[OSM-talk-be] Again some basic question + interest poll mapping party Turnhout

[Peter Leemans]

Hi Chris,

Chris Van Bael wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> thanks for the reply, but unfortunately this device seems to be out of
> order with them until July 25th.
> And I haven't found any other sellers.
> Also I would like the bluetooth version, but seems again a bit more expensive.
> 
> I've also read several favorable reviews of Qstarz BT-Q1000P Platinum.
> Seems to be readily available at www.gpsshop.be for 111 euros.
> Has anybody any experiences with it?
> It allows for custom POI and geotagging of photos.
> 
> Reviews of the Qstarz:
> http://scilib.typepad.com/techreviews/2007/11/qstarz-bt-q-100.html
> http://www.pocketinfo.nl/reviews/navigatie/10228/review-qstarz-bt-q1000p-travel-recorder.html
> 

the Qstarz is probably the same device as the on I'm using for more then 
a year now: the iBlue 747. See also 
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/GPS_Reviews . The 
http://sourceforge.net/projects/bt747 project seams to confirm this.

I'm very happy with the device. It's small, chargeable via USB.
For offloading the tracks you need special software (inlcuded).
Important as I'm a linux user: it works with GPSBabel and the original 
software works in wine. The need for special software is a disadvantage 
because you always need it (and portable) at for example a mapping party.

The proposed model of Mark is easier in that respect, you just need an 
USB cable of SD reader. And somebody elses computer ;-).

The BT747 proved to be very accurate for me (even comparable with my 
eTrex Vista I recently boucht). I put the interval time on 1 second. In 
the car I simply switch in on and put it on the dashboard. Longest track 
has been from Nijlen to Bibione (Italie), interval 1 second, memory 
filled for about 74%.
By bike I put it under a mapcover on a little bag attached on the front 
of the bike. I'm not sure it's waterproof (Actually pretty sure it's not).
It's rather sturdy, mine has fallen on the concrete, lost the small 
plastic switch to switch it on. With a dremel I made the hole a bit 
bigger to reach to the internal switch. Works perfect.

For walking my traces where not clear, just jumping left and right. But 
I've seen an post from a couple of days ago explaining the interval time 
of 1 second is to short for walking. May have to test a longer interval, 
but I hardly map while walking.

In short, I paid mine 55 Euro on eBay and it proved to be a very good 
investment.

I'm also interested in helping organising a mapping party in Turnhout. 
Jo already mentioned I'm not living far away (Nijlen, between Lier en 
Herentals). The problem is time. My youngest kid does triatlon, and this 
means spending a day every weekend driving through belgium (nice for the 
map) to the contests.

I think you better just pick a day, post it on the mailing list first to 
get some reactions/discutions. Then find a location, a taverne or 
something is best (solvest the food problem at noon). Best with wireless 
internet access. Your place is also fine, but thats up to you. Even if 
you are only with a couple of people you can learn from eachother how to 
map. If I can make myself free, I will be there.

Sorry for the long post.

Regards,
Peter