92
Chapter 4 Finding Your Location with the Global Positioning System
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast. This
lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software at the
time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly changed
between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data comes as part of the Trimble Planning Software that is installed with the program or can be downloaded as part
of the lab.
Localizing This Lab
Note: This lab uses one location and one date to keep information consistent.
Although this lab looks at GPS sky conditions in Orlando, Florida, there are
many more geographic locations that can be selected using Trimble Planning Software. Its purpose is to be able to evaluate local conditions for GPS
planning—so rather than selecting Orlando, find the closest city to your location and examine that data instead. You can also use today’s date rather than
the one used in the lab.
Similarly, in Section 4.4 of the lab, you’ll be examining Web resources for
geocaching locations in Orlando, Florida. Use your own zip code rather than
the one for Orlando and see what’s near your home or school instead.
4.1 Trimble Planning Software Setup
1. Start the Trimble Planning Software program—the default install
folder is called Trimble Office—and then look inside the Utilities
folder where you will find an icon called Planning. This will launch the
program.
2. The first thing to do is download a copy of the most current almanac file.
This can be done from Trimble’s Website at http://www.trimble.com/
gpsdataresources.shtml and selecting the option for GPS/GLONASS
almanac in Trimble Planning file format. Download the file (it’s
a small text file) by right-clicking on the hyperlink (GPS/GLONASS
almanac in Trimble Planning file format) and click on Save Target
As . . . from the dialog box. Click on the Save button and the file
“almanac.alm” will be downloaded to your computer.
3. In the Planning program, select Load from the Almanac pull-down
menu. In the Almanac Files dialog, navigate to the location where you
saved the almanac.alm file, select it, and then click Open. A summary of
the satellite information contained in the file will appear on the screen
and the almanac information will be loaded.
Chapter 4 Finding Your Location with the Global Positioning System
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast. This
lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software at the
time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly changed
between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data comes as part of the Trimble Planning Software that is installed with the program or can be downloaded as part
of the lab.
Localizing This Lab
Note: This lab uses one location and one date to keep information consistent.
Although this lab looks at GPS sky conditions in Orlando, Florida, there are
many more geographic locations that can be selected using Trimble Planning Software. Its purpose is to be able to evaluate local conditions for GPS
planning—so rather than selecting Orlando, find the closest city to your location and examine that data instead. You can also use today’s date rather than
the one used in the lab.
Similarly, in Section 4.4 of the lab, you’ll be examining Web resources for
geocaching locations in Orlando, Florida. Use your own zip code rather than
the one for Orlando and see what’s near your home or school instead.
4.1 Trimble Planning Software Setup
1. Start the Trimble Planning Software program—the default install
folder is called Trimble Office—and then look inside the Utilities
folder where you will find an icon called Planning. This will launch the
program.
2. The first thing to do is download a copy of the most current almanac file.
This can be done from Trimble’s Website at http://www.trimble.com/
gpsdataresources.shtml and selecting the option for GPS/GLONASS
almanac in Trimble Planning file format. Download the file (it’s
a small text file) by right-clicking on the hyperlink (GPS/GLONASS
almanac in Trimble Planning file format) and click on Save Target
As . . . from the dialog box. Click on the Save button and the file
“almanac.alm” will be downloaded to your computer.
3. In the Planning program, select Load from the Almanac pull-down
menu. In the Almanac Files dialog, navigate to the location where you
saved the almanac.alm file, select it, and then click Open. A summary of
the satellite information contained in the file will appear on the screen
and the almanac information will be loaded.