Meet or chat with other Travellers abroad
 

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wHaAT7uH8...travellers.JPG

In the distant foreign country it would be nice to see which traveler is also nearby. Be it to chat briefly about the easiest border crossing, security situation, visa situation or just to have a beer together and spend a sociable evening.

Something like that is missing, discovered two travelers on their tour in the Stans and Iran and after their trip they developed the appropriate app: Travelers Map (iOS; Android)

In times of the ever-extensive mobile Internet with 3G / 4G - you might find support in the event of a breakdown or similar.

In the app itself, after creating the account, you will be displayed rather imprecisely, in a 10km radius (not centered on you), for your own safety and so that your camp does not increase unintentionally. The app only activates the GPS briefly every 3 hours and is therefore not particularly power hungry.

If you record each other as favorites, you can also share the location more precisely.

Currently, more Vanlife users seem to be using the whole thing, most users are in France, Germany and Switzerland - but the app is also brand new. But you can tag you too as biker, and too looking just for these.

Click here for the review: https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/08/...e-treffen.html

There is a translate Button to the right.

As soon as it gets more remote, outside the travel season, in distant countries, whether I'm traveling alone or with my girlfriend - something like that was really missing - and we will certainly use the app on the next long-term trip (Silk Road) from time to time.

I would not have thought myself that the need for campers / vanlife is also greater inside of europe! What is about the bikers?

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6vC1u4cO...nnect-meet.JPG

The first travellers on Panamericana and even Transafrica are visible :thumbup1:

And a lot who are seems to using it too in the homecountry.

Its really a brilliant idea!

Surfy

I was able to download the app on my Android device, but I don't see it in the Apple App Store.

That is because of the spelling, watch the Screenshot. Easiest way is to follow the link in the article..

The Founder is french, so the spelling is a bit.... :nuke:

Have the App on both, iPhone/iPad!

Surfy

Be-aware
This app tracks you- you can not send your location but then you will not be able to 'see' others.
Once you have chosen a profile photo, you cannot delete it.
Once you send messages or anything else, you CANNOT delete them.
The app persists continuously to ask you to allow google location and when you say 'no' it keeps asking you.
Uninstalled.:frown:

agree with Toyark - too much invasion of privacy, no thank you.

Despite the invasion of privacy issue, I think it’s a great idea, like iOverlander (for relative to travellers POIs), but just for Meet & Chat with other fellows on-road or temporary at their home.

So, I´m wondering how difficult could be to made a similar app just for HUBBers, with the precautions regarding the privacy issues. Also, we maybe can link it with our HU Help Communities. And maybe a POIs section as well.

Perhaps a new way to integrate the HU into the modern way of communication.
I’m imagining as well that iO… could be adding this meet and chat option very soon. It would be nice if we, the old hubbers can take the lead this time ;)

Just my 2 cents
Saludos!

I am working on everything you mention EXCEPT this exact thing - and I think it's a great idea. What's needed is a coder that knows how and wants to help - too hard for me, and too expensive to pay for a commercial version :(
Privacy is and has ALWAYS been a FIRST concern for us.
Thanks for the thought Javier!

Update
App developper wrote back and told me that to delete the messages would require the permission of BOTH parties hence it is likely to fail so it has not been included in the functionality of the app.

I've mentioned the security issues but he has not responded as yet.

Love Ioverlander BUT I do so wish they would update it to be able to download maps for OFFline use just like the Park4Night app.
To overcome this short coming, I've created individual files from Ioverlander data which I upload to my Garmins so that I can avoid this 'you need to be connected to the internet to see the map) issue and have use of the information which I appreciate. Thank you IO.:thumbup1:

Networks are expensive, Brexit will make this more so for us Brits. Ioverlander really do need to add this option (pretty please!)
My 2 pence- feel free to disagree :Beach:

Great idea.

I suppose anyone with privacy concerns (Me included) could just use a fake google account and an old spare smart phone.

Thing is
 

Ted, even with an old phone with nothing on it and a false email, you still need a network.
EVEN IF you had managed to cover ALL your tracks, you cannot escape someone knowing you are withing a 10km circle and that could become a security issue. IMHO, the less populated the area you are in, the greater the risk of a visit from someone you may not welcome... or, of course you could get lucky but...
The developper has put in the option for you to turn off sending your position every 3 hours but if you do that, you do not 'see' the possible area where travellers may be located.

But then you come across a new hazard:
There are the 'Leeches'- those who boast their luggage only weighs 5 kilos, then need to borrow all your tools (Grrrr) and everything else...doh

There are the 'Klingons'- who will adapt their 'plans' to stick to you like glue and won't let you go on your own way.

There are the 'Skinflints' who'll see you as an easy target for a 'loan' or easy meal.

There are the 'Sobbers'- great sob stories all designed to tweak your heart strings and part you with something you need.

And there are those with seriously negative intentions so, be careful with that app. Or not! as ever, your choice :mchappy:

and I stop there! Have I become cynical over my loooong years of travel? no, but I have lived and experienced all the above and it has never done me any good. I've always done my best to help those who truly needed help but those say little or nothing, you can read it in their eyes; then you can actually DO something constructive.

sure application tracks you, how else it could figure it out where travelers are??? come on, get real! doh also when you send a text message or email you cannot delete them either...

and BTW by having a cell phone, credit card etc you're automatically tracked by cell phone company, financial company and all who really want to...

Well to use your term 'get real' mr tremens...
Most of the population does not have the ability/tools/authority etc to track you using the items you mention.
This app, however, is available to anyone almost anonymously and therefore, IMHO, can cause a risk to travellers.
The purpose of this site is to be informative and for readers to make their own, hopefully better informed, decisions
Real enough for you? :rolleyes: Feel free to disagree! Have a nice day - or not- your choice!

first of all this site doesn't need to inform about this because user is being warn and ask for permission during install. Second of all - so you'd like basically to track other travelers and see where they are but not allow them to see where you are...very nice... :thumbdown:

We are all tracked and traced to death.

If you use a mobile phone, ATM, or even log into your email at an internet cafe then your location is known to those who want to know it.

I, like many others would love to be on the other side of that fence but I'm over it now.

Unless I want to live in a cave, sucking moisture out of moss and hunting lame squirrels, I just have to accept that "The man" knows where I am.

Hopefully, my life isn't interesting enough to flag anything up on the Stasi satellites :)

Tremens- please keep things clear- you have misunderstood- This has nothing to do with me.

Surfy found - and well done him- a new app and reported on it - it could be of interest to others. I was curious to see if it could have been an alternative as a cheap tracking app (compared to many other paid services) and what were its parameters. I tested it and communicated with its developper and found out that there were some privacy issues- these may or may not be pertinent to you. As always, we all make our own choices. I merely flagged it- c'est tout!
And it is not about 'The Man' - it is about any ordinary 'Joe' being able to spot the area you are in. There is no current facility in that app for you to chose the amount of 'signal detuning' you may wish to have which could be a step forward in reducing concerns for some.

Ted, shame on you about hunting lame squirrels- surely you're ( still...:blushing: ) fast enough to pick a healthy one? :Beach:

This app is curious.

All of a sudden it came nowhere and was spam posted across many overlanding groups and forums with links to websites loaded with affiliate links and advertising. (an attempt to drive traffic and earn income maybe?).

Now the app itself, imho, offers nothing for travellers that you can't get already through social media and related forums so has no value for me.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wHaAT7uH8...travellers.JPG

I was in touch with the programmer like others here too. He is open for new features and updates, someone has to ask. As I am currently not travelling, I am not the best to ask for :cool4:

I did see that travellers are helping each others during pendemic restrictions. Swiss travellers did connect to travellers in greek, getting recent informations about how to get there.

Travellers are able to meet with others nearby, what helps for socialicing in your own language in south america.

I think that tool has his place. And is helpful because you know that somewhere is there, and not at moms place in Irland and is talking about outdated informations (what you newer know on Social Media).

Safety Issue:
I did a transafrica and did travel in south america with enabled livetracking and a daily updated blog. I dont see an issue because of that. Are the Islamic Terrorists using travelling blogs with Liveupdates? You can alway be on the wrong place to the wrong time.. Dont think the risk risis with livetracking and the exact coordinates. Do you really care about a App who gives your Location just nearby? The location is pretty approximately, if you check it with a second device and account.

Privacy Issue
It is always funny to see that named. Mostly from people who give a **** about personal data security. As long you dont use a VPN Provider and a Browser with decent privacy Setting your Network provider, Google and the NSA can see: What are your interests, what are you searching for? Which porn provider is your favorite? Which Porn you like, which Actor is your favorite. How long you usually watch porn per day, how long you consume porn per session. What receipes you are looking for. Just to give you some ideas. I dont have to start to add the use of social media here, or? Whatch the Documentary "the social dilemma" to get scared. And after that - do you really care about this App named here?

I think we need something like this what this App offers. There is a market for. I dont think that the programmer is fishy, he is just a traveler with a good idea and the skills to do it. If someone can do it better - do it! Personally I would stay with the privacy the "travelers map" currently provide on the map.

Surfy

Surfy, tracking issues aside
it may be worth mentioning here that should you use this app AND use the send message feature, you are not able to delete any of the messages you have sent...
The developer tells me that to do this would require the consent of both the sender and the receiver.
That could be a 'red flag' for some.
Just my 2p
Have a nice day

Millions of Users did use the Whatsapp or Telegram Messenger without be able to delete Messages. This Option did come a good while later.. Also today it is just possible to delete a Message on Whatsapp, if the opposite did NOT read it already! So is it really a big deal??

When I write something I never think after 5 min, that I did not want to do that?

Personally I like that I dont have to Backup Informations, because someone else can delete it out of my Messenger - but this is my personal view. Guess the developer will do it, soon enough users request it. Today any updated Messenger allows to delete.

That it is not possible to delete the account used for registration - THAT would be something to discuss indeed... More because of not used ghost accounts...

Surfy

Millions of flies are sitting on a pile of shit. So that's no reason for me to sit next to it.

Just another data thrower! doh

Say`s the guy who use websites like hubb with google analytics embedded, who says "social dilemma" are just old stuff? If you really care about your digital footprint - you would not be here. Or you would use this App (Google based) without crying :mchappy:

Anything else - looks really pretty stupid, if you start to think through in detail...

Use F12 at this site
Surfy

My choice
 

If I want t search for another traveler.

I want to have the choice to decide when to report where I am.
I would never use an app like this.

It is enough to have a forum, where I can publish what I what to publish, when I want to do it.

But that is for me.

You do whatever you want. I do not care

That is a absolutely solid reason to handle it that way!

If we look at the history here at Hubb, it dosnt look like your way is very common either. Meetup in Punta Arenas tonight - is rarely to read here @ https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...ng-travellers/

Guess the bikers have their Hotspots on a trip like the Panamericana as an example. They usually meet at hostels and Hotels because not many are travelling mostly by tent - and is willing to cook at evening. So socialicing abroad is not really an big issue.

In the 4x4 many of us are are a bit more self-sufficient. Our vehicles use solar power to run a compressor fridge, a lot of food, steaks, jam, ham, eggs, cold beer, we often are able to stay remotely for two weeks. Many of us just rarely go to campsites, hostels or hotels - and didnt meet others while wildcamping.

And then such a App could be nice for socializing to get togeher. To see who is arround. Specially if you are travelling alone.

That we have to share our profile to see other profiles, is for these in younger age common sense - same they did have at most dating plattforms or social media.

Traveler Map is not for dating, but guess that it is easy to find other lonely travellers in the same are that way. bier

The App offers a lot more than just meet "someone". Everyone has his profile, photos, text, native language - you see what you get - way more - as at Hubb as example. You see the travel vehicle, links to blogs, and get an idea if you like to meet with the opposite. You can choose. You cant do the same at Hubb...

Everyone can do what he want - guess at least for us in 4x4 - it is very helpful...

Surfy

Errr.... Nah ! we'll agree to disagree Surfy!
I prefer to park up my 'solar powered battlestar':Beach: and seek out small local eating places usually full of life, often music, friendly people and usually with very tasty foods on offer / local products some of which you can, at times, buy if you talk to the owner/chef and stock the fridge up.

Then when my need for solitude returns, I fire up the battlestar and head for the hills.
So that app can kiss my afterburners! :biggrin3:

i remember this
 

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020...appd-beer-app/
Maybe worth a look. I read this article last year. Interesting.
I have spoken several times to mostly Americans who have told me they 'are in the military' or are 'fighter pilots'. Maybe they are, maybe they are not, I don't know. However, I would expect them to be guarded about giving away such info..

That is truely valid. Looks like you have the luck to spent your touring times just in regions, where the locals are able to talk to you.. Not all of the travellers did stay that close to the language-cultural home.

On a Panamericana you need just additional spain and portugese language to get that kind of experience seemless too. Or spend your time in the 3-4bigger cities each country has, where more people are able to talk english.

If you are travelling remotely, there is no restaurant, no bar - no shop nearby. You can park that way. You can be shure noone can talk one word of english. And the locals are drinking warm beere, becauce no electric and no fridge.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jsuqUQFHBL...0/P1000850.JPG

Travelling remotely, did let me see often the hidden gems of a country.

So after a while, days, weeks, months abroad, just talking with hand and feets (I`m pretty skilled with that) - you probably would like to speak in your native language again.

At the silkroad the amount of languages needed for asking the "owner/chef" is growing quickly. Farsi, russian language and so on. Exactly after doing a part of the silkroad - the programmer of the app had that idea. Maybe with reason.

Surfy

@Surfy
I've travelled to many countries amigo, before satnavs, smart phones, translators etc and many where I could not speak a word and it was all sign language. A smile and a handshake was all that was needed to break the ice. As the years rolled on, I did find a great tool though which cut down hugely on my gesticulating :smiliex:- see below. 6.5cm x 16cm when closed and made of some plastic and it has served me well. It is still good today. (I do not like bringing out a smartphone in some places to use the translator.)
Immersing myself in different cultures has been a joy and a real eye opener.
I know some have the need to speak their own language but the last thing I need is to travel far away and to end up seeking out Brits abroad with or without an app!:smiliex:

This cheap but very effective gadget is called the Pocket Comms and marketed as ' Because you cannot draw to save your life'. It contains 40 sides crammed of images from human organs, to food, to tools and does not require to be recharged
Maybe someone will find this 'old school' kit useful (if it is still available- no idea)

I didn`t had the chance to use the App, because the App didnt exists at 2015 at my south america trip (6 months), nor at 2019 (two months) as I was on my estern europe trip.

Both I did solo. Guess as a couple I would not use the App, there would be no need.

In South America I was 6 month travelling, and yes, I would have used it. Without the App I did choose to hit a hostel for accompany from time to time. With the App I would have meet some travelers at a beautiful beachcamp.

That is not about saving cash. I like to do overlanding by car. Those socialicing at hostel sessions - are always a kind of interuption. Better more days in the wild, with people who understand that way of travel.

I had many evenings staying with locals, often they dont let me wildcamp after they detect me. After a while it is worse to sit in a round of strangers, who gives you (food, drinks) from the less they own, and you cant really commicate, nor give something (useful) back.

I would have loved it, to pay something, but those people dont want cash. And the womens didnt seems to like if the stranger brings a bottle of wine/beer - because they did care for their husbands.

Yes rarely I hit a remote spot well equiped and was able to spend beef, was able to bbq - but this people dont appreciate that so much. They like to spend stuff, not to optain.

It is ok for 2-3 nights but I did feel better lonely on a spot with campfire, watching the beautiful nature, reading a book or watching an audiobook.

Yes, I would have used that app bier.. To rarely socialicing from time to time. This Hostelcrowd is nice too, always good for a joung chick, but - sometimes it is nice to share travel experiences with peoples, who are doing the same.

I had something similar in africa, but did never use it. I`m pretty good to do conservation without knowing the language if necessary.

And yes, that is my personal view - and has not to be identical with other perspectives. In Center of Europe you dont need such a App. You had more work to avoid to meet with other travellers - because it is crowded here.

And when I like to stay a week remote in the nature - hell - i DONT want to meetup with others. If you like to socialize, you just has to choose Park4Night for looking for a "well known" campsite.

So we probably should look at the App "Traveler Map" as a tool for single travellers abroad and extended travelling - and not for people who are spendig their weekends at home in the nature...

Surfy

I did try to write down, how exposed you are as usual for datacrawlers

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...n-catch-101725

I hope you like that kind of writeup / perspective.

Surfy

[QUOTE=Toyark;618340]@Surfy
I've travelled to many countries amigo, before satnavs, smart phones, translators etc and many where I could not speak a word and it was all sign language. A smile and a handshake was all that was needed to break the ice. As the years rolled on, I did find a great tool though which cut down hugely on my gesticulating :smiliex:- see below. 6.5cm x 16cm when closed and made of some plastic and it has served me well. It is still good today. (I do not like bringing out a smartphone in some places to use the translator.)
Immersing myself in different cultures has been a joy and a real eye opener.
I know some have the need to speak their own language but the last thing I need is to travel far away and to end up seeking out Brits abroad with or without an app!:smiliex:

This cheap but very effective gadget is called the Pocket Comms and marketed as ' Because you cannot draw to save your life'. It contains 40 sides crammed of images from human organs, to food, to tools and does not require to be recharged
Maybe someone will find this 'old school' kit useful (if it is still available- no idea)[/QUOTE



If it’s not available as a language aid, check out speech and language pathologist/therapist equipment.

If you Google
Pocket comms....it is still available...

Looks like a very useful thing to..."have in your pocket".....

Maybe you can put up a link where it is please Giles?
Google finds references to it but I was unable to find a store which still sells them.
I tried mazon, waterstones etc.to no avail- even the www.pocketcomms.co.uk didn’t send any data.
Anyone?

Usually you can optain these pictogram books at expedition related stores. But here you can find it at: Amazon

I would suggest more an app based solution - but I didnt was able to find one. And probably you plan to visit countries, where you didnt like to show your expensive phone...

Surfy

Thread resurection - now called Camper Tribe
 

Looks like the dev. has changed the name of this app :
'New major version for Travelers Map app, renamed Camper Tribe'.

Curious name choice
'Nosy Mena'...

re: You cant do the same at Hubb...

Actually, you can. Click the posters name, View Public Profile, About Me, and whatever THEY CHOOSE to put in there is visible. NOTHING is required, it's all optional.