In Car GPS 2

[101RRS]

Ok - I now have the GPS mouse and managed to get it working on mydesk top but not the laptop - a port issue but at least I know the GPS Mouse works. That brings me to which software to get the laptop and mouse to work like a GPS.

Any suggestions on software and where is the best place to get it. I want to be able to use scanned maps if needed but also to use maps from purchased CDs etc. Though not important an ability to navigate with town maps ala tomtom style would also be nice.

I was thinking of starting with oziexplorer but I have no idea really - the local map shop is selling the CD for $130 - is there a better solution?

Thanks

Gazzz

[Utemad]

Oziexplorer is the way to go for scanned maps. Plenty of ways to get maps to suit.

I've never used a laptop based street nav programme but I'd guess it would be very impractical. A PDA is the way to go here. Can then use Ozi CE as well.

[101RRS]

Oziexplorer seems to be the way to go and I have downloaded the trial version to try before I buy. I need to scan in some maps and work through the tutorials - it seems a bit daunting.

In the interim does anyone know of any free downloadable software that I can use to get my laptop going as a basic GPS - lat/long and speed etc. - Mainly so that I can see if it works. I have downloaded GPSS but it will not detect my gps mouse or the com port on the computer - the laptop self tests OK though.

Thanks

Gazzz

[EchiDna]

first thing you need is ozi map grabber :)
(see threads below)

[langy]

The GPS mouse is a little finicky when it lives on a laptop, depending on the age and system of the laptop. I got one to work on both a thinkpad600 and a omnibook 3000 ( Both 233mhz) running either 98 se or xp2. Without a description of your laptop, here are three issues easily solved: If the cursor jumps around when you plug in the GPS, try unplugging and smoothly re-inserting the usb plug. For the port dilemma, try inserting the GPS, and then go into system and it will tell you what com port it has assigned to the GPS. Then go into oziexplorer and configure it for that port, at the low speed ( try higher speeds later if it works). If it still won't fly, try the NMEA only setting. For maps, they are a little expensive, but for general use, the Natmap raster CD's are a good investment. Some time ago there were some copies of 1:25K east coast of Aust maps on DVD floating around - I'd send you a copy but my dvd got scratched and is damaged - some other members might still have theirs.
And last - I know oziexplorer is a bit pricey - if you have something interesting to swap, I could probably make life a little easier in that regard. (Send a PM if you want).

[Blknight.aus]

you dont need to scan any maps there are free ones (250,000:1 for the whole of aus available. If you have the latest ozi they are pre calibrated if you download them in the.ecw format.

you will need to register to download them but thats free, easy and IMHO a good idea as its government funded the more people who register the more likely they are to stay free for the public.

I just happen to have their premium dvd set and as far as Ive been able to work out so long as


I dont charge for it or use it as a money making tool
tell you about where the maps actually came from
deliberately alter the maps to make them missleading
make sure I include the liscence agreement
post the data to the WWW (I think this means hosting the whole lot)
dont make claims to rights or modify the legal agreements


then I can provide copies of the data as required... I may be wrong but
here is part of the agreement thats on the disc that makes me think that these things are distributable as a not for profit type deal...

Licence Granted: Geoscience Australia grants to the Licensee a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access, display, reproduce, adapt and print the Product, and combine it with other data held by the Licensee. The Licence is limited to personal use of the Product or use within the Licensee's organisation only. Any other requests for permission (including provision of data within the Product to third parties, or through WWW access) should be referred to Geoscience Australia. Geoscience Australia warrants that the grant of the Licence does not infringe the Intellectual Property rights of any person. All rights not expressly granted to the Licensee are reserved.


I might be stretching it abit but... if AULRO is an organisation then so long as i dont send you great swaths of data electronically I can send you parts that are relevent via snail mail.

anyhow... that delt with....

their website is
http://www.ga.gov.au/nmd/products/maps/raster250k/
thats the online version to purchase the maps on disc, get the premiums the difference is worth it.. (the online stuff is the low resolution maps same as the standard 4 cd set)

https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=DEFINE_PRODUCTS

will let you download the individual maps from their online server.

I use oziexplorer to set up the maps and insert major goto points on a track then export all of that to oziexploere CE on my gps enabled PDA and use that to fill in the rest of the route.. For me I like the touchscreen input in the CE version better than the desktop version.

[matbor]

go and get this program http://www.gpsaustralia.net/forums/showthread.php't=1272&highlight=grabber

just put in the postcode or general area and it will download the maps for that area for free.

If you want a good (over the top) setup check out the march edition of 4wd monthly, see the Hummer's interior !

matt.

[101RRS]

Thanks guys - downloaded the map but the demo version of ozi will only let BMP files be used. I scanned a page from my local touring atlas and then got the lats and long from Google Earth so that I could calibrate the map - has some initial problems as ozi reads out lats and longs in degrees, minutes, seconds and decimal points of a second - however when calibrating the map ozi wants the lat/long in degrees, minutes and decimal point of a minute - seconds are not inputted. Once I had this sussed it worked well.

I was able to drive around my area with the map and arrow moving - the arrow is a bit big but worked great - neven had me on the correct side of thr road. The arrow dragged a little behind my actual position but I think there is a setting that allows the arrow to be placed ahead/behind or on top of actual position - I remember something about mine being 300m behind but will look this setting more closely.

All need to do now is to learn waypoints and scribe a track and how to make the position arrow smaller.

As a side issue, I stopped to get fuel and my wireless network in my computer picked up 3 strong networks near the garage of which only one was secure - maybe I need to go down there to download my big fills or porn in future.

So if there is anyone you has not made there wireless networks secure, you might want to rethink this.

Thanks for all the help - it has been great.

Once I have oziexplorer up an running properly I will be back asking how to make the system work like a Tom Tom around town to give me instruction.

Cheers

Gazzz

[Blknight.aus]

thats simple, you cant its not designed to...

what you can do is grab oziexplorerCE put that on a pda with a GPS and then have that give you turn by turn directions based on your waypoints...

but that means if you dont have a turn in your going to miss it and it wont do auto rerouting, just give you a head thus away to get to the next waypoint.