RR and zip code/gps issue

nst6563 · 09-19-2007, 09:17 PM

I have an issue I've searched for a while on but can't find an answer. I've got the 9-9-2007 version of RR and DigitalFX 2.5 skin. Completely re-installed everything. a couple times (windows included).

What happens is that Even though I set a default city in the RR.ini, I'm always given the wrong city/zip code in the skin. For example, at the top of the skin is displayed the city/county (according to GPS coords I take it?) and it's NEVER right. I get different results for the same location (one time it may say I'm in Scott county - which is around 20 miles away, and another time it will say something else...all the while I'm sitting in my driveway in Cape Girardeau.) And with the Gas prices as well... always give a zip code about 20-30 miles away and not mine...I have to manually enter it. Same with weather...but that doesn't bother me as much.

I've downloaded the 8mb zips.dat and the zips.dll, checked the ini, etc.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Sonicxtacy02 · 09-20-2007, 08:09 AM

the zips.dat file wasnt ever meant to be perfect. If its giving you the wrong zip code for your area just open up the zips.dat file find the WRONG zip code and correct it to the right one.

guino · 09-20-2007, 09:06 AM

You can always just disable it from working from the GPS ..

Sonicxtacy02 · 09-20-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by guino

You can always just disable it from working from the GPS ..

this is true as well. Either change rr.ini localdatacaptureinterval=0 OR for weather use the command HOMEWEATHER instead of "WEATHER". This will give you weather only from your rr.ini defined city. One thing you might want to consider is the fact that when your sitting still in your driveway you are only giving your gps 2 outta 3 variables to calculate your location. That could be part of the problem but more than likely its just the fact that the zips.dat is incorrect for your area.

nst6563 · 09-20-2007, 11:35 AM

thanks for the info. I hadn't opened up the zips.dat yet but will do that to see if maybe it's wrong. I do like the feature though and really don't want to disable it if I can get it to work for my area.

inh · 09-20-2007, 11:37 AM

Is there a graphical way to edit this file? or hell, whats the data format for the lines in there?

Sonicxtacy02 · 09-20-2007, 02:03 PM

you simply open it in notepad and the format is pretty self explanatory

nst6563 · 09-20-2007, 05:55 PM

ok, I opened up the zips.dat and looked at it. I understand the zip code and city, but the coordinates I do not know if they're right or not. Where would I go to find this information, I'm obviously searching for the wrong stuff.

Sonicxtacy02 · 09-20-2007, 07:01 PM

its simple.. use the find feature to find the zip code that displays when you're sitting in your driveway.. then just change that zip code/city to what it should be.

nst6563 · 09-22-2007, 09:17 AM

so how does RR determine the location then? I see there are multiple entries for most of the cities in the zip file, and all the entries have different lat/lon coordinates. Does it use some form of 'triangulation' to determine your location?

I would simply replace like you said, but the problem is that it comes up with a different location most of the time, and those locations are all off by about 20 miles... was thinking it was my POS LT-20 gps reciever (which is being replace soon enough anyway) but it seems to work (when it does actually work) in iguidance ok.

I like the idea of the feature, just trying to understand better how it works so that I can correct it for my area.

Sonicxtacy02 · 09-22-2007, 10:07 AM

the lat/lon coordinates work off a radial range... there's a formula that goes thru the coordinates and determines which set of coordinates are the closest. Thats how the zip/city are determined. If most of the time the location is wrong it simply means the data in zips.dat is incorrect in your area. Are you in a densly populated area ? I would imagine that many rural areas wouldnt have alotta of accurate data. But its not only the boondocks that have the issue.. i had the issue in Springfield, VA which is a major city here in VA.

inh · 09-22-2007, 10:11 AM

I kinda understand what you are saying now. maybe you could post a link to where you got your information for working with it?

nst6563 · 09-22-2007, 12:40 PM

ok, Thanks for that explanation, makes a lot more sense now

. I'll see if I can dig up some accurate info for my area and compare then. The area I'm in isn't too densly populated, but it's not that sparse either.

reflect23 · 09-24-2007, 11:36 PM

The fix to this is to update your city under C:\Program Files\Road Runner\skins\DigitalFX 2.0\skin.ini (or wherever you installed the digitalFX 2.0 skin). Change one of the Weather Presets to your current city. This is of course if you want to just use preset locations instead of GPS based.

nst6563 · 09-25-2007, 08:32 AM

That's one of the first things I tried. Doesn't work...although it did bring up the correct weather for me after doing that

Sonicxtacy02 is right on this one I think. Data for my area is off.