Solmeta GMAX-EOS / GMAX-EOS2 Log File Interpretation Resource

[GLCobarr]

I popped open my Solmeta GMAX-EOS2 log file and found myself staring at a boatload of information, of which less than 20% i could recognize.

I proceeded to search for a way to interpret the log file, which is a NMEA file type.

NMEA standing for National Marine Electronics Association.

I found Richard Torens' How To read Solmeta GMAX log files web page. If you really are deeply curious, there is another page that will keep you busy with all minutia of GPS sentences, GPS - NMEA sentence information , also useful but Richard's page lays out the specifics of the of the Solmeta GMAX-EOS formats the information.

I have some skills in database development so I'm building a way to store, search and read these files in a more convenient fashion. I couldn't pull that off without folks like Richard Torens spending their hard earned time constructing these types of resources.

God bless him.

Sample from his page of a typical log entry:

$GPRMC,091444.00,A,5251.72674,N,00226.30992,W,2.129,90.25,061017,,,D*58
$PTNTHPR,85.2,N,19.5,N,-2.6,N*1F
$GPGGA,091443.00,5251.72691,N,00226.31152,W,6,12,0.75,99.5,M,48.7,M,0000,0000*77
$GPGSA,A,3,27,16,08,21,26,07,10,18,11,30,,,1.07,0.75,0.77*0

 

[PicPocket]

I popped open my Solmeta GMAX-EOS2 log file and found myself staring at a boatload of information, of which less than 20% i could recognize.

I proceeded to search for a way to interpret the log file, which is a NMEA file type.

NMEA standing for National Marine Electronics Association.

I found Richard Torens' How To read Solmeta GMAX log files web page. If you really are deeply curious, there is another page that will keep you busy with all minutia of GPS sentences, GPS - NMEA sentence information , also useful but Richard's page lays out the specifics of the of the Solmeta GMAX-EOS formats the information.

I have some skills in database development so I'm building a way to store, search and read these files in a more convenient fashion. I couldn't pull that off without folks like Richard Torens spending their hard earned time constructing these types of resources.

God bless him.

Sample from his page of a typical log entry:

$GPRMC,091444.00,A,5251.72674,N,00226.30992,W,2.129,90.25,061017,,,D*58
$PTNTHPR,85.2,N,19.5,N,-2.6,N*1F
$GPGGA,091443.00,5251.72691,N,00226.31152,W,6,12,0.75,99.5,M,48.7,M,0000,0000*77
$GPGSA,A,3,27,16,08,21,26,07,10,18,11,30,,,1.07,0.75,0.77*0

You can also find quite a few NMEA parsing libraries on github covering your language of choice. That allows working with high level APIs without low level data parsing. I remember dealing with them a long time ago when using i-Blue 747 logger. There are also SDKs allowing cross conversion between various GPS data formats if you are ingesting from multiple loggers and normalize to a single storage format

 

[GLCobarr]

Do you know of a software, in my case on a Mac, that could take the NMEA file entries and place them out on a map as a path?

That would be a very helpful tool for me.

 

[PicPocket]

Do you know of a software, in my case on a Mac, that could take the NMEA file entries and place them out on a map as a path?

That would be a very helpful tool for me.

Try GPXSee - https://www.gpxsee.org/

I used to convert all my GPS log files to GPX, which may have more options.

 

[KENTGA]

I shoot Canon and have the Solmeta GPS logger and I also use flickr.com to post my photos and when you upload photos to flickr the GPS map data also uploads and you can scroll down and see the general location on a map and when you click on the map it will get close. My only issue is your data is mixed in with other peoples photos.

I'm going yo follow this thread.

Thanks,

Kent

 

[GLCobarr]

Some additional information from Richard Torens, review of the GMAX-EOS and Solmeta.

At the time that found his very helpful translation of Solmeta Log / NMEA files he had inluded a link, at the top of the page, for his review of the Solmeta GMAX-EOS.

At the time I was there the link was broken and he has since fixed the link and the review is located here, "Solmeta GMAX-EOS review."

It's quite a good review, I have experienced many of the same critiques, good and bad.

For folks considering a purchase of the Solemeta GMAX-EOS or the GMAX-EOS2 it will halp you adjust your expectations and for those who already own one of them, make you feel like you're not alone.

 

[GLCobarr]

Try GPXSee - https://www.gpxsee.org/

I used to convert all my GPS log files to GPX, which may have more options.

Thanks! Just downloaded the software, can't wait to give it a spin.

I'll come back here when I have some meaningful thoughts.