Location Sharing

Sharing your own location

Location sharing means others in operation can see your position in real time. It is one of the most important Karttahimmeli features for shared situational awareness.

Location sharing is started from dedicated share button (not from the same switch as own location display).

Before starting sharing

Before enabling sharing, verify patrol ID follows command naming guidance. Incorrectly named location data significantly complicates command work.

Location trail - tail

Tail is only a view

Changing tail length affects only what is visible on map. It does not remove stored route history from system.

Location sharing records your route. On map route is shown as tail, a line indicating where you came from.

Tail length can be adjusted in settings:

• Default: 30 minutes - often enough for patrol work
• Dog patrol recommendation: at least 4 hours - to notice when you cross old tracks
• Backtracking: full trail - set tail long enough to show full route

Who should share location?

Advanced: sharing to a layer

Location can be shared to separate layer instead of all users. This can be used in training where participants should not see each other's positions. See Layers guide.

Multiple people in same patrol can share location. In dog patrol it often makes sense that both handler and assistant share.

If two people in same patrol use exactly same ID, their routes mix. Separate patrol members with slash. See naming conventions.

Power saving

On Android, power-saving mode can stop location updates when display turns off. Karttahimmeli warns about this with yellow notification.

Power saving must be disabled so background location works when screen is off. Check phone power settings if this fails.

Nearby patrols on map

Tip for dog patrols

Dog air-scent reaction can be caused by nearby patrol. If people are upwind, dog may react to their scent. Checking nearby patrol positions on map can save significant time.

At wider zoom level you can see other patrol positions. Patrol tail shows from which direction they came.

It is not recommended to keep wide zoom all the time because it disrupts your own work. But it is good to occasionally check wider picture, especially before dog patrol starts search.