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GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

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GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Old 05-23-2010, 03:58 AM
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jay1st
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Default GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Hi guys,


I recently bought a GPS tracker and did some logging on a low wing trainer.
It seems to be quite good and accurate.

No need to carry the laptop to the field, just switch on and off between flights and that's it.
It did give me the occasion to really test some propellers and really see the difference.

Just need a log book to write down at what time you powered up the GPS and then the off time + the prop type, wind etc.....
That is if you do more than one flight during the day of course.

You can then export the data as KMZ for a view on Google earth, it's quite interesting !


here is screen shot of the softwareand I uploaded the KMZ file in zip, changed to TXT for RCU to accept it, so convert it back
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Old 05-23-2010, 07:31 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Interesting. Which GPS did you use?
Old 05-23-2010, 07:50 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Yeah, we have been playing around with a data logger this year too. Did you have some outlaying readings that you had to cut out? I know my Viper wasn't going 258 mph.
Old 05-23-2010, 07:56 AM
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erazz
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Interesting... It landed a full 245m higher than the takeoff. Fly near a mountain? [&:]
Old 05-23-2010, 08:20 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Interesting... It landed a full 245m higher than the takeoff. Fly near a mountain?
Nope, but if you look at the speed (green graph) you'll see it took off at the same altitude as landing.
The "wrong" data is when I started the logger, it was looking for the satellites.
I should have removed it, but too lazy.......


Did you have some outlaying readings that you had to cut out? I know my Viper wasn't going 258 mph.
Yes it did, but that's the cold start from the logger, now I update the A-GPS ephemerids so it can go hot faster and less false data


Which GPS did you use?
I use a Canmore GT-730FL-S USB GPS Tracker Stick Data Logger (Built-in Rechargeable battery, WAAS, A-GPS, 256,000 Waypoints, 65 channels, Windows XP / Vista / 7 Compatible)
It's a photo tagger, the thing some guys use for GPS tagging their pictures. So, instead of having to press the button to record the GPS position I programmed it to be on logging mode all the time when ON.
It's small and the battery does last long, it's 77.48x28x17.77 mm; weights around 25gr.


Quite happy with it.
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Old 05-23-2010, 08:37 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Hehe, I was only joking. Cool gadget!
Old 05-23-2010, 10:45 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Very similar to the one we used.
We were mainly interested in plotting our course around pylons and just had a heck of a time getting the accuracy we wanted. It seemed to change sattelites frequently in a 400' course and made the lines look a little crazy. Still pretty cool though.
Old 05-23-2010, 10:57 AM
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jay1st
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

The problem when turning around pylons with an F3D or F5D is the sampling rate, 1Hz only.

So the lines will look goofy for sure !
Old 05-23-2010, 11:51 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

I have been using a Garmin 101 handheld GPS for a few years now to measure the speeds in my r/c cars and boats. I suppose it could be stuffed into an airplane as well, it is fairly small but probably not as small as newer units today, I don't know. Anyway, it measures max speed, average speed, and all that other junk too.

I don't understand the KMZ and Google thing and what the point of it is. I have seen some photos of the 'tracking' a model airplane did during its flight and it just looks like a jumble of squiggly lines to me.
Old 05-23-2010, 12:09 PM
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jay1st
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

If you have google earth, do : file> open, then choose the kmz file and watch !
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Old 05-23-2010, 03:16 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?


ORIGINAL: jay1st

If you have google earth, do : file> open, then choose the kmz file and watch !
Is that KMZ file animated or does it just show your flight path static? If so, how do you get it to animate? I haven't played with the features on GE too much but wondered if the file might work with the flight simulator somehow and show the flight from the cockpit view. I just had to have one of those so i ordered one. Found it for just under $50.00 US. That looked like a decent price to me. Hope you don't mind me bugging you for info when it gets here.
Old 05-23-2010, 03:48 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Actually GE will just follow the track recorded, and moving around the picture towards the correct heading and it looks like speed as well.
Old 05-23-2010, 03:51 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?


ORIGINAL: jay1st

Actually GE will just follow the track recorded, and moving around the picture towards the correct heading and it looks like speed as well.
How do you activate that feature?
Old 05-23-2010, 04:30 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

You can right click on the track (left pane), beware the top track is just a try i did and forgot to delete from the data, > properties -> altitude, then choose absolute and check the extend path to ground.
Click on the square button (second big red arrow) for the tour.

Nothing really impressive or fancy, but it's entertaining when far from home and the flying field !
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Old 05-23-2010, 05:30 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Yeah, the sample rate is one of the real problems. After watching the Utah pylon vid with the keyfob camera I think that may be the best way to see how one is flying the course for sure.
Old 05-23-2010, 05:43 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Got it jay1st. Thanks. Can't wait to get mine in and play with it.
Old 05-28-2010, 12:41 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

OK, i have the unit but the instructions appear to be a bit lacking. Jay1st, can you give me a brief set of instructions on what to do with this thing? I will probably figure it out at some point but it would be so much easier with a little help.
Old 05-29-2010, 04:43 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Hi XViper,

First you need to install the drivers ( PL2303 Driver), assign a com port( it's usb to rs232 driver http://www.canmore.com.tw/download.php ). It's 38400 bauds and com 9 by default.
Install GPS viewer (from the CD ) to configure the traker (datalog > gonfigure > datalog enable) to keep it logging when ON, no need to press the button.

Download and install Skytraq, for updating the ephemerids ( http://www.skytraq.com.tw/download/S...agps1.0.10.exe ) auto (should work on it's own) if not press AGPS.
Install GPS photo tagger (from the CD)

Once all in working, go flying, connect to pc, run GPS viewer, donwload data.
At the end you can delete all data from the GPS using GPS viewer.

Jay
Old 05-29-2010, 04:49 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Thanks jay1st. I'm on my way to our annual warbirds event but i'll try it out when i return later today. Much appreciated.
Old 06-05-2010, 08:31 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

I finally had the time to play with it this morning and got it all figured out. Thanks again jay1st. Just to test it I took a trip from my workshop to the house to use the little boys room. The trip was 65 meters. Maximum speed was 3.0 kph with an average speed of 0.5 kph. The trip took eight minutes. It's really scarey how much information we can record about ourselves. [X(] But hey, it worked! Based on the google earth plotting, it put me in my neighbors yard which gives an accuracy of within 100 feet which isn't too bad i would say. I hope to make it to the field tomorrow and give it a real test. This thing is neat.
Old 06-05-2010, 09:04 AM
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jay1st
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Funny, I have a greater accuracy than that, did you update the ephemerids ?
Old 06-05-2010, 09:45 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?


ORIGINAL: jay1st

Funny, I have a greater accuracy than that, did you update the ephemerids ?
[:-] Sorry but my only gps experience is with my little Garmen handheld that has been sitting in the closet for years and the driving aid type in my wifes car. What exactly would the ephemerids be? Then again, most of the trip was indoors. Would that affect the accuracy?
Old 06-05-2010, 12:58 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Man, what a difference on the second one. It shows my starting point pretty much exactly where i was according to the GE view of my property. It shows my max speed at 93kph which converts to 57.78 mph. I drove in a 55mph zone so this thing is dead on. My odometer shows 21.7 miles and the tracker shows 34.4 km which is 21.4 miles. I don't know how accurate these things are supposed to be i'm happy with it.
Old 06-06-2010, 11:59 AM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Two flights on the Magnum today with GPS on board. One flight shows max speed at 134mph and the other flight at 138mph. I turned the unit on while traveling back home and again it appears to be quite accurate on the speed. I like it!
Old 06-06-2010, 12:12 PM
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Default RE: GPS tracker for speed freaks ?

Download and install Skytraq, for updating the ephemerids ( http://www.skytraq.com.tw/download/S...agps1.0.10.exe ) auto (should work on it's own) if not press AGPS


And it's sweet about using it in a Magnum !!!!

Have any kml or gpx files ?

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