Troubleshooting & FAQ¶

Common issues and solutions for Bristol Maps.

Maps & Imagery¶

Maps won’t download or are stuck

Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi recommended for large downloads)
Ensure you have sufficient device storage
Try restarting the app and retrying the download
If the issue persists, contact support@bristolmaps.com

Downloaded maps don’t appear on the navigation page

Check that the map layer is toggled on in navigation settings
Verify the map priority – lower numbers display on top
Try adjusting the transparency if the map is hidden behind another layer

Map tiles appear blurry or low resolution

Zoom in further – some layers have limited zoom levels
Try a different basemap option (Satellite, NOAA, Alaska High Res)
Higher resolution imagery may be available for download

Location & GPS¶

My location is not showing or is inaccurate

Ensure location permissions are granted for Bristol Maps
Check that GPS is enabled on your device
Move to an area with clear sky view for better GPS signal
On Wi-Fi-only iPads, an external GPS device is required
If using NMEA GPS, check the NMEA connection

I used to use Starlink for GPS – where did that option go?

Starlink discontinued the local-network location sharing that Bristol Maps relied on, so the Starlink router can no longer be used as a GPS source
The Use Starlink for GPS option has been removed from Settings
Use a device with built-in GPS – a cellular iPad or a Hugerock tablet
Or feed position in from the boat’s NMEA GPS – see NMEA & GPS Setup
An external GPS receiver also works as a stopgap on a Wi-Fi-only iPad

Location sharing is not working

Verify you are signed in to your account
Check that location sharing is enabled for your group
Ensure you have an active internet connection
Check the location sharing interval in Settings

Weather & Tides¶

Weather data is not loading

An internet connection is required for weather data
Weather cannot be cached for offline use
If offline, weather will populate when you reconnect

Tide data is not showing

The first time viewing a station requires internet
After the first view, one year of data is cached offline
Try clearing tide data in Settings and re-downloading

Tide overlay is not visible

Tap the tide chart icon on the left side of the navigation page
Select a tide station when prompted
Ensure the overlay is not hidden behind other UI elements

Boundaries & Alarms¶

Boundary alarm is not sounding

Check that Line Alarm is enabled in Settings
Verify Audio Alarm is toggled on
Ensure boundary lines are loaded on the map
Check the alarm distance threshold
Make sure your device volume is turned up

Pots & Gear¶

The crab button is not on my map

The 🦀 and ⚙️ buttons only show while Display Gear Points is on. Turn it on in Settings > Pot & Gear Tracking, or in the map filter menu under Pot Tracking. The desktop app has no crab button: use + Add Pot in the GEAR STRINGS sidebar, or right-click the chart. See Pots & Gear.

A pot was dropped with no depth

Depth is stamped only from a live NMEA depth reading less than 60 seconds old, and only on pots dropped at the boat – Drop Pot from the long-press popup never records depth. Open the pot and tap Use sounder, or type the depth in. If the sounder never shows up, see NMEA & GPS Setup.

Pots I dropped on my phone are not on my tablet

Both devices must be signed in to the same account
Cloud Pot & String Backup must be on in Settings > Pot & Gear Tracking on both
Changes made without signal arrive once the device is back online; on desktop, press Sync Now
Two strings with the same name merge into one – that is expected, not lost gear
Pick counts travel with your logs, under Cloud Log Backup in Settings > Logging & Recording

See Sync & Sharing.

I cannot edit or pick a string a group member shared with me

That is by design. A shared string is a read-only copy – the banner reads “Shared with you — read-only. Manage it from the string owner’s device.” You can centre on it, open its pots, and Hide Shared String. Ask the owner to make the change; it reaches you within seconds. See What members can and cannot do.

Pot numbers changed, or differ between devices

Until a pick has been started, pots are numbered by set time, so editing a set time renumbers the string. Starting a pick freezes the numbers for good, on every device. See How pots are numbered.

The string track stopped recording on its own

Auto-Stop Tracking (minutes) (60 by default) ends a track after that long without movement
With Background Pot Tracking off, recording stops when the app leaves the screen
The desktop app only records while it is running

Restart with ⚙️ > ▶ Start Tracking, or ➕ New Track for a fresh run. See String tracks.

Draggers say they cannot see my pots

Share Pot Locations with Draggers needs Cloud Pot & String Backup on. Check the status line under the switch – it should read “Sharing pot locations until …” with a date, or “until you turn it off”. The message “Could not update pot location sharing” means the change did not reach the server; try again with a connection. See Sharing pot locations with drag boats.

AIS¶

No AIS targets are showing

The AIS data included with your subscription is seasonal and provided only in requested areas – currently Bristol Bay, and Prince William Sound in part. Outside those areas or outside the season, an empty map is expected rather than a fault.

Confirm AIS vessel display is switched on in navigation settings
Check where you are against the coverage above
Clear or check your AIS filter – if the MMSI allow list is populated, only those vessels are drawn
To see AIS outside the covered areas, connect your own receiver. See AIS via NMEA

AIS works at home but not on the grounds

Included AIS needs a data connection. Your own AIS receiver over NMEA does not – it keeps working with no signal, which is why a receiver is worth having if you fish outside the covered areas.

NMEA & Hardware¶

Can’t connect to NMEA server

Verify the IP address and port in Settings
Ensure your device is on the same local network as the NMEA server
Check that the NMEA server is powered on and running
Try the connection from a different device to isolate the issue

Depth or temperature readings are missing

Verify the NMEA device is sending the correct sentence types
Check the depth sounder offset setting
Ensure the sensor is properly connected to the NMEA network

Subscription & Account¶

App says my subscription is expired

Check your subscription status in the App Store or Play Store
Ensure auto-renewal is enabled
Turn on Beta Options in Settings > Advanced & Development, then use Restore Subscription > Restore Purchase on that same page
See Access & Recovery for the full walkthrough
Contact support@bristolmaps.com if the issue persists

Can’t create an account or sign in

Check your internet connection
Verify your email address is correct
Check your email for a verification link
Try resetting your password

Performance¶

App is running slowly or crashing

Close other apps to free up memory
Reduce the number of map layers loaded simultaneously
Lower the track line maximum positions in Settings
Restart the app
Ensure your device meets the minimum requirements (iOS 13+, Android API 29+)

Contact Support¶

If your issue isn’t listed here, contact us:

Email: support@bristolmaps.com
Include your device type, app version, and a description of the issue