Cacheing Google Earth Roads

Pandaman72 · 07-07-2007, 05:08 PM

I've been playing around with Google Earth on my carputer using Goops to track my movement. I've got no dramas with the maps while on the road because I have cached 2GB using the Google Earth Cache Builder.

I have also used Netstumbler to plot all of the WAP's around town then used GPS Visualiser to overlay them in Google Earth.

So I've got the maps cached, I've got the WAP's saved and Google Earth can display them without an active internet connection. My question is - is it possible to cache the street names (Google Earth overlays them from Google Maps) so that they can display while I am on the road without an internet connection?

I have experimented with simply copying the images from Google Maps and overlaying that image onto Google Earth, but this would take months.

Has anybody else tried this?

Thanks,
Panda

johndickjr · 07-22-2007, 02:31 PM

I found this app http://bx11.gratis-server.de/gecacher.htm and used it to cache alot of Connecticut with street names. I am able to use Google Earth with streetnames while disconnected from the Internet.

Now I just need ot find out how to do routing while offline ....

John

Pandaman72 · 07-24-2007, 06:39 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by johndickjr

I found this app http://bx11.gratis-server.de/gecacher.htm and used it to cache a lot of Connecticut with street names. I am able to use Google Earth with streetnames while disconnected from the Internet.

Link was no good - got a file not found error.

Panda

rotozuk · 07-24-2007, 03:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Pandaman72

Link was no good - got a file not found error.

Panda

link worked for me.. downloaded the file.. will play with it a bit later.

johndickjr · 07-26-2007, 09:09 PM

Looks like he/she hosted it on a free service with a download limit that was reached. I have put it up with my ISP at http://homepage.ct.metrocast.net/~jo...r/GECacher.zip

I don't know how long this link will be valid so get it while you can.

leatherboy · 07-27-2007, 08:31 AM

Does anybody know if we can cache pictures too?

neil_ross · 07-27-2007, 10:09 AM

so are you gonna be able to use this as your maps in freedrive etc?

johndickjr · 07-28-2007, 11:40 AM

Cacheing of Google Earth is for use with Google Earth only.
Check out this thread for using Google Earth instead of Freedrive, etc ...
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/rr-p...th-plugin.html

Most GPS apps use local maps.
GE uses their maps on a download as necessary basis, and because you probably don't have internet connectivity in your car, you can use this application to pre-load the images to GE's local cache file.

You do NOT need GE Pro in order to use it as a full GPS application (Or so I read, just waiting to get my own GPS puck).

You can preload your trip, and move the screen as you drive (not recommended ... don't sue me), and as long as you have cached the route to the level of detail you need, then you don't need an internet connection.

Hope that helps.

JD

johndickjr · 07-28-2007, 11:58 AM

Here are the instructions from the unavailable link above ...

How to use:

Start GEcacher. If your firewall asks, allow it to access the net.

Switch to Configure tab
----------------------------------------------
On first run verify (and modify) settings if you use a proxy server for HTTP or installed Google Earth to a nondefault folder:
Caption...: This window will be shut down on Reload.
EXE...: This is the Google Earth application. On Reload this will be started.
Local...: GE cacher will act as a HTTP proxy on this port.
Read timeout...: How long GE cacher should wait for a read operation from the Google Earth servers (seconds).
(Don't panic, you should not tamper with these settings usually!)
----------------------------------------------
Proxy configuration is read from the registry. Check (uncheck) the Use Proxy and modify proxy configuration, if needed.
----------------------------------------------

Switch to Use tab.
----------------------------------------------
Choose a location and filename for the Network link KML file, this will be needed within GE in a sec.

Click on Start caching then on Stop caching after a second. Now a KML file was created as specified in the Network link KML.

Now click on Reload Google Earth... and wait until Google Earth loads. If your (proxied or direct) connection is working you should see some activity around the TX bar and next to it. This means Google Earth is connected to its servers through GE cacher.

Open Tools -> Options -> Control tab. Set Fly-to and Tour settings Speed: sliders to Fast.

Create a new network link (Add / Network link...) in Google Earth as follows:

Fly to View on Refresh must be checked.

Uncheck the checkbox in Places before GE cacher, and navigate to the area you are interested in.

Set the top left and bottom right coordinates (or any two opposite corners) of this area in GE cacher. Set Visible area width to the required level (~ Eye alt.). (The default was good enough for my needs)

Next to Area count progress bar the number of required snapshots to cache the whole area is displayed.

Check in the checkbox for GE cacher in Places then press Start caching. Next to ETA an estimation of the remaining time will be displayed.

Google Earth will go frame by frame for the required number of snapshots required.

My personal recommendations:
Set GE to display Lat/Long in decimal so you can get accurate numbers into GECacher.
Input Lat/Long numbers into GECacher with at least 3 decimal places accuracy, Lat of 71 is a long way away from Lat 71.06 when it comes to required snapshots.

Pandaman72 · 07-28-2007, 10:10 PM

Yep, I used GE Cache Builder and it worked a treat for the maps, but what it did not store is the street names etc.

That is what I want to cache - not the maps

Panda

johndickjr · 07-29-2007, 10:20 PM

It caches the street names for me. You need to have the street name layer turned on while caching, and make sure you are zoomed in close enough for the names to be displayed.
I think you can cache any layer that is on while running GEcacher, like restaurants, borders, town names, etc.

My only wish is that it would also allow you to get directions off-line.
Has anyone heard of a way to do that?

JD

Pandaman72 · 07-30-2007, 04:13 AM

I actually had every layer turned on when cacheing, but it does not display it when disconnected

Panda

greatwhite · 05-13-2008, 11:01 AM

Hate to "necro" an old thread, but does anyone have a copy of ge cacher that they can make available for download?

As mentioned above, http://bx11.gratis-server.de/gecacher.htm is no longer online...........

johndickjr · 05-14-2008, 11:19 AM

My ISP changed hands so my repost of the cacher is located at

http://homepage.ct.metrocast.net/~jo...r/GECacher.zip

Have fun,
John