OziExplorerCE Tutorial


It is assumed that OziExplorerCE has been installed on your PDA.

When OziExplorerCE was installed a set of demonstration files were also installed.


Demonstration 1 - Navigation along a Route with Autoprompting

Step 1 - Open a map
On the toolbar next to the Map menu item there is a symbol of an open folder Open Map press this button. A dialog which allows you to open a map file will be displayed, highlight the Demo1a.map file and press the ok button.

The map will be opened. You can move around on the map by pressing anywhere on the screen. If you move off the edge of the map another map will open which covers that point. If you do this reload the Demo1a.map.

Step 2 - Display the Route Navigation Toolbar

Select the menu option View / Toolbars / Route Nav Toolbar. That means press the View menu, then the Toolbars option, then the Route Nav Toolbar option. The Route Nav Toolbar will be displayed.

Step 3 - Open a Route File

On the Route Nav Toolbar select the Load File button, a dialog to open a Route file will be displayed. Select the Demo1a.rt2 file and press the ok button.

Step 4 - Start Navigation

Press the ozice_b_tbn_navfwd.gif (904 bytes) button on the Route Nav Toolbar to start navigation. You will see a yellow line extending from the centre of the map to the first waypoint in the Route.

Step 5 - Replaying a Track

Replaying a track is not a key feature of OziExplorerCE but its use here will demonstrate some other features that require the use of a GPS. It simulates the communication with a GPS.

Make sure you have done steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 above.

Select the menu option View / Tracks / Replay Track. A dialog to open a Track File will be displayed. Select the demo1a.plt file and press the ok button.

The track will load and "Track Replay" text will be displayed on the map.

Press the Start GPS button on the toolbar - this will start the replay of the track. A position pointer will be displayed and the map will scroll as the pointer moves along the track.

As each waypoint in the route is approached you will see a symbol and a voice prompt will be played to indicate the action you must take at the waypoint.

(You will hear voice instructions so make sure you have the volume turned up on your CE device.)

The operation in the Track Replay mode is not as good as it is when used for real because of timings, the voice may be truncated as a new track point from the replay is processed, but gives a good idea of what route autoprompting can do.

When the track replay is finished turn off Track Replay by selecting the menu option View / Tracks / Replay Track


Demonstration 2 - The use of proximity Waypoints

Step 1 - Open a map

On the toolbar next to the Map menu item there is a symbol of an open folder Open Map press this button. A dialog which allows you to open a map file will be displayed, highlight the Demo2a.map file and press the ok button.

The map will be opened. You can move around on the map by pressing anywhere on the screen. If you move off the edge of the map another map will open which covers that point.If you do this reload the Demo2a.map.

Step 2 - Load a waypoint file

Select the menu option File / Waypoints / Load Wp File. That means press the File menu, then the waypoints option, then the Load Wp File option. A dialog to open a Waypoint File will be displayed. Select the Demo2a.wpt file and press the ok button.

Step 3 - Replaying a Track

Replaying a track is not a key feature of OziExplorerCE but its use here will demonstrate some other features that require the use of a GPS. It simulates the communication with a GPS.

Make sure you have done steps 1 and 2 above.

Select the menu option View / Tracks / Replay Track. A dialog to open a Track File will be displayed. Select the Demo2a.plt file and press the ok button.

The track will load and "Track Replay" text will be displayed on the map.

Press the Start GPS button on the toolbar - this will start the replay of the track. A position pointer will be displayed and the map will scroll as the pointer moves along the track. When the track reaches the first waypoint (Turn 1) you will notice a blue circle around the waypoint, this is a proximity zone, when your position enters the proximity zone a symbol will be displayed and a sound file will be played. (You will hear voice instructions so make sure you have the volume turned up.) These files are attached to the waypoint using a recent version of PC OziExplorer.

When the track replay is finished turn off Track Replay by selecting the menu option View / Tracks / Replay Track


Tutorial

Moving Map (Real Time Tracking)

Configuration

The first thing that must be done is configure OziExplorerCE to suit your GPS. Select the menu option File / Configuration / NMEA (GPS).

The dialog below will open.

NMEA GPS

You must make the following settings. Please check the manual that came with your GPS it may contain some of the information you will need.

Communication Port - The COM Port number your CE device is using for communication with the GPS.  This drop-down list now only shows the actual ports which the PDA has installed and a description of each port is shown.

Note - the PDA does not always give a meaningful description of its ports and also shows ports which are reserved for its own internal use.

Baud - Most GPS receivers output NMEA at 4800 Baud so if unsure this is a good starting point. Others have configurable baud rates. The Baud rate must be set to match the baud rate setting your GPS is using. The Navman GPS sleeve uses a baud rate of 57600.

Sentence - Most GPS receivers output the GPRMC sentence, if yours does this is the best sentence to choose. If your GPS does not output GPRMC then choose one of the other sentences.

Use Chk Sum - Always have this ticked, only untick if your GPS does not include checksums on its sentences, the GPRMC sentence should always have a checksum.

Check Valid - It is best to always have this ticked, It stops OziExplorerCE from processing data from the GPS which is marked as not having a "good" satellite fix. You need to turn this option off if using a GPS in Simulator mode.

GPS NMEA Output Datum - You need to set this to the datum your GPS uses to Output the position in the NMEA data. Garmins always output in the datum the GPS is set to, Some Magellans (315/320) also output in the datum the GPS is set to, most other GPS output in WGS 84, you need to find out how your particular GPS does this. If you see you position on the map is not exactly in the correct place then this setting may be the cause.

Show GPS Fix Data - Shows the type of Fix and the Number of satellites being tracked on the status line. G = GPS fix, D = DGPS being used.

Show DGPS secs - Shows the number of seconds on the status line since the last DGPS update. Only use this if you are using a DGPS.

Say Fix Info - OziExplorerCE will give voice prompts when the GPS "fix" is lost or gained..

Tripmate GPS - Only select this option if you are using a Tripmate GPS. OziExplorer will automatically send the "ASTRAL" command to start the GPS and then wait 5 seconds for the GPS to start up.

Press the ok button on the top right of the dialog to save the settings and close the dialog.

Starting Communication with the GPS

Connect you GPS to the PDA - see Connecting your GPS help if you don't already have a cable ready.

If you are testing indoors and your GPS does not have a fix, the GPS may have a simulator or demo mode you can set so it outputs NMEA sentences with position information.

Press the Open map File button Open Map. A dialog which allows you to open a map file will be displayed, highlight the world.map file and press the ok button. The world map file will open.

Press the Start GPS button on the toolbar, OziExplorerCE will open the com port and start reading input from the GPS.

The top status line will display the word "ON" this indicates that communication is turned on but does not indicate if data is being received. When a valid NMEA position sentence is received an "*" will display immediately to the right of the "ON" and toggle on and off. The map will scroll and a pointer will indicate your position on the map. The code "NF" displayed on the status line indicates that data is being received but the GPS does not have a valid satellite fix.

To see what data is being received from the GPS, select the menu option Map / Display NMEA Input. This will display a dialog and show the data as it is received, if the display is blank then no data is being received.