Outdoor Pen - Extreme Conditions Writing Utensil

29 January, 2010 13:36

I previously wrote about the Ultimate Geocaching Writing Tool and I am going to revisit this category of hardware and introduce the extremely ultimate all conditions pen for backpacking, camping, Geocaching, and under sea adventures.  This all weather writing tool is called the Inka Pen Travel Pen.

The inka Write Anywhere kit is "The first pen designed to go and write anywhere".  This pen contains waterproof ink with the ability to write upside down, at any altitude, and in extreme conditions.

Multi-function pen design:

• Easy access quick-use pen
• Converts to a full-size pen
• Includes PDA stylus

Here are a few specifications of this pen:

• Materials - Carbon fiber and 304 stainless steel components are lightweight, strong and scratch and corrosion resistant.
• Engineering - Pen barrel is hardened, CNC machined, centerless ground, then laser engraved.
• Performance - Waterproof ink in pressurized cartridge writes in extreme temperatures, upside down and at any altitude.
• Design - Multi-function design, secure attachment and watertight case makes this the perfect pen on the go.

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Earthmate GPS Blue Logger Brief Review

25 November, 2009 12:47

My Geo buddy gave me his Blue Logger GPS device along with his DeLorme Topo USA 6.0 license - thank you Brian!  The Earthmate Blue Logger is a bluetooth enabled portable GPS device.

My main objective for establishing a purchase, or being gifted with a bluetooth GPS device was for two reasons: portable street navigation and topology for hiking and camping for my netbook, and integration with CacheMate on my Windows smartphone.

DeLorme Topo works as it should in all aspects of a NMEA compliant serial GPS device.  The only quirk I have seen is the com port negotiation.  If the GPS unit is not started, paired, and connected when starting up the Topo USA application, your serial port is not visible under the selectable COM ports for communication.  This is not a bug, though a wish for a feature, which in all terms and respect to my version, it might have been changed in more recent distributions of DeLorme Topo USA.

CacheMate is also a seamless user experience.  Make sure the device is paired, use the Windows Mobile bluetooth stack, choose your GPS connection method in CacheMate, and success.  You are now able to find nearby caches and also navigate to the Geocaches if you so wish to do so.  I would rather not ruff up my smartphone, so I use my old reliable GPS device for the actual Geocache find.  However, a belt clip bag is available for the unit from http://shop.delorme.com/.  A multitude of accessories such as AC chargers, and base chargers are also available.

Here are the Blue Logger specifications:

• NMEA 2.0-compliant 12-channel receiver
• WAAS-enabled
• SiRF starIIe/LP low-power GPS chip set
• Cold Start: < 45 seconds; warm start: < 38 seconds
• Hot Start: < 8 seconds
• Power, Logging GPS only: ~90mA at 3.7V
• Power, Logging GPS with a Bluetooth connection: ~118mA at 3.7V
• Maximum Velocity: 1000 knots
• Maximum Altitude: 60,000 feet
• Battery Life: 8 hours (charge up to 500 times)
• Operating Temperature Range: –20° Celsius to + 60° Celsius
• Supports SBAS (WAAS / EGNOS / MTSAT.)
• Blue Logger weight (without battery): 1.7 ounces (47 grams)

Here is what is in the box with a retail purchase:

• Earthmate Blue Logger GPS with 3.7V Li-ion battery
• DeLorme Blue Logger Manager software
• Mobile charger
• A/C charger
• Charging cradle
• Carrying case 

In conclusion: I am happy with its startup time and position acquisition time.  It has a battery life of 8 hours, has a 12 channel receiver, and is NMEA compliant.  It does the job and works as a receiver from this brand type should function.

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Geotagging Made Easy: PhotoTrackr Mini Integrated GPS Solution

28 October, 2009 15:08

GiSTEQ has released the PhotoTrackr DPL900, a Geotagging device that syncs to any model camera simplifying the process of adding location aware EXIF data to your pictures, including Mac and RAW file formats.  PhotoTrackr also includes the ability to record routes.

Photo tagging is automatic using its included software.  The software has integrated Google Maps for the visual location interface.  Along with the ability to view the location of each picture you have taken, the device is able to export NMEA and GPX logs for your photos and bread crumb tracks.  You also have the capability of exporting and using the GPX logs in Google Earth.

The Geotagging software integrates with Flickr, locr, Picasa Web Albums, and other 3rd party Geo-Photo sharing websites.  EXIF data is automatically inserted into your trip photos and allows you to view a slide show of your photographic albums in the internal software, the mentioned integrated platforms, or your alternative photo organization software.

Here are the GPS device specifications:

• Battery Life: Operation Time: 17 hours in continuous mode
• 65 channels satellite tracking
• Cold/Warm/Hot start time: 29/10/1 seconds (on average)
• GPS Chipset: Skytraq
• DATUM: WGS84 (user definable)
• SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS) support
• Superior sensitivity: -160dBm tracking
• Update Rate: 1 Hz
• Support standard NMEA-0183 at 38400 bps baud rate
• 2MB flash memory for data logging, with 16 bytes binary data per record that stores up to 250K
• Logging data interval programmable: by time (1 second ~ 30 mins) or distance (2 ~ 65535 meters)
• Data tag (start, stop) can be set by user, maximum 250 sections
• Support G-mouse function via USB
• Dimension: 3.05 (L) x 1.10 (W) x 0.70 (H) inch
• Weight: 0.53oz including battery
• Accuracy:
  • Position: <3m 2d-RMS; DGPS: 2.5m
  • Velocity: 0.1m/sec
  • Acceleration: 0.1m/s2; DGPS: 0.05m/s2
• Frequency: L1, 1575.42MHz
• C/A Code: 1.023MHz chip rate
• Antenna (internal): Built-in low noise patch antenna
• Input Current < 26mA

Pre-orders are available for the cost of $69.00 and are set to be available sometime in November.

[GiSTEQ Corp. PhotoTrackr]

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The Ultimate Geocaching Writing Tool

07 September, 2009 19:32

I am always listening to stories of a long trek in the woods to only find the cache while not being able to sign the log because your pen is malfunctioning, the log book is wet, or the writing tool broke.  My solution and suggested purchase investement is the Zebra F-301 Ultra.

Product Description: Soft rubber Zebra grip provides the ultimate in writing comfort. Water-resistant ink won`t smear or bleed, keeping your documents safe. - [source]

Do not mix up the Zebra series of this pen.  Their is a Zebra F-301, which is not ultra, in which I have found will break in your pocket within two or three Geocache hunts.  The ultra is completely metal and will withstand the strain of a climb up a tree.

As the product description describes, it is water resistant, it will not smear or bleed making it an easy task to sign that damp or wet log book.  Be cautious though, their are several replacement ink cartridges, most of them generic and cheap, that will turn this utencil into the standard standby mistaken bank pen grab.

You will not believe what I am about to point out in regards to this gem.  I purchased the Zebra Ultra in 2002 on my first day of starting college.  It has been with me in every class and has traveled the united states since.  How can this be, college and beyond?  I am amazed myself, and a friend of this pen.

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Garmin GPS - Source Code & Platform

04 August, 2009 10:06

moved from http://myspew.com/

Garmin, one of the big players in GPS (global positioning system) devices and applications has released the Linux source code for their Nuvi 8xx and Nuvi 5xxx-series devices.

The source code hints that the Linux version of these Garmin series devices is linux-2.6.17.7 and are configured to use 64MB of ram.

Here is a full list of libraries, applications and dependencies for the released source:

BSD: fontconfig-2.4.2 libogg-1.1 libpcap-0.9.3 libtheora-0.9+1.0alpha7 libvorbis-1.0.1 speex-1.1.7 tremor-20041119 BSD+GPL: flac-1.2.1 ppp-2.4.3 BSD-X: libfontenc-1.0.4 libxcalibrate-0.0+git20070607 libxcursor-1.1.8 libxfixes-4.0.3 libxfont-1.2.8 libxrandr-1.2.1 libxrender-0.9.2 libxsettings-client-0.10 xrandr-1.2.0 BSL: boost-1.33.1 bzip2: bzip2-1.0.2 freetype: freetype-2.1.10 GPL: alsa-lib-1.0.14 alsa-plugins-1.0.13 alsa-utils-1.0.14 apmd-3.2.2 base-files-3.0.14 base-passwd-3.5.9 blob-1.13-daisy-2.80 bluez-libs-3.4 bluez-utils-3.4 busybox-1.01 dbus-1.1.2+cvs20070620 dbus-glib-0.74 dpkg-1.13.24 gcc-cross-4.1.2 gconf-dbus-2.10.0+svn20061219 gdbm-1.8.3 gnome-common-2.4.0 gnome-mime-data-2.4.2 gnome-vfs-2.16.3 gnupg-1.4.2.2 initscripts-1.0 ipkg-0.99.154 ipkg-link-1.6+cvs20050404 kexec-tools-1.101 libid3tag-0.15.1b libmatchbox-1.9 libtool-1.5.24 libxkbfile-1.0.4 libxv-1.0.3 linux-daisy-2.6.17.7-daisy-2.80 linux-libc-headers-2.6.20 lzo-1.08 makedevs-1.0.0 matchbox-wm-1.2+svn20070417 module-init-tools-3.2.2 netbase-4.21 prelink-20061027 psplash-0.0+svn20070529 readline-4.3 settings-daemon-0.0+svn20070728 shared-mime-info-0.16 sysfsutils-2.0.0 sysvinit-2.86 tinylogin-1.4 udev-103 update-alternatives-cworth-0.99.154 update-modules-1.0 update-rc.d-0.7 wireless-tools-29 wpa-supplicant-0.6.3 xserver-kdrive-common-0.1 xserver-nodm-init-1.0 GPL+LGPL: foinse-tag-indexer-0.0.9 libgcrypt-1.2.3 libgpg-error-1.0 libsigc++-2.0-2.0.6 jpeg: jpeg-6b LGPL: atk-1.10.3 foinse-0.23.84 foinse-theme-0.5.96 garmin-audio-service-0.7.23 gconfmm-2.14.1 geoclue-0.9 glib-2.0-2.12.11 glibc-2.5 glibmm-2.12.10 gnutls-1.6.3 gst-plugins-bad-0.10.5 gst-plugins-base-0.10.14 gst-plugins-good-0.10.6 gst-pulse-0.9.4 gstreamer-0.10.14 gtk+-2.10.12 gtk-doc-1.0 gtkmm-2.10.10 libexif-0.6.16 libsdl-image-1.2.3 libsdl-mixer-1.2.6 libsdl-ttf-2.0.3 libsdl-x11-1.2.9 libsndfile1-1.0.16 pango-1.16.4 pulseaudio-0.9.5.17 qt-automake-0.0.20 speechrec-0.9.2 startup-notification-0.8 texttospeech-0.7.2 tslib-1.0 LGPL+MPL: cairo-1.4.8 cairomm-1.2.4 libpng: libpng-1.2.26 MIT: beecrypt-3.1.0 curl-7.16.2 dropbear-0.49 expat-2.0.0 ipkg-collateral-1.0 libatomics-ops-1.2 libxml2-2.6.26 modutils-collateral-1.0 ncurses-5.4 popt-1.7 xdpyinfo-1.0.2 xmodmap-1.0.2 xserver-kdrive-1.3.0.0 MIT-X: bigreqsproto-1.0.2 calibrateproto-0.0+git20070607 compositeproto-0.3.1 damageproto-1.1.0 diet-x11-1.1.1 dmxproto-2.2.2 fixesproto-4.0 fontcacheproto-0.1.2 fontsproto-2.0.2 inputproto-1.4.1 kbproto-1.0.3 libdmx-1.0.2 libice-1.0.3 libsm-1.0.2 libxau-1.0.3 libxdmcp-1.0.2 libxext-1.0.3 libxft-2.1.12 libxi-1.1.0 libxinerama-1.0.2 libxmu-1.0.3 libxp-1.0.0 libxt-1.0.5 libxtst-1.0.1 libxxf86dga-1.0.1 libxxf86misc-1.0.1 libxxf86vm-1.0.1 printproto-1.0.3 randrproto-1.2.1 recordproto-1.13.2 renderproto-0.9.2 resourceproto-1.0.2 scrnsaverproto-1.1.0 util-macros-1.1.5 videoproto-2.2.2 xcmiscproto-1.1.2 xextproto-7.0.2 xf86bigfontproto-1.1.2 xf86dgaproto-2.0.2 xf86miscproto-0.9.2 xf86vidmodeproto-2.2.2 xineramaproto-1.1.2 xinit-1.0.3 xproto-7.0.10 xtrans-1.0.3 openssl: openssl-0.9.7g OSL: elfutils-0.108 PD: modutils-initscripts-1.0 sqlite3-3.3.7 various: liboil-0.3.9 xrdb: xrdb-1.0.3 zlib: zlib-1.2.3

According to a blog by Henri Bergius, Gnome mobile (GMAE) might be its desktop environment. This includes C, C++, API's for features such as bluetooth, and other subsets of GMAE, and a standard Gnome GTK graphical toolkit.

nuvi8xx-v2.xx-sources/
|
+-- GPL/
|    |
|    +-- linux-daisy-2.6.17.7-daisy-2.xx
|         |
|         +-- linux-daisy-2.6.17.7-daisy-2.xx.orig.tar.bz2
|         +-- linux-daisy-2.6.17.7-daisy-2.xx.diff.tar.bz2
|
+-- LGPL/
|    |
.    .
.    .
.    .

The source code is available here:

http://developer.garmin.com/linux/ 

• nüvi 8xx Series
• nüvi 5xxx Series

For example, the Nuvi 800 has a base set of these operating system applications and environments:

• gnome 2.4.0
• gnome-vfs-2.16.3
• xserver-kdrive-common-0.1
• busybox-1.01
• tinylogin-1.4
• alsa
• blueZ
• matchbox window manager
• geoclue-0.9

---

I use Trimble's Outdoors Platinum Java application for Geocaching and outback hiking and camping which is available for various cell phones.

Here are some features of this edition of this GPS navigation system:

• plan routes and trips using nationwide high resolution (1:24,000) topographic, aerial, or street maps
• create your own trips by modifying trips posted by other outdoor enthusiasts on trimbleoutdoors.com
• add notes and pictures to your trip from your PC or digital camera
• share trips with friends and family online
• use your cell phone as a recreational GPS receiver
• navigate with a digital compass
• display speed, heading, altitude and latitude/longitude coordinate readout
• track your route with scale information for creating a bread crumb trail
• mark waypoints and navigate to waypoints
• input notes and pictures into your trips from your PC and digital camera
• wirelessly download trips, routes and waypoints to your cell phone

AND the platinum version includes these extra capabilities:

• enjoy all the features and benefits of Trimble Outdoors Gold, plus
• wirelessly download topographic, aerial and street maps to your phone (see the list of supported phones here)
• wirelessly insert notes into trip from your cell phone
• wirelessly insert pictures into trips from your cell phone (requires the use of a camera phone)

Resources used:

1. http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8827997755.html
2. http://developer.garmin.com/linux/
3. http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/AboutGoldPlatinum.aspx

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