How to Set Up PureTrack for X-Alps Viewing
PureTrack.io is a live-tracking app by Tim Bromhead, a sailplane pilot from New Zealand. What makes this app special, is that it aggregates multiple networks for each pilot’s live location.
For example, here is one X-Alps pilot's position, aggregated from four different devices.
I believe integrating multiple devices from multiple networks for each pilot is the most important innovation in live-tracking in recent years. No network - not even a satellite tracker - guarantees a 100% connection, but if a pilot has multiple trackers, one of them will probably work. It also has no delay, unlike other platforms.
I believe both of these features are super important for safety in our sport, and I hope that in the future, more comps will embrace these multi-network live-tracking platforms.
X-Alps Live Tracking
If you're a paragliding pilot, you're probably following the X-Alps race right now. And you've probably realized that the official live tracking on redbullxalps.com gets worse each year. This year, in particular, it’s so bad that most viewers are looking for alternative platforms.
Configuring PureTrack
Of the alternative platforms, PureTrack is currently the best one, but its UI has many settings that aren't optimized for paraglider pilots. In this guide, I'll share how to configure it for the best experience.
First, the URL is https://puretrack.io/g/red-bull-x-alps. The URL changes the moment you load the page, so you have to save a bookmark, then edit it and copy and paste this exact link: https://puretrack.io/g/red-bull-x-alps
OK, now you're on the page. Please be patient; the server is being hammered by everyone right now, so loading takes about 35 seconds. Once it's loaded, it works fine.
Initial view is this:
Let’s make it look better.
From here, I’ll just use screenshots with red arrows to show the settings you need to click.
Settings
Labels and Icons
Units
Layers
Label Line Two (super important!)
Base Map
Time
One small note, make sure the tracklog is set to 6h and not 24h. The 24h option is a bit broken at the moment and makes everything super slow.
Now it looks much better! Enjoy the X-Alps!
Note: Track playback isn't working well for me. I hope in the future it gets developed into something similar to XContest Live. For now, PureTrack is best for viewing a pilot's latest position.