Winfast Question

Hi....something I noticed is that my time never seems to display anything other than zeroes. I did a screen shot (I blanked out the lat/long) look in the lower right corner... Is this normal?

 

That is to show which GMT zone you are in... By the way... Do NOT click on the little time button beside it... It will reset your time to a time long ago before there were even PCs... Or electronic circuits... Mine always gets reset to 1849 for some reason. Then your Internet certs don't work and the you may get the BSOD... Just a word to the wise...

 

That's wierd... the help files say it should display your time as derived from the GPS data. Is there a better package we should use for the stock GPS?

Thanks

 

i noticed TB scribbled out the lat/long coordinates on his screenshots too.. I take it you don't want any unannounced guests?

 

ROAD TRIP!!!!

 

Can't you pull those from the data view window?

edit - whodathunk - national forests in New Mexico.

 

Never... NEVER publish targeting coordinates!

 

One thing I have noticed on the Panasonic GPS in the CF-29 is that when using WinFast... I don't get speed and direction. Granted, I have only tested it while walking but the Sarantel setup in the CF-28 is so sensitive that it shows speed and direction while walking! I wonder what the story is... Does anyone know for sure? Is it a difference of the GPS engines or antennas or both?

 

Heh... well to be honest I was sitting in Starbucks when I took that screenshot So Do Your Worst!! (lousy service anyway)

I want to be able to use DRG maps from USGS, plot everything and zoom down to 1 meter maps OziExplorer?

 

Winfast was designed for Leadtek GPS modules so all the features will probably not work with other GPS engines. The mapping program you use should be able to decode the local time correctly.

 

Thanks!

Can anyone tell me what package and version was used with gps-capable CF-28's?

 

Even so, all GPS modules made in the last several years put out at least 4 particular sentences by default, though they can be turned off. RMC is one and you can get the majority of your info from it. It includes time, latitude, longitude, speed, and course (among other things). If you bring up hyperterminal and dial into com 3 (or whatever it's using) at 4800 baud you should see the sentences coming in. If WinFast isn't seeing it, you should be able to at least see if you're getting the raw data in.

 

Ok, let me rephrase this...

What application was bundled with CF-28 GPS models?

Thanks

 

That is wierd. Mine shows current date/time info on Winfast.

 

Hey Paul,

I don't know, I grabbed the version I have from some site online, I may not have the right version.

I did get iGuidance 4.0 and it's working very well, it seems like a great navigator.



(I was just passing through that area, so I don't care whose coordinates you grab)

I have also been trying to get my USAPhotoMaps working with the Toughbook, I have about 9gb of maps and photos installed (copied it from my other laptop)... I don't think it handles serial GPS well as it crashes if I lose signal lock. I like it because I have all the USGS DRG data for New Mexico loaded. I am going to grab OziExplorer soon, and then create a set of calibrated DRG maps for NM. If it works better (hard to believe it won't) I'll switch to that once I have all the maps converted. Thus far I cannot complain about the built-in GPS, I seem to have a winner. I often get 5-6 satellite locks indoors so I'm happy.

For Navigation, so far in my LIMITED experience iGuidance is the best. I drove around all over the city today watching how it performed. It was flawless.

I do however need mapping software, I spend ALOT of time on unmapped trails in a Jeep, and I need to be able to track precisely where I have been.

USAPhotoMaps used to do the job well with a Garmin eTrex (usb) on my old laptop, but it's fragile with serial GPS it seems. I have a note into the author to see if that can be fixed. I think it's stupid for a piece of software to crash just because you happen to be in tracking mode, lose signals and then *boom*.

Maybe the third time is the charm? Can ANYONE please tell me what GPS software was originally included with the CF-28's (if any) so I can go obtain the same?

Thanks!!!

 

I bought two refurbs with built in GPS directly from a Panasonic distributor and the only thing they included was 30 day trial of copilot laptop live 7 but they had nothing as far as diagnostic softwre for their GPS modules.

 

Terminus... Nothing was included on the CF-28 with regard to GPS programs. They were probably afraid to for fear you would see that the GPS didn't work that well.

On a side note... I just bought the full version (V4.0) of I-Guidance from ebay. They guy had a "Make Offer" while having a BIN of $95... I offered $80 and he too $85 so it was a substantial discount over the I-Guidance website.

 

Thank You Guys

Well, I am happy with iGuidance 4.0, it's nice. I am going to get OziExplorer soon, and see how hard it is to feed in the USGS DRG files... I saw a video somewhere where they explained how to add them (on youtube) and it seemed easy for those particular map scans. I definitely need a mapping package (that works with the CF28 built-in GPS)

Meanwhile, next payday I hope to pick up a second CF28 (I get paid once a month, so foobar)

Anyone who wants to sell me a second hard drive module and a caddy please step right up

 

I have been fooling around with OziExplorer today, I loaded most of the maps from NM and calibrated them. Very nice software. It doesn't crash when the GPS loses it's fix either.

 

These guys seem to be to GPS what you guys are to Toughbooks.