Author Topic: Real Time Tracking Feature - Does Not Seem To Work (Read 7858 times)

FESCSteve · « **on:** April 05, 2006, 10:42:51 PM »

I'm evaluating topofusion as a moving map GPS software solution. I love the idea of being able to use USGS maps.

However I can't seem to get real time tracking to work. I am using a NMEA GPS, serial port set correct because with hyperterminal I can see the NMEA sentences.

I start tracking and it just sits there - no data appears.

Any insight or suggestions?

I appreciate any help I can get. I really want to make this work for me.

Steve

Krein · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2006, 03:02:37 PM »

Hmm, there must be some variation in the NMEA sentences your GPS is sending out.

Can you post a couple lines of the output from HyperTerminal? Also, what GPS is it?

I will take a look and see if I can see what's going on.

Thanks.

cthomas · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2006, 03:28:03 PM »

Don't mean to highkack this thread but what is real time tracking and what do you need to do it?

Carl

FESCSteve · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2006, 03:39:48 PM »

Krein,

I'll get a screen shot of the NMEA data. I can tell you that it does work with Fugawi though so I have to assume that the NMEA data is at least good.

It should also be noted that I am running a custom GPS (Trimble Lassen IQ) that outputs NMEA 3.0 and am using a speed of 9600bps (faster than the standard of 4800bps).

Cthomas: Real time tracking uses the GPS data to show your position on the map in real time. So you are centered on the map and it moves as you do.

Steve

FESCSteve · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2006, 04:44:47 PM »

Well I tried it with the GPS set at 4800 and it made no difference. It just sits there and never does a thing.

Here's some of the NMEA stream from Hyperterminal:

$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234339.00,3549.9838,N,09650.4121,W,1,04,1.64,00267,M,-026,M,,*52
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234340.00,3549.9838,N,09650.4121,W,1,04,1.64,00267,M,-026,M,,*5C
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234341.00,3549.9834,N,09650.4119,W,1,04,2.78,00268,M,-026,M,,*5B
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234342.00,3549.9830,N,09650.4116,W,1,04,2.78,00270,M,-026,M,,*5A
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234343.00,3549.9825,N,09650.4112,W,1,04,2.78,00272,M,-026,M,,*59
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234344.00,3549.9820,N,09650.4108,W,1,04,2.78,00274,M,-026,M,,*56
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234345.00,3549.9816,N,09650.4104,W,1,04,2.78,00276,M,-026,M,,*5C
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234346.00,3549.9816,N,09650.4105,W,1,04,1.64,00276,M,-026,M,,*50
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234347.00,3549.9817,N,09650.4107,W,1,04,1.64,00275,M,-026,M,,*51
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234348.00,3549.9818,N,09650.4108,W,1,04,1.64,00275,M,-026,M,,*5E
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20
$GPGGA,234349.00,3549.9819,N,09650.4109,W,1,04,1.64,00275,M,-026,M,,*5F
$GPVTG,000.0,T,354.1,M,000.0,N,000.0,K,A*20

Of course you all know where I am now

Hope it helps to get this resolved.

Steve

Krein · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2006, 11:23:41 AM »

Hi Steve,

Great, thanks for the NMEA output. It looks just fine, there was just a bad assumption on our side. If you don't mind, try downloading the following file:

http://www.topofusion.com/GPSMaster.ocx

Copy it to "C:\Program Files\TopoFusion", overwriting the current file. Then give live tracking another try and let me know if it behaves any better.

Thanks.

FESCSteve · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2006, 12:58:38 PM »

Krein,

Thanks so much for the prompt attention to this issue. I've downloaded the file to the location indicated and I can manage to get a lock and the map moves and shows my location. then I get an error:

"Error reading from GPS, Check connection, GPS type and baud rate (see options > prefrences)"

Then if I attempt to start the tracking again, it tells me that there is an error initializing the com port and to check for other programs using the com port.

I feel you've helped me make real progress, but I can't seem to figure out the problem. Is it related to my port speed of 9600 baud?

Thanks again for all the help. I appreciate it very much.

Steve

Krein · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2006, 01:11:54 PM »

Yep, I'll bet that is the problem. We're opening the port at 4800, so it might behave unexpectedly at 9600.

I might be able to add an option for baud rate to the form, if that would help. But try setting the unit to 4800 for now.

Thanks for the patience on this issue.

FESCSteve · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2006, 01:59:18 PM »

I was afraid of that - the problem is that I am using a wireless RS232 modem to send the GPS NMEA data. The modem is set at 9600 baud and cannot be changed. I had assumed that since Topofusion gave the option to set the port speed higher than 4800 NMEA, that it would work.

Sigh - I guess I need to look at a different modem that can be set to 4800. The GPS can be set to output NMEA at anywhere from 4800 - 115200 so that's not an issue.

Thanks for trying at least. If you want me to beta test a higher baud rate feature, I'm your man

Steve

Krein · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2006, 10:19:06 AM »

Try downloading GPSMaster.ocx again, at the same location as the link above.

This version will use the baud setting from Options->Prefs->GPS. So set it to Magellan and 9600.

Let me know how it goes.

Thanks.

FESCSteve · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2006, 06:41:43 PM »

Works like a charm!!! I'm simply amazed at the level of attention given to this issue. You're the best Krein!

Steve