GooPs Real-time GPS Tracking and Navigation for Google Earth -Version 2.5.13 Released

**RPM_VR4** · 05-11-2006, 03:43 AM

Cool, cool. I can't wait for the next update. I think the multi-config files switchable via SKINbedder buttons will be totally awesome, but I want really good config files to implement it with.

What do you mean about "a lot of control" over the fonts... I've only seen Small, Medium, or Large. I would love a way to make them (along with the street overlays) appear at closer zoom levels, as well as remain semi-transparent at further zoom levels. Do you know how to do that?

I would also like to be able to update the network link quicker than 1-second if possible. I don't know why you say 1/2 a second... it is always exactly 1 second for me (as set in the network-link advanced settings). I wish you could set it to 0.1 seconds.

Moving the screen center above the car will be totally cool. Since there is a 1/2 second delay between the GPS and the network link, it would be cool to intelligently move the car a bit ahead of the actual GPS co-ords based on speed too.

The only thing else I can think of to improve it right now would be to host a server so that everyone using it could see eachother on the map (as long as they have internet in the car). That and me making a kick-*** SKINbedder skin that allows you to enter addresses and local searches with an OSK.

**davidhite** · 05-13-2006, 02:19 AM

Version 1.7.6

Added support for aircraft
Added a demo/playback speed control
Raised labels a bit above vehicles
Fixed range/speed/scale interpolation bug

**davidhite** · 05-13-2006, 02:45 AM

Hey RPM,

Thanks for your feedback. I'm gonna have to git me a carputer so I can use your stuff!

If you go to Google Earth Tools->Options->View->Primary 3D Font you can select pretty much any available font and size. I don't know of any other font control options.

The network link is updated when the view stops moving or once per second, whichever occurs first. You can see what I mean by setting the GooPs Playback/Demo speed slider (in the new version) all the way to the right. In the debugger I can watch GooPs get pinged roughly twice a second.

I haven't had much time to work on the remote server stuff, I have a first or second cut at it but it still needs some work (and it's not as much fun as the Google Earth tracking part).

Originally Posted by RPM_VR4

Cool, cool. I can't wait for the next update. I think the multi-config files switchable via SKINbedder buttons will be totally awesome, but I want really good config files to implement it with.

What do you mean about "a lot of control" over the fonts... I've only seen Small, Medium, or Large. I would love a way to make them (along with the street overlays) appear at closer zoom levels, as well as remain semi-transparent at further zoom levels. Do you know how to do that?

I would also like to be able to update the network link quicker than 1-second if possible. I don't know why you say 1/2 a second... it is always exactly 1 second for me (as set in the network-link advanced settings). I wish you could set it to 0.1 seconds.

Moving the screen center above the car will be totally cool. Since there is a 1/2 second delay between the GPS and the network link, it would be cool to intelligently move the car a bit ahead of the actual GPS co-ords based on speed too.

The only thing else I can think of to improve it right now would be to host a server so that everyone using it could see eachother on the map (as long as they have internet in the car). That and me making a kick-*** SKINbedder skin that allows you to enter addresses and local searches with an OSK.

**Triphazard** · 05-21-2006, 01:41 PM

David:
I've just stumbled onto your wonderful app. I've read through all the posts here. I get the impression that it is possible for GooPs to play back a GPS track log but I'm not sure it'll work with the track logs I have.

I fly a hang glider and record my flights with my GPS. I then download those track logs using G7toWin.exe, which can save them off in a number of formats, including .GPX, which can be read directly by GE. G7toWin doesn't have an option to save the track as NMEA though.

You talk about saving off a GE placemark file that was created by GooPs, having read the NMEA strings directly from the GPS in real time during the trip. Is it possible for GooPs to read a GE path placemark file that was not created originally by GooPs? I'd like to be able to use GooPs to read an existing GE file, playing it back so that I can follow the orig. flight. Is that possible? If so, please provide instructions.

Thanks,

Ernie

**davidhite** · 05-23-2006, 12:42 PM

Ernie,

You can use gpsbabel to convert from .gpx to nmea. Then copy the file to "Play.me.nme" in the directory from which GooPs is running.
It should play when you press "Options->Play" button in GooPs.

**Naoziro** · 06-02-2006, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by davidhite

Ernie,

You can use gpsbabel to convert from .gpx to nmea. Then copy the file to "Play.me.nme" in the directory from which GooPs is running.
It should play when you press "Options->Play" button in GooPs.

Hi David,

Great work on this project by the way! I'm very impressed with GooPS and its features. (Also, props out to RPM for SB, which by the way works great with GooPS!)

However, I've been testing it out and have had a few concerns/feature requests...

1) Is it possible to add a NMEA/SAT strength indicator like the GPSInfo application that comes with most DIY USB GPS units? Just so that you can see what SATs you're picking up?

2) When GooPS talks with the GPS unit, does it have the ability to set WAAS on? On the little app that comes with the unit (I've got the BU-303), theres an option to enable/disable WAAS.

3) In comparing how long it took GooPS to start sending position data to GE and how long it took the little app to give me lat/long coords yesterday in the car, it took an extremely long time in GooPS. (Actually, nothing came up for about 20 minutes), so I closed GooPS, opened the little app, and got sync'd in about 1 min on non-WAAP and had lat/long. Then i'd close the app, load up GooPS again, and waited another 15 minutes before by some miracle it finally kicked in. Any thoughts on this, as the text said, "GPS:Receiving Data" the entire time... I'm assuming it was already connected and getting something... (which brings me back to Point #1, being able to see what the GPS unit is sending...)

4) Also, if you start GooPS and use the BU-303, before a good lat/long pair is sent up, my position starts off slightly off the west coast of Africa!! (Even though I'm in L.A.) Any reason this lat/long pair is the default ?? I mean, my guess is that is 0 lat/0 lon, but is it possible to not have it display until good data is available? (I understand someone may just happen to be at 0lat/0lon and need GPS, but somehow differentiating between COLD startup and authentic GPS data)...

5) Finally, (and this may get a little bit in toward RPM's SkinBedder app), but can either of you figure out a way so that an OSK can type in a Start/End address and have GE make my trip path for me?

I don't know if GE can support backdoor injection of such data without using their LEFT PANEL?? Maybe creative KML data or something... (i'm really clueless to how GE accepts data)

Ideally, an OSK in SB that either interfaces directly with GE or through GooPS so that i can do it all from the LCD and not have to use the 'Left panel' and type in the Start/End addy's by real keyboard? This would be a great routing addition!

--

Sorry the post was so long, but I love both of your work on this and I must say KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

Naoziro

**RPM_VR4** · 06-02-2006, 08:37 PM

I will be adding an OSK to make routes in GE eventually (along with many other features). I've just been too busy on other projects these past few months.

**djmickyg** · 06-03-2006, 03:01 AM

hi.. been using this for a while.. but now have an issue..
im using GPS gate to split my gps prt to all the different apps
but goops wont connect to a virtual port.. it will only work with the actual gps port..

**yorky** · 06-03-2006, 03:02 AM

Works fine for me using X-port

**djmickyg** · 06-03-2006, 04:29 AM

i think it is goops that doesnt like a port above 9,

how do i get GE to stop showing the error message at the start when it opens that says it has no connection to the goops server. do i want to continue retry or ignore?