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.

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.

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 shows the actual ports which the PDA has installed and a description of each port is shown. There is also an Auto Find NMEA GPS option.

• Auto Find NMEA GPS - the correct settings will be determined when communication with the GPS is started (Recommended setting).
• The standard external serial port on the PDA is COM1. Internal GPS receivers can output data to any com port number. 
• Compact Flash GPS cards add a new serial port to the PDA. The description of the port may not mention GPS but may have CF or something similar in the description.
• Bluetooth GPS - many ports are reserved for use by Bluetooth and it is difficult to know which one to choose.

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 - Many 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.

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 GPGGA or GPGLL.

GPS NMEA Output Datum - 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.

Other

Use Chk Sum - The checksum contained in the sentence from your GPS will be checked.  If the checksum is not correct then the sentence is discarded. It is recommended that this option always be ticked.

Check Valid - If selected, the valid flag contained in the sentence from your GPS will be checked and if the reading is not valid it will be discarded.

Say Fix Info - Information on the GPS satellite fix status will be voiced.

Auto Satellite View - Displays the Satellite View screen when communication with the GPS is started. Once a fix is obtained by the GPS, the screen returns to the current screen. (Recommended setting)

Press the ok button on the top right of the dialog to save the settings and close the dialog. See the configuration section of the help for other information.

Starting Communication with the GPS

Connect you GPS to the PDA - see Connecting your GPS help if you you have a serial GPS and don't 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. Otherwise, move outside to a position where the GPS has line of sight with the satellites.

Demonstration 1 - Moving Map

Step 1 - Open a map

Use the arrow buttons on the bottom toolbar to move to a map screen. If there is no map loaded, on the bottom toolbar there is a symbol of an open folder press this button.  If necessary, to extend the toolbar press thebutton.  A dialog will be displayed which allows you to open a map file, highlight the World.map file and press the ok button. The map will be opened.

Step 2 - Start Communication with the GPS
Press the button on the toolbar, OziExplorerCE will open the com port and start reading input from the GPS. If Auto Satellite View is ticked (recommended setting) the Satellite View screen will be displayed until a fix is obtained by the GPS. The GPS may take some time to obtain a fix (consult the manual for the GPS).

The Satellite View screen will show if data is being received from the GPS. If the display is blank then no data is being received.

Once a fix is obtained, the screen returns to the previous screen. If the screen contains a map, the map will scroll and a pointer will indicate your position on the map. Moving Map configuration options such as the pointer style and color can be changed in Configuration / Moving Map.

Demonstration 2 - Navigation along a Route with Auto-prompting

Step 1 - Open a map
On the bottom toolbar there is a symbol of an open folder 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 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 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 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 auto-prompting can do.

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

Demonstration 3 - 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 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 / Import Wp's from File. That means press the File menu, then the waypoints option, then the Import Wp's from 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 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