Would anyone use such an application

[+user13371]

I would like an application, either on my iPhone or a webpage, that would show me a satellite view at any given time, similar to what I can see on the status page of my GPS -- mainly as a crosscheck for other devices I'm working with. Like this, sort of, but centered on my location (or any chosen spot) instead of the standard projection:

 

 

I could get the raw data here...

 

http://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/incoming/Waas_SV_Status.txt

 

Has anyone already got an app for doing this, or is this a good excuse for me to waste a rainy aftertnoon coding?

Edited August 16, 2009 by lee_rimar

[+clan_Barron]

Good excuse , good excuse ! I have an iPhone, I view webpages and I think I'd use it. Here's hoping for some rain

[+RRLover]

Like this? :

 

http://freegeographytools.com/2007/determi...sition-accuracy

 

Norm

[msmurfy]

Hello Lee:

 

I would love an app like that. I periodically check the app store for this type of app, but haven't found one. I think that I have done a pretty good job searching.

 

Take care,

Mike

 

P.S. I would have no qualms about paying for such an app.

[+TotemLake]

Drilling through RRLover's link produced this website which will give you a pretty good PDOP read.

[+user13371]

Like this?

Yeah, something like the Skyplot buried down a ways down on that page. Frankly I'm not even very interested in the deep analysis of the geometry, even if that was part of the program. I just need a quick look about the same as the status page on most handheld GPS units for comparison -- that is, matching up what the DeLorme & Garmin & other devices THINK constellation should look like vs what it actually is at the moment.

[+splashy]

What can we actually do with a program like that?

Second, why should you make it, not many people have a Gps sat lock behind the computer

and if I make a print and my gps says I see a different constellation then what?

If the signal is not there for whatever reason, I can do nothing about it.

 

But I have to say the first picture in this threat looks nice and better then the rest.

[+TotemLake]

What can we actually do with a program like that?

Second, why should you make it, not many people have a Gps sat lock behind the computer

and if I make a print and my gps says I see a different constellation then what?

If the signal is not there for whatever reason, I can do nothing about it.

 

But I have to say the first picture in this threat looks nice and better then the rest.

It would be predictive software that allows you to predict when your GPS would be most accurate and on the flip side, be the most inaccurate piece of junk in your hands.

[+Team CowboyPapa]

What can we actually do with a program like that?

Second, why should you make it, not many people have a Gps sat lock behind the computer

and if I make a print and my gps says I see a different constellation then what?

If the signal is not there for whatever reason, I can do nothing about it.

 

But I have to say the first picture in this threat looks nice and better then the rest.

Perhaps it's a hobby of his.

Like I have a brother-in-law that runs model trains around his basement.

 

10-4?

[+RRLover]

It would be predictive software that allows you to predict when your GPS would be most accurate and on the flip side, be the most inaccurate piece of junk in your hands.

I used to have a site hosted by Trimble that would do this, could even add masks for obstructions to

the designated sites horizon, but I've been searching my archives for hours, and angrily I must stop

now.

Sorry

 

Norm

[+user13371]

... the first picture in this thread looks nice and better then the rest.

Yes, and it's dynamic. Every time you load this page it's up to date, at least within a few minutes All I want is that picture centered on my location instead of the standard projection.

 

why should you make it, not many people have a GPS sat lock behind the computer...

No? I have a computer in my pocket almost everywhere I go. You don't? You must be an early 21st century Earthling.

 

As TotemLake points out, it could be useful for predicting how good your fix might be. Or as originally stated (and restated) in this thread, if I'm working with more device and they're showing conflicting info, it would be a way to figure out which one is more correct.

 

Don't worry Splashy, if I make a program that, I won't force you load it on your computer

[+RRLover]

It would be predictive software that allows you to predict when your GPS would be most accurate and on the flip side, be the most inaccurate piece of junk in your hands.

I used to have a site hosted by Trimble that would do this, could even add masks for obstructions to

the designated sites horizon, but I've been searching my archives for hours, and angrily I must stop

now.

Sorry

 

Norm

 

One last stab, and I found it! If I recall it used to be an on-line tool, now it's a download.

http://www.trimble.com/planningsoftware.shtml

 

Norm

 

Never-mind this is the same software as the first post, I'll shut-up now.

Edited August 16, 2009 by RRLover

[+TotemLake]

It would be predictive software that allows you to predict when your GPS would be most accurate and on the flip side, be the most inaccurate piece of junk in your hands.

I used to have a site hosted by Trimble that would do this, could even add masks for obstructions to

the designated sites horizon, but I've been searching my archives for hours, and angrily I must stop

now.

Sorry

 

Norm

 

One last stab, and I found it! If I recall it used to be an on-line tool, now it's a download.

http://www.trimble.com/planningsoftware.shtml

 

Norm

 

Never-mind this is the same software as the first post, I'll shut-up now.

[Grasscatcher]

Like this?

Yeah, something like the Skyplot buried down a ways down on that page. Frankly I'm not even very interested in the deep analysis of the geometry, even if that was part of the program. I just need a quick look about the same as the status page on most handheld GPS units for comparison -- that is, matching up what the DeLorme & Garmin & other devices THINK constellation should look like vs what it actually is at the moment.

 

With that Trimble planning site , if you set up your station location correctly, and are using the correct almanac data, you can accurately predict Exactly which sats "your" GPS will see at any location, even days in advance. I've never known it to be anything but "Dead On".

 

Experiment with it at your home, then predict what your unit will see a couple of days in advance and check it out at exactly the selected time on that day.

 

Play with the program, because there are lots of ways to display the data . Some might not make sense to you, but others will.

 

Understand the DOP screens and you'll start understanding why there are good times and there are not so good times to record GPS data on the same day. Sometimes the difference of 15-30 min on any given day can make a BIG difference.

[+user13371]

http://www.trimble.com/planningsoftware.shtml

Yeah, I've downloaded that today and I'm playing with it.

 

It does have a lot of info in it -- but it's clumsy to use and it's gawd-awful ugly. They musta designed it back in the days of CGA and not done much to the UI since then.

[+TotemLake]

http://www.trimble.com/planningsoftware.shtml

Yeah, I've downloaded that today and I'm playing with it.

 

It does have a lot of info in it -- but it's clumsy to use and it's gawd-awful ugly. They musta designed it back in the days of CGA and not done much to the UI since then.

At least back when NT4 was the current OS.

[+TotemLake]

Just finished playing with it yet again (have had it over the years), and you can save the hyperpage info as html pages to use as reference on your favorite PDA. I can see the satellites down to 10 degrees elevation but they don't become useful till about 20 degrees where I live and even higher when I find myself between mountains. But at least I now have a decent planning tool (that I can understand) for my HOTMs.

[Grasscatcher]

I don't have it on right now but you can set the elevation mask at whatever is correct for your area (or as desired) and also the DOP limits.

 

Some of us GPS users fall in the clumsy and ugly categories.

[+londontavern]

The FREE program to download is here:-

 

http://www.trimble.com/planningsoftware_ts...Collection-8425

 

Link:- Setup Planning 2.8

 

When istalled run planning.exe, select file and enter location details.

 

Then try the icons and selections.

 

You will never want for more

[+splashy]

@ Lee-Rimar

No? I have a computer in my pocket almost everywhere I go.

 

So do I, but it doesn't help me much on remote places.

But have to admit, I could save a page for later viewing, if you make the program I will run it, because I like new stuff.

Still I wonder does it improve my Gps live,

[+user13371]

Though it's experimental, "it's far enough along" and I have permission from the developer at FAA to share this link. Still no app for the iPhone, but I've asked him about that also. You need Google Earth to use this:

 

Live GPS Status Maps for Google Earth

 

This is still in development, but the updates should be automatic, you won't have to re-download anything. As of now there are no circular projections onto the earth, but we're working on it.

 

You will need "Google Earth" installed. Once installed, open the attached file and it will appear in your "Temporary Places" in the left pane. Right click on the main entry and click "Save to My Places", it will now be there whenever you open Google Earth. The link for this file will be appearing soon on our website, probably by the end of the year.

 

All the real-time data updates every 3 minutes. It may improve to 30 second updates soon. 24-hour data obviously updates once a day. The quarterly data we will update every 3 months. Look for that to change near the end of October to include 3rd quarter 2009 data.

 

Quick Tip: Go to Tools -> Options -> 3D View (Tab)

 

Set the "Elevation Exaggeration to 1 for a true representation of altitude. But play with this setting, because terrain sometimes looks better at full exaggeration of 3, but the satellites in the sky are a little easier to see at 0.5.

There are several layers in here beside the satellite positions. Pretty much every GPS status map you could get from the FAA site is here, and you can turn all the layers on and off individually. Be sure to look at all the layers individual to find which ones you need.