New user problems

[nhalliday]

I've just been trying to use the app for the first time. I successfully downloaded the free "trial" update (and the database seems to be loaded OK), but I'm getting the following issues:

1. Most of the time, there are no cameras shown on the map, even though I know there are plenty there (and in the database). Occasionally they appear on the map (hundreds of them), but almost always, there's nothing. If I tap the "list" icon, it sometimes lists nothing, but sometimes lists cameras hundreds of miles away (I'm guessing they are in the UK, I'm in Belgium).

2. I don't need to see the map, ideally I'd like to keep my phone in my pocket and for it to just beep/vibrate when approaching a camera. Is there something I need to change in the settings to keep the app running in the background? It seems to me that everytime I press the phone's home screen button, the app quits.

So far, I've been unable to get it to alert me of a single camera, but I'm sure I must be doing something wrong.

Finally, is there an updated user manual available? The one on this forum seems to relate to a different version, and includes buttons I don't have, as well as not mentioning ones I do. For example, what does the toggle to the right of the volume slider bar do (accessed by tapping the musical note button)?

Any help gratefully received!

[DennisN]

I'm no expert, but here goes with a little...

Cameras don't often show up until you start moving (with a satellite/GPS lock). There are cameras in Bruxelles. I don't know where you are, but if you could drive from N50.84965, E4.48033 to N50.87717, E4.46389 you would pass a 120 Km/h camera on that road east of the city.

When you press the Home button, the app does not quit, it goes into background mode. It will give warnings in that mode (in your pocket).

Tap the cog icon, bottom right, to go to the second page where you can alter settings...

Manage Cameras is to link a PGPSW Account and download the latest database.

Sound Warnings - ON, tap arrow to right of it for selecting warning range, warning sound and parameters.

Return to page two and Map, Show - 3 choices are Always, Near Cameras and Never. I use Near Cam, then it puts up the map when approaching a camera (but only when running in the foreground, not in background mode, when it will only give the audio warning).

Map type choices Standard, Satellite view or Hybrid view. I use standard - satellite and hybrid are not my preference.

Zoom Automatically.

I'm sorry, I can't help you with the manual - people on here will tell you I never read manuals - it's why I'm pretty hopeless at many things!!
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[nhalliday]

Thanks for that Dennis.

Those settings are pretty much what I've got, with the exception of displaying the map (no need with the phone in my pocket).

I think the problem may be to do with the app not running in the background. For example, although I never quit out of the app (by double-clicking the button then closing it via the red cross), more often than not, when I tap the icon, it goes through the whole welcome screen thing again, which suggests to me that it hasn't been running.

If I can get to the bottom of that, I'll have another go at testing it on the road.

[PaulB2005]

[DennisN]

What welcome screen? I get a very brief blue intro logo thing, but then in millisecs, moves on to the normal CamerAlert. I've just loaded it now and inside here with no satellite lock, it's showing quite a lot of cameras, nearest 407.0 miles away (my real nearest is a mobile about 890yds away).

Closing via the red cross? Mine's a red minus sign.

Please be aware that you can delete, redownload and reinstall the app at any time - I have done so myself a couple times, in order to refresh the app if it gets itself in a twist. I suggest you try that for now - it'll tell you that you have already bought it, so this download is free.
_________________
Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[MaFt]

[DennisN]

[nhalliday]

Thanks guys.

The phone is a 3GS running the latest OS (4.1 I think?).

When it works, it definitely picks up the cameras, so the database isn't an issue.

The problem is how to keep it running. I have never closed the app by clicking the red minus sign, but it never seems to run for more than an hour. When I tap the app icon, I get the blue startup screen for a couple of seconds, then the map displays.

When I press the iPhone's hardware button to go back to the home screen, run another app or whatever, the GPS arrow remains displayed at the top of the screen. However, after a while it disappears, presumably meaning the app has quit?

I'm indoors now, presumably with no GPS signal (although the map shows a blue dot for my location). When I tap the list button, it tells me that the nearest camera is 231km away, when in fact it's less than 20km to the nearest one on the database (although there are dozens more which are not listed).

I'll have a go at deleting the app and re-installing it to see how I get on.

[MaFt]

[nhalliday]

A quick update after re-installing the app:

1. Oops, it doesn't keep the last downloaded database at all, instead it reverts to the pre-installed version. How do I get that back?

2. The icon at the top right is red, presumably meaning that there is no GPS fix? I downloaded the companion GPS-Status app, and this shows "Good fix".

[MaFt]

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