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GNU/Linux Aviation HOWTO:
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1.2. GPS

1.2.1. ChartPlotter

ChartPlotter is a Java based moving map program for use with GPS units that support the NMEA communication protocol (the GPGLL sentence). ChartPlotter can be used with user scanned charts saved in JPEG format. The program transforms a latitude, longitude value to a position on the raster image with the help of 2-4 known reference points.

First on the wish list of things to do is a converter program so that we can use charts in the BSB format. As I understand there are such programs around but I need to modify the chartplotter program so that it can read the output from the converting program.

Second on the wish list is to read GSHHS (Global Self-consistant Hierarchical High-resolution Shorelines) found somewere at www.ngdc.noaa.gov.

1.2.2. GPSd

gpsd is a service daemon that monitors a GPS attached to a host computer through a serial or USB port, making its data on the location/course/velocity of the sensor available to be queried on TCP port 2947 of the host computer. With gpsd, multiple GPS client applications (such as navigational and wardriving software) can share access to a GPS without contention or loss of data. Also, gpsd responds to queries with a format that is substantially easier to parse than the NMEA 0183 emitted by most GPSes. The gpsd distribution includes a linkable C service library and a Python module that developers of gpsd-aware applications can use to encapsulate all communication with gpsd.

1.2.3. GpsDrive

GpsDrive is a car (bike, ship, plane) navigation system. GpsDrive displays your position provided from your NMEA capable GPS receiver on a zoomable map, the map file is autoselected depending of the position and prefered scale. Speech output is supported if the "festival" software is running. The maps are autoselected for best resolution depending of your position and can be downloaded from Internet. All Garmin GPS reveiver with a serial output should be usable, also other GPS receiver which supports NMEA protocol.

GpsDrive is written in C with use of the GTK+ graphic toolkit and runs with Linux and FreeBSD.

1.2.4. GPSMan

GPS Manager (GPSMan) is a graphical geographic data manager that provides a user friendly graphical environment for the preparation, inspection and editing of waypoint, route and track data for use in GPS receivers. GPSMan supports a variety of derived computations such as distance and bearing from one waypoint to another, course and distance between waypoints in a track, etc. GPSMan can make cartographic maps to scale, using one of several projections with over plotting of waypoint, route and track data. The map can be saved in Postscript format for printing. GPSMan is a stand-alone Tcl/Tk program that was designed for use at home (as opposed to real-time use). GPSMan currently supports communication with both Garmin and Lowrance receivers.

1.2.5. Elgaard Positioning System

The Elgaard Positioning System is a Java based application designed for use with GPS receivers. It provides an interface capability: tracks can be saved from units with NMEA format output. For units that support the proprietary Garmin protocol, EPS can upload and download waypoints, routes, and tracks. It can also display user scanned charts with interactive zooming, scrolling, over plotting of tracks, and can compute distances and speeds. EPS runs on any platform with a JVM compatible with the 1.1 version of the Java API.

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