GPSTracka - GPS Logging Application for Windows Mobile

[mendhak]

If you have a Windows Mobile phone, I'd appreciate your help with testing and code improvements.

This project is available on CodePlex. http://www.codeplex.com/gpstracka (Please read!)

It will track your GPS coordinates and log it to a GPX file. The GPX file can then be imported and used with any other app that accepts GPX files such as a geotagger, path tracker, etc. This is what it looks like




Start by installing the application on your phone and then using it for a few days. I'd like to see

1. If you were able to get it to work and which COM port was right for you.
2. Whether it logged for you
3. What version of Windows Mobile you have
4. Your phone make and model
5. A GPX file from your phone

The best way to test it would be to install, figure out which COM port you use, then leave it running and go out for a walk, drive, photography session, etc.

I've already been using this for a few months. I went to Greece and used it for 2 weeks and then used the log files to geotag my photos. The photos now show up on my Flickr Map.

Any other thoughts, let me know. You can give your feedback either as issues on codeplex or just a reply to this thread.

You can also join the project on Codeplex where the source code is available.

[gep13]

Hey,

Couple things straight off the bat (I haven't actually played with the GPS logging yet, since I don't get a GPS Signal in the office)...

The controls do not seem to be aligned properly on my phone when in the default portrait mode, see portrait screen shot.

Also, I have the ability to change the orientation of my home by flipping the phone into landscape mode, and this is what I get, see landscape screen shot.

Those are small issues, but something that you might want to handle. Not sure if you are aware, but you can subscribe to the screen orientation change event using:

private SystemState screenOrientation;
screenOrientation = new SystemState(SystemProperty.DisplayRotation);
screenOrientation.Changed += new ChangeEventHandler(screenOrientation_Changed);

Which would let you handle the positioning of controls depending on the screen size and orientation.

Really like the idea though. Will give the GPS side of it a play on the way home.

Gary

[Atheist]

I get the same problem with the controls in portrait mode as Gary on my HTC Touch HD.
I am trying to find the proper port to try out the actual GPS part right now, so I cant comment on it just yet.

Just another small thing, when you click "Start", some controls (dropdowns etc) gets disabled, but when clicking Verbose they do not. Is this intended?

Edit: Said landscape, but meant portrait

[gep13]

Hey,

Following up on my last post, I have been unable to get any logging from GPSTracka.

My phone uses COM4 for GPS, and I have verified that it is working (using Google Maps), but I can't get it to work. There are no error messages in the textbox, and I can't see any log file being created.

I have tried using Verbose on all the COM channels in the drop down list, but none of them seem to be operating.

Is there anything else that I can try?

Thanks

Gary

[Atheist]

As I was testing COM3, it threw an exception a while after I had pressed the Start button:

IOException

in System.IO.Ports.SerialStream.WinIOError() in
System.IO.Ports.SerialStream.CheckResult() in System.IO.Ports.SerialStream.get_BytesToRead() in
System.IO.Ports.SerialPort.get_BytesToRead() in
SharpGis.SharpGps.SerialPort.Read() in SharpGis.SharpGps.SerialPort.Start()

[mendhak]

Thanks for that, I wasn't aware of the orientation event, I'm new to .NET CF, but I'll give that a try and see how I can make it easier.

I'm sorry it's not working for you guys, what a deeply mortifying situation. I'm trying to figure out why it won't work for you. Maybe it's the low baud rate I used? Unfortunately, I've hardcoded the baud rate to 4800. Do you know how to check for your GPS receiver baud rate on your phone?

If you go to Start > Settings > System > "External GPS" or "GPS"

Then in those tabs, have a look at the baud rate. Also, look at the "Access" tab and see if the "Manage GPS Automatically" checkbox is checked. It ideally should be checked.



There are a few things you guys can try.

The first is 'quick gps'. Start > Program Tools > QuickGPS. That 'helps' the ports out especially if you haven't used the GPS settings before. If you have, this is of no use to you.

The second is to actually run the code against your phone I know you guys probably have other stuff to do and won't have time to download and compile and run against your phone, so I'll have a look at what other areas could be failing and then get back to you.

If it turns out to be a baud rate issue, I'll have to add a dropdown that lets you choose that, or get it to find out the baud rate automatically.

Sorry about this... bad start.

[mendhak]

Alright, I've uploaded a new CAB file to www.codeplex.com/gpstracka

Just hit the download button again and this time when you install it you'll get a baud rate combobox. I'll work on the orientation bit afterwards, hopefully the baud rate is what was going wrong.

I'll also need to save the settings you choose to a config file of some sort, but let's get to that later shall we

[mendhak]

Atheist - yes, the verbose is simply a quick 'debug' mode.

[gep13]

Hey,

I will give it a try again on the way home tonight, to see how I get on. If it doesn't work with the different baud rates, then I will try hooking it up and running the code against the phone to see how I get on with that. Am quite interested in using this application, so am happy to help to get it working.

On a side note, there are lots of events in SystemState that you can subscribe to. In a recent application I wrote I was subscribing to things to wireless network detected, GPRS network detected, cradle state (i.e. whether it's connected to activesync) etc, there is quite a lot of things you can use.

Also, if you haven't already had a look, that a look here:

http://www.opennetcf.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

They include a lot of functionality that isn't included in the Compact Framework out of the box.

On that note, out of the box, there is no System.Configuration in the Compact Framework, so if you are creating a configuration file, you are going to have to roll your own.

I also noticed that you had rolled your own logging, but this is the logging library that I have used in the past, and it worked well:

http://www.nlog-project.org/

I tried to get log4net working on the CF, but couldn't get it going for some reason.

Anyway, will let you know how I get on.

Gary

[Atheist]

How do I run the code against my phone? I've wanted to know that ever since I bought it.
I checked my settings, and it looks like COM4 with a baud rate of 4800 should be the right thing for me...so its odd that it didnt work.

[mendhak]

Right, so if you want to debug or run code straight against the phone, you'll need VS 2008 and the SDK.

I've put the instructions on the codeplex page.

Now, to get it running directly on your phone, you connect it to your PC via USB, and when you F5/run your project, you'll get a choice of many 'emulators'. However, one of them should say "Windows Mobile Professional Device" or something similar. If you choose that, then the app gets deployed to your phone and then runs in debug mode via the USB cable. So you can step through the code.

You'll be able to download the source code directly from here: http://www.codeplex.com/gpstracka/So...leCommits.aspx

[mendhak]

Thanks again gep, Atheist. I'm sometimes overly-empathic and so I'm always conscious that I'm "wasting" your time with this so any help with testing or coding or criticism, I'm grateful for, even if you decide to suddenly stop.

I had considered OpenNetCF at one point but I guess I was trying to keep the memory usage as low as possible. If you vouch for it then I'll definitely use it.

[gep13]

See, I was just away to post that that is how you do it, but when I tried it on my machine, I get an error about not being able to connect to the device. Have you seen that before? I have never done any debugging on this phone, but I assumed it would be the same as always.

Gary

[mendhak]

Oh, set build configuration to 'debug' mode, I think it's at 'release' mode right now.

When you connect your phone to your PC, if you do get the ActiveSync thing or its Vista equivalent, then the debug should work, you'll get a prompt asking you to install the application (trusted publisher, yadda yadda), after which it then installs and starts running.

[gep13]

Don't you just hate it when things don't work the first time, and then when you go back, having changed nothing else, it works perfectly

Am now able to connect to the device through Visual Studio, so am able to run the application. Will let you know any findings.

[mendhak]

Woohoo! I'd rate you if I could but apparently I already have. Shame on you for knowing me from the ASP.NET forum

[Atheist]

I was recently trapped at university, I'll try the debugging-on-phone thingie once I escape.

[gep13]

Hello,

Here is an update.

I have checked my GPS Settings, and I have attached screenshots of the settings.

And I have attached a screen shot of the settings that I am using in GPSTracka.

Which i me, seems correct.

Stepping through the code, it goes through the StartUpGPS method without any exceptions, although I notice that GPS.IsPortOpen never switches to true, should it?

I have set a break point line 45, but this never seems to get called.

Any thoughts?

Gary

[gep13]

Ok, update...

Attached is a screenshot of the GPSEventHandler being fired. And it is for TypeOfEvent = TimeOut. At this point in the code execution, LogEverything was true, since I had clicked on Verbose, however, e.Sentence is null, so nothing is written to the TextBox. This sort of explains what is going on, but I am guessing that this should get logged.

I will keep having a play.

Gary

[mendhak]

@gep: Wow, lots of detail!

Have you also set different baud rates?

I am wondering if a higher baud rate will work for you.

I'm in the middle of lunch right now so I'll continue looking at it too (this evening).

And I will also confirm is IsPortOpen should be true.

@Atheist: Ha ha, student.

[mendhak]

gep: After StartupGps() runs, I get IsPortOpen = True. I have a hunch when I walk; I also have a hunch that the baud rate should fix things for you.

Atheist: Try Verbose mode only for now, at different Baud rates and ports until you get readings. The moment you get those gobbledygook NMEA sentences, you know you've got the right port and baud rate.

Guys, I know it's a hassle, but I don't believe there's a uniform way to detect the proper GPS port and baud rate as it differs from phone to phone. For example, I have an HTC TyTnII. In the registry, I have

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\

Under this I have Drivers which points to 'CurrentDriver' = 'GPSOneDevice' and InputBufferSize=4096 and OutputBufferSize=4096. This tells me that the baud rate is 4096. But not the COM port. For that, I looked at

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\GPSOne*.*

And there, I found GPSOnePort which ponits to COM1.

Now, I don't believe you'll have the same registry entries, hence the 'manual' bit of fiddling around. Google Maps, if you select 'Windows managed COM port', I believe iterates through the ports to figure out the right port.

[Atheist]

I had a look in the registry too and found the same keys on the InputBufferSize and OutPutBufferSize, but the one you found that said COM1 wasnt there for me. I did find two other registrykeys when looking around though, one pointing at COM4 and one at COM0. I have tried COM4 on all baud rates with no luck, I'll try COM0 on all baud rates now.

[mendhak]

Thanks Mr. N.

Just so you know, few changes I just made: I used the anchoring/docking properties to get the controls aligned. Also, used

            string[] portNames = SerialPort.GetPortNames();
            foreach (string port in portNames)
            {
                this.ComboBoxCOMPorts.Items.Add(port);
            }

To populate the combobox with the COM ports. (It was hardcoded previously)

I've re-uploaded the installation CAB (sorry) so you'll have to download again.

[mendhak]

I think it should be easier now... because you'll have a limited set of ports to choose from. You guys are also welcome to change the layout or code as you please directly against the live source code on CodePlex, just in case you want to.

[mendhak]

Oh and the controls should align properly now because I put them in a panel, hopefully no interference or overlapping.

[mendhak]

OK, last post for today (maybe )

I'm now also getting the form to save the settings to a file so that it can persist your changes across uses instead of having to pick it from the dropdown each time. That CAB file has been

The most elusive problem so far is why it won't read for you guys.

I've also checked - you will get the timeout if you have the wrong port.

[gep13]

Hey,

Just had a play with the latest version, and I can confirm that the layout of the controls is now working as expected while in portrait mode. One small nag is that when in landscape mode, the controls separate, instead of sticking together, seems a little bit less intuitive. Have attached a screen shot to show what I mean.

Using the new code, I only get the option of selecting either COM4 or COM7. I have now been through each Baud Rate for both COM Ports, but unfortunately, I get a time out for each of them?!?!

I have confirmed that the GPS Signal is there, by using the GPS functionality within Google Maps, and that works fine.

I have had a look at the registry settings that you suggested and I get the following:

CurrentDriver = GPSOneDevice

And in there, I don't have InputBufferSize or OutputBufferSize, instead, i have:

CommPort - GPS0:
DriverName - GPS Device Driver
FriendlyName - QualComm GpsOne Card, version 0.0
InterfaceType - POLL
PollInterval - 0x000003e8
Version - 0x00000002

And under GPSOnePort I have:

CommPort - GPD10:
FriendlyName - QualComm GpsOne Card, version 0.0
InterfaceType - COMM

Is there anything obviously wrong here?

Thanks

Gary

[mendhak]

Oh yeah, as you can tell, I'm not that good with form layouts Feel free to change it if you'd like, to something better.

Now the COM ports that you get in the combobox are the only COM ports available on your phone because it uses a built-in .NET Framework method.

If Google Maps works for you and this doesn't, then what about the reverse? If you go to G Maps and go to Options > GPS Settings, it will probably say "windows managed". What happens if you choose the other radio button and start picking COM ports from there?


Any ideas why this isn't working?

I'm also going to have a look at OpenNetCF tonight.

[mendhak]

There's nothing wrong with your registry settings if G Maps works for you. It's something wrong with the code. I just don't know what yet

[gep13]

Good thinking.

Just been into Google Maps settings and I have selected COM4: and a baud rate of 4800, and Google Maps connects to GPS without any problems.

Need to get on with some work just now, will I will do some digging when I get a chance to see what I can come up with.

Gary

[mendhak]

So today at work, I got 3 coworkers to try it out, and it worked for them right off the bat. Still another 4 to go, but they're rather lazy and need constant prodding to click a button.

Did changing the port work for you Atheist? I'm half-hoping that you haven't replied because it did start working for you and you were so amazed that you left your house immediately and are still walking somewhere in the wildernesses of Sweden.

[gep13]

Out of interest, what phones did they try it on? It's still not working for me

[mendhak]

They were HTC phones - HTC Touch Pro and HTC Diamonds

I have something else for you to try if you're willing. Now, I use a library called SharpGps, which is also on Codeplex and which comes with its own test forms, etc. Willing to give those test forms a try?

http://www.codeplex.com/SharpGPS

It has a settings screen. Now if this SharpGPS Pocket PC Demo works for you, then we know it's a code problem in GPSTracka. If it doesn't work for you, then it's a problem with the library itself and we'll have to use OpenNetCF and read the serial port ourselves.

[gep13]

Sure, I can give that a try. Might not get round to it today, but definitely at the weekend.

One thought that I did have, but haven't had a chance to play with was, is it possible to extend the TimeOut for establishing a connection? Is this a property that you can set? If so, maybe it's a simple case of extending the TimeOut. If that's the case, then that could exposed as a setting as well.

I have some things to do this morning, but will have a play later.

Gary

[mendhak]

Do you sleep?

Looks like we had the same thought, btw. This morning, I looked at the Timeout property and it was set to 50 seconds. The sample code in the demo form in post #33 uses 5 seconds. Hopes. Dashed. Again.

[gep13]

Ha Ha, yeah, I do sleep, just not a lot

Just tried to run the demo project, but it telling me that I need to enter a password for the SharpGIS.pfx file?!? Did I miss something? What password do I need to put in here?

[mendhak]

Ok, well, I did find this

http://www.codeplex.com/SharpGPS/Sou...ew/22351#86435

			//ntrip.UserName = "user28";

			//ntrip.Password = "hfjfkp";

I have no idea why you're being asked for a password. Did you download the source code and compile or was it the CAB?>

[gep13]

I am not sure either. I downloaded the source code, which includes the demo form for Windows Mobile. Whenever I try and debug the application, or even build it, i get prompted for a password.

See attached.

I am not having much luck with all this!!

[gep13]

Oh, forgot to say, I tried the password that you suggested, but that didn't work.

[mendhak]

They probably don't want others tampering with it, so get the actual app (CAB) itself rather than source code, download and install that.