How to use

First why chose Quo Mapping?

Well for a start its free, not a trial or time limited or part funtional application but a completely free software application that not only does what MM does but has more functions than MM.

It will run a variety of maps you may already own, or you can download OS maps (or have them posted on DVD) from Quo mapping via the software. Even better you can opt to download map tiles so you can target an area such as the TRF Devon lanes in OS Landranger maps at less than a £1 a tile (min 6 tiles) 6 tiles will cover all the Devon TRF areas in 1:50000 OS Landranger or if you want more detail you could opt for the OS Explorer range but this will likely prove unnecessary unless you want them for walking or cycling and require more detail.

More details and the download can be got from http://www.mapyx.com/

So whats the catch? Well none really, but...and there is a but... Quo mapping seems to be written by mappers that program rather than the other way round and it shows as its tricky to install and help and support is a bit patchy, hence the attempt at a useful guide to spur you on your way.

So hows it done and what does it run on?

Basically its a PC based program running on Windows,  that will run on a mobile device that is running windows mobile preferably WM5 or above. So you Mac users and Iphoners can stop reading now

If you have a PC and a WM device such as a smartphone or PDA read on.

First before you begin and importantly (there is no mention of this on Quo)
Download Windows .net framework redistributable
here

Please note this maybe already installed on your PC but if its not its a glaring omission on the part of the developers to neglect to mention this, The current 3.5 SP package version will be updated from this version by your PC if you have auto updating turned on, but this version should do the job.
You will need to have your mobile device 'docked' to the PC and active sync running to install this onto your mobile.

Be careful installing active sync for XP, it may already be installed on your PC, but if its not follow the instructions very carefully, it usually requires the mobile device to be undocked as if it is, it will likely screw around with the install, Vista and windows 7 doesn't use active sync, its come with another pre installed package.

Next download Quo mapping and install the program from the site http://www.mapyx.com/quo/ Latest version is installed (2.1.7), you will need to enter an Email address, this address will be used to activate the maps on quo, so make sure its valid, but it activates directly when installed despite telling you the Email gives you an activation code

Install and run it, you will be greeted by the welcome screen offering you maps at discount rates. IMPORTANT!!If you close this welcome screen you can open the tile shop and My quo functions by clicking on the far right top button in the top Quo taskbar that says more buttons (not immediately obvious)  next to Eshop it may show already in the taskbar depending on you desktop resolution.

You will need to activate the application, click My Quo button click activation and follow the instructions.

Next get the map tiles by clicking on the tile shop icon, I would suggest OS landranger tiles v08 tiles numbers
209, 210, 221, 222, 234, 235, you can see which tiles apply to which area download them ( you can pay online)
Alternatively if you already have maps then use the import>map image feature.

From what I remember these are self installed and you might want to back them up as well later. Important! you have to active the maps you have downloaded, in the map installed section if its in red text they are not activated. Activate as per instructions

Next go Maps button>Great britain 2008>OS Landranger 1:50.000 v08 and make sure the box to the left is ticked, note: clicking on it will remove the tick and give you message no maps installed. Also make sure the Maps>Great Britain 2009> OSM Great Britain Overview v09 is ticked as well, zooming in from the OSM map should make the Landranger map appear, do this using the mouse wheel or in/out or magnifier buttons.

Thats stage one completed. Hopefully

Right all well and good but you want the lanes now don't you!

There are several ways of doing this but the method I used were by batch converting the .KML files from the google overlays as sent to you by Email request by Brian (TTR)

In Quo go> file>batch convert>

and direct it to the folder its saved in and save it in a folder you can find later and select the file convertion type (Google earth .kml in this case) and click convert.

This should now show the lanes marked in red on the maps (you can change colours later). At this stage you want to save this as a project file>save project

Name it and it will be stored as a Quo map project. When you close and return to quo maps it will be necessary to open that project to show the lanes.

As in MM you can import and export data and record tracklogs and routes, waypoints, create routes, interface with Google Earth although with quo you can use the 3D mapping as well with google earth.  You will need to experiment with Quo to learn more. It does not import MM files as due to some copyrights.

Next onto mobile device

For this you need to have active sync installed which usually comes with your device, this needs to be running with your device docked to the PC usually by usb cable. Windows 7 and vista is different and has a different interface.

Open MY quo and click mobile installer and follow the directions, this should install Quo mobile to your device and you will need to likely restart the device to finish the installation. It needs to identify the device which has a key but this is usually easy enough to do.

Next you need to export the maps using the export facility, its a good idea sometimes to store them on the storage card rather than the device but its not absolutely necessary. Use the export>mobile device

Next stage is to export the lanes through the project you created before of the TRF lanes.


Using the Quo mobile takes a little getting used to, especially loading maps, but if you use the menu >open you method you can open a saved project or log, using the map facility you can open various map tiles or whole map areas.

On some devices it may require a slightly different approach to load a map, start quo it loads and usually you will get a blank screen with compass arrows at the edge, click on explorer which opens the istalled map menu, tick the map, when you go back to map it may show however sometimes it will not, go back to explorer and hold the stylus on the name of map you wish to load, a sub menu will open, click on tiles, this will give a list of tiles, tile 90 is a good place to start but you will have to experiment, click the tile you want and then jump to at the bottom, this will then load that tile.

You can change colours of track logs waypoints and logging updating etc to fine tune the app. As with MM you can use the devices GPS, again this can be fine tuned, with my Loox PDA the GPS port was defaulted to port 1 and needs changing to port 4, other devices maybe different.

You can create GPS track logs and upload and download track logs much the same as MM. Quo should work with all the devices MM does, with a PDA you are limited by screen size but you can zoom in and out of Quo mobile, its a little quirky as in to zoom you 'click' the zoom tag, move the slider and 'click' zoom again to adjust.

As I said before Quo is not easy to use due to a lack of help and tutorials, its different and slightly quirky but its free and legit and has a fair few add ons that MM doesn't have. I have used it in the truck and it works fine, and have used it successfully on the bike , for this I use an otterbox which is an armoured waterproof case, and a power supply from the bike but the PDA will run for a few hours on battery.

New generation PDA gps devices are now available (see above), but are still fairly pricey.