map

CRT Official Map

Waterway Routes

Open Canal Map

Canalmaps .co. uk

Canal Traders Map

Watermap

Any I've missed?

Thanks

Andrew

[Tony Brooks]

The new kid on the block, but not best received on this forum

 

https://lockmasterai.co.uk/

[Andrew Denny]

Tony, ooh thank you, I hadn't heard of Lockmasterai.co.uk 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Everyone who suddenly thinks "satnav, but for canal boats", assumes they are the very first to have ever had this idea. Hence the number of apps.

[Tony Brooks]

11 minutes ago, Andrew Denny said:

Tony, ooh thank you, I hadn't heard of Lockmasterai.co.uk 

 

A long topic on here about it here: 

 

A number of us feel that some of the data that gets presented as accurate may be rather misleading. The developer seeks to pass the responsibility for using the information it gives to the skipper. Good luck if you decide to read it.

 

[IanD]

14 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Everyone who suddenly thinks "satnav, but for canal boats", assumes they are the very first to have ever had this idea. Hence the number of apps.

https://xkcd.com/927/

[IanM]

@IanD if you copy and paste the url below the image on xkcd page it embeds it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Andrew Denny said:

Tony, ooh thank you, I hadn't heard of Lockmasterai.co.uk 

 

If you take a look at the topic on here about it you probably wish you still hadn't 🤣

Edited July 24 by IanM

[IanD]

18 minutes ago, IanM said:

@IanD if you copy and paste the url below the image on xkcd page it embeds it.

 

 

If you take a look at the topic on here about it you probably wish you still hadn't 🤣

@IanM Thanks, I'd missed that -- even though I suspect I've done it before... 😉 

Edited July 24 by IanD

[Mike Todd]

I am a tad sceptical about online maps for actual navigation. For me, almost constant access to detail is both desirable and essential. However, despite having two phones on different networks, we find that too often we do not have a proper internet connection - it says it has but just sits there having a sulk.

 

But then I have a mature home built system that works offline with a plugin GPS. Lack of internet only means I cannot see fancy maps such as NLS maps from 120 years ago! It also means I have a hefty overhead of photos stored locally.

[IanD]

32 minutes ago, Mike Todd said:

I am a tad sceptical about online maps for actual navigation. For me, almost constant access to detail is both desirable and essential. However, despite having two phones on different networks, we find that too often we do not have a proper internet connection - it says it has but just sits there having a sulk.

 

But then I have a mature home built system that works offline with a plugin GPS. Lack of internet only means I cannot see fancy maps such as NLS maps from 120 years ago! It also means I have a hefty overhead of photos stored locally.

Do you try and access the internet directly via cellular from your phone?

 

I've found it's more reliable to use Wi-Fi to the router and then cellular from that, it can pick up signals when the phone can't (or give >2x higher data rate for the same reason).

[David Mack]

7 hours ago, Mike Todd said:

O am a tad sceptical about online maps for actual navigation. For me, almost constant access to detail is both desirable and essential. However, despite having two phones on different networks, we find that too often we do not have a proper internet connection - it says it has but just sits there having a sulk.

I produce an itinerary in canalplan, create a pdf file of it and download that to my phone. Then I have the info while boating whether or not I have a data connection.

Edited July 24 by David Mack

[GUMPY]

Syd Arkless (rip)  Canal Planner was the first and way ahead of the competition.

 

[Arthur Marshall]

1 hour ago, GUMPY said:

Syd Arkless (rip)  Canal Planner was the first and way ahead of the competition.

 

I've still got it, but I can't get it working properly on Windows 11, though at least one person has.

[Cheese]

The best solution would be an equivalent of Google offline maps. Where you download the map to your phone once, and then you only need GPS functionality working, not internet, to show you exactly where you are and what's ahead. And it saves massively on battery life.

 

But I'm not sure that any of the canal maps offer it. 😕

Edited July 24 by Cheese
rubbish typing

[Arthur Marshall]

5 minutes ago, Cheese said:

The best solution would be an equivalent of Google offline maps. Where you download the map to your phone once, and then you only need GPS functionality working, not internet, to show you exactly where you are and what's ahead. And it saves massively on battery life.

 

But I'm not sure that any of the canal maps offer it. 😕

The old eCanal maps worked like that before RCR got hold of them. WaterNav is supposed to, but as it's missing half the system's locks and tunnels it's not a lot of use, and they don't seem very interested in putting them back.

[The History Man]

I gave up on all the online versions after trying to plan a route.  This has been all part of my preparation.  
 

a hour ago my offer was accepted on these. 
 

 

[ditchcrawler]

1 hour ago, Arthur Marshall said:

I've still got it, but I can't get it working properly on Windows 11, though at least one person has.

His wife passed away last year in Australia

[StephenA]

7 hours ago, Andrew Denny said:

I'm looking to draw up a list of all the different online canal map systems there are.

So far I have got... 

Canal Plan

Water Nav

Open Canal Map

CRT Official Map

Waterway Routes

Open Canal Map

Canalmaps .co. uk

Canal Traders Map

Watermap

Any I've missed?

Thanks

Andrew

 

Open Canal Map is in there twice

[Alway Swilby]

Waterway Routes is stored on the device so works offline. It's about a gigabyte download for all of England and Wales.

[Andrew Denny]

14 hours ago, StephenA said:

 

Open Canal Map is in there twice

Thanks! Oops.  I started to list these thinking it would be a 5-min job, but I'll have my work cut out now 🙂

[vicafloat]

I also use Canal Planner by Syd Arkless (RIP) and have managed to get it working on 

Windows 11. It is a bit dated now but IMHO has never been bettered!

 

[StephenA]

24 minutes ago, vicafloat said:

I also use Canal Planner by Syd Arkless (RIP) and have managed to get it working on 

Windows 11. It is a bit dated now but IMHO has never been bettered!

 

 

Is that the version with the proxied Google Maps? 

[vicafloat]

No, just lists of locks,miles,hours and facilities etc,

[Arthur Marshall]

1 hour ago, StephenA said:

 

Is that the version with the proxied Google Maps? 

The actual final version became unavailable as it needed a web generated password if yiu changed computer, and sfter the original programmer died, hus son emigrated and dumped the website without making the prog usable, which was annoying for those of us who had paid for it. The previous version didn't need that and still worked on W10. I've not bothered very hard to try to get it working sgain, but it's advantage was that you could save your own photos to the localities, which was rather a nice touch.

[Lady M]

IIRC it was really good at quickly calculating how long a trip would take.