Despite reading many many forum threads, and even more searching I am still at a loss to find a method of reading files from either of my data loggers (Holux M1200E & Blumax 4044) onto my macbook. Am I right in assuming that there is no app that will achieve this task, or am I just looking in the wrong places? I am not seeking anything fancy, just a simple app that will let me read the gpx files to put in a folder with photos for geotagging purposes.
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Reading gpx files from a logger
- Thread starter Bondbloke
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Did a quick Google for Mac OSX gpx readers and lots of options. This was the first one
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/gpx-reader/id543327839?mt=12
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/gpx-reader/id543327839?mt=12
You would have one of the Holux loggers that don't have Mac drivers...
I have a couple of other devices that spit out GPX files, I use one of them from time to time (it's my company, and I can "borrow" them whenever I want!). I'm using Google Earth Pro to import the GPX files and my photos (see this Google post: http://www.google.com/earth/outreach/tutorials/importgps.html for some guidance). The Pro version went free several months ago, and it suits my needs - and I can share or export as I see fit.
I have a couple of other devices that spit out GPX files, I use one of them from time to time (it's my company, and I can "borrow" them whenever I want!). I'm using Google Earth Pro to import the GPX files and my photos (see this Google post: http://www.google.com/earth/outreach/tutorials/importgps.html for some guidance). The Pro version went free several months ago, and it suits my needs - and I can share or export as I see fit.
Yes, I looked at several 'readers' but none of them were explicit as to whether or not they pulled files from a logger, the free ones certainly didn't, and I am not prepared to spned money only to fund the other useless. Most of them only seem to read a GPX file onto a map, not what I am interested in at all. Thanks anyway.
You identified the biggest problem a huge percentage of loggers don't come with Mac drivers/software - why not??
I will take a look at the Google Earth Pro option - thanks for the suggestion.
So, maybe I wasn't explicit enough.
Most of the 'readers' seem useless, at least the free ones. What I want is to a) be able to load a file from my track logger, b) be able to save that file in a GPX format for use with my geotagging app. The free readers I have looked at just 'read' the file and display on a map - not what I want at all. The others give no indication as to whether or not that they will load/save a file, and I am not prepared to spend even a small amount to find out that they don't.
It really is so frustrating that the companies who make the loggers only, in the main, seem to cater for windows users.
Try this software http://www.bt747.org/ it lists your devices as compatible. I used this with a Blumax logger for years until I got a different brand logger.
Thanks I will take a look at that. In the mean time I have solved the problem with osmtracker on my Android phone, it will allow me to bluetooth the gpx log to my macbook - not ideal, but a solution.
Heh, good one! So many of these devices run on one of a few OS platforms, generally some form of Windows CE - which is still around and going strong. Heck, AFAIK all of the total stations and loggers I've used are skinned UIs running on top of either Win CE 5 or 6, and the TomTom and Garmin GPS units we use CE 6.0. Win XT might also be "out there" - MS has a pretty good lock on these kinds of devices. On the other end - most consumers that invest in these units (buying more than one in a lifetime, that is), from contractors to engineers (like me) to GIS staff - have Windows in their offices and it's all the techs know how to use.
Also, I'll echo what admwright offered - they have a sourceforge depository, I forgot to mention it as I'm relocating to a new location and have been a bit busy. Their project web portal is here, with Mac software that's surprisingly powerful: http://sourceforge.net/projects/bt747/ - it facilitates data dumps, geotagging of JPEG files, file conversion, and it has integration with Open Street Map. Macs, Linux boxes, and Windows PC are all welcome!
Thanks, I guess that we all fall foul of the evil empire at times.
I plan to take a closer look at bt747 in the next week or so when I am not quite as busy. I have noticed before but have been put off by seeing that I would need to engage with the Terminal - definitely a terminal option for me
