I am looking for a data logger which will record altitude as well as position. I would like to be able to export to Excel (such as a .csv file).

 I see that the GlobalSat DG100 does both these. Does the Canmore GT730 record altitude and does the included software allow export of a file such as .csv or .txt? GlobalSat's site was very helpful, Canmore not so much (!)

Are there any others I should be looking at?

 alexa

Hi Alexa, thanks for your post.

In addition to the DG100, the other unit with support CSVformat is the Columbus V-900 (click here  for the product page):

Here is the sample report from the Columbus V-900 (csv format)

When the unit initially obtains a GPS position fix, it will not have DGPS / WAAS accuracy.

Once the unit has obtained a GPS Position, your GPS application will rely on this information for position data. This is STAGE 1.

After stage 1 is met, the GPS chipset will scan for DGPS signals. (aka WAAS / EGNOS satellites (depending on if you are in USA or Canada ==> WAAS or Europe ==> EGNOS, or MSAS ==> Japan).

As soon as a DGPS is met, the receiver is then promoted to STAGE 2.

From Stage 1 to Stage 2, you will see that the "VALID" column in the above, it changes from SPS to DGPS.

If you are familiar with DOP, the excel file also include all the 3 DOPs: PDOP, HDOP, and VDOP.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the great response.

I am not familiar with the DOPs. I'll read up but any pointers would be appreciated.

I think I'll go for the GlobalSat since I would prefer a USB over Bluetooth (plus it's cheaper!). Is there anything to choose as far as accuracy goes?

alexa

 Hi Alexa,

DOP = Dilution of precision (Please learn more at WiKipedia)

The Globalsat DG-100 is WAAS enabled by factory default and if WAAS signal is received in your location, you should be getting about 1 to 5 meters 2D accuracy. 

Yes, the Columbus V-900 is slightly more accurate with 2.5 meters (95% of the time) under WAAS / EGNOS.

Hope this helps.

Excellent, thanks. I'll read up on DOP and be back!

 alexa.

Another question - looking at some or the .gpx files on openstreetmap I see some people have posts with an altitude precision of less than a metre. The Columbus unit and the GlobalSat appear to report altitude 1 metre precision.

Is there a logger which will report a greater precision? I now can extract the information from .gpx files, so am not limited to .csv outputs.

Regards.

Unfortunately not, we do not have anything with better accuracy than those in Globalsat or Columbus.

 When you say

"Once the unit has obtained a GPS Position, your GPS application will rely on this information for position data. This is STAGE 1. After stage 1 is met, the GPS chipset will scan for DGPS signals. (aka WAAS / EGNOS satellites (depending on if you are in USA or Canada ==> WAAS or Europe ==> EGNOS, or MSAS ==> Japan). As soon as a DGPS is met, the receiver is then promoted to STAGE 2."

Does this mean if I an only using the v900 in logging mode and not streaming to an application (for position data), that v900 will not be promoted to Stage 2 and be able to scan for DGPS signals and log with the improved accuracy?

 Does the software that comes with the v900 include the ability to export to NMEA? I ask becasue my current workflow involves importing NMEA into RoboGEO, which I use to insert GPS coordinates into the EXIF headers of my Canon RAW files.

Hi reboot: 

The GPS position changes automatically from State 1 to 2 applies for both logging only mode and logging plus navigation mode. 

Yes, you may export NMEA file now. This feature is advertised on the product page itself and here is the text:

Source: http://www.buygpsnow.com/Columbus_V900_Bluetooth_GPS_Data_Logger.aspx

"New: Ability to export NMEA format now in addition to KML/KMZ. Great if you will be working with 3rd party Geo-tagging application that only supports NMEA format such as: RoboGeo"