The real-time GPS interface toolkit for Windows developers! These libraries are behind our popular Geographic Tracker that ships in every copy of MapInfo Professional. They will enable your application to communicate with GeoTrack via a DLL. Embed GPS properties in your application today!

GeoTrack allows your Windows application to interact with a GPS receiver through a standard serial or USB port. You can retrieve information directly from the GPS. You can process position, time, speed, heading, satellite positions, satellite signal strength, and dilution of precision information. GeoTrack currently supports Motorola Binary, NMEA 0183 2.0, Trimble TSIP, and Trimble TAIP protocols.

GeoTrack is available as a dynamic link library (DLL).

Easy to use GPS integration!

We have been using GeoTrack under the hood of the Geographic Tracker for years. Now you can add real-time GPS data into your app.

Features

An application communicates with GeoTrack via a DLL, included with a GeoTrack developer's license. Many development tools for Microsoft Windows can make use of GeoTrack, including Visual Basic, Visual C++, Delphi, and others.

How does GeoTrack work?

GeoTrack DLL

• Open communications with the GPS receiver.
• Poll the GPS receiver for messages.
• Process position, time, speed, heading, satellite positions, satellite signal strength, and dilution of precision information in GeoTrack defined callback functions.
• Retrieve precise timing information. The precise one pulse per second (1PPS) timing pulse of Motorola Oncore receivers is used for various time synchronization and frequency control applications. (Motorola only)

Easy to use GPS integration!

Use as much or as little of the GPS information as you need for your application. You're in control!

Details

GPS Receiver Support

• NMEA 0183
• Trimble TSIP
• Trimble TAIP
• Motorola Binary

• GGA - GPS fix data
• GLL - geographic position
• GSA - DOP and active satellites
• GSV - satellites in view
• RMA - recommended minimum specific Loran-C data
• RMC - recommended minimum specific GPS/Transit data
• STN - multiple data ID
• VTG - track made good and ground speed
• ZDA - time and date
• DPT - depth
• DBT - depth below transducer

• 0x41 - GPS time
• 0x42 - single precision XYZ
• 0x43 - velocity, XYZ
• 0x44 - satellite selection
• 0x45 - software version
• 0x46 - health
• 0x47 - signal levels
• 0x4A - single precision latitude/longitude/altitude
• 0x4B - additional status
• 0x56 - velocity east/north/up
• 0x5C - satellite tracking status
• 0x6D - all in view satellite selection
• 0x83 - double precision XYZ
• 0x84 - double precision latitude/longitude/altitude

• LN - position
• ST - status
• TM - time

• Aa - time of day
• Ab - GMT offset
• Ac - date
• Ad - latitude
• Ae - longitude
• As - position hold position
• At - position hold mode
• Aw - time mode
• Az - 1PPS cable delay
• Bj - leap second pending
• Cb - almanac data output
• Cf - set to defaults
• Ch - almanac data input
• Cj - receiver id
• Ea - position status
• Eo - integrated position
• Eq - ASCII position
• En - time RAIM status
• Fa - self test
• Sz - power on failure
• Ep - inverse differential output

• GeoTrack_Close
• GeoTrack_GetDefaultCommInfo
• GeoTrack_Open
• GeoTrack_Poll
• GeoTrack_RecordASCIIPositionData
• GeoTrack_RecordBinaryData
• GeoTrack_RecordPositionData
• GeoTrack_RecordTimingData
• GeoTrack_Request
• GeoTrack_Set1PPSCableDelay
• GeoTrack_SetAlmanacDataInput
• GeoTrack_SetAlmanacDataOutput
• GeoTrack_SetASCIIPositionDataRate
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_1PPSCableDelay
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_AlmanacDataInput
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_AlmanacDataOutput
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_ASCIIPositionData
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_Date
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_Depth
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_DOP
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_FixStatus
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_GMTOffset
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_GPSInfo
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_Heading
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_Height
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_HeightGGA
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_Latitude
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_LeapSecondPending
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_Longitude
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_MagVariation
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_NumSats
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_PositionHoldMode
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_PositionHoldPosition
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_PositionStatusData
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_PowerOnFailure
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_ReceiverID
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_SatsInView
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_SatsUsed
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_SelfTest
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_SetToDefaults
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_Speed
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_TalkerID
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_TimeMode
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_TimeOfDay
• GeoTrack_SetCallback_TimeRAIMSetupAndStatus
• GeoTrack_SetDate
• GeoTrack_SetGMTOffset
• GeoTrack_SetHeight
• GeoTrack_SetLatitude
• GeoTrack_SetLongitude
• GeoTrack_SetNMEASettings
• GeoTrack_SetOutputMessageFormat
• GeoTrack_SetPlaybackMode
• GeoTrack_SetPositionHoldMode
• GeoTrack_SetPositionHoldPosition
• GeoTrack_SetPositionStatusDataRate
• GeoTrack_SetTimeMode
• GeoTrack_SetTimeOfDay
• GeoTrack_SetTimeRAIMSetupAndStatus
• GeoTrack_SetTSIPSettings
• GeoTrack_StopRecordingASCIIPositionData
• GeoTrack_StopRecordingBinaryData
• GeoTrack_StopRecordingPositionData
• GeoTrack_StopRecordingTimingData

Who's Using GeoTrack

We have over 120,000 customers around the world, here are just a few:

• Nasa
• Ericcson
• Lucent
• The FAA
• The National Park Service
• Chevron - Texaco
• Boeing
• Shell
• Exxon-Mobil
• Thales Geosolutions
• Oracle
• British Geological Survey
• BP Amoco
• Harvard University
• Yale School of Architecture
• Yale University
• Princeton University
• Domino's Pizza

User Comments

Frequently asked Questions

Q: How does GeoTrack work? What is the sequence of events?

Q: What are NMEA settings files?

Q: I understand that GeoTrack can interact directly with a GPS device, but could it interact with a RADIO MODEM that carries the GPS data?

Q: What does NMEA and NMEA 0183 mean?

Q: Where is the OCX version of GeoTrack?

Q: How does GeoTrack work? What is the sequence of events?
A: Once you have opened communication between the GPS receiver and your application, GeoTrack will read the serial port, parse the GPS data, and send data to your application as events (OCX) or callbacks (DLL). Events or callbacks are fired in your application. You retrieve GPS information in these events or callbacks. You can implement whatever code you want in these event or callback procedures.

Q: What are NMEA settings files?
A: Many types of NMEA 0183 compliant GPS receivers can be custom configured if the user adjusts them with new configuration information. Typically, this adjustment is made to the unit via a text string, defined by the receiver manufacturer, that tells the unit what location information to transmit. To configure your NMEA 0183 compliant GPS receiver you should create a NMEA settings file containing configuration strings to be sent to the GPS receiver. NMEA settings files are simple ASCII text files that can be created with any text file editor.

Using GeoTrack DLL you call GeoTrack_SetNMEASettings function to specify the filename of your settings file. The GeoTrack_SetNMEASettings will upload the settings file to your receiver. An example of a NMEA settings file is "PASH.NSF" which configures the Ashtech Super CA receiver:

$PASHS,NME,ALL,A,OFF
$PASHS,RTC,OFF
$PASHS,NME,PER,1.0
$PASHS,NME,GGA,A,ON
$PASHS,NME,VTG,A,ON
$PASHS,NME,GSA,A,ON
$PASHS,NME,GSV,A,ON

For more information on NMEA commands please consult your receiver's "User's Guide" and the NMEA 0183 Standards. ( A copy of the NMEA standards can be purchased from the National Marine Electronics Association.

Q: I understand that GeoTrack can interact directly with a GPS device, but could it interact with a RADIO MODEM that carries the GPS data?
A: GeoTrack "opens" the serial port and places GPS data into a buffer as it is received. The buffer is searched for "known" command packets in the GPS message. After a command packet is found and processed the GeoTrack DLL fires a callback function with pertinent information, for example, latitude and longitude as double values in decimal degrees. The GeoTrack OCX fires an appropriate event.

Q: What does NMEA and NMEA 0183 mean?
A: NMEA, the National Marine Electronics Association, has established a standard (NMEA 0183) that defines how various electronic devices communicate, including GPS receivers. A copy of the NMEA 0183 standard can be purchased from the National Marine Electronics Association.

Q: Where is the OCX version of GeoTrack?
A: The installation for GeoTrack installs the DLL version of GeoTrack (bmgtrk32.dll) and the OCX version (GeoTrack.dll) into your C:\WINNT\System32\ directory.