PICOPILOT no longer supports MAPSOURCE

[workshop]

Owners of the PICOPILOT (www.u-nav.com) already know this but since the advertising on the U-NAV website still claims that the Waypoint Editor can import files generated by Garmin's MAPSOURCE, I feel I should set the record straight.

The PICOPILOT Waypoint editor cannot import any files from MAPSOURCE. Garmin changed the output formatting on version 3.02 (they are now at version 6.10.2) and PICOPILOT's Import function no longer works.

According to U-NAV's Engineering Manager, Dave Perry, "All of our engineering resources are currently tied up on another project so I do not anticipate allocating any time to the PICOPILOT project for the foreseeable future. From the reports we have received from PICOPILOT customers, most of them use the direct edit method of programming anyway".

Since PICOPILOT customers have no choice but to hand enter Waypoints (a time consuming and error prone process) it doesn't surprise this writer that most users choose that method. U-NAV's sales literature liberally mentions MAPSOURCE interoperatibility. It would be nice if they removed mention of this feature from their advertising since it has not been available for quite some time.

Jeff W. Parisse
www.teslacoil.com

[typicalaimster]

I feel I should set the record straight.



Careful, last time I tried to set the record straight Dave refused to sell to me. I received a nasty-gram from him. Not to mention my order canceled.


Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 08:05:41 -0800
From: "UNAV Sales" <unav.sales@verizon>
Subject: Re: Customer Order
To: "Scott Fuller" <evol@zwei.>

Scott,

We want all of our customers to be successful and satisfied with our products so we routinely screen new customers to make sure they have necessary skills to succeed. In your case, you apparently had trouble understanding our price list and product literature and then complained about it. That's usually an indicator that you'd probably have similar issues with the product you just ordered. So, I'm going to do us both a favor and cancel your order.

David Perry, president
UNAV, LLC



----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Fuller" <evol@zwei>
To: "UNAV Sales" <unav.sales@verizon>
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: Customer Order


> Mark,
> I thought the Mapsource waypoint editing software came with the unit? If that's not the case then go ahead and add on the software for the $50. I ordered the Pico-GPS-SS a few months ago. I will not need that at this time.
>
> Thanks,
> Scott Fuller

[workshop]

Oh my God! What a load of bull puckie... They didn't screen me unless you call forking over $1,000 a screening. :eek:

I complained about the "bait and switch" MAPSOURCE compatibility and I got cut off too. What a great way to run a business. :rolleyes:

If anyone has a TXT file that the PICOPILOT Waypoint editor can read, please send it to me or post it here. The TXT file in question is created with an old version of MAPSOURCE (not affiliated with U-NAV in anyway) so posting a Garmin MAPSOURCE output file will not infringe on U-NAV. I will attempt a "pre-parse" routine so us PICOPILOT users can re-enjoy this feature. :)

Jeff W. Parisse
www.teslacoil.com

[icebear]

Hi,
I had the same problem since I upgraded to version 6 of Mapsource.
I tried today while looking at the .txt files supplied with the Pico.
If I save a route made in Mapsoure and just make sure to name the waypoints as in the Pico sample files; "DA002", "DA003" and so on, it seems to work!
More testing needs to be done to verify this but my latest route made in Garmin Mapsource worked! See below...

/Icebear

Grid Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd°
Datum WGS 84

Header Name Description Type Position Altitude Depth Proximity Temperature Display Mode Color Symbol Facility City State Country Date Modified Link Categories

Waypoint DA002 User Waypoint N56.16330 E12.57200 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:30:05 PM
Waypoint DA003 User Waypoint N56.16350 E12.56870 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:30:45 PM
Waypoint DA004 User Waypoint N56.16510 E12.56870 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:31:11 PM
Waypoint DA005 User Waypoint N56.16510 E12.57360 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:31:32 PM
Waypoint DA006 User Waypoint N56.16330 E12.57360 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:32:08 PM
Waypoint DA007 User Waypoint N56.16350 E12.56870 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:32:35 PM
Waypoint DA008 User Waypoint N56.16510 E12.56870 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:33:04 PM
Waypoint DA009 User Waypoint N56.16510 E12.57360 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:33:31 PM
Waypoint DA010 User Waypoint N56.16330 E12.57360 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:35:02 PM
Waypoint DA011 Solrosvagen User Waypoint N56.16330 E12.57200 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:35:26 PM
Waypoint Solros Solrosvagen User Waypoint N56.16330 E12.57190 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 1:27:04 PM


Header Name Length Course Waypoints Link

Route 001 to 001 2.0 km 0° true 10 waypoints

Header Waypoint Name Distance Leg Length Course

Route Waypoint DA002 0 m
Route Waypoint DA003 206 m 206 m 276° true
Route Waypoint DA004 384 m 178 m 0° true
Route Waypoint DA005 688 m 304 m 90° true
Route Waypoint DA006 888 m 200 m 180° true
Route Waypoint DA007 1.2 km 305 m 274° true
Route Waypoint DA008 1.4 km 178 m 0° true
Route Waypoint DA009 1.7 km 304 m 90° true
Route Waypoint DA010 1.9 km 200 m 180° true
Route Waypoint DA011 2.0 km 99 m 270° true

[workshop]

IceBear provided something that U-NAV can't!!!

A file that can be read by Waypoint Editor. Yeah!

Let the testing begin... I'll have full reports + a photo show on "GPS58" the latest UAV from "the Tesla coil workshop" in a day or two.

Jeff
www.teslacoil.com

[workshop]

UAVers,

I just tried the Waypoint name change method alone (DA001, etc.) and I couldn't get an import. I've attached the TXT file for reference.

HOWEVER... I copied and pasted IceBear's data into a TXT file and was able to load it up just fine. The key is in the difference between the two files... ;)

One problem: Now my plane wants to fly to Sweden! :D

I'll keep plugging away...

Jeff
www.teslacoil.com

[icebear]

Thats interesting Jeff!
I played a little with different text changes and not until i copied the naming of the testfiles it worked. I started with DA002 instead of DA001, but that's probably not the problem..
I'll keep looking for your plane when I'm at the field tomorrow... :)
/Icebear

[icebear]

I made a new test, still starting the wp names with DA002 and onwards DA003 etc. and it worked perfectly.

If I had a US Mapsource I could test US wp's but I only have the Europe version.. :(

The waypoints where entered in Mapsource and then a route was created by linking the wp:s and finally the file was save as a textfile.

I enclose the text output file from Mapsource as a reference.

Grid Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd°
Datum WGS 84

Header Name Description Type Position Altitude Depth Proximity Temperature Display Mode Color Symbol Facility City State Country Date Modified Link Categories

Waypoint DA002 Solrosvagen User Waypoint N56.16326 E12.57241 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:18:58 PM
Waypoint DA003 Solrosvagen User Waypoint N56.16382 E12.56887 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:19:09 PM
Waypoint DA004 User Waypoint N56.16536 E12.56761 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:19:19 PM
Waypoint DA005 User Waypoint N56.16665 E12.56844 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:19:29 PM
Waypoint DA006 User Waypoint N56.16813 E12.57134 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:19:37 PM
Waypoint DA007 User Waypoint N56.16778 E12.57507 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:19:43 PM
Waypoint DA008 User Waypoint N56.16668 E12.57681 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:19:48 PM
Waypoint DA009 User Waypoint N56.16468 E12.57599 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:19:55 PM
Waypoint DA010 User Waypoint N56.16371 E12.57473 Symbol & Name Unknown Waypoint 4/29/2006 8:20:02 PM


Header Name Length Course Waypoints Link

Route DA002 to DA010 1.6 km 71° true 9 waypoints

Header Waypoint Name Distance Leg Length Course

Route Waypoint DA002 0 m
Route Waypoint DA003 228 m 228 m 286° true
Route Waypoint DA004 416 m 188 m 336° true
Route Waypoint DA005 569 m 153 m 20° true
Route Waypoint DA006 813 m 244 m 47° true
Route Waypoint DA007 1.0 km 234 m 100° true
Route Waypoint DA008 1.2 km 164 m 139° true
Route Waypoint DA009 1.4 km 228 m 193° true
Route Waypoint DA010 1.6 km 133 m 216° true

[workshop]

Starting the Waypoint naming at DA002 did the trick the files are importing without any trouble now...

That was SO simple!!! Makes me wonder why the folks at U-NAV are so adamantly against working through these issues with their (stupid :D ) customers!!!

Jeff
www.teslacoil.com

[icebear]

Perfect Jeff!

Let us know more aboute the "GPS58" soon...

/Icebear

[typicalaimster]

It sounds like DA001 is stored when you first start up the Pico Pilot. DA001 is then refered to as 'home'.. Don't quote me on that ;).... I'd have to go back and read up on it.

It seems the Pico Pilot has its own route/waypoint engine built into it. I know in my Garmin GPS Waypoint 01 is considered where I start. When I tell the GPS to run a route it will skip off to Waypoint 02 and run the route.

[workshop]

I started a thread called "Sr. Telemaster + PICOPILOT" that describes the GPS58... I have more after the weekend...

Jeff

[Frisk151]

Does anyone know if anything has changed with U-Nav's support of the latest version of mapsource?

[icebear]

U-nav have a new version of the editor out. I have tested it and it works fine!
Contact them if you cannot download the latest version from the website which I did.
/Icebear