[ARDF] ARDF Digest, Vol 100, Issue 2

Fri Dec 30 12:59:52 PST 2011

I made a similar iPhone application about a year ago - it was taking a
bearings and calculating fox locations, putting it on the map and even
could guide you to the location, telling how far you are, etc., but I have
abandoned project because iPhone has a such poor quality compass - it can
give you errors up to 90 degrees.
I came to conclusion if I want to get a good application with precise fox
location calculations and guidance I need to use external compass.
I made one and testing it. The errors I am getting with small external
compass is only +/-2 degrees. You really need to use good tilt compensated
and compact compass. I am using HMC6343, it is a best IMHO. Not chip but
nice - all in one - $95 from DK.

Anyway - I am a big supporter of this idea. I believe I already sent you C
code to calculate fox locations for iPhone.

Regarding Orienteering - you can get all you need for orienteering on
iPhone and Android from here:
http://news.worldofo.com/2009/11/19/orienteering-map-gps-part-iii-mobile-phones/

I tried it on iPhone and it worked for me.

73!
Vadim
KB1RLI

On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 3:00 PM, <ardf-request at kkn.net> wrote:

> Send ARDF mailing list submissions to
>        ardf at kkn.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>        http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/ardf
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>        ardf-request at kkn.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>        ardf-owner at kkn.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of ARDF digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012) (Charles Scharlau)
>   2. Re: Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012) (Tony Langdon)
>   3. Re: Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012) (Mike (KA5CVH) Urich)
>   4. Re: Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012) (Charles Scharlau)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:05:04 -0500
> From: Charles Scharlau <charles.scharlau at gmail.com>
> Subject: [ARDF] Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012)
> To: ardf at kkn.net
> Message-ID:
>        <CAK-GiwapCwD=_73OVhuqQFFCb36jGAL5zMeQtOT7xCOnCzKKBg at mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Just about a year ago (Jan 2011) I sent several emails to this list
> regarding smart phones and fox hunting. It wasn't clear at the time what
> new possibilities those handheld computers might hold. I suggested then was
> the time to start experimenting with apps designed for use in ARDF.
>
> For the past year I've been doing just that: concentrating on Apple iOS
> products, and seeing how they might help promote the sport. I have been
> pleasantly surprised by how much they can do.
>
> As 2012 dawns, I'm happy to announce that a new app for ARDF, orienteering,
> and just plain hiking in the woods, should be ready for beta testing early
> in the new year.
>
> The app pushes the limits of what mobile computing devices can do when
> operating "autonomously". That is to say, the app focuses on providing
> maximum utility while *not* connected to the internet. The app already has
> a long list of features, and a number of potential uses, but for now I will
> focus on just one application: "Simulated ARDF". Below I'll describe how
> Simulated ARDF works from the points of view of a hunt organizer, and a
> participant.
>
>
> SIMULATED ARDF
>
> Think of Simulated ARDF as a new activity, different from real ARDF in
> several respects, but similar enough to be immediately familiar to anyone
> who has participated in radio sport. Simulated ARDF can give newcomers a
> realistic taste of hidden transmitter hunting, and might also serve to help
> hone the skills of ARDF athletes.
>
> Why simulate ARDF? Real ARDF requires real transmitters, batteries,
> antennas, flags, punches, printed maps and all the cost and maintenance to
> keep everything operational. Participants must purchase and maintain
> receivers and antennas, which newcomers to the sport must borrow and learn
> to use at the same time they attempt to master orienteering skills with map
> and compass. Simulated ARDF removes and simplifies all of those
> complexities.
>
>
> THE TOOLS
>
> Here is a list of all the equipment necessary for putting on a Simulated
> ARDF event:
>
> o A computer (Mac or PC) running Google Earth (a free Google map software
> program) and iTunes (a free Apple software program).
>
> o An iPhone or iPad for each participant: iPhone 3Gs or later; iPad with
> GPS preferred, running iOS 4.1 or later.
>
> That's all that is required. But some nice-to-haves include:
>
> o Either paper orienteering maps of the event venue, or map tiles (a
> software version of the map compatible with the app) produced from an
> accurate orienteering map. Organizer-provided maps are almost a necessity,
> but in some instances Open Street Maps or other internet-available maps can
> suffice. In all but the smallest venues it is wise to provide both paper
> and software maps to participants.
>
> o Orienteering flags. One for each "simulated" transmitter. (Course
> features can be substituted for flags.)
>
> o Spare compasses. These are a necessity for anyone wishing to use an iPod
> touch device. Note: compasses and magnetic objects need to be kept well
> away from the iPhone/iPad to avoid magnetic interference.
>
> o iPhone battery extenders?
>
>
> HUNT ORGANIZER
>
> The main responsibilities of the Hunt Organizer are:
>
> 1. Design and vet the course.
> 2. Lay out the course and generate the "foxes.kml" file using Google Earth.
> 3. Distribute the "foxes.kml" file to the participants.
> 4. Create and print the orienteering maps, and map tiles, and distribute
> them to the participants. (Create just once per venue.)
> 5. Place the flags (if used) in the forest.
> 6. All the administrivia that surrounds any organized event.
>
>
> HUNT PARTICIPANTS
>
> The main responsibilities of the participants:
>
> 1. Download and install the app on their iOS device(s).
> 2. Download the "foxes.kml" file and map tiles (if provided)  using iTunes.
> 3. Charge their phone!
> 4. Show up on time, and stay safe out on the course!
> 5. Submit their results afterwards, in the form of a track.kml file.
>
>
> THE APP
>
> The app pretty much takes care of everything else! Once the "foxes.kml"
> file has been installed, and a GPS fix has been obtained, the app has all
> the information it needs to simulate the hunt. Here's how it works:
>
> The "foxes.kml" file provides accurate lat/lon coordinates for each
> simulated transmitter. The built-in GPS receiver tells the app the lat/lon
> coordinates or the phone's current location. The built-in digital compass
> tells the app which direction the phone is pointed.
>
> The participant points the phone as if it were a directional antenna, and
> the app determines if the phone is pointed toward or away from the
> simulated transmitter location, and adjusts the signal strength (of an
> audio tone generated by the app) accordingly. The effect is very much like
> swinging a beam antenna and listening for the strongest direction.
>
> The app can record "bearings" taken by the participant, and display those
> bearings as lines on the map. The app will calculate crossings of two or
> more bearings, and display those crossings as an approximate position of
> the simulated transmitter. The bearings are recorded to a .kml file that
> can be exported and viewed using Google Earth for later analysis.
>
> As you proceed in the direction of a transmitter, the app calculates your
> distance to the simulated transmitter, and increases the app-generated
> audio signal strength accordingly. The effect is very much like approaching
> a real transmitter and hearing signal strength go up.
>
> The app is capable of displaying a downloaded map resident in flash memory.
> With a downloaded map there is no need for the app to download map tiles
> over the internet, so no network service is required during the hunt. The
> app displays your position on the map, as well as the orienteering symbols
> for Start and Finish at their designated locations on the map. (The
> simulated transmitter locations are *not* shown, of course!)
>
> The app can rotate the map display in a number of different ways,
> including: true north up, magnetic north up, and heading up. The latter is
> especially helpful, since it has the effect of automatically keeping the
> map correctly oriented to your surroundings, making map navigation easier
> for beginners.
>
> The app records the participant's track (a record of all their locations)
> and stores it to a kml file that can be exported and viewed using Google
> Earth. The track includes both positions and times, and can be used to
> determine the time spent on the course, and to verify proximity to each of
> the foxes/transmitters, total distance traversed, and speeds at various
> times.
>
>
> LIST OF FEATURES
>
> This email is already far too long. I won't extend it with a lengthy list.
> But here's a few things that might be of interest.
>
> o The app is also capable of providing a Simulated  Orienteering event,
> with a virtually unlimited number of controls.
>
> o The app can provide simulated radio transmitter signals to guide you to
> standard orienteering controls, providing you with "eyes free" navigation.
>
> o As with orienteering, there is no limit to the number of ARDF
> transmitters the app can simulate and track. Anyone ready to track down 50
> transmitters?
>
> o When not simulating an event (i.e., no "foxes.kml" file is present) the
> app can be used for recording and analyzing bearings taken for "real"
> objects. The app will then assist you with navigation to those objects.
>
> o The app can provide all your favorite "whoopee" tone effect modes (audio
> pitch signal-strength indications), including some you've never imagined!
>
> o There is support for iOS devices lacking GPS. How that works is too
> lengthy to describe here. The best user experience will be had with devices
> having GPS.
>
>
> WHAT'S NEXT
>
> There's still plenty of work to be done before the app is ready for prime
> time. In early 2012 the app should be ready for a small group of testers to
> run it through its paces and provide feedback on ways to improve it.
>
> If you would like to help with testing, please contact me at the email
> address below. If you've expressed an interest before, please do so again.
> I will be working from a current list.
>
> In addition to having a voice in how the app works, testers who provide
> feedback during beta testing will receive vouchers to download the paid app
> for free.
>
> Feel free to forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested
> - either in testing, or in the app itself.
>
> 73,
> Charles
> NZ0I
> mailto:charles.scharlau at gmail.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:20:32 +1100
> From: Tony Langdon <vk3jed at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [ARDF] Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012)
> To: Charles Scharlau <charles.scharlau at gmail.com>,ardf at kkn.net
> Message-ID: <4efd3c1b.1584650a.7145.ffffbd54 at mx.google.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> At 03:05 PM 12/30/2011, Charles Scharlau wrote:
>
> >SIMULATED ARDF
>
> This looks like a really good app! :)
>
> 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL
> http://vkradio.com
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:10:35 -0600
> From: "Mike (KA5CVH) Urich" <mike at ka5cvh.com>
> Subject: Re: [ARDF] Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012)
> To: Charles Scharlau <charles.scharlau at gmail.com>
> Cc: ardf at kkn.net
> Message-ID:
>        <CA+hFFPnbB3LgSMMfbc91cthsdtRk0R_11HsLX5SYsuF1Kyg9dA at mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> On Thu, Dec 29, 2011 at 10:05 PM, Charles Scharlau
> <charles.scharlau at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > For the past year I've been doing just that: concentrating on Apple iOS
> > products, and seeing how they might help promote the sport. I have been
> > pleasantly surprised by how much they can do.
>
> Mike asks
>
> Have you found much for the Android OS phones?
>
> --
> Mike Urich KA5CVH
> http://ka5cvh.com
>
> PIO STX-D14 S/E - APIC D1 & D14
> http://harriscountyares.org
>
> Life is hard, church shouldn't be!
> http://fairmontpark.org
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:37:06 -0500
> From: Charles Scharlau <charles.scharlau at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [ARDF] Looking ahead to ARDF apps (in 2012)
> To: "Mike (KA5CVH) Urich" <mike at ka5cvh.com>
> Cc: ardf at kkn.net
> Message-ID:
>        <CAK-GiwYBxutEj++2aiq_FO2ab3D0pp6yBsqnc3ytv6JcWtDhAw at mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I'm pretty sure that Android can support an ARDF app much like this one. At
> least I don't see why not.
>
> The core to an app like this is the "slippy map", which is available as
> open source for iOS. I use one called "Route-Me". I haven't looked very
> hard for an Android open source slippy map, so one might already be out
> there.
>
> I don't see myself having the time to branch out into Android work anytime
> soon. But if anyone is interested in writing an Android ARDF app, I'll be
> happy to share what I've learned.
>
> 73,
> Charles
> NZ0I
>
> On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Mike (KA5CVH) Urich <mike at ka5cvh.com
> >wrote:
>
> > On Thu, Dec 29, 2011 at 10:05 PM, Charles Scharlau
> > <charles.scharlau at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > For the past year I've been doing just that: concentrating on Apple iOS
> > > products, and seeing how they might help promote the sport. I have been
> > > pleasantly surprised by how much they can do.
> >
> > Mike asks
> >
> > Have you found much for the Android OS phones?
> >
> > --
> > Mike Urich KA5CVH
> > http://ka5cvh.com
> >
> > PIO STX-D14 S/E - APIC D1 & D14
> > http://harriscountyares.org
> >
> > Life is hard, church shouldn't be!
> > http://fairmontpark.org
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> ARDF mailing list
> ARDF at kkn.net
> http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/ardf
>
>
> End of ARDF Digest, Vol 100, Issue 2
> ************************************
>