SOFTWARE FOR REAL TIME G.P.S. NAVIGATION
ON THE MAP OF
YOUR CHOICE,
USING THE
POCKET P.C. ENVIRONMENT
NOTE: If you are using a PCMCIA GPS card on a Compaq IPAQ, the GPS may occasionally cause your IPAQ to fail. If this situation requires you to completely reset the IPAQ (with the on/off slide switch on the bottom of the unit), it will clear all programs from the IPAQs memory. In the field, this means that you can lose the program and your map. If you are using a PCMCIA GPS card, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENED THAT YOU BACK UP YOUR IPAQ TO A STORAGE CARD AFTER INSTALLING TREK-TRACKER. Keep this backup with you, so you can re-install Trek-Tracker while you are still in the field. It is an inconvience, but is far better than having to reinstall from the CD.
TREK-TRACKER Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why doesn’t the map I select show on the screen?
A: The most common reason for a map failing to display is
that the map file is larger than the memory available to it. There are two ways to correct this: 1.) Remove large unneeded files from the PPC
memory to increase available memory, or 2.) Rescan or adjust the image with a
graphics program to lower the resolution and the color depth of the image.
Q: Can I tell in advance if a map will fit in the available
memory?
A: It depends on the type of file. The size of a BMP format file is a direct representation of the
amount of memory it will take to display. After you have moved the BMP file to you PPC, you can use
START>SETTINGS>SYSTEM>MEMORY on the PPC to see what memory is still
available. If the memory available is
close to what you need to display the image, you may be able to adjust the
sliding memory use scale to make enough memory available. The size of a JPG file has no correlation
to the amount of memory that will be needed to display it.
Q: Why won’t Trek-Tracker acknowledge my GPS Receiver?
A: There are several possible reasons why the GPS status
does not change from “NO GPS”:
Make sure that the GPS is turned on and has fresh batteries,
is outside and tracking satellites. Some GPS receivers have a simulator mode that allows them to function
indoors.
The wiring may not be correct for a handheld GPS
receiver. Make sure that all
connectors are firmly seated together. If both cables end in the same gender connection, a “Null Modem”
adaptor, and possibly a “Gender Change” adaptor may be required. Take all the wiring to a computer shop and
they can help you find the correct adaptors for your need.
If you are using a PCMCIA type GPS receiver, the expansion
slot on the PPC may have a battery built into it that may need charging. Refer to your owner’s manual for further
details.
Make sure your GPS is set to output standard NMEA 183 Version
2. The port should have the
communication parameters set to 4800 baud, No parity, 8 Data bits and 1 stop
bit.
If the GPS status changes to “Port Open”, make sure your
GPS is set to output standard NMEA 183 Version 2. The port should have the communication parameters set to 4800
baud, No parity, 8 Data bits and 1 stop bit.
NOTE: The Delorme GPS “Earthmate” Receiver is not a NMEA
compatible receiver, and will not work with Trek-Tracker.
Q: Why is my track
line shown as a jagged line on the screen?
A: This is actually a true representation of the coordinates
that your GPS receiver is sending. There are many sources of GPS inaccuracy that are discussed in the
“Reasons for Positional Error” section of the user’s guide. If you are attempting to find your position
and the GPS error is high, allow Trek-Tracker to track you for a few minutes,
while you occasionally move a few feet from side to side and forwards and
backwards, then use the center of the track lines as your average position.
Q: Can I import waypoints from other software?
A: Yes. Waypoints
are stored in a file named “Waypoints.txt” in the “My Documents” folder of your
PPC. This file is a comma delineated
file, with each line indicating the waypoints name, longitude and
latitude. The coordinates must be
expressed in decimal degrees, with West Longitudes and South Latitudes as
negative numbers.
Q: Can I zoom in to look at map detail?
A: No. The “Local” map screen shows the image at
its most detailed view. Zooming in any
further would create an unreadable map, so is not allowed. If you need a more detailed map, you can
rescan it at a higher resolution and Geo-reference it again.
Q: Why do I get an "Illegal Filename" error when I load or save my Geo-Reference?
A: If you have loaded your map image directly from a Storage Card, the Storage Card must be present in the pocket PC before you can save or reload a Geo-Reference.
Contact us at:
by:
Azimuth Surveying Solutions, Inc.