Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On Fri, Nov 29, 2013 at 11:29 AM, Joseph R. Justice jayare...@gmail.comwrote: I see the eTrex 30 currently for $219 (down from $299) as a Black Friday special direct from Garmin, and for $199 from GPSCity. (And the 199 price is the same as Garmin retail for the eTrex 20, tho I'm sure GPSCity's price for that one is less than Garmin's also.) Online web shopping doesn't show me any cheaper prices, so... And GPSCity has the recommended Garmin case for it available for less also, and free shipping, so... For anyone curious, I ended up going for the Garmin eTrex 30 *plus also* the Garmin GLO, plus accessories (cases and belt clips and the like), from GPSCity. Basically, I got the two main items from GPSCity for the same price as Garmin's normal list retail for just the eTrex 30 by itself. And, that was still within / at the upper limit I'd originally set for what I was thinking about spending. I dithered about it for a little while, but decided that this way I would have a dedicated GPS device capable of communicating with Android devices if after getting some experience I decided that was the better way to go. It took them a few days to ship, because one of the items I ordered was backordered, but it was finally shipped today and I should receive it on Dec 9. Yay. Again, thanks for all the responses. Ibid. Joseph ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 12/1/13 2:00 AM, Paul Johnson wrote: On Sat, Nov 30, 2013 at 9:52 PM, Richard Welty rwe...@averillpark.net mailto:rwe...@averillpark.net wrote: the N7 does horizontal mode pretty well; i'm pretty pleased with the N7 overall. now that i have an old (2 1/2 year old) HTC Android set up, i'm switching the N7 over to OSMTracker. Is this instead of OsmAnd? OSMTracker doesn't do navigation or mapping, which was something of a dealbreaker for me before. that's why i'm running 2 devices now. the old HTC phone for OsmAnd, the GPS unit in it isn't great, but adequate. the N7 has much better GPS so i use it for the track log and note taking capabilities of OSMTracker. i'm currently using a Satechi universal dashboard mount for the N7 and am happy with it so far, atlhough we've only just now started into seriously cold weather in these parts. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D4AGNG8/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8psc=1 i'm using an iOttie mount for the oldish HTC. it's a pretty nice mount. Never seen it. http://www.amazon.com/iOttie-HLCRIO102-Windshield-Dashboard-Universal/dp/B007FHX9OK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8qid=1385907467sr=8-2keywords=iottie+dash+mount richard signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
2013/11/29 Joseph R. Justice jayare...@gmail.com I looked at the following items mentioned in the set of responses: The Garmin eTrex series (most specifically the 30; if one is going to get it, might as well get the best one available); the Columbus V-900 (and V-990); the AMOD AGL3080; the iBlue 747proS someone sent an Amazon link to. I skipped the other Garmin units mentioned (GPSMAP 62 et al) due to the lack of GLONASS support; +1, maybe they are going to release a modernized model of that series in the near future (would be due if they haven't decided to drop this series completely)? They also do have very small (but great) displays, sooner or later they will update this? The AMOD and iBlue seem too basic; I could only use them to upload data to my PC since they don't seem to have Bluetooth to communicate with Android devices. Not sure for your iBlue model, but the 747A+ (and maybe others) does have bluetooth. No display or anything so I can't really use them as a standalone device except purely to record data. +1 The Columbus units seem to be somewhat interesting. The 900 one at least has Bluetooth (the manufacturer's pages for the 990 don't mention it, at least that I can find). However, I'm a little put off by what some people wrote about their relative lack of accuracy; I figure if I'm getting a GPS for the purpose of using it for OSM, accuracy is a significant consideration. +1, I've also heard similar rumours. The major lack to the eTrex 30 is that it doesn't appear to have Bluetooth, so I don't think I can use it directly with my Android devices. +1, but also keep in mind that your Android devices usually will have a GPS (?) (sufficient to display a map more or less where you are, but not the best for logging tracks) and that you will have much longer operating times with one set of (standard) batteries on the (dedicated) GPS, so The other units non- eTrex units Garmin currently has with GLONASS support (Monterra, Oregon 600, 600t, 650, 650t) are all substantially more expensive than any of the eTrex units, so I think they're out of my budget. AFAIK those are all touch-devices, which I wouldn't suggest for a GPS unit, dedicated buttons are better (they do have a slightly better screen resolution but do suffer (as far as I have heard) from less readable screens in outdoor conditions. Cheers, Martin ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 12:00 PM, Richard Welty rwe...@averillpark.netwrote: i think a couple more notes are in order as part of a consumer's guide. the following contains notes on Garmin Android/OsmAnd options Garmin Pros/Cons 1) mkgmap produces useful maps from OSM data Though at least with the currently autogenerated maps, things like maxspeed and address lookup doesn't make it over, which is ultimately what killed it for me when being able to look up addresses you know are mapped on a regular basis... 2) in the automotive units, save location is an ok, not great, but ok interface for recording short notes on the fly An annoying limitation being that two notes can't be worded identically. 3) the note entry on the eTrex is a bit clumsy 4) eTrex screens are a bit small and monochromatic, not good units for driving usage 5) the eTrex has an array of mounts; i can mount an eTrex on my bicycle handlebars pretty easily At this point, for a Garmin, I can't see a real compelling reason to not go with a Colorado, Oregon or VIRB Elite. 6) many of the low end Nuvis in the past have had a very cheesy power switch. one of the dead garmins on the window sill behind me fell to that. 7) most of not all Garmins still use mini usb instead of micro usb. mini usb is going away for a reason, it is a very poorly engineered design which fails after a depressingly low number of disconnect/ reconnect cycles. i've had two Nuvis die due to mini usb connector failure. in order to get tracks off a Garmin, you pretty much have to go through a couple of disconnect/reconnect cycles (e.g. disconnect from the car lighter plug, plug into the computer, take the tracks, disconnect and put it back in the car.) Killed a nüvi 2555LMT that way...still have it in my glovebox as an emergency backup, but between that and not being able to do things like record notes easily in real time and get warnings that I'm speeding or about to cross a rumble strip or cattle grid (they're often not well marked in Oklahoma and quite startling when you hit 'em unexpectedly) or encounter a speed bump (again, same problem, particularly on privately owned roads) or toll archways/plazas/barriers. Osmand does a lot of the notification stuff, but you lose the ability to prefer/avoid carpool lanes (as compared to the garmin), and while Osmand will warn of an all-way stop (intersection node tagged highway=stop), it doesn't throw an icon to let you know why it just announced attention. OsmAnd Pros/Cons 7) mechanism for entering notes clumsy by comparison to automotive Garmin units It requires too many button pushes, but a little practice makes no-look menu use current location Open OSM Note possible. Would be nice if this was simplified into a single button press, with the option to use a keyer like is used in OSMTracker (though unlike OSMTracker, make it so you can edit the keyer layout without having to hack around in an XML file manually). 8) routing is a work in progress. for long trips, adding waypoints liberally seems to be a good idea. the current version of routing seems to not evaluate some potential routes that it really should, even over short distances. probably a bug, which leads to 9: Despite warnings on long-distance trips, I've noticed this is a far more noticeable issue where data is more complete. For example, I've gone from Pine Hill near Sapulpa, Oklahoma to City Park in Lake City, Colorado and Osmand threw a warning suggesting to add waypoints, but nonetheless, did pick an efficient route despite the relative lack of map data, and changing routes midway through to avoid a forest fire blocking the highway (it detoured us through Gunnison on the same route I picked on the paper map as a contingency without interaction once I made the turn). Meanwhile, in Tulsa, where many four-way stops and most traffic signals, turn restrictions and speed limits mapped, it sometimes loses it's marbles. Even on fastest route, for example, going from Mingo RV Park to the FedEx Office by the University of Tulsa, it will pick I 244 Westbound, exit at Yale southbound, turn right on 9th, left at the T intersection, right at Historic 66, and then arrive. If you ignore it, it'll insist you exit every time and head for 9th, until you get to Delaware Avenue (the best exit). Even then, it wants to take the ramp right from southbound Delaware Avenue to westbound 3rd Bicycle Street and then south on Lewis to approach FedEx from the west... 10) decent automotive mounts for 7 tablets are out there. i'm going to try one with the Nexus 7 for my christmas vacation trip from NY state to NC. I'd be curious how the N7 handles Osmand in horizontal mode and what mount you use, and how well it sticks in cold weather (my Dynex mount loses it's grip unexpectedly in cold weather, which is quite a surprise when I hit the
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 11/30/13 6:45 PM, Paul Johnson wrote: 10) decent automotive mounts for 7 tablets are out there. i'm going to try one with the Nexus 7 for my christmas vacation trip from NY state to NC. I'd be curious how the N7 handles Osmand in horizontal mode and what mount you use, and how well it sticks in cold weather (my Dynex mount loses it's grip unexpectedly in cold weather, which is quite a surprise when I hit the start of a toll zone (with a rumble strip) and the the vibration from crossing the strip suddenly causes my N5 fly off. the N7 does horizontal mode pretty well; i'm pretty pleased with the N7 overall. now that i have an old (2 1/2 year old) HTC Android set up, i'm switching the N7 over to OSMTracker. i'm currently using a Satechi universal dashboard mount for the N7 and am happy with it so far, atlhough we've only just now started into seriously cold weather in these parts. i'm using an iOttie mount for the oldish HTC. it's a pretty nice mount. richard signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On Sat, Nov 30, 2013 at 9:52 PM, Richard Welty rwe...@averillpark.netwrote: On 11/30/13 6:45 PM, Paul Johnson wrote: 10) decent automotive mounts for 7 tablets are out there. i'm going to try one with the Nexus 7 for my christmas vacation trip from NY state to NC. I'd be curious how the N7 handles Osmand in horizontal mode and what mount you use, and how well it sticks in cold weather (my Dynex mount loses it's grip unexpectedly in cold weather, which is quite a surprise when I hit the start of a toll zone (with a rumble strip) and the the vibration from crossing the strip suddenly causes my N5 fly off. the N7 does horizontal mode pretty well; i'm pretty pleased with the N7 overall. now that i have an old (2 1/2 year old) HTC Android set up, i'm switching the N7 over to OSMTracker. Is this instead of OsmAnd? OSMTracker doesn't do navigation or mapping, which was something of a dealbreaker for me before. i'm currently using a Satechi universal dashboard mount for the N7 and am happy with it so far, atlhough we've only just now started into seriously cold weather in these parts. Link? Not sure I know the mount you're talking about. The Dynex one I mentioned is in every Best Buy and then some. Granted, center-of-the-continent requirements are somewhat odd, I literally need something that holds to the windshield in -40°F on the low end and +140°F on the high end, from roughly 32Hg on the high end to potentially -1Hg (as recorded by my Garmin Oregon having* actually* been through a tornado). I don't mind occasionally reseating a suction mount, but for one to just pop off the windshield for bascially no reason immediately after seating it in cold weather is inexcusable for me. Basically, if I'm having to reseat it more than once a month, or it pops off randomly for less than a 50°F or 10Hg shift in temperature or pressure, I'm really unsure if it's up to par. The low end of pressure and temperature is strongly important to me (strongly low pressures and strongly low temperatures present mortal weather threats, when I'd rather be listening for cues while watching the road than worried that I'm about to miss a turn). Garmin has suction mounts that can deal with this kind of tolerance (even if mkgmap can't hold up to functionality standards for my situation). I'm not joking when I say I'm looking for a mount that 99.9% of the population can stick to their window and never, ever think about again (since roughly that much of the globe's population lives within insignificant distance of an ocean or inland sea, and thus largely flattening out elevation changes and temperature ranges). Ideally, I'll only have to restick the mount due to strongly extreme shifts in temperature and pressure, if at all. And if I do, I should be able to stick it at pressure extremes at temperatures far below freezing. This is par for the course in the southern Plains, and I can only imagine central Canada and the northern central US having even larger ranges than I have to deal with on temperature (though pressure's kind of a regionalism to some degree). i'm using an iOttie mount for the oldish HTC. it's a pretty nice mount. Never seen it. ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
First off, I'd like to thank all the people who responded to my original message. I truly do appreciate the time and effort you took to respond to my inquiry. I looked at the following items mentioned in the set of responses: The Garmin eTrex series (most specifically the 30; if one is going to get it, might as well get the best one available); the Columbus V-900 (and V-990); the AMOD AGL3080; the iBlue 747proS someone sent an Amazon link to. I skipped the other Garmin units mentioned (GPSMAP 62 et al) due to the lack of GLONASS support; I figure if you're going to get a GPS unit you might as well get one supporting all the currently available networks. I skipped the Blackvue DR500-GW as being a dash camera which isn't the type of thing I'm looking for at all. The AMOD and iBlue seem too basic; I could only use them to upload data to my PC since they don't seem to have Bluetooth to communicate with Android devices. No display or anything so I can't really use them as a standalone device except purely to record data. The Columbus units seem to be somewhat interesting. The 900 one at least has Bluetooth (the manufacturer's pages for the 990 don't mention it, at least that I can find). However, I'm a little put off by what some people wrote about their relative lack of accuracy; I figure if I'm getting a GPS for the purpose of using it for OSM, accuracy is a significant consideration. The major lack to the eTrex 30 is that it doesn't appear to have Bluetooth, so I don't think I can use it directly with my Android devices. (I'm not sure what Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units) means, tho I *think* it might be something called ANT+, see www.thisisant.com for more information. There do seem to be USB ANT+ adapters, but I'm not sure they would do what I want to do with my Android devices; it would need more research.) However, I suppose I could always get another device, such as a Garmin GLO or equivalent, to do that. And, I *can* use it as a stand-alone device at least, it has a display and all, so I guess it's not critical if it cannot talk with my Android devices. The other units non- eTrex units Garmin currently has with GLONASS support (Monterra, Oregon 600, 600t, 650, 650t) are all substantially more expensive than any of the eTrex units, so I think they're out of my budget. I see the eTrex 30 currently for $219 (down from $299) as a Black Friday special direct from Garmin, and for $199 from GPSCity. (And the 199 price is the same as Garmin retail for the eTrex 20, tho I'm sure GPSCity's price for that one is less than Garmin's also.) Online web shopping doesn't show me any cheaper prices, so... And GPSCity has the recommended Garmin case for it available for less also, and free shipping, so... Again, thanks for all the responses. Joseph ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
[Talk-us] [talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
Volker, in the last year, I have been busy hiking, mapping and updating national forest and wilderness areas in and around Big Sur (the whole of Monterey County, or MoCo, actually). Not only did another prolific mapper and I complete a careful import (Farm Mapping Project from State of California data), AND I uploaded the United States Forest Service boundaries of Los Padres National Forest, Ventana and Silver Peak Wildernesses, I also cleaned up most of the erroneous TIGER roads (as residential, most are rural dirt tracks) by painstakingly comparing them with Bing imagery. As Monterey County is more than 2/3 the size of the state of Connecticut, nearly 10,000 square kilometers, this was no small task! OK, MoCo is far from done, but it is MUCH better than it was a year ago. Yes, we have a big country, but one road, caf?, bike route and restroom at a time, OSM builds it nicely. Hi Steve, I hope you didn't read may description of the status of the mapping on the CA West coast as criticism. It was a comment on the second half of the title of this thread (...for use with OSM mapping). In fact I noticed when I last drove along the coast by car that the map had drastically improved - now I know who did it. Thanks. Volker (Cyclist, Padova , Italy) ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
2013/11/26 Dion Dock dion_d...@comcast.net I've used a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. I think it records a point every second--or maybe it's every 5--I can't find the setting in the menus at the moment. Saving tracks to the micro SD card will strip off their timestamps and OSM rejects tracks without timestamps. You could still trace them or import them with JOSM, probably. I'm using this same unit. You can set the recording intervall in the track recording page (I am using and promoting 1 second, there are also other settings like per distance or less frequently but this only reduces usefulness because stuff gets simplified and you get less raw data). I do get the timestamps in the recorded track on the micro SD card, how do you copy it? You have to mount the device as a disk and copy it like you would with any other file (requires to set record on card in the device settings from the tracks page, settings). The track recording admittedly is a bit confusing, as you get the good recording on the SD Card, but there is also a simplified (if you save it, the active log is the same like the one on the SD card) trace on the device's internal memory together with the custom way points. Both tracks do have time stamp information if downloaded correctly (as gpx). cheers, Martin ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
[Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
Message: 1 Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 16:52:28 -0500 From: Serge Wroclawski emac...@gmail.com Cc: OSM Talk-US List talk-us@openstreetmap.org Subject: Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA? Message-ID: cadbcdjhj4oplwvvduaamhdmno_nhwhr4jlcfkmigpgwzol_...@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I've used two eTrex GPS units (an old one and a relatively new one), a Columbus v900 (the voice recorder that Russ mentioned), and I've used OSMTracker for Android. The v900 is super cool, and cheap, but my experience with it was that it took forever to lock in, and when it did- it was pretty inaccurate- blocks off. And after about two years, it just stopped working. The eTrex units are pretty nice. They're very accurate, they have amazing battery life, and are really rugged. But they have a pretty awful interface. I also have used an old etrex HCx and a new etrex 20. Both are good at the job. Battery life is good (full day with rechargeable batteries at 1 sec sampling). Resolution is good (down to 1 meter with good satellite visibility), especially with the newer model. Position reproducibility is also good (down to 2 meters with the etrex 20). They work for hours under pouring rain. Apart from the well-known user-unfriendlyness of Garmin products, the only fly in the ointment is that the newer unit occasionally produces corrupt files - they are still perfect ASCII files, but the syntax is not correct. Normally such files are easily repairable by hand - not sure if it's a dodgy unit or a general problem. OSM maps in the US are of different levels of quality. When I last mapped on the CA west coast (Big Sur, where else?) I noted loads of non-existing roads still there from the old Tiger import. Volker (Italy) ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 11/26/13 8:33 AM, Volker Schmidt wrote: I also have used an old etrex HCx and a new etrex 20. Both are good at the job. Battery life is good (full day with rechargeable batteries at 1 sec sampling). Resolution is good (down to 1 meter with good satellite visibility), especially with the newer model. Position reproducibility is also good (down to 2 meters with the etrex 20). They work for hours under pouring rain. the eTrex units seem to be much more accurate than the entry level auto units from Garmin. i'm intrigued though, by Martin's description of the 60CSx (which appears to have been replaced in the Garmin lineup by the 62CS). if the good tracks are on the microSD card then that means you can minimize cycles on the mini-USB port, as you can remove the microSD and use an external reader. this should lead to a longer useful life for the unit (yes, i'm really fed up with having two dead Nuvis because of busted mini USB ports). OSM maps in the US are of different levels of quality. When I last mapped on the CA west coast (Big Sur, where else?) I noted loads of non-existing roads still there from the old Tiger import. big country, not enough mappers in the right places, we're working on it. richard signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
2013/11/26 Richard Welty rwe...@averillpark.net the eTrex units seem to be much more accurate than the entry level auto units from Garmin. i'm intrigued though, by Martin's description of the 60CSx (which appears to have been replaced in the Garmin lineup by the 62CS). I'm not sure if I won't go for the etrex20 as well, both use standard AA-batteries, both have a low resolution screen but well readable in direct sunlight, but the etrex has additional Glonass functionality. Not sure how much quality improvement the Glonass capabilities give, but I'd want them when buying a new GPS receiver ;-) if the good tracks are on the microSD card then that means you can minimize cycles on the mini-USB port, as you can remove the microSD and use an external reader. this should lead to a longer useful life for the unit (yes, i'm really fed up with having two dead Nuvis because of busted mini USB ports). yes, being able to take them out is an advantage. Some recent models also do wireless transmission I think. cheers, Martin ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
Chiming in really late! but I have used a fair number of different GPS loggers so I thought I'd add my experience. First off, like cameras, the best one is the one you have with you (and can be powered up). For me, that disqualifies the Garmin 60 series - too bulky to always carry around with me. Also I haven't found a really compelling reason to spend the additional $$ on this unit over, say, a Vista or Legend. The dedicated waypoint button is a plus, for sure, but not an $150-200 one. (For those looking to purchase, REI currently has the GPSMAP 62s for $199.) I have always been impressed by the accuracy of the Garmin units, they are consistent performers. I haven't noticed a great deal of difference between the Legend, Vista and GPSMap types in that respect. The ability to load and display OSM maps onto these units sets them apart from the lower end units and no-screen track loggers. I have made numerous hiking route decisions in the field based on which trail was not on the map yet. Powerful. I have also used the touch screen Dakota 20 quite a lot. The accuracy seems to be on par with the other Garmin units, but the touch screen is a pain to use and can be hard to read. I would not recommend it. Lately, for no other reason than to experience a different type of GPS unit, I have resorted to using a Columbus V990. The one really nice and pretty unique feature this device has is motion detection. If you're not moving, the device will suspend logging until it detects you're on the go again. This makes the Columbus a 'set-and-forget' unit - just put it in your backpack and go. I get up to four days of life out of it this way. It does not emit GPX for reasons unbeknownst to me, but JOSM will load its CSV format just fine. The accuracy is not on par with the Garmin units I feel, but I haven't done any side by side testing. When I'm out of options I will use my phone for track logging. This is always a poor choice because the quality of the tracks is noticeably poorer, to the point of being unusable sometimes. Logging on your phone will also eat your battery. On Android I have used OSMTracker mostly, because it offers direct OpenStreetMap upload and waypoint / photo / audio tagging. JOSM will automatically load georeferenced pictures and voice clips recorded, which is cool and helpful. Google's own My Tracks is decent, too, but of course offers no such OSM specific features. I have yet to find a decent track logging app for the iPhone that has some OSM integration. Best Martijn On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 5:59 AM, Martin Koppenhoefer dieterdre...@gmail.com wrote: 2013/11/26 Dion Dock dion_d...@comcast.net I've used a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. I think it records a point every second--or maybe it's every 5--I can't find the setting in the menus at the moment. Saving tracks to the micro SD card will strip off their timestamps and OSM rejects tracks without timestamps. You could still trace them or import them with JOSM, probably. I'm using this same unit. You can set the recording intervall in the track recording page (I am using and promoting 1 second, there are also other settings like per distance or less frequently but this only reduces usefulness because stuff gets simplified and you get less raw data). I do get the timestamps in the recorded track on the micro SD card, how do you copy it? You have to mount the device as a disk and copy it like you would with any other file (requires to set record on card in the device settings from the tracks page, settings). The track recording admittedly is a bit confusing, as you get the good recording on the SD Card, but there is also a simplified (if you save it, the active log is the same like the one on the SD card) trace on the device's internal memory together with the custom way points. Both tracks do have time stamp information if downloaded correctly (as gpx). cheers, Martin ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us -- Martijn van Exel http://oegeo.wordpress.com/ http://openstreetmap.us/ ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 11/26/13 11:13 AM, Martijn van Exel wrote: When I'm out of options I will use my phone for track logging. This is always a poor choice because the quality of the tracks is noticeably poorer, to the point of being unusable sometimes. i have noticed that the GPS in the retired android HTC (2.5 years old) is quite a bit inferior to the GPS in the Nexus 7 i bought last winter (well before the current version Nexus 7 was released.) i guess you're pretty much at the mercy of the hardware vendor's choices here. the Nexus 7 is really quite good, it comes up quickly and holds lock on the satellites well. Logging on your phone will also eat your battery. there are USB battery supplement thingies out there, probably best to have one or more if you're going to do this away from a car with a lighter socket or USB power port. richard signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 5:52 AM, Richard Welty rwe...@averillpark.netwrote: if the good tracks are on the microSD card then that means you can minimize cycles on the mini-USB port, as you can remove the microSD and use an external reader. this should lead to a longer useful life for the unit (yes, i'm really fed up with having two dead Nuvis because of busted mini USB ports). The caveat I would give about that is that on my eTrex Legend, the SD card slot started getting flaky long before the USB port had any trouble. I think that's worse than flaky USB, because there's no visible indication (until you switch to the map view and discover that the map didn't load) that the SD card didn't mount at boot and the receiver hasn't been logging tracks to it. Eric ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 11/26/13 8:33 AM, Volker Schmidt wrote: I also have used an old etrex HCx and a new etrex 20. Both are good at the job. Battery life is good (full day with rechargeable batteries at 1 sec sampling). Resolution is good (down to 1 meter with good satellite visibility), especially with the newer model. Position reproducibility is also good (down to 2 meters with the etrex 20). They work for hours under pouring rain. OSM maps in the US are of different levels of quality. When I last mapped on the CA west coast (Big Sur, where else?) I noted loads of non-existing roads still there from the old Tiger import. On 11/26/13 8:52 AM, Richard Welty wrote: the eTrex units seem to be much more accurate than the entry level auto units from Garmin. i'm intrigued though, by Martin's description of the 60CSx (which appears to have been replaced in the Garmin lineup by the 62CS). if the good tracks are on the microSD card then that means you can minimize cycles on the mini-USB port, as you can remove the microSD and use an external reader. this should lead to a longer useful life for the unit (yes, i'm really fed up with having two dead Nuvis because of busted mini USB ports). big country, not enough mappers in the right places, we're working on it. I also use a Garmin 60CSx and would recommend the 62CS as a currently available replacement. If you get one, I find that every five seconds is sufficient for hiking-speed track point refresh. Also, be especially careful opening and closing the battery compartment: always twist the thumb-clasp from noon to 3 when opening, and 3 to noon when closing (gingerly, metal on the pins is soft, plastic on the case body is softer). The accuracy of this 12-channel GPS receiver is excellent: with a wide sky view I often get 4 or 3 meters of accuracy, and once got 2 meters. But even better, in very dense tree cover (hiking in Big Sur with lots of tall redwoods so the sky is almost obscured) this unit still gets a usable signal. Weak, yes, less accurate (maybe 15 meters under these conditions), yes. But try that with a lesser unit and you'll simply get no lock on enough satellites to fix your location, let alone generate an accurate track. 15 meters in deep woods is usually good enough to find the trail! The unit is waterproof (though doesn't float), rugged to a modest degree (I once slammed it into a rock face lanyarded against my chest while belaying, with no damage or scratches to its nice sapphire glass), has a compass and altimeter that are actually useful, uses USB rather nicely (be gentle plugging and unplugging a cable to give the jack a long life) and sips batteries: I get 14 to 20 hours from a pair of solar charged rechargeable NiMH AA cells. The ability to swap microSD cards with OSM data provided by DaveH/Lambertus is awesome: this feature alone makes Garmin an almost must-have for OSM users. For the software inclined, you can also use mkgmap and roll your own maps from OSM data. The buttons on my 60CSx have held up for almost seven years of tough use, the interface is straightforward and fairly complete, and Windows and Mac machines are both supported well enough to complete just about any data task. The 60CSx (no longer available new, you might find someone willing to sell one after-market) does suffer from only being able to use one gmapsupp.img (Garmin-format map file) on a microSD card at a time (the 60CSx can't use microSD cards greater than 4 GB capacity), but I understand the 62CS doesn't suffer from this: bring on multiple maps on super-dense card chips! Nice to be able to select one mapset vs. another from the rocker buttons on the unit, with no card swap, USB cable mount, or desktop machine required (except to do the copy/upload to the card in the first place). The Molex metal bracket to mount the microSD card is hard to figure out how to slide up and down with your fingernail, be careful until you get the knack of it, or you'll get a card didn't mount at boot error (and no logging there, if you turned on that feature). Volker, in the last year, I have been busy hiking, mapping and updating national forest and wilderness areas in and around Big Sur (the whole of Monterey County, or MoCo, actually). Not only did another prolific mapper and I complete a careful import (Farm Mapping Project from State of California data), AND I uploaded the United States Forest Service boundaries of Los Padres National Forest, Ventana and Silver Peak Wildernesses, I also cleaned up most of the erroneous TIGER roads (as residential, most are rural dirt tracks) by painstakingly comparing them with Bing imagery. As Monterey County is more than 2/3 the size of the state of Connecticut, nearly 10,000 square kilometers, this was no small task! OK, MoCo is far from done, but it is MUCH better than it was a year ago. Yes, we have a big country, but one road, café, bike route
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 11/26/2013 12:07 PM, Richard Welty wrote: there are USB battery supplement thingies out there, probably best to have one or more if you're going to do this away from a car with a lighter socket or USB power port. I find that as long as I keep it in airplane mode and don't overuse the screen backlight, my smart-a**-phone will go for a day and a half recording tracks without a recharge. I use the Backcountry Navigator app, which has full custom-map features, the don't record when stopped functionality, decent track recording features, and good ability to function off the net (for instance, preloading maps for where I'm planning to be). I do my own maps for it, based on Lars Ahlzen's fine TopOSM, but with a number of additional layers of data (government data sets that have not been or cannot be imported, private data sets from various sources). It means that my map has something of a cubist appearance, since occasionally trails are covered two or three times in the data that I have access to - but that's an advantage: if the map takes on that kind of appearance, that's a sign that navigation may be a challenge. On a multiday trip, I can recharge overnight from two lithium AA batteries using the MintyBoost: http://learn.adafruit.com/minty-boost . It's ultralightweight, compact (barely larger than the batteries), and cheap (if you're handy with a soldering iron, the kit of parts is twenty bucks). I'm still getting used to the art of GPS management - I learnt land navigation the old-fashioned way - so I've been only occasionally able to upload trails. (I have a bad habit of turning track recording off inadvertently.) But that's how the Black Dome Range Trail got onto http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/42.2698/-74.1421 . (And several other trails in that part of the world.) -- 73 de ke9tv/2, Kevin ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
A few options I have experience with: - The AMOD AGL3080 is pretty bare-bones, but it works well and interfaces easily with a computer even without any special software (basically, it works like a flash drive; the files are stored in NMEA format, which you can convert to OSM's GPX format with gpsbabel). SirfStar III chipset, which was the state of the art a couple of years ago and still pretty good. Supports GPS and WAAS (satellite corrections). - The eTrex series from Garmin support GPS and GLONASS; also pretty easy to work with, since it converts tracks and waypoints to GPX when you connect to a PC. You can load OSM maps on the model 20 and model 30. Supports WAAS. From a geek perspective the logging isn't very thorough; there's no speed, accuracy, or satellite data kept on the GPX log. - A few weeks ago I picked up a Blackvue DR500-GW dash camera off of Amazon.com; this device logs audio and video, along with GPS. The GPS log appears to be a slightly-modified version of NMEA with timestamps. I'm not sure if it supports WAAS or GLONASS offhand. I really haven't tried to do much with its logs yet. FWIW I think GPS is still pretty important, particularly since NAIP is always behind ground truth (there's a 3-year cycle on collection, plus about another year of processing time before we get our hands on it) and there's no guarantee our corporate benefactors will continue to provide newer imagery. Chris ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
I'm using a Garmin GPS Map 60csx for years and do have very good experience with it, it is now discontinued but the successor is still available (the differences between the models is mostly the sensors: barometer or not, electronic compass or not). You should be able to get something like this for around 200USD: http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-GPSMAP-Handheld-GPS-Navigator/dp/B003IHV6XW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8qid=138549sr=8-2keywords=garmin+60csx The advantages are long battery life (around 20 hours), screen readable in the sunlight, rugged waterresistant device, compatible with osm maps through mkgmap and precompiled maps. They do not have GLONASS compatibility (AFAIK) and you should look for a model extendable via micro SD cards. Another alternative I know some people who use it is this logger: http://www.amazon.com/iBlue-747proS-Recorder-Motion-Sensor/dp/B00GIGMU76/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8qid=1385400286sr=8-3keywords=logger+iblue+747i obvioulsy a cheaper solution (maybe you can this for around 50USD), but isn't rugged, hasn't a screen and IMHO also worse reception (at least the older model which I once compared to the Garmin handheld). The osm wiki has a fairly nice (maybe partly outdated) comparison of different devices with links to subpages: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/GPS_Reviews cheers, Martin ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
i think a couple more notes are in order as part of a consumer's guide. the following contains notes on Garmin Android/OsmAnd options Garmin Pros/Cons 1) mkgmap produces useful maps from OSM data 2) in the automotive units, save location is an ok, not great, but ok interface for recording short notes on the fly 3) the note entry on the eTrex is a bit clumsy 4) eTrex screens are a bit small and monochromatic, not good units for driving usage 5) the eTrex has an array of mounts; i can mount an eTrex on my bicycle handlebars pretty easily 6) many of the low end Nuvis in the past have had a very cheesy power switch. one of the dead garmins on the window sill behind me fell to that. 7) most of not all Garmins still use mini usb instead of micro usb. mini usb is going away for a reason, it is a very poorly engineered design which fails after a depressingly low number of disconnect/ reconnect cycles. i've had two Nuvis die due to mini usb connector failure. in order to get tracks off a Garmin, you pretty much have to go through a couple of disconnect/reconnect cycles (e.g. disconnect from the car lighter plug, plug into the computer, take the tracks, disconnect and put it back in the car.) OsmAnd Pros/Cons 1) native maps are OSM, refreshed regularly if you buy OsmAnd+, at worst monthly which is way better than the quarterly schedule for typical commercial map vendors. and if you don't want to buy OsmAnd+ and you have some software skills, you can fetch the software and generate your own maps from OSM when you want to. 2) OsmAnd+ costs money, but not very much (less than $10US when i bought my copy.) 3) OsmAnd+ can be shared across multiple devices if a single Google account is being used 4) cell service not required if maps are downloaded 5) subject to variations in GPS hardware, it works well for me on a Nexus 7 (previous generation), less well on a 2 1/2 year old HTC that has been retired from phone service 6) GUI variance across different flavors of Android OS. the HTC GUI experience seems to me to be slightly nicer than the Nexus 7, but otherwise the Nexus 7 is way better 7) mechanism for entering notes clumsy by comparison to automotive Garmin units 8) routing is a work in progress. for long trips, adding waypoints liberally seems to be a good idea. the current version of routing seems to not evaluate some potential routes that it really should, even over short distances. probably a bug, which leads to 9: 9) active group of developers, steady improvements are noticeable. but as with any software project, sometimes you get a step back instead of a step forward. 10) decent automotive mounts for 7 tablets are out there. i'm going to try one with the Nexus 7 for my christmas vacation trip from NY state to NC. signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
I've been using a Garmin eTrex 20 for most of the past year and am pretty happy with it. Compared to the earlier eTrex Legend HCx, it supports GLONASS, gets better battery life (about 40 hours of use on two AA batteries), gets a fix much faster after powering on, has more attractive (but slower) map rendering, and can log tracks and use OSM (Lambertus) base maps without having to install an SD card. The tracks are definitely higher quality than from phones I've tried (mostly Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Nexus) but newer phones might do better. Eric On Sun, Nov 24, 2013 at 6:17 PM, Joseph R. Justice jayare...@gmail.comwrote: [I am subscribed to Talk-US and will see responses to this message sent to that list. -- J] So, I've been thinking about getting involved with OSM, particularly in terms of improving the map in the area I live in (Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA). Looking through the wiki, the Beginner's Guide, and all of that, it seems like one of the most popular and useful ways to do that is to collect and upload GPS traces. That's something I can do on the ground in my area, and at a pretty detailed level because I'd be doing it on foot. I have several Android devices that contain GPS functionality. (Currently, I have and actively use a Google Nexus 7 (2013 ed) tablet and a Samsung Galaxy S II on the Virgin Mobile USA (Sprint) network, and less often a Toshiba Thrive 10 tablet; I have a couple of other devices that are not currently working.) However, I'm thinking that their capability to make accurate and precise GPS measurements might not be as good as that of a dedicated GPS device. Also, I understand that having GPS signal reception separated from that of the other functionality of a Android device will help improve the battery life of the Android device. Therefore, I am thinking about getting some sort of GPS receiver, either a standalone one and / or one that can communicate via Bluetooth to my Android devices. However, I do not have any experience with dedicated GPS devices per se. To that end, I am wondering if anyone here would wish to offer suggestions on GPS devices that are currently available in the US which I should consider. I have been doing some research, but there's a lot of possibilities out there, both well-known name brands with lots of advertising and not so well known brands, and like I said I do not have personal experience with this sort of thing. I was originally considering getting just a pure receiver, with no display capability and perhaps not even any logging capability, e.g. something that would simply receive and process a GPS signal and relay the results (e.g. coordinates, etc) via Bluetooth to an Android device, which would then be responsible for everything else. However, I've subsequently considered that having a GPS device which could be useful by itself without needing anything else might be more useful in general, even if it costs somewhat more. So, I am not restricting myself to considering just GPS receiver-only or receiver-plus-logging-only devices. I'm pretty sure that even if I get a device capable of working as a standalone device, that I would want it to be able to communicate with my Android devices, so I'll probably want Bluetooth (or possibly WiFi but I suspect that is more costly and power-hungry) no matter what. I'll probably want USB *if* I get a device capable of making an internal log, so I can easily transfer data to my PCs. (I don't know that it makes sense or is even feasible to try to connect a GPS device to my Android devices via USB.) I'll probably want something capable of receiving signals both from the US and Russian (GLONASS) GPS systems, since they're both available and it looks like using GLONASS can help provide a more precise location fix. (I assume devices capable of receiving signals from the forthcoming European and Chinese systems are not yet available.) I'll probably want something capable of receiving whatever publicly- and freely-available GPS augmentation / refinement signals are available. (I know about WAAS run by the FAA, and I think there's also something run by the Coast Guard; I'm not sure if there's anything else in the US that's freely available.) It looks like that, at least to an extent, the more channels the better. In general, I'll probably want something that is as accurate and precise as is feasibly affordable for and available to a non-professional working alone. (I've seen that there's very precise professional survey-grade equipment out there, but it's probably way beyond anything I'd be willing to pay at this time. Likewise, a lot of the pro stuff appears to call for a base station unit and a rover unit, which would realistically require a minimum of two people; I'm going to be doing this by myself. However, if I'm going to do this, I want to generate the best data that is feasible for me to collect.) If I get a
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
I've used two eTrex GPS units (an old one and a relatively new one), a Columbus v900 (the voice recorder that Russ mentioned), and I've used OSMTracker for Android. The v900 is super cool, and cheap, but my experience with it was that it took forever to lock in, and when it did- it was pretty inaccurate- blocks off. And after about two years, it just stopped working. The eTrex units are pretty nice. They're very accurate, they have amazing battery life, and are really rugged. But they have a pretty awful interface. Using an Android phone is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it locks in very quickly, because it can use the cell towers to assist it. It also has software like OSMTracker which can do photo mapping, or voice mapping (like the Columbus V900). But the battery life is pretty awful. It's also worth mentioning that the type of environment you're in makes a huge difference. When you're in a rural or suburban area, you're fine, but if if you're in a place with very tell buildings, or very large trees, or mountains, the data you capture won't be as accurate. - Serge On Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 1:34 PM, Eric Fischer e...@pobox.com wrote: I've been using a Garmin eTrex 20 for most of the past year and am pretty happy with it. Compared to the earlier eTrex Legend HCx, it supports GLONASS, gets better battery life (about 40 hours of use on two AA batteries), gets a fix much faster after powering on, has more attractive (but slower) map rendering, and can log tracks and use OSM (Lambertus) base maps without having to install an SD card. The tracks are definitely higher quality than from phones I've tried (mostly Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Nexus) but newer phones might do better. Eric On Sun, Nov 24, 2013 at 6:17 PM, Joseph R. Justice jayare...@gmail.com wrote: [I am subscribed to Talk-US and will see responses to this message sent to that list. -- J] So, I've been thinking about getting involved with OSM, particularly in terms of improving the map in the area I live in (Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA). Looking through the wiki, the Beginner's Guide, and all of that, it seems like one of the most popular and useful ways to do that is to collect and upload GPS traces. That's something I can do on the ground in my area, and at a pretty detailed level because I'd be doing it on foot. I have several Android devices that contain GPS functionality. (Currently, I have and actively use a Google Nexus 7 (2013 ed) tablet and a Samsung Galaxy S II on the Virgin Mobile USA (Sprint) network, and less often a Toshiba Thrive 10 tablet; I have a couple of other devices that are not currently working.) However, I'm thinking that their capability to make accurate and precise GPS measurements might not be as good as that of a dedicated GPS device. Also, I understand that having GPS signal reception separated from that of the other functionality of a Android device will help improve the battery life of the Android device. Therefore, I am thinking about getting some sort of GPS receiver, either a standalone one and / or one that can communicate via Bluetooth to my Android devices. However, I do not have any experience with dedicated GPS devices per se. To that end, I am wondering if anyone here would wish to offer suggestions on GPS devices that are currently available in the US which I should consider. I have been doing some research, but there's a lot of possibilities out there, both well-known name brands with lots of advertising and not so well known brands, and like I said I do not have personal experience with this sort of thing. I was originally considering getting just a pure receiver, with no display capability and perhaps not even any logging capability, e.g. something that would simply receive and process a GPS signal and relay the results (e.g. coordinates, etc) via Bluetooth to an Android device, which would then be responsible for everything else. However, I've subsequently considered that having a GPS device which could be useful by itself without needing anything else might be more useful in general, even if it costs somewhat more. So, I am not restricting myself to considering just GPS receiver-only or receiver-plus-logging-only devices. I'm pretty sure that even if I get a device capable of working as a standalone device, that I would want it to be able to communicate with my Android devices, so I'll probably want Bluetooth (or possibly WiFi but I suspect that is more costly and power-hungry) no matter what. I'll probably want USB *if* I get a device capable of making an internal log, so I can easily transfer data to my PCs. (I don't know that it makes sense or is even feasible to try to connect a GPS device to my Android devices via USB.) I'll probably want something capable of receiving signals both from the US and Russian (GLONASS) GPS systems, since they're both available and it looks like using GLONASS can help provide a more
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 11/24/13 9:17 PM, Joseph R. Justice wrote: [I am subscribed to Talk-US and will see responses to this message sent to that list. -- J] So, I've been thinking about getting involved with OSM, particularly in terms of improving the map in the area I live in (Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA). Looking through the wiki, the Beginner's Guide, and all of that, it seems like one of the most popular and useful ways to do that is to collect and upload GPS traces. That's something I can do on the ground in my area, and at a pretty detailed level because I'd be doing it on foot. I've used a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. I think it records a point every second--or maybe it's every 5--I can't find the setting in the menus at the moment. Saving tracks to the micro SD card will strip off their timestamps and OSM rejects tracks without timestamps. You could still trace them or import them with JOSM, probably. The unit itself is disappointing. The buttons broke--Menu quit working. I sent it back for a $100 repair. I feel like it didn't get much use before breaking. Like others have said, aerial imagery is typically much better than GPS tracks. GPS is OK for hiking trails, esp. if you have multiple tracks so you can choose start to see how the waypoints average. have fun, -Dion ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
From: Serge Wroclawski [mailto:emac...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 1:52 PM Subject: Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA? It's also worth mentioning that the type of environment you're in makes a huge difference. When you're in a rural or suburban area, you're fine, but if if you're in a place with very tell buildings, or very large trees, or mountains, the data you capture won't be as accurate. I've spoken to people who have outfitted their vehicles with tens of thousands of dollars of GPS equipment, and they still lose their position when travelling through downtown. They use accelerometers to compensate. ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
[Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
[I am subscribed to Talk-US and will see responses to this message sent to that list. -- J] So, I've been thinking about getting involved with OSM, particularly in terms of improving the map in the area I live in (Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA). Looking through the wiki, the Beginner's Guide, and all of that, it seems like one of the most popular and useful ways to do that is to collect and upload GPS traces. That's something I can do on the ground in my area, and at a pretty detailed level because I'd be doing it on foot. I have several Android devices that contain GPS functionality. (Currently, I have and actively use a Google Nexus 7 (2013 ed) tablet and a Samsung Galaxy S II on the Virgin Mobile USA (Sprint) network, and less often a Toshiba Thrive 10 tablet; I have a couple of other devices that are not currently working.) However, I'm thinking that their capability to make accurate and precise GPS measurements might not be as good as that of a dedicated GPS device. Also, I understand that having GPS signal reception separated from that of the other functionality of a Android device will help improve the battery life of the Android device. Therefore, I am thinking about getting some sort of GPS receiver, either a standalone one and / or one that can communicate via Bluetooth to my Android devices. However, I do not have any experience with dedicated GPS devices per se. To that end, I am wondering if anyone here would wish to offer suggestions on GPS devices that are currently available in the US which I should consider. I have been doing some research, but there's a lot of possibilities out there, both well-known name brands with lots of advertising and not so well known brands, and like I said I do not have personal experience with this sort of thing. I was originally considering getting just a pure receiver, with no display capability and perhaps not even any logging capability, e.g. something that would simply receive and process a GPS signal and relay the results (e.g. coordinates, etc) via Bluetooth to an Android device, which would then be responsible for everything else. However, I've subsequently considered that having a GPS device which could be useful by itself without needing anything else might be more useful in general, even if it costs somewhat more. So, I am not restricting myself to considering just GPS receiver-only or receiver-plus-logging-only devices. I'm pretty sure that even if I get a device capable of working as a standalone device, that I would want it to be able to communicate with my Android devices, so I'll probably want Bluetooth (or possibly WiFi but I suspect that is more costly and power-hungry) no matter what. I'll probably want USB *if* I get a device capable of making an internal log, so I can easily transfer data to my PCs. (I don't know that it makes sense or is even feasible to try to connect a GPS device to my Android devices via USB.) I'll probably want something capable of receiving signals both from the US and Russian (GLONASS) GPS systems, since they're both available and it looks like using GLONASS can help provide a more precise location fix. (I assume devices capable of receiving signals from the forthcoming European and Chinese systems are not yet available.) I'll probably want something capable of receiving whatever publicly- and freely-available GPS augmentation / refinement signals are available. (I know about WAAS run by the FAA, and I think there's also something run by the Coast Guard; I'm not sure if there's anything else in the US that's freely available.) It looks like that, at least to an extent, the more channels the better. In general, I'll probably want something that is as accurate and precise as is feasibly affordable for and available to a non-professional working alone. (I've seen that there's very precise professional survey-grade equipment out there, but it's probably way beyond anything I'd be willing to pay at this time. Likewise, a lot of the pro stuff appears to call for a base station unit and a rover unit, which would realistically require a minimum of two people; I'm going to be doing this by myself. However, if I'm going to do this, I want to generate the best data that is feasible for me to collect.) If I get a device capable of displaying information / position on a map and/or navigation information, I suppose I would ideally like a device capable of using OSM information if it is not too much more expensive; however, I don't know that this desire is as strong as a probably want. I don't think I need a device that's capable of being a camera also; if I want that, I'd be more likely to just get a separate camera (tho perhaps a camera that can be synched to the GPS device somehow). I am not particularly into geocaching or like activities at this time, or hiking, hunting, fishing, or similar outdoor activities. However, I might try out geocaching at some point. I don't think I need a device that is
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
On 11/24/13 9:17 PM, Joseph R. Justice wrote: [I am subscribed to Talk-US and will see responses to this message sent to that list. -- J] So, I've been thinking about getting involved with OSM, particularly in terms of improving the map in the area I live in (Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA). Looking through the wiki, the Beginner's Guide, and all of that, it seems like one of the most popular and useful ways to do that is to collect and upload GPS traces. That's something I can do on the ground in my area, and at a pretty detailed level because I'd be doing it on foot. good to do, although i think GPS traces are less important now than they once were, as we now have very good quality aerial imagery available. I have several Android devices that contain GPS functionality. (Currently, I have and actively use a Google Nexus 7 (2013 ed) tablet and a Samsung Galaxy S II on the Virgin Mobile USA (Sprint) network, and less often a Toshiba Thrive 10 tablet; I have a couple of other devices that are not currently working.) However, I'm thinking that their capability to make accurate and precise GPS measurements might not be as good as that of a dedicated GPS device. Also, I understand that having GPS signal reception separated from that of the other functionality of a Android device will help improve the battery life of the Android device. i think the GPS receiver in the Nexus 7 is outstanding. i have the same model nexus 7 as you have and have been using it with the OsmAnd application. on foot, though, you should consider a higher end Garmen ETrex or equivalent. the models with the microSD card are nice, and you can use the SD card to install the OSM Garmin maps that Dave Hansen derives from the Lambertus maps. the ETrex takes conventional batteries, so you can use rechargeable NiMH batteries and just swap if they run down. richard signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
Re: [Talk-us] Currently available good GPS for use with OSM mapping in the USA?
Joseph R. Justice writes: To that end, I am wondering if anyone here would wish to offer suggestions on GPS devices that are currently available in the US which I should consider. I highly recommend the Columbus V-900. It's quite accurate, has a battery that lasts all day long, and has a button to tag a waypoint, and another button to record a voice note. I have software which turns their log file into a GPX file that JOSM will use to play back the voice notes. It's small enough to keep in your pocket all day long. It comes with a charging cable that will cause it to turn on and start logging. If you charge it with a regular USB cable, it just charges. So if you want, you can leave it in your car, plugged in all the time, and it will record all your trips. It has a few flaws, but the voice recorder is so awesome that I hardly notice them. $90 from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Columbus-Bluetooth-Driverless-waypoints-Compatible/dp/B001JJRBU8/ref=pd_cp_e_0 -- --my blog is athttp://blog.russnelson.com Crynwr supports open source software 521 Pleasant Valley Rd. | +1 315-600-8815 Potsdam, NY 13676-3213 | Sheepdog ___ Talk-us mailing list Talk-us@openstreetmap.org https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
