Free GPS Tracka apps for Windows Mobile phone

v0.3

A lightweight GPS logging application for Windows Mobile 6. Logs to a GPX file which can then be used to geotag your photos or imported into other applications.

This application uses the GPS receiver on your Windows Mobile phone to log your coordinates to a log file at regular intervals. Its purpose is to track your movements while you are out so that when you get back home, you can import those files and use it with whatever application accepts GPX files.

For example, I used it while I was on vacation in Greece and I then used a geotagging application to import the GPX files, match the datetimes against the datetimes on the photos and then append the GPS coordinates to the photos. The end result is that my Greece photos are geotagged and appear on the Flickr map.

Usage

Once you have the application up and running, click on Options.

Verbose: Sometimes, the GPS logging may not work (inside a building, train, new country, alien invasion, etc). If you click verbose, the textbox will start displaying the raw GPS NMEA data being received by the receiver. If you understand it, then good for you, else it's something cool and complicated to show to your uninterested friends. But the main parameters you're looking for are GPGGA (location) and GPGSV (satellites visible). If you want to understand it, you can read up on NMEA sentence information. I also recommend you use this the very first time you run the application to figure out which COM port and Baud Rate is right for you.

Clear: This clears the textbox.

Settings: This takes you to the settings screen where you can specify the COM port, baud rate, and where to log the GPS data.

- Baud Rate: The data transfer speed. Different GPS receivers use different speeds, so you will need to experiment. I use 4800.
- Comm Port: This drop down is the COM port that gives you your GPS data. This may be different on different phones. For me, it was COM1. You'll need to determine this for yourself by setting it and using Verbose mode.
- Polling Rate: How often the GPS data should be logged to textbox or file (when not in Verbose mode). I usually set this at 300 seconds. Minimum value is 60 seconds.
- Logging Options - To File: To log to file, tick this checkbox and then select a file by clicking the "..." button. It will ask you to specify a filename as well - write anything, it's not important, GPSTracka will ignore the filename. It's the folder path that is important. It's best if you create a "GPSLogs" folder in "My Documents" or on your Storage Card and then specify that path.
- Logging Options - To TextBox: The best way to know that it's working is to keep this box checked, so that you can see the values printed to the textbox as shown in the screenshot.

Start: Obviously, this starts the logging. If you selected Verbose in the options menu, it'll give you all data being received in the textbox. Else, it will log the data at the specified interval to the textbox or file.

Installation

Download the CAB file and copy it over to your phone. Run it from File Explorer, accept that it's from an untrusted publisher and proceed with the install.

Go to Start > Programs and look for an icon that resembles a white paramecium. Double click that and you will get the GPSTracka. It should then be available in the Start Menu since it was recently used.

Now go outside, run the application, and choose a COM port. Then click Verbose. Wait a while and if after a few minutes you see NMEA sentences in the main textboxes, then you have the correct COM port and baud rate. If not, try another COM port.

Geotagging your photos

I ended up writing my own, and to my mortifrustration I discovered that an application for geotagging based on GPS logs already existed. I'd recommend GeoSetter which lets you load GPX files and match them against your photos. It also lets you make corrections visually.

Things to keep in mind

The first time you use this app, I recommend that you choose a COM port from the dropdown and choose verbose. Wait a while, be patient. If you start to receive NMEA data, then you've got the right port. If you get nothing, then try changing ports.

When you go to another country and turn your phone on, it'll take a while for the phone to get its bearings. Keep the application running for about 30 minutes to an hour.

This won't work on an airplane... they usually block signals quite well. I tried.

Using the GPS receiver is a drain on your battery. You'll need to turn it off when you're in one place for a long time.

Exceptions should get logged to the textbox. If you see an exception/error message, do copy paste it somewhere, such as to a note. I'd love to have a look at it to see what went wrong.

So far, tested with: HTC TyTN II, Sony Xperia X1, HTC Touch Diamond, HTC Touch Pro, HTC Touch HD. Let me know your phone model if it works for you.

Installation

Download the CAB file and copy it over to your phone. Run it from File Explorer, accept that it's from an untrusted publisher and proceed with the install.

Go to Start > Programs and look for an icon that resembles a white paramecium. Double click that and you will get the GPSTracka. It should then be available in the Start Menu since it was recently used.

Now go outside, run the application, and choose a COM port. Then click Verbose. Wait a while and if after a few minutes you see NMEA sentences in the main textboxes, then you have the correct COM port and baud rate. If not, try another COM port.



For more info please visit the developer web site





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