Notices

Hi,

There are many applications for the N900 that can generate kml/kmz GPS tracking files (GPSJinni, GPS recorder...). You can use those files in Google Earth to see the path that you followed. However, I would like to use those GPS tracking files to follow the same path in trekking. Is there any app for the N900 that can use those files to guide you through the same path like when you navigate with the GPS of a car? I do not need any maps, because the paths are in the mountains and there are no paths there.

Thanks a lot.

Hmm, have you tried Marble? At least I'm able to open *.kml tracks previously generated by it

Could you try if you can see your present GPS position in the same map in which the .kml path is shown? I'd prefer not to install Marble if it is not of any help for me, because I have just reflashed my N900 and I'd like to have a clean environment if possible (my mobile behaves much faster now)

Thanks.

Marble is 'safe'. It does not have any background stuff. It is also rather good and will do what it is you ask.

OK, then I will install it and see.

Thank you.

Well, Marble doesn't work. When I try to open a kml file written by other GPS tracking program, Marble just exits to the desktop without error notice. I have not tried using its own kml files, because I have many routes in kml files written by GPS recorder which work perfectly in Google Earth. Any idea?

Maybe you can try modRana ? Even though it doesn't currently support directly loading KML files, it should be relatively easy to convert them to the GPX format modRana supports using the GPSbabel conversion tool.

How to load tracklogs to modRana ?
ModRana loads tracklogs from sub folders in the /home/user/MyDocs/tracklogs folder. The sub folders are used for category names. So for example placing your GPX tracklogs to the /home/user/MyDocs/tracklogs/MyTracklogs will result in them showing up in the MyTracklogs category in the Tracklogs submenu in modRana.

Not using any maps
There are basically two possibilities:

Using an empty map layer: can be selected in Options->Map->Map layers

Disabling map tile download in Options->Network->Network usage

Alternatively you can pre-load the map tiles at home and then disable map tile download once on your way.

modRana also supports track logging
This feature can be accessed from the log a track submenu. GPX is used as the output format and the logging itself should be quite robust (you should get an uncorrupted log even if the software or the device crashes during logging).


So thats it, hope it helps.

Just made 2 quick tests. Tried to open "handmade" kml file with just 4 points - success.
Converted one track recorded with GPS Recorder using its convert option to kml file and tried to open it in Marbel - also success...

You can try your tracks also with desktop Marble: http://edu.kde.org/marble/ to test if the problem is in track format or your N900 Marble.

Thanks for your time. I also tried to open a kml file recorded by GPS Recorder and it failed (exit to desktop). What Marble menu did you use to open the kml file?

I used the Marble main menu > Tracking > Open (small icon between "clear track" and "floppy"), navigated to the location of *.kml file on disk and selected it...