Road ID - new free app
KathleenKP
Posts: 580 Member
I found this free new app for use with my iphone. Here's what I've found so far:
Emergency contact info as a screen lock
It texts (with a map/location point) any contacts you pick if you stop moving for 5 minutes.
I tested it out on a longer ride over a mountain pass. I had good cell reception through most of those sections (I may have lost some reception, but it doesn't appear that I did b/c the program kept working.) My husband was able to track me the whole way and it sent him texts about every 10 minutes with a link to a map that was updated with my last check-in point and a line showing my route. I set off the "stop moving feature" (while texting my husband, so he was expecting it). I waited there while I looked at maps. I was on low data at that point, but good phone reception. It took an extra 30 seconds for the message to go out while I was standing in that spot (it keeps retrying, and apparently requires data to send the message.) I then had to restart the app - it shut off after it sent out the message.
I rode 45 miles in 2:05, plus the 20 minute break. The only other app that I used was the map feature (also using GPS) during the 20 min wait. My phone was fully charged when I started, and after I got back, logged into MFP for a few minutes, the battery completely drained. Any longer than 2 hours, and I will take a back-up portable charger.
If you want the screen lock feature and can't use the app yet - it basically takes a screen shot of the info you fill out and saves it as a "photo", which you then select as your screen lock. You could write up your own paper and take a photo of it. *Now* that seems super easy to me, but I wouldn't have thought of it before. My screen saver photo gets overridden by "notices" that pop up on my phone. So I need to figure out how to disable those when I go out for a run or ride. The rescue person doesn't need to know the latest traffic info or Facebook post - at least from me, in that moment.
Emergency contact info as a screen lock
It texts (with a map/location point) any contacts you pick if you stop moving for 5 minutes.
I tested it out on a longer ride over a mountain pass. I had good cell reception through most of those sections (I may have lost some reception, but it doesn't appear that I did b/c the program kept working.) My husband was able to track me the whole way and it sent him texts about every 10 minutes with a link to a map that was updated with my last check-in point and a line showing my route. I set off the "stop moving feature" (while texting my husband, so he was expecting it). I waited there while I looked at maps. I was on low data at that point, but good phone reception. It took an extra 30 seconds for the message to go out while I was standing in that spot (it keeps retrying, and apparently requires data to send the message.) I then had to restart the app - it shut off after it sent out the message.
I rode 45 miles in 2:05, plus the 20 minute break. The only other app that I used was the map feature (also using GPS) during the 20 min wait. My phone was fully charged when I started, and after I got back, logged into MFP for a few minutes, the battery completely drained. Any longer than 2 hours, and I will take a back-up portable charger.
If you want the screen lock feature and can't use the app yet - it basically takes a screen shot of the info you fill out and saves it as a "photo", which you then select as your screen lock. You could write up your own paper and take a photo of it. *Now* that seems super easy to me, but I wouldn't have thought of it before. My screen saver photo gets overridden by "notices" that pop up on my phone. So I need to figure out how to disable those when I go out for a run or ride. The rescue person doesn't need to know the latest traffic info or Facebook post - at least from me, in that moment.
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I use this app when I go trail running alone and it works well. I text it to my family and then set it to expire in 5-6 hours and just go. It will crush your battery, but running GPS on your phone does that so I use my extended battery. I use my Garmin 910xt for all of my tracking, so this app is more so that others can find me in an emergency.0
