====== Using OsmAnd on a motorbike ======

In this article I write some notes about using and **Android** device (actually a **smartphone**) as a **GPS navigation system on a motorbike**. The choosen software is **[[https://osmand.net/|OsmAnd]]**; a mature and full-featured navigation system based on the **[[https://www.openstreetmap.org/about|OpenStreetMap]]** geographic data. I tested three different smartphones: a **[[..:hardware:zte_blade_a610|ZTE Blade A610]]**, an **[[..:hardware:oukitel_wp12|Oukitel WP12]]** and a **[[..:hardware:blackview_bv5300|Blackview BV5300]]**.


===== Mounting =====

First of all, it is necessary to make a premise: I usually travel at very low speeds, hardly exceeding **90 km/h**. My bike, despite being a **650 cc twin cylinder**, has few vibrations and I only occasionally drive on dirt roads. Here I tell you what is my setup, which is working well for my needs, but you must adapt the mounting to your specific scenario.

I provided both the smartphones with a **flexible TPU cover**. The ZTE is quite **thin**, so it is blocked firmly by the holder without any additional precautions. Instead the Oukitel is **thick and heavy** enough that the gaff clips on the phone holder do not tighten it sufficiently.

FIXME
===== Waterproof =====

The **Blade A610** is not waterproof, so it can only be used when the weather is nice.

Instead the **WP12** is rated as **[[wp>IP_code|IP68]]**, i.e. it should be **dust-proof** and it should resist even to **immersion into water** at 1 meter depth. However, the water resistance of the WP12 is ensured by **a rubber flap protecting the power connector**, so it is not possible to keep the smartphone charging when it rains.

{{.:osmand:oukitel-wp12-usb-connector.jpg?400|Oukitel WP12 micro USB connector with the rubber flap}}


===== The charging cable =====

=== 12V power charger ===

=== Magnetic connector ===

To keep the ZTE permanently connected to the **charging cable**, I purchased a **micro-USB magnetic adapter** (specifically a **NetDot 10th Gen**). The magnetic adapter is quite convenient to plug/unplug the power connector even wearing gloves and it prevents damages if you inadvertently pull the cable.

{{.:osmand:zte-blade-a610-power-cable.jpg?400|ZTE Blade A610: power cable with magnetic adapter}}

In the photo above you can see two adapters: one fitted into the phone connector and the one that I carry with me as a **spare part**. I used just a bit of silicone adhesive to make the plug more stable and to prevent dust from entering. It turned out that the magnetic coupling is quite **strong and stable** to resist to vibrations and wind. You must pay attention to avoid dust into the electric contacts, which are rather delicate and can actract **ferromagnetic dust**.

===== Screen brightness =====

Reading the screen even **under a brigth sun** is a must-to-have for a motorbike navigation system. It is not simple to know the brightness specification of a smartphone, especially for the low-end models. In my case the ZTE performed noticeably better than the WP12. From the following photo you cand barely notice that the ZTE screen (on the left) is brighter than the other (WP12 on the right); the JPEG image measures a **brightness higher by only a 4%**, but the user experience with the ZTE is actually better.

{{.:osmand:osmand-screen-brightness.jpg?400|Screen brightness: ZTE Blade A610 vs Oukitel WP12}}

The **Oukitel WP12** is advertised for a brightness of **350 cd/m²**, while the BV5300 is advertised for **500 cd/m²**. I think that the Blackview is largerly overstimated; comparing the screen brightness at full white I measured an **increased brightness of a bare 8%**.

{{.:osmand:brightness-bv5300-vs-oukitel-wp12.png?400|Screen brightness: Blackview BV5300 vs Oukitel WP12}}

===== Overheating =====

===== OsmAnd settings =====