Since giving up smoking... ! locr BUG REPORT !

[schoolbusdriver]

Since giving up smoking last year, I've found that my energy levels have increased considerably. Instead of gasping for breath while walking up to the local shop for more filthy ciggies, I can now hike and scramble over even rough terrain without raising a sweat - although I'm still scared to stand on a wet grass slope within two feet of a sheer 100 foot cliff. 3 feet is Ok, as is a steep slope where I can see terra firma all the way to the bottom.

Adding all that to my interest in photography, and my desire to goetag my pics, I bought a GPS data logger which can tag the pics based on the time, and even display on google earth.

I've already written a progaram to read/write any exif tag (even create unspecified custom tags) and alter the "date created" and "modified" properties (including batch processing) in a variety of ways - including synchronising with the "Date Picture Taken" tag.

One thing I can't seem to find is a program to calculate the distance travelled based on the GPS data points - there could be several hundred on a long hike.

So, does anyone know of a freeware prog that calculates distance based on a series of NMEA GPS message strings or do I have to write my own ? I'm not really bothered about the precision loss due to changes in altitude.

Or do you think I'm too sad ?

[mendhak]

You should've used GPSTracka, fool!

You can have a play with the GPS data at www.gpsvisualizer.com, some of the generated maps tell you the distance traveled.

[wossname]

MySQL has built-in geo functions.

Which GPS data logger did you get? I've been looking at this http://www.semsons.com/amaggpsdalos.html because I wouldn't waste my hard-earned on a winmo phone.

[schoolbusdriver]

You should've used GPSTracka, fool!

You can have a play with the GPS data at www.gpsvisualizer.com, some of the generated maps tell you the distance traveled.

No mobile phone , but if I'm going to go walkabout in some of our wilder areas, it would be wise to get a pay-as-you-go... People regularly call out mountain rescue only a couple of miles from here. They're wimps. When I was young, two broken legs were not an excuse not to drag yourself home in time for bread and dripping - without dirt under your fingernails.

I'll take a look at that link tomorrow. I know all the math etc to write an app, but the sun's been visible lately and my feet are itching... (I don't mean from a fungal infection either )

MySQL has built-in geo functions.

Which GPS data logger did you get? I've been looking at this http://www.semsons.com/amaggpsdalos.html because I wouldn't waste my hard-earned on a winmo phone.

The RoyalTek SiRF Star III GPS Receiver + Data-Logger RGM3800. I really wanted one that saved to an SD card, but couldn't find one at a decent price. I think this is to stop HGV drivers from sharing data - ie spending a day at the beach and telling the manager they were stuck in traffic jams. (I can see a market for this...)

I suffered my usual attack of apoplexy at the price, then found out I'd received an unexpected bonus from work that made the price acceptable. In any case, it's only a weeks worth of ciggies . There are other loggers that link to flickr too, but you can do that manually if there's only a few pics/data points.

I did a quick test with it yesterday - 132 snaps over about 4 miles. No problems auto geotagging them or displaying the track on google.

[Shaggy Hiker]

When I was young, two broken legs were not an excuse not to drag yourself home in time for bread and dripping - without dirt under your fingernails.

I've never had more than one at a time, but I did cover about 1100 miles on that one before I stopped to see a doctor.

(actually, it was just my foot that had a broken bone, a femur would be a show stopper).

[mendhak]

I had written an app to geotag the photos with my GPS data but then discovered that someone had written one already that worked quite well. Look for GeoSetter.

Also, I've got a Sony CS1 which I don't use.

[schoolbusdriver]

Also, I've got a Sony CS1 which I don't use.

Does it output the data to a text file ? It could still be useful - ie, the RoyalTek (bundled with locr) creates a text file with the format:-

$GPGGA,094404.000,5331.9601,N,00205.5607,W,1,00,,0.0,M,0.0,M,,0000*54
$GPRMC,094404.000,A,5331.9601,N,00205.5607,W,000.00,0.0,030609,,,E*40
$GPGGA,094419.000,5331.9597,N,00205.5536,W,1,00,,0.0,M,0.0,M,,0000*55
$GPRMC,094419.000,A,5331.9597,N,00205.5536,W,000.00,0.0,030609,,,E*41
$GPGGA,094434.000,5331.9588,N,00205.5563,W,1,00,,0.0,M,0.0,M,,0000*54
$GPRMC,094434.000,A,5331.9588,N,00205.5563,W,000.00,0.0,030609,,,E*40
etc
etc

which anyone can split up and write software for.

[mendhak]

Yep, does NMEA files just like yours.

[schoolbusdriver]

So, if

1) I'd known you had a Sony CS1 GPS data logger you didn't use, and
2) it created a NMEA data file, and
3) the data file was compatible with the free locr software, and
4) the software could geotag pics from any camera such as a Fuji, Nikon, Canon etc, not just a Sony, and
5) it was for sale

I could have bought it off you and saved a few quid ?

[schoolbusdriver]

Just thought I'd mention a bug in the "locr" software that the RoyalTek manual "recommends". For some strange reason, the software removes the (EXIF) thumbnail embedded in the jpeg. I've not checked for other data - one bug is enough for me to sideline it. I'll either look for another app (such as GeoSetter that mendhak mentioned) or modify an app I've already written to do the job properly. Now you know.

[wossname]

I had written an app to geotag the photos with my GPS data but then discovered that someone had written one already that worked quite well. Look for GeoSetter.

Also, I've got a Sony CS1 which I don't use.

Do you happen to know if your CS1 continues to log GPS data when it's connected via USB to your computer? And if so what devices does it register as? (virtual serial / mass storage? etc...)