4WD GPS track recording without signal

Why explicit start and stop matters

Automatic trip detection sounds convenient until it logs the drive to the servo, the wrong spur, or a recovery loop you would rather forget. Earth 91 uses explicit start and stop controls so a saved track represents a leg you chose to record.

Each new recording gets an automatic local date and time name. You can rename tracks later from the Tracks tab. Interrupted sessions are marked clearly instead of being silently discarded, which matters on multi-day trips when the phone reboots or the app is cleared from recents.

Recording with the screen locked

On Android, background location for recording uses a foreground service. When you start a track, Earth 91 shows a persistent notification so you know logging is active. Recording can continue while the screen is locked or the app is in the background, which is how most 4WD days actually run: phone in a mount or pocket, attention on the track.

Before any system permission prompt, Earth 91 shows a staged in-app disclosure with a consent checkbox. Foreground location is requested after the first Continue. Background location is requested only when you start route recording, after a second disclosure and Continue. You can deny background access, but then recording will not continue with the screen off.

Battery-aware recording profiles

Long days need a tradeoff between track detail and battery life. Earth 91 exposes recording profiles in the Data tab:

• High detail for short legs or when you want a dense point history
• Balanced for typical day trips
• Battery saver when you need the phone to last as long as possible

Pick the profile before you leave coverage so you are not fiddling with settings on a steep grade.

Replay on offline maps

Saved tracks appear in the Tracks tab. Tap a track to replay it on the map over your active offline pack. Off-road tracks and paths are styled separately from sealed roads when OpenStreetMap attributes support it, which helps you see where the line followed a management track versus a formed road.

The live map HUD shows heading, speed, and altitude while you navigate. That is situational awareness, not turn-by-turn voice guidance. Earth 91 does not calculate routes or recalculate if you miss a turn.

Export and portability

From the Data tab you can export individual tracks as GPX or GeoJSON, or import tracks in those formats. That lets you share a leg with a mate, archive a season, or move data to another tool if you outgrow a single app.

Tracks are included in the validated local backup archive alongside places and settings. Restore is deliberate and confirmed twice so a bad file does not wipe a trip.

When not to use Earth 91 for navigation

Earth 91 is not a replacement for paper maps, UHF radio discipline, or local knowledge on serious remote travel. It does not provide satellite imagery, live traffic, or crowdsourced track conditions. Treat recorded lines as your own history, not as authoritative track ratings.