bdaniel
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Posts posted by bdaniel
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I play around a lot with Visual Basic for Windows. I found the Exif spec on the internet and wrote software to extract the date and time information and use that to change the filename of my digital photos. I place this date and time in a text file with the same filename as the photo. I have software to also add comments to this same text file.
So for all my digital photos I have a text file with time, date, day of the week and comments. I wrote a screen saver that displays my photos and shows the contents of the text file beside the photo.
I set up my Garmin to take a tracklog point every 8 seconds. I download this tracklog to mapsource and then export from mapsource to a text file. On every trip where I take digital photos I take one photo of my GPS unit showing the time on the GPS.
I have more software where I enter the time on the GPS in the photo and compare it to the Exif time data for the photo of the GPS. This gives me a time delta.
I use the Exif time of each digital photo, apply the delta and then search the tracklog for the point nearest to that time. I will always fine one within 8 seconds or less of the photo.
I then update the text file with the lon, lat and altitude from the tracklog. My screen saver displays this data also and uses the coordinates to display a dot on a map of the USA showing where the photo was taken. This makes for a pretty neat screen saver.
Back to my software, I have a button that will take the coordinates for any photo and pass them to ExpertGps where I can view an aerial photo of the spot where I took the photo. I also have a button to pass the coordinates to Mapsource to display the same.
This sounds complicated, but it evolved over time and is actually pretty streamlined now.
Digital cameras and GPSs are definitely some of the funner toys I've bought as an adult.
Bobby
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GPSMAP 76s for sale. Includes serial cable and original manual.
I can send photos of the unit.
$225.00
d_bobby
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bellsouth.net
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Get the 76CS if you had the 76 and already have a couple of auto mounts, external antenna, power/serial cord, etc. They still work for the 76CS.
It seems they are basically the same unit in a different form factor and the 76CS has more memory.
There is no right or wrong choice. It is simply which one better meets your needs and wants.
Bobby
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I noticed the same thing with GSAK and the zipped image files. I think I unzipped them into the same folder as the HTML files and it worked. I can't remember.
Also I formatted my laptop harddrive and reinstalled everything and now I can't get Plucker/Hot Sync to work for my Clie Palm. Plucker runs ok but the hot sync doesn't transfer the file and the log says something about Plucker desktop disabled.
Anyone have that problem?
Thanks,
Bobby
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I am using GSAK 3.03 with a Garmin GPSMAP76S via a USB/Serial cable on Windows XP.
When I try to download waypoints to the GPS, I get the following error.
Error sending waypoints: GPS_Packet_Read: No DLE GARMIN:Can't init COM3.
I am able to send waypoints to the GPS via Mapsource on COM3 with no problem.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Bobby
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You don't need anything fancy or expensive. You don't need a 1,000 watt device connected straight to the battery.
Your 120 volt AC transformer for your laptop probably pulls less than 100 watts. A cheap $29 invertor from Wal-Mart that puts out 150 watts will be fine.
Yes, it is cheap and will not put out clean sine wave 120 volts AC but the output goes back into a transformer that changes it back to DC so the input does not have to be very clean.
I'm a gadget nut and have done this for years with no problem.
Bobby
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I use a cheap 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC convertor. I then plug my laptop transformer into the convertor. Been doing this for years with no problem.
The special Dell cord will cost big bucks.
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I do something very similar. I display all my waypoints in Mapsource, do a Print-Screen, open the Paint application and paste.
I then save it as a 16 color BMP. I use another application to trim the BMP as I want.
I found a tool called VDIVC.EXE that sends the BMP to the PALM and also installs a viewer that is fast and scrolls up, down and diagonally.
Works for me.
Bobby
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I do something very similar. I display all my waypoints in Mapsource, do a Print-Screen, open the Paint application and paste.
I then save it as a 16 color BMP. I use another application to trim the BMP as I want.
I found a tool called VDIVC.EXE that sends the BMP to the PALM and also installs a viewer that is fast and scrolls up, down and diagonally.
Works for me.
Bobby
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How about adding color options or putting more info on the screen for those with higher res color screens like the Sony CLIE?
Thanks,
Bobby
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I have the .38 special version of that S&W gun. Is it called the 342? I don't remember. I have it for concealed carry with a permit.
Having 5 shots makes it very small and narrow. The light weight and smallness makes it very easy to carry in my pants pocket with no one noticing what I am carrying. No exposed hammer makes it very easy to pull from my pocket. Also that removes one opening that pocket lint and dirt can get into.
Being a revolver it will always work, dirty or clean.
If 5 shots doesn't take care of the situation then I'm out gunned anyway and need more shooters on my side.
The short barrel is not very accurate beyond 30-40 feet but the law says if I am that far away from the threat then I have to run anyway.
I'm happy with mine.
Just my opinion.
Bobby
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Same here.
My GPSMAP 76S stopped locking onto satelites.
Gave them a call, get directions, shipped it to them and had it back in my hands in about a week.
No hassle, no questions, even forgot to send a copy of my receipt.
I would buy another Garmin in a heartbeat.
Bobby
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I travel a lot with a fifth wheel camper and truck. I've had a lot of fun with my Garmin MAP76s hooked to my laptop for real time tracking in ExpertGPS and Mapsource.
I would like to write a Visual Basic program to read the NEMA data from the GPS and use time, MPH and altitude to determine the percentage of grade on roads in the mountains. Example 6% grade, 8% grade etc.
Visual Basic has a comm object and I can see the NEMA data coming in on the serial port. I was just wondering if anyone else has done this or has any ideas for the computations.
Thanks,
Bobby
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I couldn't find a better price and had an opportunity to use their customer service and it was great.
Highly recommended.
Ot: Interfacing Gps, Camera & Laptop
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
Yes, I know that Garmin will lose the timestamp info when you save the track.
I wrote some software to extract the date and time from the Exif information in the JPEG and compare it to the timestamp contained in the tracklog from my Garmin. I then import the coordinates into the text file of comments I have for every photo (which includes time and date from the Exif info). For every photo I know where the GPS was at the time I took the photo.
I wrote a screensaver that displays my photos and uses the GPS info for the photo to display a small map of the USA with a dot for the coordinates. Pretty neat.
I set my tracklog to take a point I think every 10 seconds or so at a fixed interval. During a vacation I leave the GPS on all day and download the tracklog to my laptop every night.
I have software to combine all the tracklogs for an entire trip and match the JPEG Exif date and time to the closest tracklog point.
During the trip I take one photo of my GPS showing the time on the display. I use the camera time for that JPEG to obtain a delta between the clock in the GPS and the clock in the camera.
Works for me.
Bobby