GARPSI V2.4e - Psion shareware

Aim

GARPSI allows you to transfer GARMIN GPS data onto your PSION
and to convert them in DBF format. Position data transmitted or
received by the GPS are in WGS 84 map datum. So, GARPSI allows
you to edit them in any map datum supported by the GARMIN GPS.
GARPSI was tested with a PSION 3c or a PSION 3a emulator and a
GARMIN 45. It may work with 38, 40 and II models. It don't work with
a GARMIN 90.


Installation

The different files must be saved on the same logical unit X
( A or B or M ) in the following way :
X:\APP\GARPS24e.OPA
X:\APP\GARPSI\MODELe.RBF
X:\APP\GARPSI\MODELe.TBF
X:\APP\GARPSI\MODELe.WBF
X:\APP\GARPSI\SYSTEMS.ODB
X:\APP\ROUTES.ALS
X:\APP\GARPSI\GARPSI1e.RSC
X:\APP\GARPSI\GARPSI2e.RSC
X:\APP\GARPSI\GARPSI3e.RSC
X:\APP\GARPSI\GARPSI.PIC
The five latest files are optional. They are the alias used to edit
routes files in DBF format, help files and introduction screen.
Install GARPS24e.OPA and ROUTES.ALS [Psion]+[I] in the
usual way. At the first use, GARPSI opens a new subdirectory
" Y:\GARPSI\ " on the unit Y specified by the user. This unit must
be the internal memory or a RAM SSD in preference to a Flash SSD.
This subdirectory contains the data files and the preferences
files GARPSI.INI.
WARNING ! Erasing this file needs to register again the code if your
are a registered user.


Updating

Replace old files by new files. Keep only files in "Y:\GARPSI\" folder

Registration

GARPSI is a shareware program. Without registration you can't
transmit files to the GPS. Registration allows you to benefit
updating free of charge.
To register on line use http://www.regsoft.com/ in EPOC page
Payment: $30 by international credit card or check on US bank
You also must complete and send me
LICENCEe.TXT with payment to be registered. I'll send your code by
return of post (and email if you have it).
Payment: 15OFF or UKP15 or DM50 or $30 on a french bank or by
Eurocheque or cash.
While the shareware is'nt registered, registration screen appears
when it starts up.


Preferences

At the first use and by the "Setup" menu option, you can fix your
preferences :
- the UTC time offset ( O in UK in winter) ,
- the map datum (to have the same position on the GPS and the
PSION needs to have the same map datum),
- the position format.
Only degrees are used with different subdivisions because other
UTM and British grid are unknown to me. But I can add them if you
explain me the directions for use !


GPS link

With a PC
I made up the DB9 male end to the GARMIN lead. The wires are :
white ( data in )  - pin 2
brown ( data out ) - pin 3
black ( ground ) - pin 5
red ( external power ) - not needed
Pins are numbered from the right to the left and from top to
bottoms when you look at the soldering pins.
After then you can connect the GARMIN lead to the PSION serial link.

With a Mac
miniDIN 8 map
  X  X  X    6
X  O  X  X 3
  X  X  X    1
Pins are numbered from the right to the left and from bottoms to
the top (O is the plastic stud). The wires are :
white ( data in )  - pin 5
brown ( data out ) - pin 3
black ( ground ) - pin 4
red ( external power ) - not needed

WARNING ! Don't connect your GPS unit to a RS232 port because it
delivers +25V to -25V signal. You can destroy your GPS !


Position data entering

You have to use degrees but use of character "  " or " ' " isn't
necessary. The software gives conventionally a negative value to
the southern latitudes and western longitudes. So, " - " or " s " or
" w " (upper or lower case) like first character  will give a minus
sign to the entering data . Then this one will be read like a southern
latitude or western longitude according to the field. After then a
point will be read like a decimal point and any other not numeric
character like a subdivision change (from degrees to minutes or
from minutes to seconds).
Example: if you use " dddmm.mmm " format, " 45.5 ", "n51-25.3 ",
" w2/8/5 ", " -56 15 90 "will be read like " N4530.000' ",
" N5125.300' ", " N0208.083' ", " S5616.500' "in a latitude field
and " E04530.000' ", " E05125.300' ", "W00208.083' ",
" W05616.500' "in a longitude field.


GPS data saving and restoring

The frames transmitted by the GPS are saved without reduction in
files with a " ALM " or " ROU " or " TRA " or " WAY " extension
corresponding to satellite almanac, routes, track log and waypoints.
 Before return to the GPS, data must  be formated in this way.


Data reducing to DBF format

Frames received from the GPS can be reduced to DBF format except
the almanac. Almanac reducing isn't interesting. Yet, its saving
could avoid a long and dull "cold start" of GPS if the battery fails.
Reduced data are stored in files with " RBF ", " TBF ", " WBF "
extensions. There are built from models in " X:\APP\GARPSI\ "
subdirectory. You can modify their labels but not their structures.
Before return to the GPS, DBF files must be converted in data
frames in " ROU ", " TRA " or" WAY " files.


File edition

You can edit routes files with " ROUTES.ALS ". Indeed, these files
don't need GARPSI because they don't contain position data.
Waypoints and track log files needs " File edition" option of GARPSI.
You can create a new file in this way. This option shows position
data in selected Map datum and position format. You also can
transmit the current data to the GPS unit, search a point by
characters chain and sort waypoints by increasing distances from
the current waypoint.
"file Split" allows you to save a part of a file in an other file.
So you only select  the closest waypoints.


Other facilities

Psion clock setup must be used with care. It is always 1 s to 10 s
late and I didn't find the reason.
"add Waypoints" option allows you to add waypoints directly onto
your GPS in a more convenient way. You can enter the current
position automatically like the "Mark" button on your GPS or any
other position. Note that these waypoints aren't saved on your
PSION.


Updating history

Version 2.4e - 11/11/1998
Author's URL and email, payment facility and free using period changed
Geodetic system choice dialog, messages dialog and help files changing

Version 2.2e - 1/28/98
File edition: new searching option, new sorting option and possible
transmission to the GPS unit
Help on line added
Transmission from GPS to Psion speed improved
Beeps added
Introduction modified
160 geodetic systems available
Example file added
"ROUTE.ALS" icon modified

Version 1.0e - 5/1/97
first english version


Acknowledgements

Thanks to Jonathan Duff, PSIGAR author. His program is avalaible
on http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Jon_Duff/
homepage.htm
It incites me to work out a more universal program. Indeed, PSIGAR
seems suitable to walkers because it gives a great place to their
curious Map datum ! I choosed the same principle to obtain DBF files
in two steps. That allows to have speedy transmission between the
GPS and the PSION.
Thanks to William Soley. He wrote a GARMIN/GARMIN protocol
document available on http://playground.sun.com/pub/soley/
garmin.txt


Author

J.L.HOCHART
9ter rue Gambetta
50130 OCTEVILLE FRANCE
Phone: (33) 2 33  93 53 34
email: molpetrus@geocities.com
URL: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugout/7981/