Loading Tracks from a GPS

You can upload tracks directly from a compatible GPS. Currently, TackTracker supports the QStarz BT-Q1000 series GPS travel recorder, the BT-1300ST and the AMOD AGL 3080 logger.

If you don't have a QStarz BT-Q1000 series, you will need to use the software that came with your GPS to upload your tracks and save them to a file. TackTracker can load GPX files, and Velocitek's VCC files. Most GPS types can save to GPX.

OK, I'll save to a GPX or VCC file. What do I do then?

If you have a QStarz BT-Q1000 series, you can upload your data directly into TackTracker without using other software.

Your first step is to connect your GPS. Plug it in to the computer via the USB cable and switch it on to LOG. Then open the TrackLoader dialog, using this button:

If you do not have the Track Loader button, you do not have a valid Race Editor license installed. Click the button and the Track Loader dialog will appear:

To load your GPS tracks, connect your QStarz GPS using the USB cable, switch to LOG and click "Load Tracks from GPS":

If your GPS connects successfully, you will see the GPS Upload Dialog. The model of GPS will be displayed, along with the current Latitude and Longitude reading.

The next panel, Saved Identification, lets people with the BT-Q1000X and XT model GPS record their name and boat details in the GPS memory. If your GPS does not support this feature, the panel will be grayed out.

Name: This is what appears in the track plot window. Use whatever people recognise you by - it could be your name or your boat name or a sail number.

Details: Other identification that appears in the Select tab.

Color: A color will be selected for you. You can select another color if you wish.

Craft: Select the best representation of your craft: select from Small Mono, Large Mono, Catamaran and Sailboard.

The boat Length is used to display the boat avatar to scale - when zooming right in.

Note that the GPS has limited space (around 30 characters) for storing this information. You may need to abbreviate long names. Note also that the "Name" field is used to create the track file - so may only contain valid filename characters.

The Track Data panel shows you how many records were logged and at what interval:

To upload the data from the GPS into TackTracker, press the Upload Tracks button.

After uploading, you will be returned to the Track Loader.

All tracks loaded from your GPS are automatically saved to the Loaded Tracks holding area in the Track Loader.

You may optionally check "Reset when upload complete" to reset the GPS after the data is uploaded.

The Setup panel lets you reset the tracker to clear all logged data, set the logging interval and action to take if memory is full. Don't do this until your data is uploaded into TackTracker!