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![Gisteq Phototrackr Lite (DPL700) review :
GiSTEQ DPL700 PhotoTrackr
The DPL700 "PhotoTrackr Lite" by GiSTEQ is a recent
entry into the miniature GPS-receiver tracking/logging device market.
It is a no-frills, small, efficient GPS logging device
designed for geocoding images in post-processing.
There are three major complaints people
have with the DPL700
It requires propriety
(PC-only) software to download
track-logs (it is not seen by the computer
as a "storage device")
The software requires
"activation", which has caused problems for
some users
The battery-door can has
proven to be fragile and problematic
Software
The DPL700 comes with a mini-CD loaded with
device drivers that work on Windows XP and Vista, allowing
the propriety GiSTEQ geocoding software to communicate with
the DPL700 via a virtual com-port through the USB cable.
The instructions for initial set-up are included on a
printed sheet and for the most part are very simple to
follow. GiSTEQ did not, however, mention
needing to activate the software, what the activation code
was, or that the PC needed to be on the internet to complete
the activation process. Having read previous gripes
about the GPS on the internet I was prepared, but I can see
where this process could annoy some buyers.
How big a deal was activation though?
It was no big deal at all. You stick the GiSTEQ
mini-CD in your machine, let it install their software and
drivers, then you run the phototrackr software.
An "activation" screen will pop-up the first time you run
the software, but all you need do is enter the key-code on
the CD-sleeve. The rest is automatic. I've read
a lot of stories about how terrible the activation process
is - but it literally only took me the time to type in the
key-code. I had no problems installing the
software.
Software Updates
My DPL700's disk came with older software on
it. The phototrackr program checked for, and found
two program updates. Having to upgrade right out
of the box may annoy some people but it only took a few
minutes, and was painless.
Google Maps
Here's something that might well annoy a lot
of folks: the phototrackr software features a built-in map
that shows your tracks and photo-locations. It uses
Google Maps, using the same data Google Earth,
Smugmug, and others use. Google requires that each
user acquire a Google Map API Key before their maps
can be used. The good news is the key (and maps) are
completely free. The bad news is you have to get a
Google account (ie: gmail) from Google, log into their site,
agree to their terms, then allow phototrackr to install your
custom APL key.
Some of the less internet-savvy users might
find the whole process of getting an API-Key somewhat
daunting. The truth is it is a very fast, free, and
private process that truly is no big deal. It just
takes a few extra steps before you can use the key.
For those of us that don't want to be
bothered, phototrackr will work just fine without the
API-Key, and the mapping functions.
Operating the GPS
What's to operate? You just turn the
GPS on and let it figure out where it is. Out of the
box the DPL700 is configured to log it's position every 10
seconds, and to turn itself off if it doesn't move for 15
minutes. While that is probably sufficient for most
people, the phototrackr software will let you configure the
receiver to log position at other time intervals (1-second,
5-seconds, 30-seconds, etc), or at a distance interval
(every 10ft, 50ft, 5280ft, etc). There are a
number of other options that can be changed, including:
power savings mode on/off (turns off after a set idle-time),
auto wake-up mode, tagging functions (let's you tag a
location manually), minimum-logging-speed (stops logging
below a set speed).
Running the GPS is a no-brainer, and getting
data into the PC isn't much more difficult. After
plugging the GPS into a USB port you just run the
phototrackr software, click a couple of icons, and the
program does the rest. The log files are stored in a
custom-format text file that can be processed into a file of
raw NMEA data, .KML Google Earth files, .GPX files, or as a
Google Map webpage.
Geocoding Software
The phototrackr software is also designed to
geocode .jpg images. It's important to note that
you can geocode with any software that uses .gpx
or NMEA data logs - including jetphoto, GPicSync,
Geosetter, etc. Please see my
notes on geocoding software for a brief review of
geocoding and how some of these programs work.
read the notes below for more info...](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=5088510&Size=Thumb&AlbumKey=zWhvw&rand=3153 "Gisteq Phototrackr Lite (DPL700) review :
GiSTEQ DPL700 PhotoTrackr
The DPL700 \"PhotoTrackr Lite\" by GiSTEQ is a recent
entry into the miniature GPS-receiver tracking/logging device market.
It is a no-frills, small, efficient GPS logging device
designed for geocoding images in post-processing.
There are three major complaints people
have with the DPL700
It requires propriety
(PC-only) software to download
track-logs (it is not seen by the computer
as a "storage device")
The software requires
"activation", which has caused problems for
some users
The battery-door can has
proven to be fragile and problematic
Software
The DPL700 comes with a mini-CD loaded with
device drivers that work on Windows XP and Vista, allowing
the propriety GiSTEQ geocoding software to communicate with
the DPL700 via a virtual com-port through the USB cable.
The instructions for initial set-up are included on a
printed sheet and for the most part are very simple to
follow. GiSTEQ did not, however, mention
needing to activate the software, what the activation code
was, or that the PC needed to be on the internet to complete
the activation process. Having read previous gripes
about the GPS on the internet I was prepared, but I can see
where this process could annoy some buyers.
How big a deal was activation though?
It was no big deal at all. You stick the GiSTEQ
mini-CD in your machine, let it install their software and
drivers, then you run the phototrackr software.
An "activation" screen will pop-up the first time you run
the software, but all you need do is enter the key-code on
the CD-sleeve. The rest is automatic. I've read
a lot of stories about how terrible the activation process
is - but it literally only took me the time to type in the
key-code. I had no problems installing the
software.
Software Updates
My DPL700's disk came with older software on
it. The phototrackr program checked for, and found
two program updates. Having to upgrade right out
of the box may annoy some people but it only took a few
minutes, and was painless.
Google Maps
Here's something that might well annoy a lot
of folks: the phototrackr software features a built-in map
that shows your tracks and photo-locations. It uses
Google Maps, using the same data Google Earth,
Smugmug, and others use. Google requires that each
user acquire a Google Map API Key before their maps
can be used. The good news is the key (and maps) are
completely free. The bad news is you have to get a
Google account (ie: gmail) from Google, log into their site,
agree to their terms, then allow phototrackr to install your
custom APL key.
Some of the less internet-savvy users might
find the whole process of getting an API-Key somewhat
daunting. The truth is it is a very fast, free, and
private process that truly is no big deal. It just
takes a few extra steps before you can use the key.
For those of us that don't want to be
bothered, phototrackr will work just fine without the
API-Key, and the mapping functions.
Operating the GPS
What's to operate? You just turn the
GPS on and let it figure out where it is. Out of the
box the DPL700 is configured to log it's position every 10
seconds, and to turn itself off if it doesn't move for 15
minutes. While that is probably sufficient for most
people, the phototrackr software will let you configure the
receiver to log position at other time intervals (1-second,
5-seconds, 30-seconds, etc), or at a distance interval
(every 10ft, 50ft, 5280ft, etc). There are a
number of other options that can be changed, including:
power savings mode on/off (turns off after a set idle-time),
auto wake-up mode, tagging functions (let's you tag a
location manually), minimum-logging-speed (stops logging
below a set speed).
Running the GPS is a no-brainer, and getting
data into the PC isn't much more difficult. After
plugging the GPS into a USB port you just run the
phototrackr software, click a couple of icons, and the
program does the rest. The log files are stored in a
custom-format text file that can be processed into a file of
raw NMEA data, .KML Google Earth files, .GPX files, or as a
Google Map webpage.
Geocoding Software
The phototrackr software is also designed to
geocode .jpg images. It's important to note that
you can geocode with any software that uses .gpx
or NMEA data logs - including jetphoto, GPicSync,
Geosetter, etc. Please see my
notes on geocoding software for a brief review of
geocoding and how some of these programs work.
read the notes below for more info...")
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| All images Copyright © Scott Keating unless otherwise noted - Unauthorized use is prohibited by international law
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| All images Copyright © Scott Keating unless otherwise noted - Unauthorized use is prohibited by international law