GPS loggers and Macs: why can't we all get along?

The state of the union between inexpensive GPS loggers and the Mac is not so good improving.

As far as I know:

• The AMOD AGL3080 mounts as a USB drive on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and is therefore fully compatible.
• The Sony GPS-CS1 / GPS-CS1KA will mount as a USB drive but only on Intel Macs running OS X 10.4.9 and 10.4.10 (it doesn't work under Leopard 10.5 or 10.5.1) and is fully supported under Mac OS X 10.5.3 ONLY
  • However note: the GPS-CS1 is obsolete.  The new model that replaces it, the Sony GPS-CS3KA mounts as a USB drive under Mac OS X without any problems.  Tested with OS X 10.4.11
• The Globalsat DG-100 uses a serial interface protocol and only works on Windows
  • there is an initiative to get it to work using gpsbabel
  • there is an initiative to get it to work using LoadMyTracks
  • a combination of C code and a USB driver is reported to work on a Mac
• The Qstarz BT Q-1000 only works on Windows is supported on Windows, and on Mac using BT747.  (I have reviewed this GPS logger.)
• The Holux M-241 also works on a Mac using BT747, including over Bluetooth.  (I have reviewed the M-241.)
• The Wintec WBT-201 / 200 / 100 is supported via gpsbabel on a Mac.  This support is also incorporated into HoudahGeo for the Mac.
• The GISTEQ PhotoTrackr and PhotoTrackr Lite only work on Windows is supported on Windows with GISTEQ's own software, and on Mac with a version of JetPhoto.  (I have reviewed this GPS logger.)

Support efforts:

• Sony GPS-CS1 for Mac
• Boris Mann wants to use used Crowd Clout to buy at least 5 Globalsat DG-100s and (I think) gave one to the LoadMyTracks developers so they can make the software compatible.
• Hexten has info about the WBT-201 compatibility developed for gpsbabel.
• gpsbabel is also working on DG-100 support
• BT747 supports i-Blue, iTrek, and Qstarz, and the Holux M-241 GPS loggers on the Mac and other platforms (note: I have only tested Qstarz BT-Q1000 and Holux M-241 compatibility)
• Kevin Jaako has modified Mirko Parthey's dg100.c code, and successfully compiled and run it on a Mac (using a Prolific USB driver from SourceForge)

I suggest:
* Get Semsons connected with Mac GPS driver developers, in particular, free units to gpsbabel developers (which has the advantage of being cross-platform, so many users benefit, not just Mac users).

* Someone buy Steve Jobs a GPS and get him into geocoding photos.  Or convince him to put GPS-compatible mapping in the next generation of iPhone / iPhoto / MacBook / OS X and his reality-distortion strange attractor field will have developers clambering over one another to make their devices compatible.

UPDATE 2007-08-15: A question from me about Mac support for GPS loggers has now been posted to Macintouch

Also as you can see in the comments below, Mac support for the DG-100 in gpsbabel may be coming.  Please lend your support to these efforts if you can.

UPDATE 2007-11-20:  Updated info above based on Sony GPS-CS1 for Mac blog (Leopard and 10.4.11) and additional comments.

UPDATE 2007-11-23: See Sony GPS Logger On The Go - bridge to your Mac for one possiblity to use the Sony GPS-CS1 with a Mac or any other device that supports USB storage.

UPDATE 2007-12-21: It is reported that new versions of the Amod AGL3080 GPS Data Logger (SiRF III, Driverless, 128MB, Push to Log) (Windows and Mac Image Software included) are working well (there had been some GPS sensitivity issues as reported in a number of reviews).  It supports Windows and Mac out of the box, it works like a USB memory key (the same as the Sony GPS-CS1).

UPDATE 2008-01-03: AMOD is offering 4 AGL3080s for review by Mac users only.  First come, first serve.

UPDATE 2008-01-08: All four AMOD units have now been sent, the offer is now closed.

UPDATE 2009-02-16: Apple did in fact add GPS-compatible mapping to iPhoto 09.

Comments

[Robert Lipe]

Hi, I'm the Chief (GPS)Babel-head.

Within recent weeks, a developer in Germany contactd me as he's developed a GPSBabel module for the DG-100. He's a Linux developer, but I steered him down a path that should make it work with Mac. The integration got trapped behind the release of GPSBabel 1.3.4 this week, but it likely to be checked in soon. I've had exactly one request to support this unit, so I can't say it's been at the top of my priorities. Get a handful of folks to cover the cost of the hardware (be sure to mention that when they checkout) and I'll buy one and exercise it on Mac.

WBT-201 is in 1.3.4 and works well on Mac. Andy's done a great job on that for us and I now have one to help him support that. I like the size and the way it interfaces over the Bluetooth in the MBP.

I was under the impression that the reason for the USB changes in 10.4.10 was to improve compatibility with mass storage devices - and Apple's USB group was aware of the Sony problem - so I'm surprised that 10.4.10 didn't help with that.

We also recently added support for the GISTeq format which is just slightly mangled NMEA. That's new in 1.3.4

So most of your wish list should show signs of improvement on GPSBabel 1.3.4 (and thus programs that use GPSBabel under the hood.) The DG-100 work is in progress and needs to be exercised on a Mac. Whether that's done by someone else with the needed hardware working with us or a handful of folks chipping in to cover the hardware costs and me doing it doesn't much matter to me - we've done both many times over the years.

I don't follow this blog, so follow up with me if needed via the GPSBabel lists, please. If you want to contact me privately, firstnamelastname at the org of gpsbabel will do.

[Alex]

I'm reading this a bit late, but I've got one to add (and I have to say this one took a while to find).

A company (one-man, apparently) in New Hampshire is making open-source-ish GPS loggers that log in plain NMEA onto SD cards. I purchased one some time ago, and it works well on my Mac (as well as any system with gpsbabel and a card reader):
http://ohararp.com/products.html
It uses the SIRFstar chip, which as far as I understand is among the most accurate available (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SiRFstar_III).

[David Gustavson]

Based on online comments, I recently bought the Qstarz BT-Q1000 32CH & 32HR Bluetooth GPS Data Logger Travel Recorder (Q1000...
Just under $100. It's extremely sensitive--I routinely get fixes inside single-floor California dwellings, which never happened to me with earlier GPS devices. It logs to internal memory, or can be a live GPS via BlueTooth (but I haven't found the software I need for my Palm Treo 650 yet--I want the GPS to link up with Google Maps, not make me download maps from a DVD before my trip). The online discussion recommended it as far superior to the Sony logger. I want to use it to automatically add GPS to the Exifs of photos taken on all of my family's cameras during a trip...

I run it under Parallels/Win XP on my MacBook Pro, but I'd love to have direct Mac support for it as there's otherwise little need for WinXP in my life. How's that coming along??

[Robert Lipe]

Just as an update (which I know I promised not to do) the DG-100 support in GPSBabel has exposed a driver defect in the Prolific drivers on Mac. It loses data. A test case has been sent to Globalsat in the hopes they can work with their vendor (Prolific) to get the driver 1.2.1r2 fixed.

[Eric]

Has anyone heard any reviews of the Amod AGL3080? It supposedly is "driverless" and thus will work with a mac. But one onlinne review made the gps tracking seem pretty innaccurate. "Like a drunken sailor."

What is the story with this unit? I'd really like to get a data logger for the holidays to track my ski runs.

[CYW]

The [AMOD AGL3080] problem has been fixed and was reviewed by GPSPassion again lately. You can check the updated review from GPSPassion (http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=98383)

[Greg]

I have just purchased a ZyCast SG-289. This logs to an SD card, making it fully compatible with Mac OS X and Linux. Review available here: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/bluetooth_gps_datalogger_review_zycast_sg-289.php

[barracuda]

anyone can tell me if the Sony now works in OS X 10.5.2? it's a new update, so maybe it fixed the issues with the sony device.

[strider]

Still no luck with the Sony CS1 on OSX 10.5.2. I have tried the .kext-hack (http://macgpscs1.blogspot.com/) with no success on an Intel dualcore iMac.

[Bas]

Does anyone work with GPSPhotoLinker on a 10.5 system? I have just upgraded my computer and it is now running 10.5. I have downloaded the stable beta version of GPSPhotoLinker. It is stable, but it doesn'n put the GPS info into my photos (not in JPEG, TIFF nor RAW). Since I think that PhotoGPSEditor is way to complicated and too hard to get a good fix and my experiences with GPSPhotoLinker on a 10.4 system were superb, I am really anxious to get the software to run. Does anyone have a good idea or another good program which does the same? It seems like I am the only one dealing with this problem (I have googled a lot). Thanks in advance.

[Tom]

The Sony stick reportedly works after the 10.5.3 update

[Bruce]

We can now add the GlobalSat BT-335 GPS receiver and data logger to the list of Mac-compatible options. The downloadable (soon to be bundled) OS X GlobalSync utility allows log download with conversion to GPX or KML as well as configuration of device settings:

http://www.bioneural.net/2008/06/24/geotagging-with-the-mac-friendly-globalsat-bt-335/

[Rory]

Would anyone suggest what to purchase to track international travel - my wife and I travel a lot and would like to record our travel on a map. The trips range from the antartica, maldives, persian gulf.... Thanks.