Author Topic: Problem with Live tracking and NO MAPS. (Read 14779 times)

m38a1guy · « **on:** September 10, 2008, 05:38:12 PM »

Hi,

I found a bad glitch thats in the previous builds and the newer ones. Its where you use LIVE tracking and when you Try to move the map when its set to center position on tracking the Maps all turn into WHITE squares with the download icon on them.

Also the maps do this EVERYTIME the GPS loses all the sats, it stays this way until it gets the sats again, this itself wouldnt be too bad but in the meantime you CANT see your surounding map area! Plus IF you exit this way your Stuck. And then have to uninstall and delete the INI file. I think this needs to be fixed it did this to me 20 times while driving and 6 times I had to do the reinstall. I almost went over a cliff playing with the software that shouldnt have done this.

Also Are you going to add the Sats that are in range and how many are connected like WinNavigator has? Reason being the only time I know if its connected or not is IF it tracks or doesnt give me the white download squares.

ScottMorris · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2008, 08:05:56 PM »

On the first point, how are you moving the map? With the mouse (drag/pan) or keyboard arrows or?

I've done that many times and never had it go to a bogus location.

Hmm.

What coordinates does it go to when it's messed up?

m38a1guy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 11, 2008, 11:43:19 PM »

No you Misunderstand what I am saying it doesnt show me in another area its that my MAP data disappears and the Download squares appear as if I NEVER downloaded Map data. On the Dragging it would be by Mouse or Touchscreen.

But when GPS loses ALL the sats is when the Maps just go white with the download text on them,. Just like when you first use TF and you need to download all the maps. Once the GPS sats are back it SHOWS the maps again. The spot never moves. It has to do it with others as it did this with the external GPS also. its all related to the software and Live tracking. Its pretty bad to the Point if it cant get fixed I may need to use another software. Bad thing about it is IF you close TF while its Blank with the download texts squares it will stay that way and corrupt the INI file.

Like I said I almost went over the cliff messing with the software and these glitches.

Krein · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2008, 01:35:25 PM »

OK. Thanks for the clarification.

I'll do some more testing with this and see if I can get it sorted out.

Sorry about the issue.

m38a1guy · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2008, 05:34:31 PM »

thanks, its a serious problem for me on safety also.

m38a1guy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2008, 03:53:34 AM »

Where you able to fix the problem? its really important for me to have this fixed

ScottMorris · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2008, 02:49:20 PM »

No, I haven't been able to duplicate the problem, so I don't know how to fix it.

When I use NMEA live tracking I can happily move the map around as much as I want and I always have the maps I downloaded. It never goes somewhere that doesn't have maps.

I have tried both with and without "Center Map on Position" checked.

It's very unlikely that you are actually "losing the maps", but I could see it getting a bogus position that it's centering the map too, and it's somewhere outside the US where there are no maps.

Can you send me your current .INI file so I can see if there might be a different setting somewhere?

Just so we're on the same page:

1 - hit "start tracking"
2 - leave "Center Map on Position" checked
3 - Go to the map window and pan away from current position.
4 - map goes blank

Right?

Thanks.

m38a1guy · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2008, 06:27:07 PM »

Yes but thats not the worse problem, the REAL issue is when the GPS loses its sats while doing live tracking it goes to White "Download" maps sections as if none have been loaded. Then when the sats connect it shows the maps again. this can be duplicated by Live tracking and then cover your GPS so that way you can duplicate the problem., its EASY to duplicate this one.

As for the Panning and losing the Maps I dont know why it didnt do it with you, have you tried to do it several times in a ROW? Because it happened after a couple tries for me.

Also can you add a feature to show HOW many Sats are connected to the GPS in the software when live tracking? It would be nice if it would be on the Map windows somewhere like a overlay window?

Thanks.

I'll also try to get you an INI file.

Also when the maps go black if you Exit the program your stuck with no maps for some reason.

ScottMorris · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2008, 10:35:10 PM »

Hmm.

I also forced a loss of satellite and it continued to report the same position (and show maps).

I will try it again.

In the next beta I will build in a failsafe that prevents bogus lat/lons from being reported. My guess is that your GPS is reporting differently than mine when it loses sats.

While I'm there I will look at signal strength in NMEA and see if I can add it to the dialog.

Thanks.

m38a1guy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 29, 2008, 06:35:33 PM »

well when it cuts out on the maps it stays in the SAME position so its not going to Africa or something. Its just the Maps disappear. I am surprised you cant duplicate it? Well maybe that adjustment will help I hope so as its better to have the maps stay than not. I am using the Stock GPS in the CF-29 laptop/ BTW I stated this has to be done While "Moving" and live tracking so if you try use your car and then Block the GPS while Driving so it loses signal completely, then I think you might see the problem.

Can you add something similar to the WINFAST NAVIGATOR? It not only shows Signal Strength but also the number of satellites. Somethings that could be Clicked to allow an Overlay would be nice as well as the Live tracking box to be made Hidden if you can to allow maximum Map viewing while Driving. Try Winfast Navigator when you get a chance its a simple program but the Sat tracking is very nice to have.

ScottMorris · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2008, 07:31:54 AM »

How do you know that it's not moving the position temporarily?

Do you have tracks in the area that stay on the screen? Or does your current "live track" stay on the screen, exactly relative to where you were before?

Sorry for questioning it, but I know my software fairly well, and there's not much that can cause "downloading" tiles to appear, other than actually being in a area/tileset that hasn't been downloaded yet, or doesn't exist.

I will try again to duplicate it.

m38a1guy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2008, 12:52:00 PM »

The Location Icon showing where I was last doesnt move only the maps disappear. It happens and happens often and it doesnt matter which version from the latest to previous version they all do the same thing when live tracking and then losing sats it shows No maps. If you Exit out of the program when it does that you want have Maps period! Doesnt show any of them. then you need to do a Reinstall, sometimes the replacing of the INI file helps and sometimes its not enough. There is a bug in the software and I can duplicate with ease. You really need to make sure the sats are blocked not removing the gps etc. You also have to be moving I dont know how fast you need to be but I would guess atleast 10-15miles per hour. Not sure on that one.

Maybe the GPS you are using doesnt get Blocked enough? Alot of the USB ones are Active GPS antennas and not passive, the ones on the CF models are Passive antennas making it easier to block the Sats by Puting my hand over the area where the Antenna is. The software basically BLANKS OUT, It doesnt move me, as the Live tracking stays in the same spot and when the Maps appear again right where the Icon was.

So that is why I seriously doubt the moving to a non downloaded area, I have seen this happen already when trying to live track with a GPS that isnt connected fully with the sats. This is different, and complete blank out by the software which is really weird and dangerous under certain instances.

I have only brought a FEW bugs to your attention over the few years I have had this software, but ALL the bugs I did give you were real, and you were able to find a fix. Remember the one on the map overlays? I believe they are posted somewhere here on the forums. :-)

anyway, I hope you can duplicate this because it blanks out pretty bad and it takes a while if the sats are down and I am without maps without a reinstall of the INI or the program itself. Thats only of course if I stop the program while its doing that, if I dont and just leave it the maps come back with the sats. though its an assumption on the sats as I have no way of knowing HOW many are connected while using the program or signal strenth of them.

BTW its a good idea to add the fix for moving to the wrong location anyway as it would be a nice feature. But this other issue I am having I think is something else. Dont forget I will be VERY happy also with Number or Sats and Signal Strength of the Sats in some sort of Overlay as well as the LIVE TRACKING BOX to be Hidden instead of stuck on the map screen.

ScottMorris · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2008, 02:52:59 PM »

Don't worry, I believe you that there is a bug. I'm just having trouble duplicating it, and trying to make sure the map position just isn't moving.

So when you do live tracking do you use the "Center map on position" feature?

If so (and I'd think you do), then the icon is always in the center of the screen, if the GPS is reporting a position 5000 miles from the last known position, right?

I definitely got both GPS units I tested with to lose all signal. Not hard to do with older Garmin units when indoors. What I have not done is test it while actually moving, in a car. I suppose that is the next avenue to explore since I can't get it to do anything while stationary.

One question about when you need to reinstall. This really sounds like you're getting your map position moved to Africa or something. When you're outside the US you will get no maps in topo or aerial. Did you note the coordinates being reported when you move the mouse around? Are you sure you were still in the US? If you switch to Landsat, you should see where in the world you are, and it's easy to zoom out and pan back. Or, double click on a file to auto zoom/pan the map to show that file back in the US.

Sorry for all the questions, I just still suspect that the position is moving somewhere bogus. I'll quit with it if you can answer those above, and will change my thinking.

m38a1guy · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2008, 04:47:27 PM »

Landsat wouldnt work none of them work or are visible. If that helps. And this problem only seems to happen when moving and using live tracking.

I have zoomed out and didnt have Landsat which I have the entire world of. So....... Try doing it while in the car you will see.

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m38a1guy · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2008, 10:27:00 PM »

Were you able to reproduce it?

ScottMorris · « **Reply #15 on:** October 12, 2008, 03:15:18 PM »

Negative. I just got back from a trip.

I will test it on the drive to the next trip (this one we simply rode right from the house). I'll have time, and a laptop. So it will be another week or so until I can report results, but I will have some answers.

Thanks for the patience. It's kind of hard to organize someone to drive me around while I test software.

m38a1guy · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2008, 10:15:16 PM »

lol I was alone when it went out on me. lol Almost over a canyon I went.

What about adding Sats and their Strength etc. to TF. It would be Great to know exactly how many Sats and what the strength is. The Data is there so.....

m38a1guy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2008, 03:55:28 PM »

Have you been addressing this problem?

Also any progress on the Software tracking number of Sats and signal strength?