Your phone as the GPS

The phone in your pocket has better GPS than most modems. There are two ways to use it.

Option 1: straight from the browser

Nothing to install.

1. Log in on your computer, go to Settings and scan the QR code under Phone as GPS source with your phone.
2. Tap Start sending and allow location access when the browser asks.
3. Keep the page open. It keeps the screen awake while it’s sending.

You can also install it as an app: on Android, tap Install as an app on the page; on iPhone, tap Share and then Add to Home Screen. It gets its own icon and opens full screen. If the phone sits in a pocket or a holder, turn on pocket mode: the screen goes black (nearly free on OLED screens) and it keeps sending.

The page shows how accurate your GPS is, when it last sent, and whether your location is actually being used. It isn’t while you’re offline on Twitch, so you can start it before you go live.

Option 2: a tracking app

These keep sending while your phone is locked. Your ingest URL and token are under Settings → GPS apps and devices.

Traccar Client (Android and iPhone)

• Server URL: https://irlmap.live
• Device identifier: your ingest token, in_your_ingest_token
• Frequency: about 5 seconds while streaming
• Location accuracy: high
• Location permission: “all the time” (“Always” on iPhone). On Android, also turn off battery optimisation for Traccar, or the phone may put it to sleep.

Settings → Background tracking has the same values with copy buttons, and a check that turns green when the first location arrives, so you know it works before you go live.

GPSLogger (Android)

Turn on Log to custom URL, method GET, and use this URL. Set the logging interval to 2 to 5 seconds.

https://irlmap.live/ingest/in_your_ingest_token?lat=%LAT&lon=%LON&speed=%SPD&alt=%ALT&acc=%ACC&heading=%DIR&ts=%TIMESTAMP

OwnTracks (Android and iPhone)

Switch the mode to HTTP and use this as the URL. Use Move mode while streaming so it sends often.

https://irlmap.live/ingest/in_your_ingest_token

Battery

GPS every few seconds uses about as much battery as a navigation app. Bring a power bank for long streams. With the browser option the screen stays on, so turn the brightness down.

Next: add an overlay to OBS.