I was recently at an autosport event under the aegis of FIA, where I leased my Magellan eXplorist 600 Europe unit to be used in the off-road race/baja (or “rally raid”) as a helper navigation device (the primary navigation for pilots is their roadmap in a hard paper version). Immediately before the rally the organizer was loading the track into pilot’s GPS and for the Magellan GPS owner it has always been an additional headache. First of all, most GPS units are Windows Mobile based or Garmins. Magellan is a rare bird and it was not the first time when they were just unable to load a track into it. I don’t even mention USB cable, which is buggy enough that only the device owner (who is also an advanced PC user) can make it work from time to time. Loading to SD card is also a problem.

However it would be the only problem if Magellan would provide satisfactory software. I used to make a few tools myself for frequent tasks and track log conversion is among them. But I am also using MapSend Lite to visualise tracklogs on map, correct, modify tracks etc. Earlier and this time again I had a problem loading a track into MapSend Lite for ridiculous reason. Once loaded most of the track points disappear.

Disappointment was the feeling to say the least. I am making software myself: codecs, performance, sophisticated format conversions, bugfixes and workarounds, maintaning version compatibility, third party components and stuff – all this myself. And from this point of view I don’t see any rocket science in getting damn track log loaded into map management software. Still the reality is that track log points disappear just because… they have the same timestamp. I had to manually add .01 to each timestamp in text editor to make the track log file valid for Magellan software! Maybe it is not quite correct that points don’t have valid time, I can understand this, but still this is the track and longitude and lattitude differ from point to point so why the hell software from leading vendor would drop points that have duplicate time – I could not accept any justification for this. With a $600 worth GPS device I would expect this be handled more adequately in software.

I would also wish eXplorist could follow track while recording a new one but frankly after disappearing points thing I can see that it is too much to ask from Magellan, basically it is the impossible. I am afraid there is no way I am going to have another piece of hardware from Magellan ever soon.

Another feature added to convert OziExplorer waypoints into eXplorist compatible format.

What’s new in this build?

• New: Import Waypoints Wizard

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.9
Download Link: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools 1.0.9 (317K)

Magellan technical support is disappointing:

In reference to your enquiry concerning more information [...], we regret to inform you that there is no information available concerning your enquiry.

In a lack of public information, they seem to be ignoring personal support requests. OK, no problem.

Detail map alteration wizard was given a new experimental feature to update layer zoom levels. A layer’s property page contains a new property page to select visibility zoom levels per layer for given detail level (Highest, High, Medium, Low, Lowest):

Any feedback on the feature is welcome.

What’s new in this build?

• New: Visibiltiy zoom levels per layer and detail level (experimental)

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.8
Download Link: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools 1.0.8 (312K)

Minor improvements into KML to UPT conversion. As a bonus, here go points of interest in Amsterdam and Paris converted from bbs.keyhole.com‘s KMZ files:

• Amsterdam
• Paris

What’s new in this build?

• Updated: KML 2.x version files supported
• Updated: Multiline descriptions converted into single like GPS descriptions

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.7
Download Link: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools 1.0.7 (312K)

What’s new in this build?

• Fixed: Error event on losing serial connection
• New: More NMEA sentences interpreted: $GPRMC, $GPGSA
• New: Timeout property and event for serial connection timeouts

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.6
Download Link: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools 1.0.6 (312K)

What’s new in this build?

• Fixed: Support for KML Folders in imported KML waypoints file
• Fixed: Support for international characters in imported KML waypoints file
• Fixed: Wrong checksum codes in exported Magellan files

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.5
Download Link: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools 1.0.5 (310K)

Automation continued to interpret basic NMEA-0183 sentences: $GPGSV, $GPGLL, $PMGNST.

Additionally to bugfixing and serial connection NMEA-0183 reader, this update provides a new COM object to parse and interpret several sequences raising an event on interpretation.

Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.6
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation 1996-2001. All rights reserved.

Assumed Port: COM10

Input: $GPGSV,3,1,12,07,86,334,,24,81,116,,06,80,080,,21,51,220,*7D
Input: $GPGSV,3,2,12,10,34,063,,30,34,164,,16,28,310,,31,23,256,*72
Input: $GPGSV,3,3,12,05,18,159,,12,06,150,,02,05,055,,18,02,179,*79
Satellites: 12
1: PRN 7, Elevation 86.0, Azimuth 334.0, SNR 0.00
2: PRN 24, Elevation 81.0, Azimuth 116.0, SNR 0.00
3: PRN 6, Elevation 80.0, Azimuth 80.0, SNR 0.00
4: PRN 21, Elevation 51.0, Azimuth 220.0, SNR 0.00
5: PRN 10, Elevation 34.0, Azimuth 63.0, SNR 0.00
6: PRN 30, Elevation 34.0, Azimuth 164.0, SNR 0.00
7: PRN 16, Elevation 28.0, Azimuth 310.0, SNR 0.00
8: PRN 31, Elevation 23.0, Azimuth 256.0, SNR 0.00
9: PRN 5, Elevation 18.0, Azimuth 159.0, SNR 0.00
10: PRN 12, Elevation 6.0, Azimuth 150.0, SNR 0.00
11: PRN 2, Elevation 5.0, Azimuth 55.0, SNR 0.00
12: PRN 18, Elevation 2.0, Azimuth 179.0, SNR 0.00

Input: $PMGNST,02.03,2,F,875,04.9,-00096,20*5D
Software Version: 02.03
Fix: Type 2, Availability false
Battery: Level 87.6%, Hours: 4.9

Input: $GPGLL,5156.7875,N,01621.8208,E,204642.824,A*3B
Fix: Latitude 51.94645833333333, Longitude 16.36368, Time 22:46:42 UTC+0200, Active true

What’s new in this build?

• Fixed: COM port operation may not start unless port was used in another application
• Fixed: OLE self registration issue on installation
• New: Interpretation of NMEA-0183 sentences $GPGSV, $GPGLL, $PMGNST
• New: Sample JavaScript scripts included

There will be more to interpret other sequences sent by eXplorist: $GPGGA, $GPRMC, $GPGSA.

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.4
Download Link: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools 1.0.4 (310K)

A new (hopefully) iteration with Magellan eXplorist tools – an automation objects to script GPS data processing. The idea is to provide scriptable objects to access GPS data for various tasks from just logging into file to [the target is believable to be] publishing geolocation information in real time through Jabber/XMPP server in conformance with XEP-0080: User Geolocation.

Currently, it is a lower layer serial connection object to GPS communication port, AlaxInfo.MagExpToo.SerialConnection.

The script below prints GPS NMEA-0183 output to console:

C:\>cscript 01.js
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.6
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation 1996-2001. All rights reserved.

Assumed Port: COM10
Input: $GPGSV,3,1,12,07,87,031,,24,79,094,,06,77,089,,21,55,222,*71
Input: $GPGSV,3,2,12,10,33,059,,16,31,309,,30,30,164,,31,21,253,*7F
Input: $GPGSV,3,3,12,05,14,159,,18,05,178,,12,03,151,,02,02,056,*73
Input: $PMGNST,02.03,3,F,819,04.6,-00096,20*59
Input: $GPGSV,3,1,12,07,87,031,,24,79,094,,06,77,089,,21,55,222,*71
Input: $GPGSV,3,2,12,10,33,059,,16,31,309,,30,30,164,,31,21,253,*7F
Input: $GPGSV,3,3,12,05,14,159,,18,05,178,,12,03,151,,02,02,056,*73
Input: $PMGNST,02.03,3,F,819,04.6,-00096,20*59
...

Copy paste sample code into 01.js file:

function SerialConnection_Error(Code)
{
WScript.Echo("Error: " + Code.toString());
}
function SerialConnection_Input(Lines)
{
LineArray = (new VBArray(Lines)).toArray();
for(Index = 0; Index < LineArray.length; Index++)
WScript.Echo("Input: " + LineArray[Index]);
}

SerialConnection = WScript.CreateObject("AlaxInfo.MagExpToo.SerialConnection");
WScript.Echo("Assumed Port: " + SerialConnection.AssumedPort);
SerialConnection.Port = SerialConnection.AssumedPort;
WScript.ConnectObject(SerialConnection, "SerialConnection_");
try
{
SerialConnection.Connect();
while(true)
{
WScript.Sleep(1000);
// NOTE: Dead loop
}
}
catch(Error)
{
WScript.DisconnectObject(SerialConnection);
throw Error;
}
WScript.DisconnectObject(SerialConnection);

There will be more to interpret certain NMEA sequences, in particular the ones that refer to fixed position.

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.3
Download Link: See updated version 1.0.4

This is going to be useful if you manage waypoints in Google Maps online and would then like to transfer them into GPS unit.

Google Maps offer KML export option to make a shortuct to currently opened My Google Map with placemarks.

KML file, either its online URL or path to saved local file may be given to Alax.Info Import KML Waypoints Wizard to convert the waypoints into Magellan eXplorist Waypoint File (.upt).

What’s new in this build?

• New: Import KML Waypoints Wizard
• Updated: Newer version of Microsoft C++ compiler used (smaller distributable size)

Application Name: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.2
Download Link: Alax.Info Magellan eXplorist Tools 1.0.2 (273K)