Author Topic: GPS Live Tracking Bug (Read 8475 times)

Vegas Runner · « **on:** June 17, 2008, 08:50:53 PM »

Hi Scott,

I was out last weekend and came across a bug. Actually I have found this bug many times in the past, Last weekend's trip just reminded me to post up!

Situation:
1.) Laptop in car, Topofusion Running, GPS Connected
2.) Using "Live Tracking" to track position while driving
3.) Laptop begins "Hibernating" (after period of no user input)
4.) user "Wakes" computer (by pressing power button)
5.) "Live Tracking" still "On" but not working
6.) In order to make "Live Tracking" work I have to quit Topofusion, then re-open it and start "Live Tracking" again

NOTE: I have tried to "stop tracking" and then "start tracking" but it does not work.

Ed

ScottMorris · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2008, 08:33:54 AM »

OK. I will try this out.

Is it actually hibernate, or "sleep"? Usually hibernate completely shuts off the computer, saving out all contents of memory to the disk (and it's user activated).

Also, I forget whether you are using a NMEA (likely) or Garmin GPS for tracking?

Thanks.

Vegas Runner · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2008, 06:26:58 PM »

It must be sleep then. I use a Garmin GPS60 connected via USB.

Vegas Runner · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2008, 09:47:56 PM »

Scott,

This is a screenshot of my "power options" control panel settings. Hope this helps in tracking down the bug. Â The problem occurs in the "Plugged In" mode (my car has a docking station). Â I am not sure if it happens in the "Running on Batteries" mode since I rarely run on batteries in my car.

Vegas Runner · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2008, 06:23:55 PM »

I experienced a very similiar problem today. This is what happened:

Situation:
1.) Laptop in car, Topofusion Running, GPS Connected
2.) Using "Live Tracking" to track position while driving
3.) GPS Turns off (lost power)
4.) user "Turns GPS Back ON"
5.) In order to make "Live Tracking" work I have to quit Topofusion, then re-open it and start "Live Tracking" again

NOTE: I tried to "stop tracking" and then "start tracking" but it does not work.

ScottMorris · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2008, 10:53:41 AM »

I tried this today (shutting off the GPS while tracking) and it seemed OK.

When you try to hit "start tracking" again, do you get an error message eventually?

Mine very quickly realizes the GPS is no longer there and switches the "stop tracking" button to "start tracking." Then restarting seems OK, even if the GPS doesn't have a lock yet.

Thanks.

Vegas Runner · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2008, 09:26:54 PM »

I will do some experimenting this weekend if I get a chance. I will try to re-confirm and document a repeatable sequence of events that demonstrates the bug. At face value we are having different experiences. Thanks for looking into this. I will try to get an update to you as soon as I can.

EDIT: I have never received an error message.

Ed

Vegas Runner · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2008, 11:18:18 PM »

Quote (ScottMorris @ July 02 2008,12:53)

I tried this today (shutting off the GPS while tracking) and it seemed OK.

When you try to hit "start tracking" again, do you get an error message eventually?

Mine very quickly realizes the GPS is no longer there and switches the "stop tracking" button to "start tracking." Â Then restarting seems OK, even if the GPS doesn't have a lock yet.

Thanks.

This is what I found:

Shutting off the GPS while tracking does not cause a problem. As you said, all I need to do is hit "start tracking" and everything is AOK.

However....

The bug does exist when the "the hard disks turn off" or the system goes into "standby". Â I am not totally sure which one (or both) causes the problem. I think it is when it goes into "standby" but I am not totally sure. When this happens the "start tracking" button does NOT work and I need to shut down Topofusion and re-start it. A work around is to choose "Never" for both of these options in the windows control panel under "Power Options". This is not a great work around though because I do not normally operate in this mode. Hopefully there is a way you can deal with this within Topofusion.

Ed

Vegas Runner · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2008, 10:48:46 PM »

Found some additional information while looking at Xport (a GPS Com Port Splitting Software that allows you to run multiple applications off the same GPS COM port). It appears that this "hibernation" issue is not a new thing. HEre is a link to the Xport website which you may find interesting by itself if you are interested in port splitting, but it also has some discussion about the "hibernation" issue.

Xport Webpage

Ed

ScottMorris · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2008, 02:02:24 PM »

Hmm, sounds like a bit of a can of worms.

Not sure exactly what we can do on TF's end about it. Sounds like what they do is manually shut off the USB device before hibernation.

I will try it on my end, while in debug mode, and see if there's something simple I can do like a more "hard reset" type of thing.

Too bad Windows doesn't handle it better...

Vegas Runner · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2008, 10:13:28 PM »

Yes I think that is what they do, shut it off then back on.