Thread: Another Navigation system based on Google Earth or...

Having accomplished moving map tracking with Google Earth and GPS2GEX, I add in the functionality of the route program GPSRouteX. Here's how:

1. Using Google Earth when I was connected to the internet, I got directions for where I wanted to go, then exported them to a KML file.

2. I launched GPSRouteX and imported the KML file into it. Here's what that looked like.

Then, just click on "Auto-join nearest route segment" button and the system locks on to the closest segment and displays the GPS data and Route info. Here's what that looks like:

But wait, there's more! Obviously, all this stuff covers up the screen, making following the Google Earth display a little difficult, so GPSRouteX has a mini-nav display that looks like the capture below.

This was taken near Harrisburg, PA and shows how GPSRouteX and the Google Earth/GPS2GEX apps can work together. The mini mode on GPSRouteX is showing several things like time (GMT), speed, true heading, altitude, lat/long).

It also shows how far it is to the next waypoint. In this case, it's 1.8 miles at an estimates 1 minute, 46 seconds. The text at the top of the window shows that I'll need to take the I-81 ramp towards Hershey/Hazelton/Carlisle. As I get within 15 seconds of this waypoint, GPSRouteX announces those directions and the time box in the lower right lights up yellow while the alert sound I've set on my Mac goes off.

You can also see that I'm operating offline with no internet connection and the temp of the SMART sensor in the disk drive of the mini is 118.4 degrees F.

Here's a similar shot but you can see that I'm approaching the waypoints. Using Google Earth to open the directions I saved for use in GPSRouteX originally, the route gets plotted out on Google Earth, waypoints and all.

As you can see from some of the screenshots, the resolution of the imagery varies. To get it into the cache, after plotting out the route in GE, I clicked on the 'play tour' button and made sure it flew both slowly and would dwell on each waypoint for 15 seconds. I walked away while it played.

Since the cache is limited to 2gb, it ran out somewhere near Frederick, MD. It still works when it runs out, but the road names and displays don't show up anymore and you are essentially driving across a blurry photograph of the area.

omg its gonna happen, some day we will have GPS that is nice and easy to use. were so close.

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Just got done with a 400 mile trip using this setup. Here's the results:

Hello Bugbyte,

Very impressive report. You save me a lot of time.

one Question,
I my area, satellite picture in GoogleEarth have a very low resolution. I can turn on the mapin GE, but is there a way to turn off satellite image?

Thank you again

Franco Borgo

I don't think you can turn off the satellite imagery. I know you can add image overlays, but I've never played with them. I suppose it's possible to add an overlay that looks like a map, but I've never seen it done.

Make sure your streets are turned on and at least you'll get the map layout view over top of the blurry images.

Hey guys

I just wanted to report in on GPS as well. I received a GPS unit yesterday, a BU-353 USB. All I had to do to get it running was install the software, reboot, and plug in the GPS. It was very easy

Also, I tried the software that Bugbyte mentioned here (except for GPSRouteX). It "seems" like it's a lot of software when you see three things listed there, but it's not.

First you install GPSd, and once that's installed, you never touch it again. So you can almost count that off the list. The next piece of software is GPS2GE, which as mentioned above, is extremely simple to use too. You just start it, and it should find the GPSd automatically and start spitting out your location to you. It has a button that launches GE for you. And then GE loads and it automatically tracks and updates your current position.

It all works pretty damn well, and surprisingly easy.