Some forum members have commented that OruxMaps has a steep learning curve. Others say it is worth it. So far I agree with both views. In case it helps other new users, here is how I set up my phone (a cheap ZTE A462 with maximum SD card size) for longest battery life while off-track logging in OM.
1. Turn on the Phone. If necessary, turn screen locking back on (saves battery and problems from ‘pocket clicks’ in an active app.)
2. Turn on Flight Mode (saves battery, especially in remote areas without phone reception).
3. Start the OruxMaps app (OM). Turn off other Apps if not needed, to save power.
4. *Turn on the phone Location services. High accuracy or Device only (GPS) are OK; both use only GPS in Flight Mode (which should turn phone network connection and WiFi off unless over-ridden). You can check in phone system settings or quick settings (swipe down).
5. *If necessary, take OM out of Android/phone power saving to allow GPS use and track recording: System settings > Battery > ⁞ > Battery optimisation > ▼ > All apps > OruxMaps Not optimised.
6. *In OM top menu Track {sym} (or side menu): Start GPS & Start Recording. If there are error messages, they probably relate to the Location and Battery settings in Android mentioned above. Recording continues while OM is open in the background, and GPS activity continues even if you turn OM off!
* Steps 4-6 above may be prompted by simply pressing Start Recording in OM, but this can be a bit confusing if you are not very familiar with your phone’s steps/options for Location services and Battery optimisation.
7. The OM status bar at top left should now show a grey GPS symbol (plus a coloured GPS symbol if Fast or Power-save GPS Mode has been selected) along with a box-in-circle icon and a squiggle for track logging. The accuracy vs power use trade-off is managed under “GPS Mode” which in turn depends on choices made in “GPS settings”.
8. There should soon be a GPS location symbol, and the map should auto-centre there. If not, you may want to use a separate App like “GPS Test” to check on satellites in view and whether you have a position fix.
9. As you move, the OM map will move to keep the GPS location at centre, and a track will be drawn according to settings under Top menu > ⁞ > Global settings > User interface > Tracks and ...... > Colors. Turn off the phone screen when not needed, to save power.
10. If you move the OM map (by dragging a finger on the screen), track recording will be suspended for a short time, while the lower panel (Dashboard) shows the distance and bearing from your (last GPS) location to the spot at centre-screen.
11. Remember to turn off the GPS and Track Recording when you stop for a while (to save battery). You will be offered to continue the track or start a new segment when you resume track recording. There is an OM setting for maximum stored points per track.
12. There seem to be no alarms for loss of GPS signal, loss of position fix, or low battery in OM or Android. Adding Apps for these things will probably increase battery use.
13. Trip Computer TC-4 in OM is handy when you are navigating a route (by waypoint navigation). It can be set to use the GPS to approximate your heading, and it shows the distance and bearing to the next waypoint on your route. Alternatively, these things can be set to show in the Dashboard. Either way, route navigation is independent of track recording.
14. The OM active track (with associated Starting points and Finishing points for Segments) is stored in the --- folder (as displayed the OM Manage Tracks/Routes screen). If selected there, it can be exported as kml or gpx (into the tracklogs folder as accessed through a file manager). You can also set OM to save, export and/or backup tracks automatically.
15. OM can also share tracks in various ways via bluetooth or a data connection. The recorded track can also be deleted, once it is made inactive (e.g. by turning off GPS and track recording). See the OM manual for more information.