Comments on: di-GPS Pro for Nikon DSLRs – GeoTagging!

By: T L. Burgin

T L. Burgin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:05:34 +0000

I work with GPS in flying. The correction needed for GPS is WAAS. This take the signal of the transmitters and make a correction. The amount of change is greater than most signals. You should receive a point on earth of less the two meters 95% of the time. Altitude does need more of a correction.

I am not sure it any of the unit use WAAS. If you can wait until after 2014 a new system of duel transmittion should correct to about two inches.

By: James

James — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:19:11 +0000

Terry,

Greetings from Australia Terry!

Have you had a chance to use the Easytagger? I’ve read about it on the web, but it would be great if someone of your stature (and who has used others to compare it to) could give us the rundown on this device.

I am persuaded by its track logging feature. I have a D90, so unfortunately the di-GPS Pro doesn’t work and the only di-GPS for D90 doesn’t have track logging available. From my understanding, only the Solmeta Pro will also do this (but is almost $100 more than the Easytagger!)

I only have enough money to get one of these, so I want to make sure I get it right the first time!

Kind Regards
James

By: Maksim

Maksim — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:33:12 +0000

Sorry!
How about Canon EOS 500D? Can You speek a few words about how I can use di-GPS with my Canon EOS 500D? (Sorry for my English…)

By: Jamison

Jamison — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:35:52 +0000

Thanks you for reply.
Even positioning is off significantly with two consecutive shots.
I stop using it.
Only when I really need it.
It is doing nothing but collecting dust in my camera bag.
Another thing is getting the red light on.
It takes forever sometimes.
If anyone wants to buy this, you can let me know through jamison@nyc.rr.com.

By: Ross N

Ross N — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:42:24 +0000

Gretchen, only the Pro L version does logging. They have free software called Glink for downloading the tracks. There is no description of it per se, nor is it mentioned in the products list. You have to go to the Support tab to see the software (incl. drivers) available. See the manual for a description of how Glink works: http://www.di-gps.com/di-GPS/library/Glink_UserGuide_v1.00.pdf.

Our cruise is Rio to Valparaiso, so we won’t see you!

By: Gretchen C

Gretchen C — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:09:16 +0000

We too are goinig on a S. America cruise (well, the Galapagos anyways) and I’ve been looking at these two units.

I didn’t realize the di-GPS was also a track logger. Was going to haul along my Vista HCx too (for marking tracks). But based on what you said, I don’t need to do that?

How does one download tracks from the di-GPS (i.e. .gpx format) to a computer?

Thanks!

By: Ross N

Ross N — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:09:24 +0000

Anthony, If you look at the detailed GPS specs on the respective websites, you will see that there are no differences at all in the Solmeta N2 and Dawntech’s di-GPS pro. See partial list below (most other specs are also the same). Clearly the guts of the GPS are the same in both. Whether this translates into differences in indoor reception is moot. My guess is they would be the same. The main differences are the Solmeta N2 has a compass, USB battery charger and a simple proprietary remote shutter release (other single pin controllers probably work). The di-GPS uses the camera battery, passes through the 10-pin connector and has data-logging capability, output via a 10-pin/USB cable. We are going on a S-America cruise and I think the latter feature (tracking the ship’s position) will be more useful than heading, although..? It’s a toss-up for me which to buy right now. I might just use that decision technique too!

di-GPS:
Chipset Low Power Single Chip SiRF Star III
Frequency L1, 1575.42 MHz
C/A code 1.023 MHz chip rate
Channels 20 channel all-in-view tracking
Sensitivity -159 dBm

Geotagger N2:
GPS Chipset SiRF Star III
Frequency L1, 1575.42 MHz
C/A Code 1.023 MHz chip rate
Channels 20 channel all-in-view tracking
Tracking sensitivity -159dBm

By: Anthony Cole

Anthony Cole — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:06:57 +0000

Does the N2 Pro have digital compass info passed on the exif?

I have seen reviews of the Solmeta N2, which states that indoor reception is very good !!
Anyone knows if this is that a sales gimmick or actual fact

By: terrywhite

terrywhite — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:40:39 +0000

Rob,
mildly covered indoor reception is ok. and as with most GPS devices there is no indoor reception. You have to remember GPS’s are based on Satellites and if they can’t see them, there is no way they can work. I never expected it to work indoors.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:02:17 +0000

Hi Terry,

How is the indoor reception? Or mildly covered outdoor reception? My wife and I found Nikon’s GPS-1 to have zero indoor reception and it would lose sync just by standing in a shop’s doorway or next to a window. Quite poor.

Thanks!

By: Jay B

Jay B — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:21:44 +0000

Does this unit provide the heading as well?

By: Ernest O.W. van der Stelt

Ernest O.W. van der Stelt — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:23:56 +0000

January 2008 I bought the basic di-GPS version after reading Terry’s first di-GPS story and used it on a D200 which has lately been replaced by a D700.
Some months ago I read about better software (GeoSetter) with which it is possible not only to show the position where pictures were taken, but also to write GPS data in pictures if you know the spot. That can be a copy of another picture with GPS data or you can pinpoint the location yourself. So I can even insert GPS coordinates into pictures taken with another camera like my Canon Ixus (underwater) camera.
So the Sistine Chapel issue is solved: make a picture outdoors and shift the position onto the Chapel itself in the map. I had to correct some positions as well as due to the inaccuracy Terry mentioned in his first story.
Download Geosetter from http://www.geosetter.de and you can install the program in several languages. And even with Nikon’s View NX you can see where a picture was taken.

By: T Baucells

T Baucells — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:47:33 +0000

In reply to Jamison Moon:
“Another crazy thing is that the geotagging is not accurate. I took multiple pictures from a same spot and the gps positions are all different with large variences. I shot two pictures on a same spot, and it recorded that second picture was taken 20m (over 60 feet off) up in altitude.”

The margin of error of the GPS system for the altitude value is typically 4-5 times that of the 2D position (Lat-Long). This is not the fault of the GPS receiver but due to the intrinsic design of the GPS system itself. Also, the accuracy for altitude will depend greatly on whether satellites are positioned conveniently to maximise triangulation. If there are few “visible” satellites and they are all practically at the zenith of your current position, the lat-long value may be inaccurate by several feet but the altitude value is going to be way off. If you are in a very flat area, with many satellites “visible” to the receiver and there is at least one satellite at an angle approaching 90Âº from the vertical (i.e. near the horizon), your altitude value will be pretty accurate.

To cut it short, lots of satellites, well distributed = good positional and altitudinal accuracy (ideal site: desert, sea or large open area). Few satellites, all bunched in one particular area of the sky at about 15Âº from vertical = poor accuracy for all values (problematic site: “urban canyon”, deep ravine).

Hope this helps.

By: Karsten Hovde

Karsten Hovde — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:00:09 +0000

Even the basic model now has a build in backup battery according to the web site. Freight fee of charge!

By: Jamison Moon

Jamison Moon — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:35:43 +0000

I got this unit after reading this article, and I am not sure if I did the right thing or not.
The unit arrived quick. I ordered on Thursday and got it on Tuesday.
Now, the real problem is the unit.
I can’t seem to have the red light lit on under any structure which means that I can’t geotag while taking the pictures of Sistine Chapel painting. The unit needs to be directly under the sky without anything between the sky and the unit. You also have to stay on one spot after turning the unit on, or the unit just can’t stay lit.
Another crazy thing is that the geotagging is not accurate. I took multiple pictures from a same spot and the gps positions are all different with large variences. I shot two pictures on a same spot, and it recorded that second picture was taken 20m (over 60 feet off) up in altitude.
This unit is a big disappointment for its price tag, but I have to live with it.
Do test different options, and see if the other units are like this one.
B&H has many alternatives.
Do your study.