GBA GPS mapping receiver

GBA GPS mapping receiver
General
Author	Mikhail Sharonov
Type	Other Apps
Version	2
License	Freeware
Last Updated	2005/04/04
Links
Download
Website

GBA GPS is an aplications that allows you to use Game Boy Advance as a mapping receiver and scan maps with a GPS device.

Features

• Up to 20 maps (raster images (scanned maps, satellite images, whatever) of any size.
• Automatic (searches appropriate map when position is out of the current map) or manual switch between maps.
• Always holds current position on the map at the screen center by fast (but in dependence on the speed) and precise scrolling of the map).
• Browse mode allows to view maps (pretty similar to GPS picture viewer).
• GPS fix can be shown/hidden (Time, Number of satellites, Latitude, Longitude and Altitude).
• Adjustable parameters of serial port.
• Shows NMEA messages for debug.
• zoom out to 2x, 4x, 8x.
• Gamma correction of the images.

User guide

What is needed:

• GBA console.
• GBA flash cartridge.
• Any GPS sensor/receiver with NMEA 0183 output (serial (RS232) at 1200, 4800, 9600, 38400, 57600 or 115200 bps).

Note:

• There are many different sensors available, from inexpensive stamp size modules with the price less than $40, GPSR/sensor from Garmin or Magellan and others. Almost all sensors/receivers have NMEA output, but some of them operate only at 4800 bps, this baud rate is currently unsupported. This limitation is due to limitations of GBA UART mode.
• All tests are done with Magellan Meridian GPS.

Screenshots

Changelog

2005/04/04

• Based on your comments new features are implemented in v.2: a) speed b) heading c) auto saving the settings and the last position on the map.
• New menu items are added to the GBA program.
• New default settings are added to the ROM maker program to turn on and off the heading marker and to select units for the speed (MPH, Km/H).
• Screens (GPS fix - (GPS fix+speed) - (speed only) - nothing) are switchable in turn with the "R" button.
• Auto saving works with flash card with the RAM.
• If no RAM exists or the RAM is not as expected, the map will be loaded with the default settings (not tested, I do not have flash card without RAM). When signal disapears 0 satelites are shown (bug of previous version). I still keep the old version in case ver. 2 has bugs.

2005/03/29

• Pat Crowe have connected Trimble LassenSQ module to GBA . Please see Appendix C for details.

2005/03/18

• Several bugs were fixed in GBA GPS ROM maker.

2005/03/14

• Tested with Garmin Etrex. Works fine.

2005/02/24

• I attached GPS sensor from the Microsoft Street and Trips 2005 bundle (see Appendix B for details). It has slightly different NMEA output format, I did support of NMEA more flexible, now my program reads both Meridian GPS and Microsoft GPS fine.
• Minor bugs fixed in GBA GPS ROM maker.

2005/02/17

• 1200 and 4800 baud rates are added.
• Algorithm of movement is improved (more smooth scrolling).
• Menu "settings" is added to GBA maker program to change default settings.

External links

• Author's website - http://www.msh-tools.com/GBA/gbagps.html (archived)