Free(?) satellite GPS mapping software

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Originally Posted by sam_d

I'm having a quick look at this - it looks quite useful.

I do have one question though: how do you save a path or polygon from Google Earth to do an area download in Mapsphere? I've tried saving .kml files from Google Earth but when I import it into Mapshere it shows a distance of 0 and therefore (I'm assuming) it doesn't download the maps.

Any hints?

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Having been in touch with MapSphere, there does seem a solution to this.
The support team at MapSphere are fantastic, and I'm getting replies from questions within a few hours, well overnight anyway.

They have provided a "solution" for Sam's query and I duplicate here for others.
I have tried this solution and it does work. I have also attached the supplied ".sd" file in ZIP format for others to try also, to kind of prove it works.
I have modified the email content to indicate xxxxxxx to be your own .kml (and consequently .sd) file name:


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Kieren,
There are different kinds of user map objects like waypoints, routes, paths, tracks, and so on. We have all of them in our plans for MapSphere but now it supports only tracks (a sequence of points with latitude, longitude, altitude, and time).
Usually tracks are created using GPS. In your sample kml files there are no time values and that is why MapSphere cannot open them.
What do you need is a path drawn by hands. We can consider the possibility to implement some kind of Import operation in MapSphere for your case. Meanwhile I can suggest you a way how to import them manually.

1.You will need GPSBabel.
It is a free tool to convert GPS tracks: GPSBabel

2.Unpack gpsbabel-1.3.6.zip in a folder (say, C:\GpsBabel)

3.Choose Windows Start menu, Run, and insert the following line:
"C:\GpsBabel\gpsbabel.exe" -p "" -w -r -t -i kml -f "D:\xxxxxxxx.kml" -x transform,trk=rte,del=n -o magellan -F "D:\xxxxxxx.sd"
D:\xxxxxxx.kml is the full path to kml file. (Change to "D:" to your own location)

4.Click OK.

5.GPSBabel will create D:\xxxxxxx.sd that can be opened by MapSphere.

I attached the result file to this e-mail. It is not perfect but quite usable.

If you have any questions concerning this small instruction or other MapSphere features do not hesitate to write us.
We will try to help.

Best regards,
Mikhail Koroteev
HORIS, Ltd
Tel.: +7 (812) 324 7202
Fax: +7 (812) 324 7203
E-mail: support@mapsphere.com
WWW: MapSphere - GPS position exchange, satellite images, maps, chat, and blog for your trip
---------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps....;)

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

Fave new post: Free GPS Software

D2Au - The Australian Discovery2 owners group (Yahoo! group)
d2au.com - Australian D2 specific web forum (different from above!)

There is a Windows GUI application included in GPSBabel which is much simpler than using the command line. I've had a quck play this morning and everything seem to work well.

All I've got to do now is find the time to go out for adventure :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AussieAub

Having been in touch with MapSphere, there does seem a solution to this.
The support team at MapSphere are fantastic, and I'm getting replies from questions within a few hours, well overnight anyway.

They have provided a "solution" for Sam's query and I duplicate here for others.
I have tried this solution and it does work. I have also attached the supplied ".sd" file in ZIP format for others to try also, to kind of prove it works.
I have modified the email content to indicate xxxxxxx to be your own .kml (and consequently .sd) file name:


---------------------------------------------------------
Kieren,
There are different kinds of user map objects like waypoints, routes, paths, tracks, and so on. We have all of them in our plans for MapSphere but now it supports only tracks (a sequence of points with latitude, longitude, altitude, and time).
Usually tracks are created using GPS. In your sample kml files there are no time values and that is why MapSphere cannot open them.
What do you need is a path drawn by hands. We can consider the possibility to implement some kind of Import operation in MapSphere for your case. Meanwhile I can suggest you a way how to import them manually.

1.You will need GPSBabel.
It is a free tool to convert GPS tracks: GPSBabel

2.Unpack gpsbabel-1.3.6.zip in a folder (say, C:\GpsBabel)

3.Choose Windows Start menu, Run, and insert the following line:
"C:\GpsBabel\gpsbabel.exe" -p "" -w -r -t -i kml -f "D:\xxxxxxxx.kml" -x transform,trk=rte,del=n -o magellan -F "D:\xxxxxxx.sd"
D:\xxxxxxx.kml is the full path to kml file. (Change to "D:" to your own location)

4.Click OK.

5.GPSBabel will create D:\xxxxxxx.sd that can be opened by MapSphere.

I attached the result file to this e-mail. It is not perfect but quite usable.

If you have any questions concerning this small instruction or other MapSphere features do not hesitate to write us.
We will try to help.

Best regards,
Mikhail Koroteev
HORIS, Ltd
Tel.: +7 (812) 324 7202
Fax: +7 (812) 324 7203
E-mail: support@mapsphere.com
WWW: MapSphere - GPS position exchange, satellite images, maps, chat, and blog for your trip
---------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps....;)

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

Fave new post: Free GPS Software

D2Au - The Australian Discovery2 owners group (Yahoo! group)
d2au.com - Australian D2 specific web forum (different from above!)

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Off thread but I wish there was some simple Freeware program for Macs - just simple triplanner for uploading to my Exporist, like mapsend lite. I posted a thread on this. I just can't get my head around there being none. Ive been to Macupdate.com and failed in my search. It must be me looking in the wrong place.

I found a squillion pc programs.

ya problem is ya got a mac lol install windows :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JamesH

Off thread but I wish there was some simple Freeware program for Macs - just simple triplanner for uploading to my Exporist, like mapsend lite. I posted a thread on this. I just can't get my head around there being none. Ive been to Macupdate.com and failed in my search. It must be me looking in the wrong place.

I found a squillion pc programs.

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Can't you run "Parallels"?
Not that pricey for what it could potentially do....


..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

Fave new post: Free GPS Software

D2Au - The Australian Discovery2 owners group (Yahoo! group)
d2au.com - Australian D2 specific web forum (different from above!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AussieAub

Can't you run "Parallels"?
Not that pricey for what it could potentially do....
..:: KIEREN ::..

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I just used Boot Camp (part of the Mac OS) and loaded the cheapest version of Windows I could find. Only have to shut down and reboot in Windows to get to any software (such as mapping stuff) that is not cool enough / clever enough to have done a decent Mac version yet... Every time I go back onto the Mac proper I consider myself fortunate to have survived another visit to the dark side ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jesse B

<snip>
Every time I go back onto the Mac proper I consider myself fortunate to have survived another visit to the dark side ;)

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[User-action]Vomit[/User-action]

Why can't Mac users be like normal people?

Most car drivers who drive another brand of car for a day don't come back and say that I have just visited the Evil Empire, similarly Nokia users don't mock Samsung phones. Jet Ski users don't decry Seadoo personal watercraft.

But Mac users can't help themselves!

Mod's can this post be moved to the Soapbox!

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Why can't Mac users be like normal people?

Mod's can this post be moved to the Soapbox!

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Oooh - ouch!! Not the soapbox! Maybe its because we've spent years getting picked on? Or maybe it's because we (childishly) like getting reactions? Or maybe it's because we've discovered computer Nirvana and we don't want to share it with the masses? I give up - but you're right - we generally can't help ourselves!! :wacko:

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Originally Posted by Jesse B

Or maybe it's because we've discovered computer Nirvana

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hahahaahaha.

Linux...that is Nirvana.

Apple on the other hand....*vomits*

I like to get access to this app but im having issues with the site (cannot be found)... can someone email me the install app please?

I can send my email addy via PM to anyone that can email it to me.