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Tracky runs very very slow, even on my very fast and modern PDA!

 

Key

You have probably installed Tracky on your SD card. Install it in main memory, and try again. The preferred configuration is to install Tracky in main memory for performance reasons, and to configure the data folders (see Config->Settings->Data) and cache folder (see Config->Settings->Internet) on your SD card, to save valuable main memory. After you did so, you can delete the folders ‘data’, ‘examples’, and ‘cache’ in main memory which you can find in the same folder as where you have installed Tracky.

1

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Nothing happens when I start Tracky, I only see the icon DeleteUser.

 

Key

You do not receive a valid GPS data. This means that either the GPS receiver is not receiving valid data (e.g. you are not in open air), or you did not yet configure the connection to your GPS device (see manual and below). Note that GPS receivers sometimes require very much time to receive valid data. Especially when a GPS receiver is being used the very first time or when its battery has run out, it sometimes can take 30 minutes (!!!!) to find a lock.

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Can I use Tracky at the same time when running TomTom and/or other navigation software?

 

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Yes you can. At least if you are running Windows Mobile 5 or higher. These operating systems support a virtual GPS port to which Tracky can connect. Other GPS applications that can connect to this virtual port will not be influenced by Tracky, so can run in parallel.

3

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I thought Tracky had something to do with Star Trek, why can’t I find any Star Trek stuff on this site?

 

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You probably mean ‘Trekkie’, by which a Star Trek addict is meant. Tracky can however very well be used by Trekkies, no problem. Bear in mind however that GPS coverage is currently limited to planet earth, so it can not be used in outer space.

4

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The maps are not shown. Instead, I see gray boxes.

 

Key

Not all image formats are supported on older PDA versions. This is fixed in Tracky version 1.2.1 (or higher), at least for images of the .bmp format. Furthermore, map images cannot be rotated. Be sure that the screen is oriented north, see menu ‘Config’->’Settings’->’tab View’ and select ‘north’ for orientation.

5

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I have problems configuring my GPS!

 

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Go to the menu ‘Config’ and select ’GPS’. The GPS status indicator should have a green bar and this bar should be moving/flashing, indicating valid data is being received from the GPS unit: naamloos. On WM5 or WM6 (Windows Mobile 5 or 6), the GPS configuration is automatically selected initially. You can trigger this automatic configuration by starting Tracky after you have deleted the file ‘settings.xml’ which is in the same folder as where you installed Tracky.

If this does not work for you, or if you have an older operating system (e.g. PocketPC2003), then you can manually select a port via which to connect to your GPS. If you don’t know which port to choose, you can just try each of them and see whether it works. With a proper port selection, the GPS status indicator will start moving/flashing (green or red). Once you have succeeded in this, you should choose a proper baud rate setting after which the GPS status indicator will turn into green (while still moving/flashing). First select 4800 baud and iterate through each port, one at a time. Most probably, you need to select port COM1, COM2, COM4, COM7, or COM8.

If this does not work… Sometimes, Tracky has problems closing a port, and will then also not proceed to open the newly selected port. To be sure each port setting is effectuated, restart Tracky each time you try a new port.

If this still does not work… On some PDAs (at least several HP iPAQs), the GPS is ‘managed’ by the operating system, which gives Tracky problems to access it. To overcome this, follow these steps:

1)    Get a registry editor for your PDA, e.g. download the free PHM Registry Editor at http://www.phm.lu/products or http://www.phm.lu/downloads/download.aspx?{940B734A-C437-41C7-ADED-2A4418802FD3} (choose version “Pocket PC 2002, 2003 (ARM/PXA)”, copy the .CAB file to your PDA and run this file on your PDA)

2)    Start the registry editor and go to ´HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Control Panel/GPS Settings´ and change the value for the key ´Hide´ from ´1´ to ´0´.

3)    Reboot your PDA

4)    Go to the menu ´Start->Settings->System´ and you will see ´GPS´

5)    Click this icon, and go to the last tab and uncheck ´Let Windows manage my GPS´.

6)    Now again try selecting the port and baud rate as described above.

If this still does not work… You can download a little tool called ´GpsGate (Express)´ from www.franson.com . With this tool, you will get the GPS working in just a glance. Note that the tool does not come for free, but costs around 10 Euros.

If this still does not work… then … you probably have a defective or non-compliant GPS unit.

 

 

 

6

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The hybrid GoogleMaps do not work.

 

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This was a known problem and it is fixed in Tracky 3.0 and newer versions. But even in these newer versions, strange colors can appear if you are running Windows 6.1 or higher. Please use street, satellite, or terrain maps instead, since these should work just fine. Furthermore, regularly check if ROM updates are available for your PDA, since such updates can solve this problem.

7

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The settings are not stored, e.g. each time I start Tracky I need to select the language and configure the GPS settings, etc.

 

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You probably have some kind of task manager installed. Quit Tracky using the menu option ‘Config’->’Quit’ instead of pushing the upper-right x-button.

8

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I love the online GoogleMaps, but since I don’t have internet on my PDA in the field, I need to download and cache them at home when hooked-up to my PC. This is a tedious job, isn’t there an easier way?

 

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Yes there is! At least two PC tools allow you to download the maps you need:

1) gMapMaker (free!)

·          Check out the website www.mapcacher.com where you can (see instruction 1 – 4 at the bottom of this website):

o    Draw an area on the map (by clicking on the map and dragging the markers).

o    Specify zoom levels.

o    Specify level of detail (this determines the precision of the border of the drawn area).

o    Specify map type (choose ‘Google Road Maps’, ‘Google Satellite Images’, ‘Google Satellite Images with Road Maps Overlayed’, or ‘Google Terrain Maps’).

o    Press the button ‘Generate!’ to export a ‘.map’ file and save it on your PC.

·          Install and run the latest version of the tool ‘gMapMaker’ tool as listed on www.mgmaps.com/cache/ :

o    (optionally) Choose a proper ‘Cache folder’.

o    Set ‘Operating mode’ to ‘MGMap mode, use a .map file’.

o    Press the button ‘Go...’ and choose the ‘.map file’ which you have just generated.

o    The maps download now starts. Depending on the area size and zoom levels, this may take a while. Wait until the download is completed and press the button ‘Close’.

·          Download the zip file MGMaps2Tracky.zip:

o    Unzip it and save the batch file ‘MGMaps2Tracky.bat’ in the ‘Cache folder’ as you used for the gMapMaker tool. This is the same folder as where the tool ‘gMapMaker’ has created the subfolder ‘MGMapsCache’. Do not put the batch file into the subfolder ‘MGMapsCache’, but place it one level up, i.e., next to this subfolder.

o    Run it by double clicking it. You will see that a new subfolder ‘cache’ will be created in which all maps will be copied in the format which is recognized by Tracky.

o    Copy the contents of this folder to your Tracky cache folder on your PDA (see Tracky menu Config->Settings->Internet).

o    Restart Tracky and you will see that the maps will show-up where you expect them to show up! Be sure to have GoogleMaps enabled (See Tracky menu Map->GoogleMaps).

note 1:   Make sure your maximum cache size as configured in Tracky is larger than the total size of the cache folder since Tracky will otherwise free-up storage size by deleting cached maps (see Tracky menu Config->Settings->Internet).

note 2:   When copying files from your PC to your PDA, use ActiveSync (Windows XP or older) or Windows Mobile Device Center (Windows Vista). If you for example insert the SD card of your PDA directly in your PC to copy these files, these files may get changed and become unusable.

note 3:   You can easily repeat the above steps for all areas in which you are interested, e.g., at different zoom levels and/or map types. Just make sure all resulting files are copied to the Tracky cache folder.

note 4:   All the above is based on free tools. Please consider donating some money or at least a big ‘thank you’ to the guys who made these great tools!

 

2) Google Maps Downloader (30Euro for each tool)

Check out the PC tools from AllAllSoft.com. With Google Maps Downloader 4.69 (and higher), you can download all the street maps for any given region and zoom level on your PC. And with Google Satellite Maps Downloader 4.26 (and higher) you can download satellite maps on your PC. If you choose “gm_x_y_z.png” or “gs_x_y_z.jpg” in the “Options” menu as file name format, then you can simply copy the generated map files to Tracky’s cache folder in order to use them in Tracky. Take care you have configured sufficient cache size in Tracky, see menu ‘Config’->’Settings’->’Internet' otherwise Tracky will immediately (partially) clean-up the map files.

 

9

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My current position is not properly detected, instead, it is jumping in all directions over gigantic distances!

 

Key

This is probably due to some software lock for the GPS device applied by your mobile operator. The reason behind this is that they try to prevent you from using other GPS software. Search for ROM updates for your device since probably someone removed this lock already… If you for example have an HTC Touch (XV6900) of Verizon, then read here how to upgrade your ROM:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=555174#post555174

10

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I have read this manual but I cannot find any place on my PDA to enter my PDA owner name, so I cannot apply for a license key!

 

Key

You probably have an HTC running WindowsMobile 6.5 or higher. For some reason, the guys at HTC removed the “Owner Information” screen where you can fill-in your PDA Owner Name. First try to:

1)    Open contact (on the top you have "New contact" and "ME").

2)    Open "ME".

3)    Fill-in the name, this name is used for the license key.

4)    Save.

5)    Start Tracky, you will then see the specified name in the screen Config->License.

If this still does not work, then you can easily get the “Owner Information” screen back by a small registry hack. Don’t get scared now, you can fix this with only little technical background by following these steps:

1)    Get a registry editor for your PDA, e.g. download the free PHM Registry Editor at http://www.phm.lu/products or http://www.phm.lu/downloads/download.aspx?{940B734A-C437-41C7-ADED-2A4418802FD3} (choose version “Pocket PC 2002, 2003 (ARM/PXA)”, copy the .CAB file to your PDA and run this file on your PDA)

7)    Start the registry editor and go to ´HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Control Panel/Owner´ and change the value for the key ´Hide´ from ´1´ to ´0´.

2)    Reset your PDA

3)    Now go to the start menu, tap the ‘Settings’ iconSettings, choose ‘All settings’, then tap the ‘Personal’ iconPersonal, and you will now see the ‘Owner Information’ icon Owner Information. Tap it and you will be able to enter your name. This name is used for the license key.

4)    Start Tracky, you will then see the specified name in the screen Config->License.