This screen is mainly just notes to myself on what I am doing in the process of creating disks for the Satellite Navigation system. If anybody is interested in a set of disks if or when I get this finished send me an email letting me know the number of requests I get will probably decide on how much time I spend on this. The cost of the disks is unknown at the moment depends what it costs for the GDF data and how long it takes to figure it all out.
I have started to look at creating a set of CD's for the navigation system. I have started but have not progressed far at this stage, I would be thankful for any information on this if any body has tried this before.
I have loaded the CD's to a PC and I am planning on pulling the Navigation unit apart and disassemble the eprom to determine the file layouts hopefully it uses the same type of CPU as the TV Tuner or one that I can get doco for.
Do many people have the navigation option, and if so are they interested in getting it working or am I wasting my time?
Well I progressed a bit with this. I have been able to break the file down into the individual maps and the components within them. A few things still need to do are:
Need to source some Australian map data in GDF format (hopefully this is not expensive).
Need to work out the headers for the files and the links between maps and components.
Need to test that the system can read CDR disks.
Next step will be to write a PC program to read the data and display the maps this should check that
More to follow.
31-may-2000
I have tested that it can read CDR disks and it can, some early model CD-ROM drives can't.
I have worked out most of the map links and data layouts. Now I have to put it all together into a program to display the maps. Then write a program to create new disks not to far away I hope.
04-jun-2000
I have managed to read the file and display a map on the pc.
20-Jun-2000
Below are some sample images I have extracted from the system. They are for the same area at different levels of detail, there are also level 2, level 1 and level 0 maps each map show a larger area and less detail. The level 0 map being the map of Japan.
Still have not managed to find out about the availability or cost of the GDF data for Australia, but they are calling me back tomorrow.
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Level 3 map |
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Level 4 map |
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level 5 map |
03-Jul-2000
This project may be cancelled soon if I cannot find a cost effective way of obtaining the data for the CD's the latest quote was $14,500 for initial purchase and $10,000 for each licence. It would be a shame to cancel it now, but without the map data it is pointless going any further. The reason for the high cost is because the data is stored in vector format and most systems use raster format, maybe I have to come up with a way to convert the data from raster format to vector format. Although I do not know the legalities of doing this.
06-Jul-2000
For all the people that have enquired about this I am sorry but I doubt that this will ever be done. I am going to finish it and build a basic set of maps of my local area but that will be as far it goes. .
02-Oct-2000
Good news I have just found out that I should be able to get the for the GPS system for a reasonable cost. So this project is back on the desk. I will build a prototype very soon with any luck.
07-Aug-2002
The data for the disks is just not available, I have now purchased a vdo ms5000 navigation unit and wired this up to the existing screen, works well so this project is now officially cancelled.