Comments on: GPS Analysis for Orienteering: All the Basics! http://o-training.net/blog/2011/04/13/gps-analysis-for-orienteering-the-basics/ Your Orienteering Technical Training Resource Sun, 06 Apr 2014 11:34:37 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: Jan http://o-training.net/blog/2011/04/13/gps-analysis-for-orienteering-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Jan Thu, 19 May 2011 08:29:29 +0000 http://o-training.net/blog/?p=302#comment-61 @Martin: The password for 3DRerun is removed at times to make testing/development easier. Still not 100% open, but getting closer:) @Martin: The password for 3DRerun is removed at times to make testing/development easier. Still not 100% open, but getting closer:)

]]> By: Martin L. http://o-training.net/blog/2011/04/13/gps-analysis-for-orienteering-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Martin L. Mon, 16 May 2011 09:42:25 +0000 http://o-training.net/blog/?p=302#comment-60 > A tip to Step3: If you got the georeferenced map on OCAD10 export it as a .kmz to import it to QR. That way the Map is georeferenced already and you will have to only little/no route adjustments. A second benefit of doing so is that you also will get a perfectly referenced map in 3DRerun. > Software: It seems 3dRerun is open now? > A tip to Step3: If you got the georeferenced map on OCAD10 export it as a .kmz to import it to QR. That way the Map is georeferenced already and you will have to only little/no route adjustments.
A second benefit of doing so is that you also will get a perfectly referenced map in 3DRerun.

> Software: It seems 3dRerun is open now?

]]> By: Terje Mathisen http://o-training.net/blog/2011/04/13/gps-analysis-for-orienteering-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Terje Mathisen Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:17:43 +0000 http://o-training.net/blog/?p=302#comment-49 When skiing there is very little (leaf) canopy, so GPS reception is always close to perfect anyway. I used the same setup for some very cold races in the Ås By Night & Fog Cup this winter, and I didn't really notice any degradation in tracking accuracy. When skiing there is very little (leaf) canopy, so GPS reception is always close to perfect anyway.

I used the same setup for some very cold races in the Ås By Night & Fog Cup this winter, and I didn’t really notice any degradation in tracking accuracy.

]]> By: Jan Kocbach http://o-training.net/blog/2011/04/13/gps-analysis-for-orienteering-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Jan Kocbach Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:08:04 +0000 http://o-training.net/blog/?p=302#comment-48 @Terje: Thanks a lot for some history. I've also used GPS for many years, and have the same experience as you have with accuracy. Regarding the 405 and your underarm - I'd guess it should give you a bit poorer reception that way due to the alignment of the antennae? @Terje: Thanks a lot for some history. I’ve also used GPS for many years, and have the same experience as you have with accuracy. Regarding the 405 and your underarm – I’d guess it should give you a bit poorer reception that way due to the alignment of the antennae?

]]> By: Terje Mathisen http://o-training.net/blog/2011/04/13/gps-analysis-for-orienteering-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Terje Mathisen Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:57:08 +0000 http://o-training.net/blog/?p=302#comment-47 I started to use GPS for orienteering analysis more than 10 years ago, at that time the only option was to use a regular Garmin GPS which I carried in my night-O battery harness. Since this unit used a second-generation GPS engine, the accuracy was pretty horrible in the forest, particularly underneath a wet canopy. The big breakthrough was the introduction of the SirfSTAR III chipset which is currently used by lots of vendors, including (nearly?) all Garmin GPS watches. The first GPS units with this chipset allowed me to get pretty accurate tracks starting in 2006. Since cell phones in the US will require (nearly) GPS-quality location service for emergency calls there has been a lot of research into really small, low-weight and low-power, gps chips, among them MTK. I have now used a 405 for a couple of years and I'm extremely satisfied with Garmin's service: When the watch strap attachment broke on my first run, Garmin sent me a complete new unit, and after a year when the battery started to act up, they replaced the watch once more. The problem with this unit, as Jan writes above, is the touch bezel and the buttons: Particularly in cold weather when I have to wear gloves it is far too easy for the edge of the glove to press against one of the buttons, stopping the track. I have replaced the standard plastic strap with Garmin's soft strap kit (about 200 NOK?), this consists of two complete straps, one standard size and one short for women or those with very thin wrists. I've found that you I use the short strap to extend the standard strap, making it possible to wear the watch on my underarm outside heavy skiing gear, i.e. like I did for the Ski-O race this winter. I started to use GPS for orienteering analysis more than 10 years ago, at that time the only option was to use a regular Garmin GPS which I carried in my night-O battery harness.

Since this unit used a second-generation GPS engine, the accuracy was pretty horrible in the forest, particularly underneath a wet canopy.

The big breakthrough was the introduction of the SirfSTAR III chipset which is currently used by lots of vendors, including (nearly?) all Garmin GPS watches. The first GPS units with this chipset allowed me to get pretty accurate tracks starting in 2006.

Since cell phones in the US will require (nearly) GPS-quality location service for emergency calls there has been a lot of research into really small, low-weight and low-power, gps chips, among them MTK.

I have now used a 405 for a couple of years and I’m extremely satisfied with Garmin’s service: When the watch strap attachment broke on my first run, Garmin sent me a complete new unit, and after a year when the battery started to act up, they replaced the watch once more.

The problem with this unit, as Jan writes above, is the touch bezel and the buttons: Particularly in cold weather when I have to wear gloves it is far too easy for the edge of the glove to press against one of the buttons, stopping the track.

I have replaced the standard plastic strap with Garmin’s soft strap kit (about 200 NOK?), this consists of two complete straps, one standard size and one short for women or those with very thin wrists.

I’ve found that you I use the short strap to extend the standard strap, making it possible to wear the watch on my underarm outside heavy skiing gear, i.e. like I did for the Ski-O race this winter.

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