Offline navigation - QR code creator for phone satnav configuration - good way to share gate locations, high seat positions, carcass location, etc

[zambezi]

Google mapping and other similar mobile phone solutions usually require cell data which means they do not work everywhere.

But phones only need satellite access to know where they are. And if you have clear sky above, you will have. The solution is to install offline maps on your phone. One good example is Organic Maps.

The QR code format provides several standards. One of which is very useful to those of us who need to share location data easily with others: make a QR code for particular location. Colleague scans QR with phone and their off line mapping app opens and pinpoints destination encoded in QR.

Dead Simple QR Code Generator

No ads. No signups. No spam. Just QR Codes when you want them.

httpbin.dmuth.org

 

[Zio65]

Thanks

 

[zambezi]

Bonus discovery: central pixels in QR code are redundant.

What that means is that it is possible to add a customising motif or text.

For example a crown inset here to denote crown jewels at the Tower of London:

 

[zambezi]

2nd bonus discovery: the syntax for encoding a WIFI SSID, password and security level can also be shared via an edittable QR code.

Typical application: shooting club or other meeting area, holiday let, guest network in your home, etc.

android phones have have widgets in the network section which auto configure wifi via URI:

WIFI example: SSID = Fuschias, Encryption = WPA, Password = herbaceousborder

Code string becomes: WIFI:S:Fuschias;T:WPA;P:herbaceousborder;;
Drop that string into the QR code generator:

Dead Simple QR Code Generator

No ads. No signups. No spam. Just QR Codes when you want them.

httpbin.dmuth.org

The original ZXing QR standard did not have in mind any encryption except WPA. WPA is long gone as it is highly insecure. However...as long as the WAP security encryption is set to WPA2 personal or better, it would appear that the encryption level is auto-negotiated even though those specs are not in the URI above.









Side bar:

The later WPA2 and [even better] WPA3 specification makes some changes to the original ZXing specification and they can be found here:

https://www.wi-fi.org/system/files/WPA3%20Specification%20v3.2.pdf#page=26

So for a WAP that supports WPA2/WPA3 personal, the string above becomes: WIFI:S:Fuschias;T:WPA;R:1;P:herbaceousborder;;
But note that not all platforms will recognise this later amendment to the QR standard. [my wife's older iPad does not] In the cases where the "R:1" addition did not work for me, the mobile device seemed to translate URI to mean the WAP was "open". i.e. not even WPA. Your mileage may vary...