JakeRich

Beeline is essentially visualGPSce, plus the ability to use a scanned map, track a trip and do some statistical display of the received data.

Fsman

Quote:

I'll try to get one together for BeeLineGPS over the next few days.

Just a gentle reminder. :)

bstrain74

I just ordered the VisionTac VGPS-700 from buygpsnow.com. I also have GPSTuner 5.1 but really can't give my review of it til the GPS gets here.

I also read about and then DL'ed & installed Google Maps for Mobile.

Go to this link using your Axim to download/install. http://www.google.com/gmm

I guess you have to be connected to the internet to use the regular map features but it does have an option under Menu called Track Location (GPS) where I'm assuming you can use this Google Maps software and your GPSr??

Anyone else ever use Google Maps for Mobile??

zumpen

Originally Posted by bstrain74

I just ordered the VisionTac VGPS-700 from buygpsnow.com. I also have GPSTuner 5.1 but really can't give my review of it til the GPS gets here. I also read about and then DL'ed & installed Google Maps for Mobile. Go to this link using your Axim to download/install. http://www.google.com/gmm I guess you have to be connected to the internet to use the regular map features but it does have an option under Menu called Track Location (GPS) where I'm assuming you can use this Google Maps software and your GPSr?? Anyone else ever use Google Maps for Mobile??

Hi.

When the GPS-receiver is connected, Google Maps for Mobile-> "Track Location" will show your current location, indicated by a blue "dot" on the map. There is also information about the number of satellites, that are currently used to calculate the position. :approve:

/zumpen

bstrain74

When I'm out an about where will Google Maps for Mobile download new maps from?? The satelite??

Right now when I'm home and I use it I'm connected to the internet.

paulcb

Maps do not come from the satellite, they only transmit your location on the earth to your receiver. You have to have an internet connection to use Google Maps. At this point in time, it seems a bit silly but if you have a good data service through your cell phone provider, you can have a mobile internet connection. You can also purchase a GPS program such as IGuidance or TomTom and not have to deal with mobile internet.

JakeRich

Originally Posted by paulcb

Maps do not come from the satellite, they only transmit your location on the earth to your receiver. You have to have an internet connection to use Google Maps. At this point in time, it seems a bit silly but if you have a good data service through your cell phone provider, you can have a mobile internet connection. You can also purchase a GPS program such as IGuidance or TomTom and not have to deal with mobile internet.

It's a nitpick, but the satellites only transmit three things--an almanac of where, in general, the satellites are, an ephemeris with orbital mechanics information that refines the almanac data to within very close tolerances and a time signal. The satellites times are synchronized so that when the time signals arrive at the GPS receiver, the differences in time of arrival, coupled with the ephemeris data, allow the receiver to calculate where you are. See GPS101 and 201 for more information on how the system works, if you are curious.

zumpen

Tracky

<www.trackthisout.com>

New features in Track 3.1, released 2008-01-30:

- Yahoo Local Search integrated in Search tool
- POIs can now be given a phone number, and you can call this phone number :)
- Yahoo and Google Local Search results properly store found phone numbers
- option to choose in which GPX file to record a track, GPX files with multiple tracks allowed
- color wheel to select color for e.g. tracks
- data folders can be re-read without having to restart Tracky
- user can choose to take heading and/or speed from GPS or to compute it
- visual feedback of speed violation in SpeedAlert tool

New features in Tracky 3.0 released 2008-01-18:

View
· improved in 3.0: smooth scroll and zoom
· hyperzoom: world-level overview of tracks and POIs
· screen rotation:

o align to current direction, or
o align to target position

· distance and angle between any 2 points
· auto-follow current position
· auto-hide grid
· new in 3.0: full-screen mode
· improved in 3.0: support for Portrait, Landscape, and Square screens
· improved in 3.0: support for QVGA and VGA screens

Overlay
· compass with navigation hints in spoken voice
· position (Grid, Datum, Deg/Min/Secs conversion)
· track length and time
· distance to target and expected time of arrival
· connection status of GPS device and #satellites in view speed
· new in 3.0: on-screen buttons for direct access to the most commonly used tools

Track
· multiple tracks
· track recording
· show/hide individual tracks
· track info: length and height meters
· configurable icons and other attributes
· track performance: time and avg speed
· track compression, based on time, distance, deviation
· manually create/edit tracks
· navigate along a track
· train a previously recorded track (configurable relative and absolute performance)

Map
· new in 3.0: full integration with online GoogleMaps: satellite, street, and hybrid maps (1)
· support map images
· multiple maps
· show/hide individual maps
· easy calibration
· align to any of the available grids
· free calibrated maps at the TrackMe section
(any place on earth, street maps and satellite maps)

POIs
· easy creation of POIs in POIs groups
· POI info: latitude, longitude, and altitude
· new in 3.0: associate POI to picture and/or a web address (URL)
· configurable icons and other attributes
· show/hide individual POIs
· navigate to POI
· reset user position

new in 3.0: seamless access to several very useful databases on internet to search for (1):
o businesses (Google Local Search)
o photos (Panoramio.com)
o Wikipedia entries (Wikipedia.org)
o geo-caches (Geocaching.com)
o weather stations

Dashboard tool
· altitude and slope meter
· speed and G-force meter
· compass with navigation hints and spoken voice
· track length and time
· distance to target and expected time of arrival

new in 3.0:

Speed alert tool
· get visual audible warnings if
o configurable maximum speed is exceeded, or
o configurable minimal speed is exceeded

new in 3.0:

Stopwatch tool
· comparable to a normal stopwatch, but this one also triggers on a configurable speed and/or distance
o measure time and distance given start and stop speed, e.g., acceleration from 0kmh to 100kmh
o measure time given start speed and distance, e.g., 100m sprint
o measure distance and end speed given start speed and end time, e.g., 10s acceleration

Satellite status tool
· connection status of GPS device
· position of satellites in view
· signal quality of satellites
· GPS quality, PDOP, HDOP, and VDOP
· compass

Trackalyzer tool
· analyze tracks with speed/altitude/slope/G-force graphs
export tracks to e.g. MS Excel

Trainer tool
· follow a previously recorded track and get continuous feedback on your performance compared to the time you recorded the track
· configurable trainer options

Locator tool
· conversion to/from many Grids and associated Zones
· conversion to/from many Datums
· conversion to/from Degrees/Minutes/Seconds notation
· conversion to/from location on earth picture
· new in 3.0: export to copy position to clipboard
· fully integrated in all views/tools

Accurator tool
· more accurate position information by advanced forward reckoning and averaging techniques
· configurable number of samples to use

TrackMe tool
· follow your position live on internet on a PC (2)
· see positions of your buddies live and chat with them (2)

Geocoder tool
· universal address look-up tool (1)

Directions tool
· new in 3.0: address-to-address navigation (2):
o get directions in written text
o (optional) visualize directions in overlay on main screen
o based on Google Directions

Config GPS
· configure connection to your GPS device
· automatic GPS configuration in WM5 and WM6
connection status of GPS and #satellites in view
· log NMEA output from GPS device to file
· enable / disable GPS connection

Config license
· register and read license key

Config Online Services
· register for Online Services, see features with (1) and (2): FREE!

Config language
· multi-language: English, Deutsch (German), Nederlands (Dutch), Français (French), Español (Spanish), Italiano (Italian), Portugês (Portuguese), Português(Br) (Brazilian Portuguese), 日本語 (Japanese), 繁體中文(Traditional Chinese), 简体中文 (Simple Chinese), Ελληνικά (Greek), Русский (Russian), Dansk (Danish), Svenska (Swedish)

Config settings
· enable/disable sound
· 2 configurable data folders
· various units for:
o distance: km, miles, yards, etc.
o height: m, feet, etc.
o speed: kmh, mph, knots, etc.
· configurable style for:
o grid
o new in 3.0: background color
o user icon
o direction indicator
o target
o trainer

· new in 3.0: big or small icons
· up/download statistics
· configurable download cache
· autodial GPRS connection on internet usage
· ability to disable internet usage

Import/export
· import/export tracks and POIs in GPX format
· import map images (gif, bmp, jpg, ico, and png)
· import/export map calibration files (txt)
· example Maps, POIs, and Tracks
· GPX files stored in ASCII or UNICODE format

(1) requires internet access on your PDA to download, but results are cached for offline usage

(2) requires internet access on your PDA

Cons:
-

/zumpen

Fsman

Bumping this tread for those who may be looking at geocaching options.

JakeRich

Made it a sticky to keep it on the front page.

Fsman

Thanks, Jake.

gurachn

Could someone give a review of GPS Tuner?

LHR

This is a copy of a quick review I posted way back in 2007; although a bit outdated, it's still relevant and perhaps someone that has tried the latest version can enlighten us.

Here's the original thread:
Finally: Download GoogleMaps to PPC-cache, view/ navigate on-or OFFLINE!

my first time trial of Tracky 2.1
This app looks great as I'm in the process of buying an off-road app for hiking and geocaching.

3 quick observations:

(1) does not seem to support DGPS (Differential GPS) on my Garmin 10x Bluetooth receiver (SirfIII) and possibly WAAS (not sure if WAAS/EGNOS somehow impacts DGPS)

I configured my BT on com8 and selected 4800 baud, and noriced that any readings related to WAAS/DGPS show up red (Invalid) - (BTW, on garmin receivers, an easy way to distinguish a DGPS reading is when you see a satellite number above 32, in my case (east coast) i see either a 48 or 51)

It does not seem to obtain 2D locks (I compared it whilst simultaneously running GPSinfo) - anytime GPSinfo showed a 2D lock, this app showed INVALID and thus no lock

(2) While I really liked the Google functionality, for hiking and geocaching a topo map is what really helps (as Google does not show trails covered by trees, etc) - so, i almost bought Back country Navigator - which instead of google maps it automatically downloads aerials or topos from usgs databases. so my point here is: would i be able to easily download USGS/terra server topo maps to this app?

(3) Can this app display Full screen maps like Navio?

So, in summary for hiking and Geocaching, : I've evaluated:
a) BeeLine gps (loved it as it fully supports DGPS but main problem is there is no map functionality - only a blank screen!!!)
b) Navio - (best Google map interface as it shows in full screen - currently my top choice)
c) Back Country navigator (best and easiest to download precalibrated US topo maps - my second top choice, only because it doesn't seem to support Google maps and I wouldn't be able to use it outside of the USA)
d) Tracky 2.1 - just learned about it today - looks excellent if only it could work with my Garmin BT receiver - see my 3 observations above.

I should probably post this feedback on the off-road sticky, but wanted to get feedback on those of you that have used Tracky2.1

cheers

manie

Nice post. Thank you for sharing.