Andrew Hurst (guest) 1231345272|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Regarding the gps format question (724. NXCL), has anyone tried gpsbabel ?
It reads and writes a vast array of different formats, although it won't securely stamp the .IGCs, being open source.
I use it a lot, and contributed a fix (for .cup format) to the project.
Phil Chett 1231511283|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
As i understand it
Its the info that is spewed out from the results programme that causes the problem.
As well as a lack of some vital info, there is a issue with co-ords as UKNXCL works with OS, and the scoring prog (designed for world wide use) works with lat long.
UK-NXCL 1233666828|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
See latest rules on website
Andrew Hurst (guest) 1236622487|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
For anyone who may follow this:
The 2009 UKNXCL handbook, available at the UKNXCL collectivex site (http://nxcl.collectivex.com/), says that waypoints are now accepted in either OSGB, or WGS84 decimal degrees formats. The IGC file you may submit to the website is for drawing on Google maps/earth only, not scoring, so I wouldn't expect that the .IGC security stamp is required (i.e. gpsbabel might be ok). However, if you want to store some irrefutable evidence to support your competition entry, then a securely stamped .IGC from gpsdump will do the job.
If .IGC can be supported, then I think it's likely that the common .GPX format could be supported by the website too.
By the way the online Calameo viewer thing is pretty good :)
UK-NXCL 1236687719|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
To date, using the igc format to exchange gps flight track data seems to be the standard. The gpx format may well become the standard to replace it. If, or when, it does we could look to make use of it. However, whatever happens, we will settle on using one single format only. In the meantime the format we'll continue to use will be the .igc format.
You are right, we do not make use of any security information contained in any .igc file. The UK NXCL competition has always relied on the integrity of its competitors, and this will continue to be the case. It remains the responsibility of competitors to police their own competition. Should any decide to cheat they'll simply be named, shamed, barred and historical results expunged!
If, Andrew, you have examples of your GPS flight tracks in GPX format do please forward them so I can have a look. To date, no one has sent one in and no one else has queried whether of not they can/could be used.
Andrew Hurst (guest) 1236696177|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
The GPX format is XML, with lat and long in WGS84 decimal degrees. Very easy to read and handle, and edit!
<trkpt lat="53.320394084" lon="-1.729641510">
<ele>387.548584</ele>
<time>2009-03-05T13:31:06Z</time>
</trkpt>
For that reason I don't think gpx would ever take over from IGC: the comps need a secure format for scoring, which only IGC can provide, and there's no reason to use a different format when everybody's used to gpsdump etc. which produce IGC.
My using gpsbabel and gpx files is very unusual. The reason is gpsdump requires the garmin driver, whereas gpsbabel doesn't.
