How Do I Get To Show Up On The Map?

[TwoTruckers]

In case you were wondering how it is that a number of GeoTrucker members show up on the map, (see link below, or look to the right and click on Where are we now?) here's how we do it. Not needed to be done in this order.

http://geotruckers.com/index.php?pid=7

Step 1. If you want near real time tracking you need to have some sort of mobile internet access (cell modem)  and a laptop with GPSr running all the time.

Step 2, You will need to create a free membership on GPSGate.com.

Step 3. You'll need to register yourself a copy of GPS Gate. It is quite a useful tool as it will take one GPSr and allow you to use it in as many applications as you need simultaneously.

Step 4. In GPS Gate create an output to online.gpsgate.com with your user name

Step 5. Request a membership to the GeoTruckers group on there.

That's it, it's pretty much that simple. As long as your GPSr and Cell modem has a signal you're in business. There are some folks that manually update their position by logging in on their GPSGate account and updating their location in the preferences tab. This might be an option for you at first if you don't have a copy of GPS Gate or a cell modem.

Hope this helps.

DJ

[Grumpster]

If you have a Windows Mobile smart phone with built in GPS or a bluetooth receiver, you can also use your PDA phone without the need for a laptop. This can be great when your out in the field.

There is also a Java version for use in regular phones that can be paired to a bluetooth GPS receiver. This version is free.

All of the software is available on their site and offers a free trial period that allows you to make sure it'll work before plunking down your money on it.

[truckdweller]

I notice in places like the great bllack hole also known as Kansas, my Verizon phone is in "extened network" almost all the way across I-70. When in this type of network only the voice phone works... photo's can't be sent or recieved until in a digital area. Do the different types of networks have an effect on using the internet portion of the phone in this kind of area?

I still can't see paying for a wireless card for the laptop, especially since they don't have unlimited usage anymore, but I may have to change my phone plan.  Are you using two phones, one to stay connected & another just to have for calls & such?

[Grumpster]

It depends on the carrier. I know that AT&T and Sprint have data available when roaming in many areas. Sprint has much better data coverage than any other carrier and the voice coverage is pretty good. Sprint also has some pretty roaming coverage for data, but you have to be careful about how much data you use when roaming if your using a data card. Some carriers don't have a roam agreement that includes data so that might be the issue for you in some areas. Some carrier specific services may only be available when on your carriers towers.

[Riverwolf]

Well, I went through and did these steps and then it happened.

CRASH!

Again and again.  The BSOD happened to me multiple times I tried to do something with the GPSGate program.  I finally had to uninstall it in Safe Mode to be able to use my computer system again.

I wonder if there are other type of programs like this out there that would do the same thing.

[truckdweller]

Hey, I've been pushed back to page two..... what the heck! I'm going to have to change my user name to AAA-truckdweller.

[Grumpster]

Hey, I've been pushed back to page two..... what the heck! I'm going to have to change my user name to AAA-truckdweller.

Your only one page away, from the end that is. 

[Jakesdiner]

Nearing the end of my contract, and on the road now I really need to upgrade my phone. Not to hijack this thread, what phones are you using that work with this app.?  Is it a load and forget it, will update the map constantly? I have been logging on every time I stop. Would rather have it automatic so I don't have to mess with it. My current phone (an old Razor) is ready for retirement.

[Trucker Lee]

Please,  give us some input here.  I too am going to update phone to get GPS and Bluetooth,   and would be interested in which devices seem to work best.    I am currently leaning toward a Blackberry. 

[Grumpster]

What phone you choose will depend largely on who your carrier is. Personally I'd go with Sprint for both trucking and data use. You'll need the data for GPS gate, email, misc web browsing, and a ton of stuff you don't even think of till you have it available. Once you do you won't be able to live without it.

I'm not really a big fan of the Blackberrys mostly because of the availability of software. Also, only one of the Blackberrys actually have a touch screen. All of the others rely on a bunch of clicking on buttons and the mouse wheel. I don't know about you, but I like my touch screen. It's the hand held version of a mouse. No click, NO GO!!!! 

I'm looking at switching carriers my self simply because ATT's data sucks and is way too expensive and nickle and dime on a multi phone plan. ATT doesn't have a multi-line data plan worth a crap. I'll be going to Sprint, getting the family share plan and a set of HTC Touch pros. They also have the Touch if you don't want the slide out keyboard. Personally, I like that feature and think the $50.00 extra is worth it. If your attached to the Treo style of phone then the Treo 800w is also a excelent choice. Both the Touch Pro and the Treo 800w use the Windows Mobile 6.1 OS. Both have gotten excelent reviews on about every site I've looked at. The diffrence between the two is mostly preference between the style of phone. I like the PDA style, others like the Treo style.

 The 800w is the only Treo style phone that actually has GPS. If your looking at Verizon (YUK!) then the Treo Pro is the same thing as the 800w in a GSM version. I'd stick with sprint and either the 800w or the Touch Pro though. From what I've heard, Verizon was blocking the GPS capability on their phones through firmware even though the chip is built into the phone. I don't know if that's still true or not, but I haven't heard anything otherwise lately.

The new Treo WEB also has GPS but I'd avoid that one for now. It doesn't have a regular Palm OS. It uses a totally new OS and that is the first phone to use it. Not much software available for it and it's too new to be proven yet. None of the Palm OS phones have GPS ability built in and last I heard, there are no future plans to do so. Palm is putting all their resources into the new WEB OS, replacing the old Palm OS,  and MS Mobile 6.x OS phones. For that reason I'd not even look at a Palm based OS and I'd go with a Windows Mobile 6.x device.

[Trucker Lee]

My last few attempts to access the Buddy Tracker page have been unsuccessful,  taking me to a completely redone Franzen webpage.   I guess the free use is out now and Buddy Tracker is no more.

[Grumpster]

I checked the "Where are we now" link on the left side of the page and it seems to work for me. Is that the link your talking about or something else?

[Trucker Lee]

No.    I had a browser bookmark link that I was using.    Will try the one to left now.  Thanks.



edit,  in that I was manually moving my marker,   I need to get to the Buddy Tracker page.   Will go look again.  


OK,   found it by running Google search.   The page I was using was redone,  and log-in is tiny in the top right corner.    But,   I got there.   Marker updated after several months.   Won't move for a week,   I am going home now and will be working for Trucker Buddy at the GATS show next few days.     Later.