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

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 12:51 AM

GooPs - Google Earth GPS Tracking and Navigation

Track yourself AND your friends in real-time in Google Earth.

New Version 2.4 – 1/2/09 Enhanced NMEA logging, GPS AutoScan

NMEA log recording feature now saves the NMEA log to a file named with the vehicle name, current date and time (this changes the old behavior where the same log file was overwritten each time the "Record" button was pressed).

NMEA Continuous logging feature constantly logs data to a file. The file is named with the vehicle name, current date and time. A new log file is created each day or when GPS updates haven't been received for 10 minutes.

Existing NMEA log files files can now be loaded and played in GooPs/Google Earth.

New GPS AutoScan automatically scans your system's COM ports for your GPS.

GPS connection status is now displayed in the GooPs cursor text in Google Earth.

FTP number of points to be sent is now configurable.

GPSgate client now supports altitude.

GPSgate client now uploads all points after connection is lost.

GooPs comes in three versions:

GooPs Free has all the basic features that have made GooPs so popular.
GooPs Plus adds the most popular advanced features like AutoView and SpeedTrack.
GooPs Pro gives you all of the advanced features and unlimited tracking.

Visit the GooPs website for more info.

GooPs Features:

Fast real-time tracking (typically less than 1 second from when received from GPS).
Track yourself AND any number of friends (requires that they be "visible" on your network).
SpeedTrack track color shows how fast you are going any place on your trip.
AutoView custom hands free tilt, rotation, and zoom (can be configured to your own preferences).
Supports full native Google Earth navigation (no need for secondary navigation interfaces).
3D cursors make it easy to see current position and heading from any angle.
Tracks where you and your friends have been (tracks can be saved to kml or kmz).
Robust communication layer - makes connecting to your GPS easy.
Easy setup - just download and run.

GooPs is fully functional and includes a demo mode.

tbird2340 · 02-02-2006, 12:21 PM

Downloaded it now how do I see it run in "Demo" mode?

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 12:35 PM

Cliick on "Options..." then "Add/Update GE". This will add a GooPs Server network link to Google Earth.

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 12:37 PM

Also - make sure the "Demo Mode" checkbox is checked.
It also starts google earth if it isn't already running.

tbird2340 · 02-02-2006, 12:40 PM

OK.. Then what? I launch your program, go to options, click on Add/Update GE, and it Google Earth just sits there moving around, panning in and out?

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 01:00 PM

Do you see a 3D cursor? There should be a network link in your temporary places folder call GooPsServers. Open the link and double click on "GooPs" to zoom in to it.
Also make sure you don't have any other Network links active that might be trying to control your view.
You can also trying turning tracking off on the main GooPs window.

tbird2340 · 02-02-2006, 01:13 PM

Got it.. Thanks.. Now explain the program some more.. No doc or anything?

So if I had this program installed in my carputer then someone can track me real time?

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 01:16 PM

Also make sure the combo box on the main GooPs window has "GooPs*" selected.

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 01:33 PM

Whew! Glad you got it working. What was the problem?

You can add any number of GooPs servers in the options menu. Just enter a descriptive name and the host name of the GooPs server you want to track and press "Add/Update to GE". The host you want to track must also be running GooPs.

Anyone that has access to your system over the internet can track you in real-time (you must make your system available). You can also track anyone else on the internet.

If you have multiple computers on your home network you can run GooPs on them in demo mode and they can track each other.

Sorry about the lack of help. You're the guinea pig.

OoNikFraleyoO · 02-02-2006, 01:37 PM

I just tried it and seems to work just fine. I really don't have any use for it, but I can see how others would and it is pretty neat.

tbird2340 · 02-02-2006, 02:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by davidhite

Whew! Glad you got it working. What was the problem?

You can add any number of GooPs servers in the options menu. Just enter a descriptive name and the host name of the GooPs server you want to track and press "Add/Update to GE". The host you want to track must also be running GooPs.

Anyone that has access to your system over the internet can track you in real-time (you must make your system available). You can also track anyone else on the internet.

If you have multiple computers on your home network you can run GooPs on them in demo mode and they can track each other.

Sorry about the lack of help. You're the guinea pig.

Nothing was wrong.. Just didn't know what to do! (no manual)..

Ok.. So explain to me what this is for and how to setup.. Say I'm in my car with my gps hooked into my carputer, running this GooPs program, and have an active internet connection (through GPRS phone).. Then say my wife wants to see how far away from home I am.. She goes to the home computer and does what? And how do I set it up in the car?

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 02:43 PM

I'm assuming you have basic network connectivity from your home system to your carputer (a host name or IP address).

To configure on your home system (only need to do once, GooPs will remember your settings)
Start GooPs
Open the "Options..." dialog
Type any name in the "Name:" box (example "MyCar")
Type your carputer's host name in the "Host:" box.
Click "Add/Update GE" (Google earth will start if it isn't already running)
Press "Ok"
Make sure "MyCar" is selected in the GooPs main window combo box.
Google earth will now show and track your car.

Once your carputer is entered in your home system all you have to do is select it in the Main window. GooPs will track to whichever name is selected in the main GooPs window.

Notice you can use all of the native google earth navigation features while tracking.

On your carputer:
Start GooPs
Open the "Options..." dialog
Unselect "Demo Mode"
Select the correct Port and Rate for your GPS.
Press "Connect" (connects to your GPS)
That's it

To track yourself on your carputer Just select "GooPs" on the main GooPs window. You can change the name from "GooPs" to whatever you like in the Options dialog. The host "localhost" is your local system.

tbird2340 · 02-02-2006, 02:46 PM

So basically you would need the actual IP address of your carputer to enter into your house computer.. If the car isn't on the actual "home" network then typing in the Host name wouldn't work.. Using the cell phone as the modem I'm guessing you would use that IP address on the home PC.

davidhite · 02-02-2006, 03:11 PM

Sorry, I'm not familiar with GPRS, but you do need an IP address that you can reach from your home computer. I just tried adding a server with a plain IP address into the "Host" box and it worked fine.

Gobby · 02-02-2006, 03:14 PM

Most mobile providers provide a proxied ip address to their handsets which aren't directly routable over the internet, i.e you can't physically connect to the ip.

An easier way surely is to push the data via mobile from the carpc to a known home ip address.