quakemap

Watermarking photos with coordinates is cool, but if you need to put clickable thumbnails on the map, you really don't need any cables or special hardware. Your digital camera (almost any type) already puts quite precise timestamps into JPG files it produces, and programs like QuakeMap relate it to timestamps on tracklogs. So just carry GPS and snap the camera - and when you return - put JPGs and track in the same folder - drag the folder on QuakeMap window - voila! - here is your illustrated trip!

Here is the answer from this thread >> I got a hint from robertlipe; here is likely reason: the GUI front-end doesn't put "-r" switch to GPSBabel's command line (see http://gpsbabel.sourceforge.net/os/Windows_FE.html ) >> Looks like you have to bring up a DOS prompt and make your own command line now... In plain words, GPSBabel itself does the job of converting routes just fine, given the -r switch in the command line. The window-based "frontend" that you are using to run GPSBabel cannot put the -r in the command line, so it is good only for waypoints conversion. You need to read GPSBabel docs and run it from the DOS prompt, making all switches (including -r) manually. The resulting gpx file will contain routes which will show up in QuakeMap. I hope this helps.

I got a hint from Robert Lipe; here is likely reason: the GUI front-end doesn't put "-r" switch to GPSBabel's command line (see http://gpsbabel.sourceforge.net/os/Windows_FE.html ) Looks like you have to bring up a DOS prompt and make your own command line now...

well, this has to wait - mostly for the reason that USB communication can render your GPS unusable (see remarks on EasyGPS beta at topografix.com). I would gladly incorporate a third-party library for handling USB communications to new Garmins, but it doesn't seem there is one. If anybody knows such product, please email me (support@quakemap.com) Happy trails,

Please send me the GPX file (support@quakemap.com) and make sure you have the latest build of QuakeMap (Help-->About should show 20040402). You may have a route without <number> tag in your GPX file, an that didn't read in well in previous versions. Thank you

I fixed this in the latest QuakeMap build 20040402, please update.

QuakeMap 3.4 build 20040402 is out. New features: - Blends aerial and topo maps ("ovr" checkbox) - Track-to-route, reverse route functions in Waypoints Manager - Mouse wheel zooms in and out - Support for MapAdvisor Superframe mode (for MapAdvisor version expected soon). - Full programmatic API (see "developer's corner" link on the site) http://www.quakemap.com

Could you please specify exactly what cable you used to connect 60'USB-->Serial-->EasyGPS? Did anybody try quakemap in this scenario? (http://www.quakemap.com) - I am getting questions on the 60 and it would be great if all it takes to connect it is a cable :-)

Asking for advice/suggestions. I tried to make GSAK start from QuakeMap's "Tools" menu, by defining it as a Tool and passing %file% (most recent .loc or .gps file opened by QuakeMap) - see picture. I can also pass %lon% and %lat% for coordinates (to provide center point), but GSAK doesn't take coordinates when started from the command line. The file thing seems to work fine technically; I would like to hear from GSAK users what else could be done. Thanks in advance, slg@quakemap.com

Thank you for your kind words and support. New version 3.3 build 20040212 is available. http://www.quakemap.com -- color imagery support (around Seattle, WA). This is experimental feature on Terraserver-USA, they plan to add other areas later. Here is how it looks. More info here. -- Tools menu - run your favorite programs (like GPSBabel) or web pages (MapQuest.com) from a right-click on the map. Click coordinates (lon, lat) are passed as arguments to the called program/page Your feedback is appreciated.

Have cracks on my unit (under 3 screws of 6). Date code 44/02 (October 2002). Not a big deal for me, I don't expect it to be water-tight anyway. Obvious production defect though.

This problem is fixed in the latest (20040125) build of QuakeMap. You can now download GCxxx -styled names to GPS, those are unique.

New version 3.3 build 20040125 is available. http://www.quakemap.com -- better presentation of waypoints in tables and popups. -- full support for GPX format, produces validatable output. -- UTM support. -- improved Photo Manager interface. -- robust real-time GPS processing. Your feedback is appreciated.

Possible reason for discrepancy may be that some programs do not use haversine formula (http://www.irbs.com/lists/navigation/0111/0022.html) and get incorrect results when distances are small. A good calculator is here: http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/LatLong.html Could you try the same test with QuakeMap (http://www.quakemap.com)? Thanks!

Interestingly enough, I had opposite experience many times - Vista was locking fine, while Magellan SporTrack lost satellites. The most memorable was at the beach with high cliffs, no trees though.

The grey cells (registration reminder) are just an overlay on the screen, they don't impact QuakeMap's ability to export completely useable tile sets to MapAdvisor. This ability is not going to terminate in free trial (trial is not limited in time). The cells cover about 8% of the screen surface, leaving the map quite useable (at least for MapAdvisor purposes).

Here is a nice calculator (with some explanation): http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/LatLong.html If you need the formula, view source (javascript) of the page. It is essential to use haversine formula, because regular one can't calculate short distances.

take a look at http://www.gpsinformation.net - lots of links to software and reviews there. You may want to try different software titles though, as your definition of the "best" depends on what you want to do with it - so look for downloadable trial versions first.

Well, the FREE part is only partially correct (it won't die on you but will "spoil" aerial map with grey squares after 20 days). But the $10 full license is not that much anyway. Thanks for the kind words, WhereRU!

Little correction: Vista has 24Mb, Legend - 8Mb. Here is a link - check the boxes and compare outdoor Garmin units here: http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/compare.jsp The 8-10 hours trip is comparable to the San Francisco log I posted before. Happy trails!

Thanks for the hint, Embra! I found AutoDetailed on SporTrack too: [on the map screen]-->Properties("book"btn)-->MapSetup-->Enter-->[scroll down to "TrackMode"] There are "Auto", "AutoDetailed" and 2.0...0.01Mile options. I guess 0.01Mi=50ft is not bad at all. From the manual, SporTrak tries to weed out trackpoints that are located on a straight line (in Auto and AutoDetailed modes). Not a bad idea, but my problem is that it does too good a job of weeding them out, removing most of them on a relatively straight highway or in flight. The track looks weird on aerial map, and "Break into Trips" function makes gaps in the track (there is always "Join tracks" function to correct this). I'll try to use 0.01 next time and see how it compares to Garmin Vista.

I've had Garmin eTrex Vista and Magellan SporTrack Pro for over a year; when it comes to storing the tracklogs I've found Vista to produce smooth, exact track - while SporTrack tends to put trackpoints way too far from each other. Here is the proof: ZIPped .gpx tracklogs - I carried both units on my trip to San Francisco. I believe Magellan tries to save memory and combs out intermediate trackpoints, while Garmin samples them often and stores in a huge 10,000 trkpt buffer. Height info is available on both units' tracklogs, this is how it looks in "color-coded" display (red is highest, blue lowest part of the trip). If anybody knows how to make Magellan SporTrack Pro match Vista's tracklog capabilities, please speak out!

I was asked once to provide a printout of routes so that people could use just bearing/distance data and navigate with compass; this is how the result looks like: Route. Similar printout for tracks is here:Track (that one came unsolicited, and I assume that all speeds over the legal driving limit are just result of computational errors :-). The challenge was to apply some non-trivial math to the track points to compute bearing/heading; similar formulas produce exact distance. So, I would be very surprised if there is a tool that takes a spreadsheet and does that much to it, say, in Excel. This type of processing is best when integrated into the mapping application itself.

To answer a couple of common questions: 1. what's the big deal with .ZIP files support? -- First of all, it allows to pack and store photo collections in a single file, and also when you receive your PocketQueries in a zip'ed gpx form - all you have to do is just open (or drop) the file directly, no unpacking needed; 2. License keys purchased for all previous versions work fine with 3.3. 3. The better you can set clock in Digital Camera, the easier/better is the positioning of the photos on tracks; but you can always adjust for the time shift later.

I just wanted to open a single discussion thread for all QuakeMap-related questions and announcements. The latest version out at http://www.quakemap.com supports Photo Collections (relates time-stamped JPG pictures to track logs, puts thumbnails on the map) and opens .zip files containing .gpx and .loc (and optionally .jpg) files. It fully supports MapAdvisor PDA software. Please share your experience and ideas here. Happy trails!