GooPs Google Earth/GPS Tracking and Navigation - Version 2.4 Released - Page 21

davidhite · 02-12-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ruffy

*sighs*

I've only there was a way to create a large cache of a state easily. All cache building programs are a pain to use. I dont want to have to enter coordinates and then realize i screwed up because it just keeps moving left across the globe.

It doesn't seem like it would be too difficult. Just position the Google Earth view over what you want to cache, set some sort of resolution parameter, and press a button. Of course there is probably no way to tell when the cache is "full".

FlyingsCool · 02-13-2007, 12:37 AM

Cool, I figured you could change the name, I didn't figure out the update button thing.

Regarding rotate view, I guess I'm just thinking add another variable to autozoom.cfg. Cool thing would be that the angle should be relative to the cursor, as, currently, if you turn off autotrack rotate, it is relative to the ground.

I'm thinking using the registry is a bad thing as, one, it forces the user to have to run the program as an administrator to get anything to work, and two, you can't have multiple configs unless you create a method using multiple keys, but that makes it hard to create an icon to start a particular config.

Regarding cursors, goops config file sounds good to me.

A couple more things,

I've been getting random crashes where goops just disappears (rare). Also, it occasionally just quits autotracking and I have to do something to get it to hook back up, like turn zoom on and off, or sometimes just have to quit goops altogether and restart it. This happens rather often (every 15 minutes or so on the very few times I've run it).

And is there anything you can do about my picking the wrong com port and then wondering why it doesn't acquire the signal? (jk :-) )(maybe a little window if it doesn't acquire after 30 seconds that says "Hey stupid! did you pick the right com port?")

Thanks!

davidhite · 02-13-2007, 03:33 AM

Thanks Thomas,

Quote: Originally Posted by FlyingsCool

I'm thinking using the registry is a bad thing as, one, it forces the user to have to run the program as an administrator to get anything to work, and two, you can't have multiple configs unless you create a method using multiple keys, but that makes it hard to create an icon to start a particular config.

Actually GooPs uses HKEY_CURRENT_USER which doesn't require admin privileges (I discovered that early). Also each user has their own copy of this portion of the registry. You are correct, it does make multiple configs for a single user more difficult.

Quote: Originally Posted by FlyingsCool

I've been getting random crashes where goops just disappears (rare). Also, it occasionally just quits autotracking and I have to do something to get it to hook back up, like turn zoom on and off, or sometimes just have to quit goops altogether and restart it. This happens rather often (every 15 minutes or so on the very few times I've run it).

I'm very interested in this. Does it just quit autotracking all by itself, or are you doing something in the UI when it happens (switching to/from demo mode maybe?).
Have you noticed any network link fetch error pop-ups from google earth?
Have you tried to manually refresh the GooPsServers network link when this happens?

Thanks again,

FlyingsCool · 02-13-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by davidhite

I'm very interested in this. Does it just quit autotracking all by itself, or are you doing something in the UI when it happens (switching to/from demo mode maybe?).

It just stops. I was driving along, and I noticed that it stopped tracking. It might have happened when I had stopped for a moment at a stop sign, but I can't remember now exactly at what point it stopped. I don't use demo mode.

Quote: Originally Posted by davidhite

Have you noticed any network link fetch error pop-ups from google earth?

I did not get a network link fetch error.
I did get one at another point, but I hit continue, and I looked and it was still connected.

Quote: Originally Posted by davidhite

Have you tried to manually refresh the GooPsServers network link when this happens?

What do you mean "Manually refresh"?
When it was stopped, one of the things I did was turn the goopserver on and off in the sidebar my places. I don't recall if that helped. Throughout the problem, Goops said it was acquiring signal. I don't remember exactly what I did to get it to hook back up. I might have had to quit Goops and restart it one particularly bad time it happened. I remember there were a couple of times it stopped tracking, and getting it to track initially can be a pain. I think sometimes turning autotracking off and on helps, or turning rotate or zoom or tilt off and on might help get it reconnected, but I forget now. I will pay more attention. It's hard when you are driving alone though, juggling getting it working and driving. I'm using a Motion Computing Tablet with 800x600 screen and no keyboard, so I keep having to toggle the sidebar on and off from the menus. A real pain when driving.

johmurray · 02-13-2007, 04:48 PM

I stumbled across your neat and functional GOOPS program yesterday. For the last few years I've craved a GPS tracking system for farm equipment operated over fields within about an area the size of a township. Lately it has been possible to add higher resolution aerial photos as an overlay into Google Earth with enough resolution to easily discern the obstacles within the fields. Relatively fast laptops that have daylight readable displays, enough cache memory; directx support, ruggedized housings, high enough display resolution for Google Earth etc are also available at reasonable costs. Your Goops program installed easily and outputted a very accurate position when attached to a CMC (BAE) gps receiver and my desktop computer at home. I can't wait to hook it to a laptop and get it out on a road or field. In previous years the ag gps sellers wanted many thosands of dollars per unit for less functionality (in some cases) Of course there have been some steps back over the years. Without a USB to serial adapter it seems hard to connect the NMEA output of a GPS receiver to a newer laptop; while on the converse an older computers may not easily handle Windows 2000 or XP. The newer programs like Google Earth 4 also have more powerful computer requirements; and the carrier phase options of some relatively cheap gps development boards doesn't get the use that would give some awesomely accurate elevation and position data (albiet even if it is being post processed with Grafnav software. )
I've read many of the posts to this forum; and will get to the rest; but just wanted to congratulate you on your program. If you still need some more beta testers; I'm interested.
If the track width could be set to something like 40 or 90 feet to indicate misses when performing field operations; it would indeed have more appilcations than painting out a track or route down an interstate; gliding boating etc. Thanks
If I'm not kicked off the forum; I'll appreciate having further dialogue.

FlyingsCool · 02-13-2007, 08:04 PM

Regarding your comment on how to connect a gps to a laptop. If you have a bluetooth receiver, it's a snap. I've been using a GlobalSat BT-338 receiver with a Motion Computing tablet, and, after some initial fits and starts, I've got it running very reliably now. With my HP 4700 iPAQ, it connected first try and has been running perfectly. Check out www.semsons.com. I thnk the BT-338 is about $89.

FlyingsCool · 02-13-2007, 10:30 PM

duplicate post

FlyingsCool · 02-13-2007, 10:35 PM

Hi David,
Good news. I went driving today for well over an hour and didn't have a single problem. The main difference is that I rebooted the PC in between last night and today. So perhaps there was an instability or something in the Bluetooth connection or somewhere else.

Thanks!

FlyingsCool · 02-13-2007, 10:37 PM

One more request:
Would you be averse to creating a new viewpoint, "In the vehicle". It wouldn't be much use in a car, but I think it would be helpful for aircraft.

BTW, I like John Murray's suggestion about varying the width of the track based on a variable. EXCELLENT idea.

Thanks!

davidhite · 02-14-2007, 03:08 AM

Thanks for your feedback John,

It's great fun to watch yourself moving around in Google Earth. I use a
usb to serial adapter to connect to my laptop. Kind of a pain but works
fine once it's set up.

It shouldn't be too tough to change the track width to whatever. Scaling it
accurately might be difficult.

davidhite · 02-14-2007, 03:10 AM

Thanks Thomas,

That's good to hear. I've been putting in some extra error checking to try to figure out what might be happening on the GooPs side.

Quote: Originally Posted by FlyingsCool

Hi David,
Good news. I went driving today for well over an hour and didn't have a single problem. The main difference is that I rebooted the PC in between last night and today. So perhaps there was an instability or something in the Bluetooth connection or somewhere else.

Thanks!

davidhite · 02-14-2007, 03:12 AM

I'll experiment with that idea and see how it goes.

Quote: Originally Posted by FlyingsCool

One more request:
Would you be averse to creating a new viewpoint, "In the vehicle". It wouldn't be much use in a car, but I think it would be helpful for aircraft.

BTW, I like John Murray's suggestion about varying the width of the track based on a variable. EXCELLENT idea.

Thanks!

FlyingsCool · 02-14-2007, 09:14 AM

You may already be aware of this, but, just in case, you may want to check out a program called MyFSGoogleEarth http://www.elbiah.de/flusi/MyFsGoogl...oogleEarth.htm

johmurray · 02-14-2007, 06:29 PM

This is the third try; the other posts disappeared.
Again thanks to davidhite for considering incorporating variable track widths into GOOPS. FlyingsCool's lead to the I.TrekZ1 Bluetooth GPS receiver and 8MB data logger is also very interesting.

I've had no luck connecting to the embedded GoogleEarth Pro GPS with non-supported Trimble and CMC receivers (trying the Magellan serial selections). Considering the GE 100 point track limit that is insufficient for all but short or small projects; probably nothing is lost by not pursuing that possibility. Thats why I see promise in GOOPS; where I have had no problem connecting to a CMC receiver; and expect no trouble with Trimble equipment.
I didn't mention my Motorola Canopy wireless network I have deployed by tying Motorola access points to Belkin N routers 2 to 4 miles apart. I've got 1 to 3 MB/sec download speeds after three hops and at a distance of 10 miles. I can't wait to get Google Earth, GOOPS, the wireless internet communicating to the web and BlueTooth GPS all working together. Thanks. We all benefit by sharing experiences.

FlyingsCool · 02-14-2007, 07:21 PM

As far as interfacing and com ports, you may find the following links useful

Freeware serial port bridge (and other) drivers:
http://www.mixw.net/related.htm#tncemu
Unfortunately, I was unable to get this to work with Goops (maybe you can)

So I purchased from Eltima.com a very capable and easy to use but rather expensive SP Bridge (but comes with free 14 day fully functional trial):
http://www.eltima.com/products/vspdxp/

A freeware ethernet to serial port driver:
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
I haven't used this, but it looks interesting

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