BT747 for Mac access to iBlue, iTrek and Qstarz GPS loggers

Summary

There is good news and bad news.  The good news is that I can add another GPS logger to the Mac compatible list: the MTK-chipset Qstarz BT-Q1000.  Using the BT747 software and USB driver software, you can download the logs from the Qstarz.

The bad news is that this capability doesn't extend to the GiSTEQ DPL700 PhotoTrackr Lite.  While it also has the MTK chipset, it uses a different USB-to-serial chipset.  I was unable to find a Mac OS X driver for this chipset.

Details

After reading my blog comments and the forums on gpspassion.com (particularly Discussing MTK receivers and Tips and Tweaks), I gradually clued in that it's possible to access a number of GPS loggers that use the MTK chipset using the Java software BT747.  This software runs on a Mac (and other Java platforms).  It does require an additional layer of a driver to be able to access the GPS USB port though.  I recommend starting at the wiki page:

http://bt747.wiki.sourceforge.net/

It is not yet something that's particularly easy for a non-technical user, I have to say.  I followed the instructions provided for the Mac EXACTLY.  I have a PowerBook G4 running Mac OS X 10.4.10 and I was connecting to the Qstarz BT-Q1000.

1. Bluetooth

This requires no special driver. 

Using Bluetooth I was able to connect to the Q1000 (the pairing code, incidentally, is 0000 ) to get live position information (so called GPS-mouse mode), but I gather it requires a hardware hack to enable the ability to control the device (in order to download logs). 

2. USB port

I installed the USB-to-serial driver, it's a simple install followed by a reboot.

3. GPS track joy

Then I was into the software and it worked -- almost -- without a hitch.  I discovered that I had to set a file path in the File tab first, otherwise I got an error "Could not open /BT747/BT747log.bin (-1)".

Once I set the path (I'm using /Users/myusername/documents/ ), I was able to click on Get Log and... wonderful... logged GPS track data finally flowing into my Mac.

It creates a raw binary file, but using buttons on the Log screen you can convert it within the software to NMEA, GPX, and other formats (it will write a new, converted file "GPSDATA-date.format" to your destination directory).

That's all there is to it - from there you can use the data to geocode photos using your Mac software of choice.  I will be trying it out with HoudahGEO and writing that up in an upcoming posting.

SIDEBAR: The necessary driver for the DPL700 would be for

Atmel chipset, Vendor ID: 0x03eb / Product ID: 0x6126 

There is an implementation of this driver in Linux, that is used in the iTU4l ("Linux-Tools for the XAiOX iTrackU and Gisteq PhotoTrackr GPS-Logger") software, but I wasn't able to find a driver for Mac OS X.  If anyone knows of one (or can write one), please let me know / make it so.  END SIDEBAR

UPDATE 2007-12-21: I did try BT747 (version 1.23) on Windows with the DPL700.  It can connect to it and get a GPS location (blacked out in image below), and determine that it's running MTK 2.0 firmware, but it can't retrieve logs.

I have posted a message to the support forum.

UPDATE 2008-01-24: Further examination of the communications by Mario (BT747 developer) indicates that the DPL700 uses a custom binary format for its downloads, so "Get Log" won't be supported in BT747 any time soon.

Comments

[eirikso]

I never managed to get the BT747 to work. However, Mac Travel Recorder works out of the box. Simply connect the Qstarz BT-Q1000P to the Mac through BlueTooth. No drivers needed. Start the Mac Travel Recorder software and download the tracks. Simple as that. The Mac Travel Recorder also gives you complete control of the configuration of the Qstarz. You find it here:
http://www.mrose.nl/mactravelrecorder/

[Mario]

BT747 has evolved.
An interface for the desktop has been created and it can be installed directly from the web:
http://bt747.free.fr

[e]

QStarz's new BT-Q1000X (has a new MTK II chip) works with BT747 Desktop Application V1.61.3 running on Mac OS 10.5.5

See discussion here:
https://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?thread_id=2749263&forum_id=696105

[Dirk]

Hi. Since a while there is a new version of bt747 available, that looks much better on MacOS (and Linux and Windows) than the PDA-version. Take a look at bt747.free.fr - the new homepage.

For some screenshots look here: http://www.haased.de/gps_ge/bt747_start.html - in German only. Sorry.