Slightly geeky dive boat tracking

[String]

Just had a new phone contract which included free data so thought i'd test.

Using a bluetooth GPS and my new nokia N95 (in a plastic bag in a tupperware box inside a sealed drybag) took the thing on the club boat yesterday for a test.

Using the site http://free.3dtracking.net/ and its software i set it to auto update the track every 1 minute.

The result was the boats location was visible on the internet in real time (1 min steps) for the entire day. Someone testing at home with a web browser was able to see exactly where the boat was at all times and when i got home i downloaded the entire track as a google earth kml to look at.



Interesting to get back and see the speed and route taken and the complete chaos circling from the boat when divers were down. Can also shout at the boat handlers for drifting too far away from the divers at one point



Was a little surprised there was a phone signal off skomer but it seemed to work well enough - forgot to turn it off for the drive home and got moaned at for speeding on the drive home though...

If anyone is really sad and wants to see the raw track it computed:

http://www.hvsac.co.uk/files/geli-sk...twick-geli.kmz


No real point to this post other than to show how bored im getting lately!

[NeilB]

I have a Huawei E220 3G dongle (has that put anyone off yet?) and a Garmin GPS. I can hook the two to my laptop and have Google Earth plot my route in real time. I have used it in the car but not on the boat yet.

When I was sitting on my balcony the position marker was within feet of where I really was.....impressed by the accuracy!

[John63]

Originally Posted by NeilB

I have a Huawei E220 3G dongle (has that put anyone off yet?) and a Garmin GPS. I can hook the two to my laptop and have Google Earth plot my route in real time. I have used it in the car but not on the boat yet.

When I was sitting on my balcony the position marker was within feet of where I really was.....impressed by the accuracy!

So you had al;l that technology to tell you that you were sitting on your own balcony G & T or beer in hand at Saleh I hope !

[String]

Didnt fancy taking my laptop on the boat (given the ride normally breaks things far more robust than that) so just used the phone and bluetooth gps.
The live tracking online option was most interesting for someone sat elsewhere seeing where the boat was. Track download is interesting though mainly for speeds etc.

[ratcliffe]

I don't know whether this is brilliant, or really sad

[ratcliffe]

Hey String!!!! I see you *finally* got a salty dive in! 1 for 22 now

[String]

Yes. 1 dive in zero vis.

....and next weekend blown out already so status quo resumes.

[NeilB]

Originally Posted by ratcliffe

I don't know whether this is brilliant, or really sad

It's really sad.......

But don't we just loooove it!

Don't like the online tracking idea....my wife would know that we are back at the club drinking beer

Laptop on the boat is probably not such a good idea.....you can't see the screen very well sitting on the balcony what chance have I in the full glare of the Middle East sun!

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by String

Didnt fancy taking my laptop on the boat (given the ride normally breaks things far more robust than that) so just used the phone and bluetooth gps.
The live tracking online option was most interesting for someone sat elsewhere seeing where the boat was. Track download is interesting though mainly for speeds etc.

Fascinating stuff, and 20 yrs ago, who could have comprehended it.

Am I the only one who finds this a little bit alarming though? Maybe I'm just paranoid. I'd imagine other people, specifically companies or Govt Agencies could use this capability too, I know people say that if you've done nothing wrong you've nothing to fear but all the same....

[DIVE BUDDHA]

hi ya string first time ive really seen anything like live tracking ,but must admit it looks very good!

are you using the free version ?