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GPS Data Logger

I’m now officially in the market for a GPS data logger. Ideally, it will have the following attributes:

  • Linux Compatible (a strict requirement)
  • NMEA or some other standard log format (I don’t want to have to convert log formats extensively)
  • Rechargeable AA battery Powered (I don’t want to be limited by batteries or charging cycles)
  • ~48 hours battery life (I don’t want to run out. Ideally this would be 2xAA)
  • WAAS capable (I value precision)
  • 200,000+ point storage (bonus points if it logs to an SD card of some sort)
  • Bluetooth (Ideally, it would sync with my laptop any time it got close)
  • Realtime nav capability (sync with the comp and access the data directly for mapping purposes)
  • Not too huge or too much of an eyesore (this is lower priority)

It does not need a display of any sort (beyond LED indicators for things like power state, battery life, and remaining storage). I don’t really care what software comes with it, as I’ll be using it mainly with Linux anyway.

When I actually acquire this device, ideally I’ll be able to set it to log every 5 seconds and automatically sync via bluetooth with my laptop when they are within range. It’ll log all the time, and I’ll carry it with me everywhere. Then I can create a site to upload the logs. Once they’re on the web, interesting things can be done:

  • Create a Google Maps application (using the Google App Engine of course) to interactively view where I’ve been (yeah, who would want to do that? but it’s still cool…)
  • Link them with photos (geotagging is a common use for these devices)
  • Link to Google Calendar events (even localize calendar events after the fact, or prod you if you don’t go to class)

In essence, I could create a searchable log of what I’ve been up to. It would be an interesting experiment, particularly depending on how much of the data was made public. One could even go so far as to allow the site to grab chat logs when logged in and browsing on a timeline, and (privately) integrate phone calls. If anyone else felt the crazy urge to do the same silly thing, you could correlate data with other participants.

Maybe in a year or two when the Neo1973 is ready for primetime, I’ll replace the data logger with that, and be able to upload realtime tracking information, but until then, this should be a good interim solution.

Below are some comparison tables and sites I’ve been looking at:

Update: None of the commercial offerings seem to be quite what I’m looking for. I may end up building my own. These two things seem pretty close to what I want:

I’ll try and put in another post later with more details about that, as it’s a fairly complete project in and of itself.

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