Discussion: OCAD / GPS question

Anyone know if the newer versions of OCAD accept GPS input via USB? OCAD website is pretty sparse on useful info.

Older versions (8 and below) only accept NMEA signals via COM ports, most computers don't have com ports anymore, nor do consumer level GPS units.

I'm currently creating usable templates from gpx files (post-processing), but would like to play around with having a gps cursor on a live map in the field now that hardware is getting cheaper/smaller.

next step: download map onto memory chip, hand out at start. At GO signal, load into laptop and take off, reading map and position as you run. Bonus points if you find the controls without ever looking at the ground.

Laptop? Pshaw...iPad;)

kadley: fieldchecking, not running - looking to reduce the amount of time spent pace counting point features, and perhaps even eliminate the 5-pencil juggling act - I always seem to lose the blue one... :-(

iPad? Pshaw... iPhone 4 ;)

OCAD 8 will accept NMEA input from the GPS, and give you a cross-hair on the screen of your current location. You can use a serial-to-USB adapter to plug in older GPS units.

The newer OCAD will read tracks and waypoints directly from the GPS unit after you get home from the field.

The drawing pen will also follow the GPS for automatic symbol placement in the field.

OCAD 8 will accept NMEA input from the GPS, and give you a cross-hair on the screen of your current location

That's pretty much what I'm looking for, but OCAD 8 only reads data from a serial port, and many/most newer computers no longer have serial ports as most peripherals are standardized on USB - hence my query.

Perhaps I'll hunt around to see if I can find a low level program that will grab the NMEA stream from the USB and force it into the serial port buffers where OCAD can find it. Seems like there should be an easier way though.

Have you looked Garmin Spanner? The mighty USAF may or may not use it to connect a usb gps to a laptop to get a viable moving map system on the airplane.

I want to see an iPad map that automatically orients itself to north.

I want to see an iPad map that automatically orients itself to north.
Someone could make an app for that. The iPad has a compass.

With the iPhone, you can make a touchscreen map, utilizing both the compass and GPS. Touch on the screen where you want to go (control circle or attack point or whatever), and up pops a dot showing you where you are on the map (GPS), with an arrow pointing to where you want to go (compass).

Oh, you don't happen to have an orienteering map on your iPhone when you start? No biggie, just take a photo of the map. A few touchscreen taps later, you're geo-referenced and good to go!

Have you tried bluetooth gps? I think those bluetooth devices uses (virtual) com ports (even if you use bluetooth usb dongle) and ocad may be able to find them.

Thx Cristina, Spanner sounds like it might do the trick if it will talk to my Garmin 60csx unit - the web page seems to imply it only works with the GPS18 dongle unit, but I'll give it a try anyhow..

cmorse, you should also have a look at the "Franson GpsGate Client" at www.franson.com

If I understand your requirement correctly then this is designed to do exactly what you want - allow software that only understands serial input to communicate with a USB GPS receiver. It costs about EUR30 but there is a trial version for testing.

Also you mentioned "but would like to play around with having a gps cursor on a live map". The *professional* versions of OCAD 8/9/10 give you that capability, it's called "real-time GPS". However the free version, OCAD 6, also has this capability and it works.

Marcus Geoghegan
Ajax OC
Dublin, Ireland