GPS Data Logger versions

v3.2 [Jun 7, 2011]
- Possible fix (under test.) Problem: The GPS input signal processing thread randomly deadlocks. The deadlock prevents the thread from finishing. The reception of a new GPS NMEA sentence creates a new thread to process the sentence. The result of the deadlocks is an increasing thread count and memory usage over time. After about 24-hours the thread count will be over 100 and the CPU usage will be near 70 percent. In this fix, the Windows Task Manager should now display a thread count for the GpsDataLogger of less than about 40. The idle CPU usage should be less than about 5 percent. If (with this version) the thread count still increases to a high level, the thread count can sometimes be reduced by closing the GPS serial port on the Settings Tab. Wait a few seconds for the threads to finish processing and for the garbage collector to free the memory. After a few seconds, you can re-open the serial port and the thread count and memory usage should be near to the initial value at program startup. Alternatively, you can to restart the application.
- Changed the clock reset routine to use the more accurate time data provided by the above fix.
- Added a user selectable maximum seconds time error clock reset trigger to the "Clock" tab.
- Fixed the zoom-in and center position error when world image size was less than the window size.
- Fixed range ring [RR] distance error. Now it matches the distance and bear [D/b] value.
- Fixed NMEA tab data scrolling problem.
- Fixed some alarm check errors during simulation.
- Fixed simulator turn point error.
- The "Change program data folder" button of the "Settings" tab. The function now prompts for the new application data folder and then re-initializes the application without an application restart.
- Added missing "Options" menu and "Track" plot help.
- Added tab visibility check to reduce processing overhead when update is not required. If tab is selected, graphic data is updated.
- Added preference save/restore for track plot view options. Previously, the program displayed the infor bar, navigation bar, tool bar, status bar and menu at startup. The view of each item is now selectable.
- Added System Registry entries for the program data folder location and the current waypoint list. This addition will make re-installations of the program easier for any release following but not including this release.
- Fixed errors that prevented reception of Garmin GPS NMEA input.
- Changed the COM port search so that it does not automatically search for a GPS COM port after a failed connection.
- After connecting to the GPS port, the program now waits for sentences to appear and displays a "No GPS signal" message in the status bar. Some GPS receivers require several minutes to acquire a FIX and to begin the output of NMEA sentences. This caused the program to fail to connect to some Garmin GPS receivers.
- Added $GPGLL sentence processing for Garmin NMEA.
- Added "... IGNORE" on the "NMEA tab" for proprietary $PG..., and other unprocessed GPS sentences such as $GPBOD, $GPRTE, and $GPRMB.
- Fixed a system clock setting error caused by a lag in input data processing. If the lag exceeds 1000 ms, the clock is not reset.
- Fixed the "Track" tab "View" settings so the program would restore the prior view upon startup. If the menu was displayed when the program was closed, then the menu will appear again after the program restarts. The settings were not saved if the "Track" tab was not viewed when the program shutdown.
- Removed the "Start with" from the "Auto Scale Settings" form. On program restart, the program will display on the "Track" tab the data at the prior scale and (lat,lon) that was inuse when the program shutdown.
- Changed the "Clock" tab table to show the "Interval" in hours between settings and the "ms / Hour" clock drift. The drift can be more than 100 ms / hour and is a function of the system operating temperature and voltage and their affect upon the hardware clock. This change will cause the prior clock reset log to be replaced by the new data format.
- Added an Enable clock setting checkbox to the Clock tab. If unchecked, the program will not attempt to set the clock. If checked, then the program will attempt to set the clock. Note: An attempted clock setting will fail if the program is not run as Administrator to enable the clock setting privelege. For more info, see the help for the Clock tab.
- Updated the program Help.