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“Tech Tips” for Hill Tracks Pilot

Following the experiences of the first volunteer surveyors, we offer the following advice.

• Hill Tracks Video
• Using the Garmin Etrex GPS
• Downloading data from the GPS
• Completing the Data Forms
• Notes on choosing a (Garmin) GPS

updated 24/3/2008

Hill Tracks Video

Problem: Video Errors e.g. 'MPEG-2 update needed' or Sound but no Video.

Solution: Replacement CD from hilltracks@nemt.org.uk (please specify Windows Media File format .wmv for Windows; mpeg4 for Mac).

Explanation: Unfortunately the MPEG2 decoder is not available FOC for copyright reasons and is normally included with DVD software. Several DVD player applications are available from the internet for under £20 OR a hardware + software upgrade might be preferable, though you would need to check whatever is purchased is suitable for system in question.

Using the Garmin Etrex GPS to record Waypoints and Tracks

Problem 1: Can't Record a Waypoint.

Solution: Press and Hold the Enter button (then use the edit keys to enter the photo file ID).

Problem 2: Can't set Tracklog Interval (etrex feature).

Downloading data from the GPS

Problem 1: Connecting a Garmin Etrex GPS to the PC.

Solution: Purchase a Garmin 'serial cable' (9 pin D type connector).

Problem 2: No 'Serial' port on PC.

Solution: Purchase a USB-Serial Converter.

Explanation: Older GPS's may not support USB so there's a problem if a PC has no 'Serial' (9 pin D) port. Cables and software that 'emulate' the 'serial' port on a GPS can be purchased from the recommended suppliers.

Alternative Solution 1+2: Purchase a USB-Garmin cable e.g Memory-Map USGE-GE.

• Make sure the emulation or driver software is installed first and check in Control Panel: System: Devices that a USB-serial port is now available;
• Note the port number as this will need to be entered into the download software;
• Connect the cable to the GPS.

Problem 3: No Data?

Solution: Purchase download software e.g. GPS Utility – see how to setup GPSU software in the video.

Problem 4: Downloaded .txt files contain Lat/Long data.

Solution: Set the coordinate system and datum - e.g. top, right end of menu bar in GPS Utility.

Problem 5: GPS Utility truncates downloaded tracklog and waypoint files.

Solution: Purchase the Full Version of the software (see also Explanation 6).

Problem 6: Poor scaling of data (clumping) when displayed in GPSUtility Map

Solution: Delete any records from the data with the ID “GRMEUR” or similar

Explanation: Garmin thoughtfully include the location of their HQ in all downloads from some units

Problem 7: Sorting out the 'knitting' - Saving Tracks as separate files in GPS Utility.

Solution: From the GPS menu: Download All but check only waypoints and tracks, then:-

• File Save and name it "…….all.txt" as it should contain waypoints and tracks and the track summary. Use Notepad to open the .txt file to check;
• From the File menu: Save/Print options: Save/Print What and check only Highlighted and Waypoints;
• click the Waypoints icon and then File:Save as "……..wpts.txt";
• …you should end up with a file with just the waypoints in it. Then go back to the Save options and deselect waypoints and select only Highlighted and Tracks;
• Check/Highlight the required sections in using the View Tracks and Track Summary. Then Save the segments as separate "……trk.txt" files.
• -Exit GPSU. Run another text editor like Notepad and Open all saved files to check !

Explanation: "…for tracks I use the Track Summary to select the bits of the log that make up the route I followed without duplication, offshoots etc. You've probably discovered that 'Saving' tracks on Garmins filters or simplifies the track so I would select sections from the "Active" log to make up the required track segments. I would only use a 'Saved' track as a back up for this activity though some other respondents are submitting 'Saved' tracks as they use less memory and may be more suitable for the limitations of the GPSU freeware version."

Completing the Data Forms

Problem 1: Missing 'leading zeros' in spreadsheet.

Solution: Format cells as Text in Excel.

Explanation: Excel treats 0 digits as numbers by default and therefore deletes e.g. coordinate and photo ID columns. Check all data is standard field length – see Data Notes on the CD.

Problem 2: Importing Waypoint Data (GPSUtility.txt files) into the DataForm (Excel spreadsheet)

Solution: Copy the DataForm from the template on the Data CD to your Returns folder on your hard drive and rename it according to the convention. (See ExampleCD folder on the Data CD)

Open the DataForm

File:Open
Browse to the waypoint text file that was downloaded with GPSUtility
(Select the 'text' file type so you can see the filename)

The Text Import Wizard will start

Step 1:
Original Data Type: Delimited
Start Import at Row: 13 (Check the Preview pane below to determine the number of lines, including blanks, to skip)

Step 2:
Delimeters: Check Tab and Space

Step 3:
Column Data Format: ID(photo), Easting and Northing all Text; Skip others
Finish - The text file should appear as a new sheet

Copy and Paste the required data to the DataForm

Choosing a (Garmin) GPS - Notes

Garmin haven't been able to keep up with the far eastern technology and have had to abandon their proprietary hardware/software for the competition in their current recreational range. Garmin pricing sometimes doesn't reflect this.

garmin.com has a new 'high sensitivity' range, so wait if you want more than a basic Garmin.

On comparing Etrex and Geko tracks in trees – Etrex tracks more broken.

For further answers, please email hilltracks@nemt.org.uk

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