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reef mapper

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Everything posted by reef mapper

  1. Hi Lin - you can use Google Earth but you don't get the original imagery, just lower res images that you need to calibrate. I use Ikonos (1m) and Digital Globe (60cm) images but they are expensive for private use. Depending on where you are you could look at finding airphotos - cheaper and higher resolution. Use control points from your topo maps to calibrate them for moving map. There is an Ozi forum on Yahoo with a load of knowledgeable people. Meanwhile plug the GPS into Google Earth, using the real time GPS function to see how well your position is represented. It works with the free version. You'll likely see that it isn't very accurate. Good luck.
  2. Lin - it depends on the program. Calibration data can be written into a header within the raster file (e.g. in a BMP, JPG, etc and GeoTIFF), or as a separate World file that must accompany the raster (e.g. a JPG file plus its JGW file). With a PNG the data would be in a PGW file. Ozi is a good suggestion for moving map. It is what I use for field work. In that case moving map doesn't use the original raster format. When you calibrate in Ozi the DRG is saved as a *.MAP file which includes the DRG plus other data, including the calibration. As noted, you can join in Ozi. But you can also use separate calibrated images and the program will move from one to the next as you travel. This what I do with satellite images, which can be close to 1GB each. Joining them would mean having a 6GB file for e.g. Barbados, which is a really unwieldy size!
  3. Are your scanned maps calibrated? You can't use a non-mapping stitching application with calibrated maps as the calibration info will no longer apply and the moving map application won't work. Or are you planning to calibrate the map after joining the pieces?
  4. You can mosaic calibrated scans in Map Maker very easily using the 30-day trial of the pro version. www.mapmaker.com With scanned maps you often need to trim margins before mosaicing and this can be a problem with non-mapping stitching applications which aren't designed to keep track of the calibration details.
  5. I'm using airphotos and satellite images on a 60Csx, so it is possible.
  6. "That's the question I'm asking. I need an application that will convert the POI txt file to something I can import to MapEdit (such as a shapefile). If there'a an application that does that conversion, and I import the POIs, will the POIs be searchable, or will they simply be visible on the map?" If the txt file has two columns for X Y coordinates then any mapping program should be able to produce a SHP file from it. I do that in Map Maker.
  7. I tend to forget that up there you can access WAAS (now where's the envy smiley). I've had to focus on setting up a base at home for post-processing (Delorme's PostPro, Eartmate and Blue Logger setup) to improve my data, which has meant many hours of logging at different times, hence the observation about day vs night. But all a bit OT! Good point about the Trimble planner which is especially useful if you know you'll have obstacles like an adjacent mountain etc.
  8. Unfortunately GPS works best at night when the ionosphere has less effect on the signals. For daytime work then late afternoon is the best bet according to some of the articles on the subject. However, this is perhaps more of a concern when using the data for post-processing - I get a noticeable difference in the results between day and night. Clouds and overcast won't have any affect.
  9. A minute is 1/60 of a degree and a second is 1/60 of a minute. Just do the divisions to get decimal degrees. Note that a second of latitude is always the same ; a second of longitude gets shorter with distance from the equator.
  10. Gallet - will you please give up telling people that they are not able to use their kit? For the first time I tried using my 60 2-handed. I hate the "give" in the holding hand when pressing with the other hand. I can only use one-handed when part of the hand provides the resistance to the thumb. And yes, my thumb has no probs reaching all buttons. But then it is my left hand, and perhaps it benefits from its other life on the fingerboard of my Martin D18.. And yes I'm sure I need to get a Gibson because "everyone else" says Martins are no good!
  11. No it hasn't. The Colorado is great for US users. It doesn't have anything better than the 60 for my use. All those vaunted topo maps are for a very limited part of the globe. As far as I know it still won't accept the custom maps I make for the 60. It doesn't have a serial port for my active transducer. The 60 continues to be an excellent tool for my work.
  12. I must say I don't need to be told that my unit is unusable with one hand (my left). I've never had any difficulty operating all the 60Csx buttons with one hand. I never used two hands. I think anyone who can touch the base of their pinky with their thumb would be able to do it.
  13. You can put whatever you want in the comment field up to 88 characters. Custom waypoints icons should transfer to the unit. You must fist "install" the icons to the unit using ximage. To see them in Mapsource, you must install them to Mapsource as well. See here: http://www.thepropers.com/geocaching/60Ser...stomSymbols.htm You can also use custom icons for custom POIs. These transfer with the POIs. Nice wheels! I guess I'll have to change my sig to White 90!
  14. It is, but there are fewer users of this unit than some of the others. Maybe try the Lowrance group here: http://gpsinformation.biz/phpBB2/
  15. I've been following the Asus development from the beginning but still haven't been able to see one. I use my Thinkpad in the field for real-time tracking with GPS over an aerial photo or sat image, in Ozi or Global Mapper. I really need something smaller but also more readable outside. Anyone have any comments how usable the Eee is in daylight?
  16. You can set up the display to show water temp and depth but the information needs to come from a sensor. I have my 60Csx connected to an active sonar on my kayak for mapping bathymetry.
  17. I'm still playing with it but it is already a big help with some work applications. It is worth keeping in mind what one compares it to. To me the key aspect is loading my own calibrated image - (including a vertical kite aerial photo today!) of an area not covered by any commercial products. And that is the almost the whole Caribbean for a start.
  18. For some people there isn't anything to compare with. These great topo maps that people refer to are available for only a very small portion of the globe. For marine work the coverage is better - great - I can get Blue chart and see the results of mapping done by the British Admiralty in the 1890s. I don't know of any handheld that can use a calibrated image I have of my project area. I use Delorme's PostPro to post-process carrier phase GPS data to calibrate aerial photos, and while I have been lugging my Thinkpad around doing realtime tracking I'm much happier loading that image onto the Garmin.
  19. Many thanks for the heads up! I've been making my own vector IMG maps for the 60Csx but had given up hope of finding a unit that would be able to load my own raster files. All that I know of use only their own source of images or subscriptions. Going to try a piece of an Ikonos image now.
  20. Actually never considered geocaching. As others noted this is an active forum for all sorts of GPS stuff. I use mine (60Csx) connected to an active sonar on my kayak, logging position and water depth, download to Map Maker to produce maps of reef bathymetry. The 60 displays water depth and temperature too. Also have it connected to the Thinkpad for real time tracking over a satellite image in OziExplorer mapping forest vegetation. Can't imagine being without it. Allan St. Lucia Oh yes - also make custom IMG (Garmin) maps of coastal areas so I can see where I am in relation to reefs and other stuff. But that's a bit of a chore.
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