 Can I try VITO SmartMap for free?
I have converted a vector map to the VTM format, loaded the map into SmartMap, and it's looking good indoors. But when the GPS receiver acquires the signal, the map escapes from the view! Is it a bug?
I have a vector map in MapInfo MIF (ESRI E00, DXF, TAB, etc.) format. Can I convert the map into an ESRI Shape file and process it with MapManager?
Where can I get free vector maps?
What is WGS'84 datum?
I calibrated the map, but the calibration errors is very large! What can I do?
What number of calibration points I need to calibrate the map?
Can I increase the quality of calibration using large number of points?
Is the calibration accuracy depends on placement of calibration points?
What GPS receivers are supported by the program?
I live in Italy. Where can I get a map of Italy?
What is MapManager and where can I get MapManager?
MapManager does not start on my PocketPC! Why is that?
How do I prepare a scanned map for SmartMap?
How do I prepare a map from Shape files for SmartMap?
Does the calibration accuracy depend on the placement of the calibration points?
Why my GPS receiver does not work with SmartMap?
I have tried to change the port number and the baud rate as it is suggested in FAQ 16. Still I can't make my GPS receiver work with the program. What else can I do?
I have scanned a map of a remote village and have calibrated it with MapManager. May be I entered coordinates with a mistake? Can I check the quality of calibration BEFORE I visit this village?
Can I try VITO SmartMap for free?
Yes. Download the trial version that works for 14 days without any limitations.
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I have converted a vector map to the VTM format, loaded the map into SmartMap, and it's looking good indoors. But when the GPS receiver acquires the signal, the map escapes from the view! Is it a bug?
Probably NOT. Your source for the map is not in geographic coordinates. ESRI Shape Files can contain coordinates in many units: meters, miles, degrees, and so on. You need a map with degrees of latitude and longitude, or a WGS 84 datum. If you know the name of the coordinate system of your source map, you can fix the problem using a converter (FAQ #2).
to the top I have a vector map in MapInfo MIF (ESRI E00, DXF, TAB, etc.) format. Can I convert the map into an ESRI Shape file and process it with MapManager?
You need a converter to perform the conversion. You may trySafe Software FME Suite for 14 days.
to the top Where can I get free vector maps?
Here are some URLs:
http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/ESRI E00 format, 1:1 000 000 scalehttp://www.geographynetwork.com/index.html a lot of different maps, aerial and space images. There are also thematic maps. Most maps are commercial, but there are some free maps.http://www.esri.com/data/download/index.html
ESRI Shape File format. A free world map.http://www.macon.de/en commercial maps in all popular formats. There are also some free maps.http://vitotechnology.com/ country maps in VTM format, ready for SmartMap.
to the topWhat is WGS'84 datum?
What is WGS 84 datum?
Unfortunately, different nations have their own concept about the figure and the size of the Earth. The majority assumes that the Earth is an ellipsoid. The difference is the length of its axes. A geodetic datum is a set of parameters of an ellipsoid. The followers of the WGS84 (they have launched the NAVSTAR project) assume that the equatorial radius of the Earth is equal to 6378 kilometers and 137 meters exactly, and the polar radius is 6356 kilometers, 752 meters, 31 centimeter, and 4.2 millimeters. A very detailed info about datums can be obtained fromhttp://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps_f.html
to the top I calibrated the map, but the calibration errors is very large! What can I do?
The main causes of excessive calibrations errors are: errors in calibration points coordinates. Where you gather these coordinates from? The most reliable source is SmartMap itself. You can measure coordinates using pushpins. If you used another GPS device, check the points are measured in WGS-84.mistakes during calibration process. May be you made accidental mistake during entering of coordinates? Try to recalibrate the map.the globular figure of Earth. The raster map can be calibrated for relatively vast scale. You can't satisfactorily calibrate the raster map of whole hemisphere.wrong recognition of points.
to the topWhat number of calibration points I need to calibrate the map?
We recommend at least 3-4 points.
to the top Can I increase the quality of calibration using large number of points?
Yes. The minimum recommended amount is 3, 4 is better. If the coordinates are measured inaccurately, use more points.
to the top Is the calibration accuracy depends on placement of calibration points?
The calibration accuracy is guaranteed inside the polygon consisting of the points and near this polygon. If all calibration points are near the same line the calibration can be unreliable.
to the top What GPS receivers are supported by the program?
Any true NMEA complaint GPS receiver. For example, GPS receivers from Pretec, Holux, Fortuna, Royaltek, EMTAC (incl. Bluetooth), Axiom, Falcon Aerospace, HAiCOM, Leadtek, NAVMAN, Commuworks, Billionton, Garmin, Magellan, etc. etc. The program works with GPS receivers connected through Compact Flash or Serial ports.
to the top I live in Italy. Where can I get a map of Italy?
Check this page to can find the necessary maps in VTM format, prepared for SmartMap users, for different countries. Currently the selection includes Austria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Italy, the UK, Spain, France, Finland, Iran, Oman, Qatar, Afghanistan, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Syria. This list is growing every day.
to the top What is MapManager and where can I get MapManager?
MapManager is a free application to create maps for VITO SmartMap. You can get it here .
to the top MapManager does not start on my PocketPC! Why is that?
MapManager is a desktop Windows program so you have to run it on your desktop PC (Start -> Programs -> Vito Tech MapManager -> MapManager)
to the top How do I prepare a scanned map for SmartMap?
A brief sequence of steps is the following: Scan a map. Make sure that the resulting JPEG image is not big, it must be less than 1000 by 1000 pixels.Start MapManager on your desktop PC.Go to Layer/Add layer... (or press {+} button)Select JPEG image (select JPG extension in the file type selection to display JPG files). The image will open in the window.Click on the image where you know geographic coordinates and enter them in the appeared window. You will see a red cross with a number, placed where you have put the point. Place at least three points, scattered around the image.Go to Tools/Snap (or press {N <-> S} button)Go to File/Save and save your map as a VTMCopy the VTM map file onto your Pocket PC
to the topHow do I prepare a map from Shape files for SmartMap?
A brief sequence of steps is the following: Start MapManager on your desktop PC.Go to Layer/Add layer... (or press {+} button)Select SHP layer. The layer will be opened in the window and its name will show up in the list of layers to the left of the main window.Go to File/Save and save your map as a VTMCopy the VTM map file onto your Pocket PC
Note: In the detailed instruction you can find how to change the colors of layers, how to display the text attributes of points objects, how to change icons for point objects and how to change the order of layers.
to the topDoes the calibration accuracy depend on the placement of the calibration points?
The calibration accuracy is guaranteed inside the polygon consisting of the calibration points and in the close proximity to this polygon. If all calibration points are on or close to a line, calibration can be unreliable.
to the top Why my GPS receiver does not work with SmartMap?
If at the initial screen SmartMap has not detected your GPS receiver, do not despair. There is a manual way to set up an NMEA GPS receiver. The following list of steps should help: Go to Tools/GPS SetupSet Port to COM1Tap on Test.If nothing happens, press Stop, return to step 2, and change Port to the next one.If you see flashing text in the window, you have set your GPS receiver.If you have searched all ports and there were no NMEA sentences flashed in the window, consult manual of your GPS receiver and set your GPS receiver in NMEA mode.If setting your GPS receiver in NMEA mode did not help to recognize your GPS receiver, consult manual of your GPS receiver and note the baud rate at which data from the GPS receiver is sent. For instance, NAVMAN works at 57600, and EMTAC Bluetooth at 38400.Adjust the baud rate accordingly and tap Test. If text starts to flash by, you have set your GPS receiver.If changes in the baud rate and the port number did not make the NMEA sentences appear in the Test window, see the next question.
to the topI have tried to change the port number and the baud rate as it is suggested in FAQ 16. Still I can't make my GPS receiver work with the program. What else can I do?
1) If you use an Etrex, take a note of the following discovery of one of our users:
All my settings are correct, on the PDA and on the Etrex. What is the problem? The problem is a driver for a foldable keyboard. I use Fujitsu Siemens Loox 600 PDA and I have also heard on the forum that drivers for foldable keyboards for iPAQ PDAs have the same problem. Before you use the PDA with a GPS receiver you should disable the keyboard driver. So, it is not a bug in your software, it is a bug in the driver of the keyboard that is conflicting with all GPS receivers and with all GPS and navigation software. Once I disabled the driver, the software has located the GPS receiver and it works. 2) If you use stand-alone GPS receivers like Garmin, check its connection to the PDA. One of our users suggested the following resource:http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/PocketPC/cehardware.htm. If you need to buy cables, it is worth checking the following store:http://www.expansys.com/d_cables.asp
to the top I have scanned a map of a remote village and have calibrated it with MapManager. May be I entered coordinates with a mistake? Can I check the quality of calibration BEFORE I visit this village?
Yes! Don't exit MapManager after calibration. Take the list of calibration points. Checking coordinates appearing in the right-hand side of MapManager's status bar, place the cursor on coordinates of the first calibration point from the list. Look at the cursor's and the calibration point's positions and estimate the calibration error. Normally, the error should not exceed a few pixels.
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