Comments on: Using Google Maps with a Mobile GPS Tracker

By: Bernie

Bernie — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:01:57 +0000

Is this the full source code for the part one of the project? im planning to construct the project here in the Phil. but I dont know yet about progrmming the ATmega8 microcontroller. Can teach me? Thanks!

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:18:18 +0000

Hi Bernie,
no, I am still working on the source. But I plan to release it soon.
If you are new to programming of microcontrollers, I would suggest to try a tutorial on that first. Instructables has some very good, for example this one:
http://www.instructables.com/id/E5H5UDWB5UEUKIKV8V/
Cheers,
Alex

By: rizwan

rizwan — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:33:09 +0000

hi Alex, can u plz temme that how to start with the project and which Gsm hanset can be used and hot to interface them to the avr port.

Rizwan

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:16:49 +0000

Hi Rizwan,
I am not really familliar with GSM handsets.
But if you want to try the GM862, the easiest way would be to get a breadboard and assemble the components as shown in the schematics http://tinkerlog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/beacon.zip

You will need the Eagle CAD software to display it. http://www.cadsoftusa.com/

Cheers,
Alex

By: rizwan

rizwan — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:54:35 +0000

hi Alex, can u plz put up the codes that has to be programed in the microcontroller.
Also, when the Sms is sent as on email, how to convert (the content of the SMS) this in to a file which can be taken sucessfully by the google map.

thanks for your quick reply.
rizwan

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 18:53:53 +0000

I would like to know also

By: max pearsons

max pearsons — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:11:19 +0000

I am interested in your tracking device. Please can you contact me if you would be interested in business deal number is +44786xxxxxx

By: rizwan

rizwan — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:00:10 +0000

hi alex, how r u doing?, thanks for the codes.
Alex, do u know any other gsm module other than telit which has a SIM slot for sening the sms., coz this module is not available here in India.
thanks for your response
bye

rizwan.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:51:03 +0000

Hi rizwan,
if you are looking for modules with GPS functionality I think the Telit is the only one. Have you asked roundsolutions.de, if they ship to India?

Others without GPS are produced by Siemens or Sony Ericsson for example.

Cheers,
Alex

By: DOL

DOL — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:02:15 +0000

Hi Alex,

This is a very interesting project. I have tried to put it together and came up on few obstacles.
1. SUART is using PB0 and PB1. Which one is used as TXD and which one is used as RXD. (Just found it in suart.c PB0 is RXD)
2. I am using 4.0MHz oscillator. What value do I have to set in uart.c for F_CPU?
3. In your assembly picture there is a push button which is not present in schematics. What is the pushbutton used for?

Thanks a lot.

By: sha

sha — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 05:05:55 +0000

hi, can i use gm863 instead of gm 862.
if yes, what r the necessary changes need to b made?

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 08:39:43 +0000

@DOL, I will check which pins are used. I’m currently not able to look into it. If you are using 4.0MHz, then F_CPU should be set to 4000000. The pushbutton is just for the reset.

@sha, I am not sure if the gm863 works. I think it should have the same functionality but not sure about the pinout.

Cheers,
Alex

By: DOL

DOL — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 15:25:25 +0000

Alex,

Thanks for your help. I was able to connect to Br@y++. Below is the portion of the input received in Br@y++ terminal. (I was not able to get anything in HyperTerminal). I have tried different baud rate settings 9600 and 19200 with the same results. I am thinking that there is something wrong with usart.c. Just FYI currently the circuit is on breadboard.

Please advise. xx€xø€øø€øø€xø€xø€øø€xøxxÀø€€€€€€ø€€€€øÀ€ø€ø€€€€€€ø€€€ø€€€€€>€|€€ø

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 08:59:19 +0000

Hi there, is there a site where I can get a full run down of this project? I’d love to build it but want all the facts before I start!
Thanks

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 10:29:17 +0000

Hi Dave,
sorry, all infos are a bit scattered in my blog. Be sure to check the first part of this series, see the links section above.
I am currently using the builtin Python, so the list of needed materials will shrink soon, I hope.
Cheers,
Alex

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:56:44 +0000

Hi Alex…

Is there anyway i could also get those codes for the unit ?

Thanks very much

Simon

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:01:34 +0000

Hi Simon,
please have a look at: http://tinkerlog.com/2007/08/08/firmware-for-the-gps-tracking-device/ for the firmware.
The easier and smaller version in Python is here: http://tinkerlog.com/2007/09/23/using-twitter-and-twibble-for-mobile-tracking/

Cheers,
Alex

By: Make your own remote GPS Tracker Device » Spy Review

Make your own remote GPS Tracker Device » Spy Review — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:24:06 +0000

[…] is operational, the microcontroller is programmed to send an SMS with its location. Showing this location on Google Maps involves sending an SMS via an SMS-to-email service, so that you get an email with a Google Maps […]

By: peter

peter — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:43:42 +0000

I am working on a similar poject where the device sends the co-ords to a mobile phone via SMS and then the co-ords are typed into Mappoint. Is it possible to get the device to send an SMS to the mobile with a link to mappoint and then select that link on the mobile and call up the map?

By: peter

peter — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:51:59 +0000

how do you convert the gps position into a format for google

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:33:27 +0000

Hi Peter,

if you can open a location in Mappoint with a single link, then it should be possible, to send a text SMS with the formatted link.

For the conversion of coordinated, it depends on what your GPS puts out. Mine formats the location DD MM.mmmm where DD are the degrees, MM are the minutes and mmmm are the fractions of a minute. Google wants DD.ddddddd, degrees and fractions of degrees.

Take a look at the source in C:
http://tinkerlog.com/2007/08/08/firmware-for-the-gps-tracking-device/

Or in Python:
http://tinkerlog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/tracker-python-001.zip

Cheers,
Alex

By: peter

peter — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:00:43 +0000

There are a number of mapping sites that will open up the location with a single link in this format via a PC web browser.

Does anyone now of a way of doing this on a mobile?

I want someone to be able to get this SMS and automatically open up a map showing the location on a mobile.

By: sha

sha — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:47:51 +0000

hi alex, can i use GE863-gps module instead of gm862, as the gm862 module is not available in india.
please help me out.
bye

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:14:57 +0000

Hi sha,
I haven’t tested the GE863 module, but I would expect, that the code could be easily ported. But the hardware may need more investigation, as the GE863 is smaller and does not come with an onboard sim card holder.
Cheers,
Alex

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:31:52 +0000

Alex, fine work here! Would it not be possible to also accomplish the same task by sending a request for position (via SMS) to one of the newer GPS-enabled handsets (like Nokia) and simply have it respond with the lat/lon via SMS, and then convert this to a GoogleEarth query format at the receiving end, or a Google Maps app on a Blackberry or Treo? I am looking to do what you have done but wish to leverage as much off the shelf technology as I can find. Thanks.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:28:19 +0000

Hi Drew,
yes that should be possible. It exists even a Python for Series 60.
Cheers,
Alex

By: AHMAD

AHMAD — Sun, 18 May 2008 12:27:28 +0000

Hi Alex , Great project and well done .

I am working NOW on project exactly like this.

Could you plaese send the code to me ?

it will be very helpful to me

Thanks AHMAD .

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:35:09 +0000

Hi Ahmad,
just scroll 20cm up and you will find links to the code
Cheers,
Alex

By: AHMAD

AHMAD — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:41:09 +0000

Thanks for your fast replaying ,

but unfortunately, I am using the Telit GM862-GPS with Arduino. So, I thought I shoud use the Arduino code for that ,unless you have any comments for me .

I mean , Must I use the (C) code or Python one ?

your advice plz :$

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 20 May 2008 06:42:23 +0000

Hi Ahmad,
the Arduino should be well suited for this.
As the Arduino programming language is C with some additional features, it shouldn’t be a problem to port my C version of the firmware to an Arduino. The most interesting part is the communication by AT commands. At least that should be ported to the Arduino.

And don’t forget to drop me a line, if you get it working

Cheers,
Alex

By: hamid

hamid — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:27:26 +0000

hi alex
i want start with AVR and i want build an tool that show gps
can u help me?
nice to meet ur site
ur sincerly
Hamid Hamidi

By: Theofanakis Konstantinos

Theofanakis Konstantinos — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:33:48 +0000

Hi Alex from Greece
Can you explain the mathematical way to convert the GPS Telit answer to a suitable format for Google?
Thank you.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:16:38 +0000

Hi Theofanakis,
just scroll 3 or 4 pages up, there is the answer.
Cheers,
Alex

By: Theofanakis Konstantinos

Theofanakis Konstantinos — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:10 +0000

Thank you for your reply. But this is not the answer to my problem because I don’t know C, so the only way to help me is to tell me the math type that you use. I programm all the AVRs in assembly language.
Thank you again.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:09:09 +0000

Ok, here you go.
The format that is comming from the Telit module is DDMM.mmmmN where DD are the degrees, MM are the minutes and mmmm are the fractions of a minute.
Google wants DD.ddddddd, degrees and fractions of degrees.

* first copy the first two chars (degrees) into the new var.
* delete the last char (the N,E, …) and the last digit. (MM.mmm)
* delete the ‘.’ (MMmmm)
* multiply with 1667 (ddddddd), convert from minutes to decimal.
* combine the copied DD, ‘.’ and ddddddd (DD.ddddddd)

By: amy

amy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:11:38 +0000

hi alex,

I have to develop a simple handset that able to send sms and make calls using GM862-GPS… My problem is I really dont know how to write the Python Programme and really unclear about the connection for the whole circuit ( the schematic and circuit layout which I also need a display and keypad to operate like a handset).. Do you have any idea to solve this out or any source or link should I refer..Really need your help…Thanks in advance

Regards,
Amy

By: uche

uche — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:28:19 +0000

hi Alex,
I appreciate your project, it’s amazing and lovely. I’m embarking on a similar project but it involves an immobilizing system. pls I’ll like you to assist me in this, believing that your assistance will give me a detailed information on what I need

cheers,
uche

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:10:26 +0000

hi alex,
we have a gps tracking device which send’s it’s location with a map link to our smart phone, the link includes the internet address to maps.google.com/maps, followed by the parameters which include longitude and latitude (similar to what you mention). However, the problem is, when we use the link on the phone (palm treo 500) the internet is started and the google map screen is displayed, but without any map. the google screen displayed as a search box which is empty (which normally you would enter the search parameters into if you were going directly to the google screen). if you enter the search parameters in here and press search, you get the same result (the screen is re-displayed but no map). Note. we have checked with our network supplier and they have confirmed we have a gprs data connection. this link works fine if you use it on a pc. any idea why it will not work on the smart phone, or if it could work. any assistance would be grateful. thanks.