Geo Tagging

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dandelion

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Linda
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Hi there

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice about geo-tagging devices. I am off to the states in a few months and will be travelling around a bit so it would be nice to know where I was when I took a particular photo (one canyon/lake can look pretty much like another!). I have a Samsung WB600, I know that you can buy compact cameras with the devices already in them but they are power hungry I've heard. So I would like an easy to use bit of kit to keep in my pocket/camera bag etc. I've looked at a few such as I-gotu, photo-trackr, etc but feeling a little bewildered. It should also have easy to use software so I can download the GPS info and photos and then maybe highlight the photos on a map.

So ideas and suggestions, even if its "don't go there", would be welcomed.

:help:
 
I don't have any advice on GPS devices exactly although a friend of mine once told me he used his mobile phone (which supported GPS) and a Google Latitude app to keep track of his movements if that helps? Just throwing the idea out there but I haven't used Google Latitude like that before...

Also, welcome to the forum :)
 
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Thanks for that. I did think about using my phone (I have a Nokia N95) but wouldn't know where to start downloading apps for it (I think you can?). I was also wondering about using an ipod touch (which has GPS capability), failing that I could trade in the Nokia and get an iphone but that seems a little expensive thing to do when possibly geo-tagging devices are a lot cheaper.

;)
 
I have a Phototrackr which works well. Not too well designed though as the lanyard attachment point is uncovered by the battery cover. Three times the battery cover slid open whilst walking and the tracker fell off. Luckily I heard it fall on to hard ground, and by pure chance saw it fall on to soft ground. I had no luck persuading the retailer (Expansys) that it was faulty under warranty. So the back cover was sellotaped secure. The supplied mapping software was appalling. This one I've had for 3 years or maybe more now. Current models and software may be different.

I then got a QStarz BTQ1000X. Again works well, but the supplied soft case, which is the only way of carrying it, is cheap and flimsy. Still looking for a suitable alternative.

Both of the above have a battery life to last all day.

I use Geosetter software to add the data to the photos.
 
dandelion said:
Thanks for that. I did think about using my phone (I have a Nokia N95) but wouldn't know where to start downloading apps for it (I think you can?). I was also wondering about using an ipod touch (which has GPS capability), failing that I could trade in the Nokia and get an iphone but that seems a little expensive thing to do when possibly geo-tagging devices are a lot cheaper.

;)
Click to expand...

Plenty of people say you can use your gps-enabled mobile, but then you've got the learning curve to climb regarding getting the data off it and on to your photos. With an independent device, it's easy - use the supplied software to extract the data, and the mapping program of your choice (like Geosetter and similar) to add it to the photos and view the satellite maps and images.

Then there's the question to answered - does the mobile still record gps info when it is not receiving a provider service? There are plenty of remote areas in the US with no phone signal. There are also plenty of areas with a phone signal, but no local service tie-up with your own provider - hence a no service message when the locals are happily using their mobiles.
 
You could try: http://betalabs.nokia.com/apps/location-tagger

If you then just snap a photo on your phone, you'll have both a visual reference, and a date/time reference to tie the geo-tag on the nokia phone to the actual photo?

Disadvantage is that you have to snap each location on the camera phone?
 
:thumbs: Thanks for all of the above, it has given me a lot to think about - and even more research !! :thinking:
 
I use a small Garmin walkabout GPS and a free to download program called GPicSync to match the photos to their GPS position.

You just need to make sure that the camera clock and GPS clock are fairly closely matched. GPicSync then looks at the time stamp on each photo and matches it up with the coordinates that have the same date stamp on the GPS file.
 
MisterE said:
I have a Phototrackr which works well. Not too well designed though as the lanyard attachment point is uncovered by the battery cover. Three times the battery cover slid open whilst walking and the tracker fell off. Luckily I heard it fall on to hard ground, and by pure chance saw it fall on to soft ground. I had no luck persuading the retailer (Expansys) that it was faulty under warranty. So the back cover was sellotaped secure. The supplied mapping software was appalling. This one I've had for 3 years or maybe more now. Current models and software may be different.

I then got a QStarz BTQ1000X. Again works well, but the supplied soft case, which is the only way of carrying it, is cheap and flimsy. Still looking for a suitable alternative.

Both of the above have a battery life to last all day.

I use Geosetter software to add the data to the photos.
Click to expand...
I researched the Qstarz product BT-1000X and it came back with good reports, so I got one of these. However, I am having problems with it and was wondering if anyone else out there has had anything similar happen to them too. I installed the software, charged the battery (got the right lights flashing on the device) but when I connect to the computer and open the program it says "failed to connect GPS module". Now this could mean that the device is faulty or that I am doing something incorrect. I am corresponding with Qstarz but this is taking days due to the time difference and would welcome some advice (I am not a techie so simple, everyday terminology would be welcome).
 
I'm guessing you're on Windows 7 then. I had this problem on my recent W7 installation but I never got round to fixing it as I was using the Qstarz on my laptop with XP. I've just revisited the prog on my W7 desktop and yes, it was still coming up with the same problem as yours.

I had a look in Device Manager and saw that it was a driver problem. So go to the Qstarz site

http://www.qstarz.com/download.php?t=3&m=BT-Q1000X The link may well take you straight to your model.

Choose your model and look for the driver - under the grey tab (not the utility). Download and install. Problem solved.

Also, make sure the device is turned on. It won't work if just plugged in.
 
It is possible to use some phones, but it really eats batteries.

I bought a Genie BGT-31. It's small, light and the battery lasts for days. It uses an SD card which can hold several weeks worth of data and plugs straight into my PC (no need for drivers). I switch it on, start the logging (set so that it only logs data when it's got a fix) and shove it in my camera bag or in a pocket. It locks on fast and keeps the signal in the car or inside buildings (if you don't venture too deep inside). It's also waterproof (it's a favourite of the surfing community).

Once I'm home I copy the photos to the PC, stick the SD card in the slot and use Geosetter to tag the raw images with location data, display routes and image sites on Google Maps and rename files to the nearest location.
 
MisterE said:
I'm guessing you're on Windows 7 then. I had this problem on my recent W7 installation but I never got round to fixing it as I was using the Qstarz on my laptop with XP. I've just revisited the prog on my W7 desktop and yes, it was still coming up with the same problem as yours.

I had a look in Device Manager and saw that it was a driver problem. So go to the Qstarz site

http://www.qstarz.com/download.php?t=3&m=BT-Q1000X The link may well take you straight to your model.

Choose your model and look for the driver - under the grey tab (not the utility). Download and install. Problem solved.

Also, make sure the device is turned on. It won't work if just plugged in.
Click to expand...

Thanks MisterE and everyone else for your suggestions and advice.

I have been corresponding with Qstarz about my problem and along with "Chipper" from Qstarz and MisterE I have finally solved the connection problem. :thumbs:

I think the drivers I was supplied with when I purchased it were faulty(?). I have finally got the GPS info downloaded and will do another test run tomorrow.

Cheers :clap:

:thumbs:
 
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