Locosys Tools

If you can't run windows applications or prefer commandline tools over GUI applications, the Locosys Tools will be useful for you.

The Locosys Tools are GPL licensed open source (freeware) written in Python.

Included tools

overview.py

Create static html file with information about sbp and sbn files.

readlog.py

Read gps tracklogs from Locosys GT-31 or BGT-31 and write them into a .sbp file.

sbtogpx.py

Convert gps tracklogs from Locosys sbp or sbn file into a single GPS eXchange file.

Download

The second link contains the python scripts, which can be used on any operating system with Python 2.5 or later installed.

Windows standalone executables of Locosys Tools version 1.0 (zip file)
Locosys Tools version 1.0 (zip file)

Requirements

1. Python 2.5 or later
2. pytz World Timezone Definitions for Python
3. USPP 1.0, the Universal Serial Port Python Library
4. Python for Windows Extensions is required on Windows by USPP

Usage

overview.py

Create static html file with information about sbp and sbn files.

Usage: overview.py [-d directory] [--force-reload]
-d: Process sbp and sbn files in directory.
--force-reload: Ignore existing google map images and download them again.

readlog.py

Read gps tracklogs from Locosys GT-31 or BGT-31 and write them into a .sbp file.

Usage: readlog.py [-i] [-v] [-q] [-d outputdir] [-o filename] [--delete] [--deleteWithoutRead] <serial port>
-i: Only print info.
-v: Print debug info.
-q: Quit navilink mode after read/delete.
-d: Use output directory.
-o: Use output filename.
--delete: Delete log from device after successful read.
--deleteWithoutRead: Delete log from device without reading it.

sbtogpx.py

Convert gps tracklogs from Locosys sbp or sbn file into a single GPS eXchange file.

Usage: sbtogpx.py [-z] [-d outputdir] [-o filename] [-t +hh:mm|--autotz] [--maxhdop <value>] [--minsat <value>] <sbp/sbn file>
-z: Compress gpx file with gzip.
-d: Use output directory.
-o: Use output filename.
-t: Use timezone for local time (offset to UTC).
--autotz: Determine timezone from first trackpoint.
--maxhdop: Skip all trackpoints whose hdop is greater than given value.
--minsat: Skip all trackpoints whose satellite count is less than given value.

Note: The time in .gpx files is defined as UTC. If you use the -t or --autotz
option, the time is converted to the timezone, but still marked as UTC.
The used timezone is noted in the <desc> tag.

Changelog

Version 1.0

• overview.py processing speed has been vastly improved.
• overview.py shows point with maximum distance from starting location if it's not the same as the end location.
• overview.py uses reverse geocoding to determine address of start, maximum distance and end points.
• sbtogpx.py can convert the timestamps for either a given timezone or a automatically determined timezone based on the location of the first trackpoint.
• sbtogpx.py can create gzip compressed gpx files (option -z).
• sbtogpx.py creates better formatted gpx files.
• readlog.py retries on read error when deleting tracklog.

Version 0.2

• sbptogpx.py renamed to sbtogpx.py as it now supports both SBP and SBN files.
• sbtogpx.py can now skip trackpoints during export if they exceed a given hdop value and/or have less than given satellites.
• overview.py creates static html file with information about sbp and sbn files.

Version 0.1

• Initial release.

Links

• Locosys Genie GT-31/BGT-31 support download page
• Genie GT-31/BGT-31 Firmware beta releases and setup guide
• Navilink Protocol description (doesn't contain all GT-31/BGT-31 commands!)
• SiRF Binary Protocol Reference Manual
• navilink.pl Perl script for Locosys GT-11/BGT-11 devices (predecessor of the GT-31/BGT-31)
• Several tools are available for geotagging photos with tracklog data; I recommend HappyCamel, which is also freeware written in Python and contains unique features like reverse geocoding.