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Caching online map tiles

Atlas allows you to cache any area of online map tiles from OpenStreetMap, OpenCycleMap and OpenPisteMap for you to use in situations where you have no Wi-Fi signal. Atlas will cache tiles as you move around the map, so that you do not have to request them from the server. Up to 10 000 tiles will be cached for each map, and stored in a database for future use. Thus if you have looked at an area extensively while using Wi-Fi, you will not need to use the network when out and about.

In addition to the automatic caching, you can also download an entire area for use later. To cache tiles you should use a Wi-Fi internet connection and the option “Use Data Network” must be turned on it the Atlas Settings.

First you should move the map until the area you wish to cache is visible on screen. You should be selective about the extent of the area you are downloading otherwise it will take a long time to download. As a rough guide a download of an area of around 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) will take approxiamtely 10-20 minutes. This all depends on your Wi-Fi service. We also suggest you plug your iPhone/iPod touch into a mains charger as downloading tiles can drain the battery quite quickly.

Once you have selected the area you want to cache touch the cache icon (downward pointing arrow in a square) at the bottom of the map window. There will be a message showing you how many tiles are being cached and a progress bar. Downloading many tiles at once from a map server can place a strain on server resources so downloads are limited to 4 levels of zoom. If you require more detail in a particular area, zoom in and press the download tiles button once again.

Once you have cached the tiles they will be available for you to use every time you open the map for the area you have cached. It is wise to put a strategic waypoint on areas of the online maps where you have cached tiles as this helps when you try to locate the map on the screen when you have no Wi-Fi signal, and will also help if you have accidentally zoomed too far in or out, or scrolled too far outside the boundaries of the cached tiles. The tiles are cached to four zoom levels so over or under zooming with a cached map will result in a blank screen.

Once the online tiles have been cached you can re-access them offline via the map link from which you took the the tiles. If you have a GPS enabled phone you can use the location indicator and record tracks as you would with any of our offline maps.