Palm Navigator 1.0 User's Manual Complete Compassing System for the Palm Pilot Precision Navigation, Inc. 1235 Pear Avenue Suite 111 Mountain View, CA 94043 techsupport@precisionnav.com www.precisionnav.com © 1998 Precision Navigation, Inc. Table of Contents 1. DESCRIPTION 3 1.1 PALM NAVIGATOR 3 1.2 COMPASS MODULE 3 1.3 NAVIGATOR SOFTWARE 4 1.4 MAPSYNC SOFTWARE 4 2. WHAT IS INCLUDED? 4 3. INSTALLATION 4 3.1 INSTALL NAVIGATOR APPLICATION 5 3.2 INSTALL MAPSYNC 5 3.3 ATTACH NAVIGATOR SENSOR MODULE 5 3.4 QUICK FUNCTIONAL TEST PROCEDURE 6 4. OPERATION 6 4.1 CALIBRATION 6 4.2 MAPS 7 LOADING MAPS INTO PALM NAVIGATOR 7 DISPLAYING MAPS 7 DELETING MAPS 8 4.3 NAVIGATOR 8 COMPASS MODE 9 MAP MODE 9 DEMO MODE 10 4.4 NAVIGATOR MENU OPTIONS 10 CALIBRATION 10 PREFERENCES 11 MAP MANAGER 11 ONLINE MANUAL 11 ABOUT 11 5. TROUBLESHOOTING 12 6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 13 Appendix A. USING THE PALM NAVIGATOR IN A VEHICLE 13 1. Description 1.1 Palm Navigator The Palm Navigator combines a magnetic sensor module with advanced software that turns your Palm Pilot into a hand-held map-based navigation system. The Palm Navigator utilizes patented magnetic sensing technology to measure the earth's magnetic field to determine heading information that is used to show the direction you are facing. Your heading can be displayed like a convention compass or combined with a map to give you a powerful navigational tool. This is the same sensor technology that was developed for the U.S. military, and is now or will be used in Ford, GM and Chrysler cars, Bayliner boats, Polaris jet skis, Motorguide trolling motors, Oceanic scuba compasses, and Timex compass watches. Unlike Global Positioning Systems (GPS), the Palm Navigator provides instant and accurate heading information, even when you are standing still. And the Palm Navigator isn't affected by tall trees or buildings like GPS. The Palm Navigator will allow you to store and view maps with an overlay of a compass showing your current direction. Any gif or bmp file can be used by Palm Navigator as a map. You can download maps you want from your favorite mapping website, or digitize maps using a scanner, then load them onto the Palm Pilot. Translating maps into files usable by the Palm Navigator is handled automatically by our MapSync software. Palm Navigator version 1.0 is for a single user environment only. It cannot be run over a network for multiple users. 1.2 Compass Module The Palm Navigator sensors are contained in a small module that plugs onto the bottom of the Palm Pilot. The module contains magnetic sensors and the circuitry to control them. The module also has its own power, 2 AAA batteries. The sensors only use power when they are being used. To connect the sensor module to your Palm Pilot, simply slip the module onto the bottom of the Palm Pilot. The module should snap into place. To remove the module, squeeze the bottom sides of the sensor module to unlock it from the Palm Pilot. Then slide it down and off. The battery case is on the front side of the module. Slide the casing down and off the module to change the batteries. The Palm Navigator, like conventional compasses, senses direction by measuring earth's magnetic field that is parallel to the surface of the earth. Compasses tell you your heading, or direction, in terms of degrees; 0? is north, 90? is east, 180? is south, and 270? is west. To achieve the best accuracy, the Palm Navigator must be used with the Palm Pilot held level. Tilting the Palm Pilot can give you errors in the heading the Palm Navigator reads. In addition, nearby metal objects can create a magnetic field. This can create errors in the direction reading. Once the Palm Navigator is calibrated, Navigator will raise a distortion flag whenever it senses a significant change in the measured magnetic field. See the section on calibration for more details on the calibration procedure. 1.3 Navigator Software The Palm Navigator system is run on the Palm Pilot by the application called Navigator. The software allows you to run the sensor module and display the compass information in different ways. You can use the Palm Pilot as a conventional electronic compass, or display a map and your current heading on the map. Navigator also includes a sophisticated calibration algorithm that compensates for the magnetic properties of the Palm Pilot and batteries. This keeps your compass heading accurate. 1.4 MapSync Software The Palm Navigator can display maps and show your current direction on the map. MapSync is a utility program that will translate any .gif or .bmp map files (you can find maps on the web or create your own files using a scanner or drawing program) into files usable by the Palm Navigator system. MapSync also tags the translated files so that the Palm Pilot HotSync Manager will automatically load the maps onto the Palm Pilot. 2. WHAT IS INCLUDED? When you buy the Palm Navigator you will receive: * the Palm Navigator sensor module. The sensor module requires two AAA batteries, which are included. * a Palm Navigator program disk. The disk will contain two programs: Navigator, which runs on the Palm Pilot; and MapSync, which runs on your PC. Updated versions of the software will be available through the Precision Navigation website, www.PrecisionNav.com. Register with us to be notified when upgrades to Palm Navigator are available. Email us at Register@PrecisionNav.com. Navigator.prc, MapSync.exe, and this manual can be copied and distributed without limitation as long as they are not changed. 3. INSTALLATION The Palm Navigator is a combination of software and hardware that together turns your Palm Pilot into a navigation system. When you first purchase Palm Navigator, you must install the Navigator program onto your Palm Pilot to use the sensor module. You will need to be familiar with the Palm Pilot HotSync Manager and the Palm Pilot Install Tool to load software onto your Palm Pilot. If you are not familiar with these utilities, you should review the information that came with your Palm Pilot about downloading software onto your Palm Pilot. The installation process is as easy as 1,2,3: 1. Install Navigator Software 2. Install MapSync Software 3. Install Navigator Module 3.1 Install Navigator Application 1. Launch the Palm Pilot Install Tool. 2. Select Browse button. 3. Find Navigator.prc on the diskette. (Or, if you've downloaded the software, find Navigator.prc on your hard drive.) 4. Select the user to install Navigator.prc into. 5. Select Install button . 6. Select Exit when it asks to install another file. 7. Do a HotSync. The HotSync procedure is described in your Palm Pilot User manual. 8. Now Navigator will appear as an application on your Palm Pilot. 3.2 Install MapSync 1. Copy MapSync.exe from the floppy disk to your PC desktop. You can move this to another location later when you are comfortable to do so. 3.3 Attach Navigator Sensor Module 1. Hold the Navigator module face up with the top connector facing the Palm Pilot. 2. Hold the Palm Pilot face up with the bottom connector facing the Navigator Module. 3. Slide the Navigator module into the Palm Pilot connector until it snaps into place. 4. The connectors on the side of the Navigator module should be flush with the Palm Pilot sides. 5. Launch the Navigator Application. 6. Execute the Quick Functional Test Procedure described in Operation Section. 7. If you pass the Quick Functional Test, then Congratulations. We hope you have a great experience with the Palm Navigator. 3.4 Quick Functional Test Procedure This test makes the following assumptions: * You have installed the Navigator.prc into the Palm Pilot. * You have connected the Palm Navigator Module. * The Palm Navigator Module has functioning batteries. The Quick Test Procedure is as follows: 1. Turn on the Palm Pilot. 2. Tap on the Palm Pilot Applications button. 3. Tap on the Navigator Icon. (If it has been installed it will appear) 4. If this is your first time, an About Screen will appear. 5. If the Serial # and ProcID fields contain information, Congratulations, your hardware is functioning. If not, see the Troubleshooting section. 4. OPERATION 4.1 Calibration The first time you use the Palm Navigator you will be asked to calibrate the sensors. Calibration is simple. 1. Hold the Palm Pilot level. 2. Keep away from metal objects that could affect the calibration. This means staying at least 5' from metal objects. 3. Touch "Start". 4. Keeping the Palm Pilot level, slowly rotate the Palm Pilot through two complete circles. You should take about 15 seconds per circle. We find it easiest to hold the Palm Pilot level and steady and walk through two small circles. Be careful if you do this on a tabletop or desktop -- most furniture has magnetic metal in it! 5. Touch "Done". The Palm Navigator is now calibrated. Distortion Flag Compasses work by sensing the direction of earth's weak magnetic field. Compasses can be confused by the magnetic fields of nearby magnetic objects. Palm Navigator uses a sophisticated set of algorithms to measure and compensate for any distorting magnetic fields associated with the Palm Pilot itself. Once the Palm Navigator has this baseline measurement, not only will it have great accuracy, but it will warn you when nearby objects are distorting the magnetic field and causing inaccurate readings. Navigator will print "Distortion" at the top left of the window when it detects a magnetic distortion. You should be aware that your compass heading will be inaccurate when the distortion alarm is on. You should recalibrate the Palm Navigator if you change batteries in the Palm Pilot or if the distortion alarm is always on. 4.2 Maps Loading Maps into Palm Navigator The Palm Navigator comes with the application MapSync. MapSync can convert any .gif or .bmp map file into a Navigator resource. MapSync also marks the map files so that the Palm Pilot HotSync Manager will know to load these files into the Palm Pilot. You can find maps on the internet, draw your own with a paint program, or create digital maps using a scanner. Future versions of MapSync will support other graphics formats, and will be available through the Precision Navigation website. Using MapSync is easy. 1. Install MapSync onto your PC. 2. Find a map you want to load into Palm Navigator. For internet maps, on most browsers, you point to the map with the mouse and use a right mouse click to bring up a menu. Select "save as" a .gif or .bmp file and save the map onto your PC. You can use any .gif or .bmp file as a map. 3. Drag the icon for the map file onto the MapSync icon and drop it. MapSync will convert the map into the Palm Navigator format. You will end up with two files: your original map file, and a .pdb file that is used by Palm Navigator. MapSync will also show a window indicating that the conversion was successful. 4. Do a Palm Pilot hotsync. The map files you converted will be automatically loaded into Palm Navigator. Once you have created the .pdb map files, you may choose to discard the original .gif or .bmp files. You should keep a library of your .pdb map files on your PC. Displaying Maps 1. Tap "Menu" in the lower left of the Palm Pilot screen to open the Navigator menu. 2. Select "Map Manager". 3. The Map Manager will give you a list of the maps you have loaded into Navigator. Choose the map you wish to display. 4. Touch "OK". 5. Navigator will go into map mode and display the map you selected. Deleting Maps 1. Tap "Menu" to open the Navigator menu. 2. Select "Map Manager". 3. The Map Manager will give you a list of the maps you have loaded into Navigator. Choose the map you wish to delete. 4. Navigator will ask you if you really want to delete this map. Touch "yes" to delete the map. 5. Navigator will return to the Map Manager. You can delete additional files. 6. Touch "OK" to return to map mode. Remember that the Palm Pilot display is black and white; you may have trouble with color maps. For instance, if you load a map with a park area shaded green, it might appear as a black area, or as a gray area that washes out other details. You can load as many maps into Navigator as your Palm Pilot memory will allow. If you try to install more maps than your memory allows, the Palm Pilot Install Tool will warn you. The amount of memory each map uses is set by its size; a 600 x 375 pixel map will use 27 K of Palm Pilot memory. 64 K is the maximum size for a Palm Navigator map. 4.3 Navigator Navigator can run in one of three modes: compass mode, map mode, and demo mode. In compass mode, Navigator will simulate a conventional compass. In map mode, Navigator will display a map with your current direction overlayed onto the map. In demo mode, Navigator will not actually take magnetic measurements, but will let you display maps and see how the program works. Navigator will run in demo mode if you do not have the sensor module connected to the Palm Pilot. You can switch between Map mode and Compass mode using the button on the bottom left of the Navigator screen. In compass mode, the button will say "Map" - touching it will switch you to Map mode. In Map mode, the button will say "Compass" - touching it will switch you into Compass mode. If you start Navigator without the sensor module plugged into the Palm Pilot, the program will only allow you to run in Demo mode. In Demo mode, you can display a map, and change the appearance of the compass and direction indicator. The compass direction will not work since the hardware is not attached. Demo mode not only allows you to get the "feel" of the Palm Navigator system, but also allows you to store and display maps like the full Palm Navigator system. At any time, you can touch the menu button on the Palm Pilot to bring up the Navigator menu. The menu allows you to customize the appearance of Navigator, choose a map to display, and enter in a magnetic declination. Compass Mode In compass mode, the Palm Navigator will simulate a conventional magnetic compass. The display shows a compass rose; the compass will rotate so that it always points to north. Additionally, you will see in the center your current heading displayed numerically (0? - 360?) and by cardinal points (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). To use the compass mode: 1. To use the compass, start the Navigator application. 2. If the program does not start in compass mode, touch the "Compass" button on the bottom left of the Navigator screen. 3. You must hold the Palm Pilot level for the compass to be accurate. 4. Point the Palm Pilot forward. Navigator will display the direction you are facing. The compass rose will rotate to point towards north. If you are near a magnetic object, or if you do not hold the compass level, "Distortion" will appear at the top left of the Palm Pilot window. This is to warn you that the heading you see is probably not accurate due to interference or tilt. You can choose to display your heading relative to magnetic north or true north. To use true north, you need to know your declination. The section "Menu Options" below describes how to use the declination feature. When you are viewing the heading relative to true north, the program will display the word "TRUE" in the top right of the window to remind you. Map Mode In Map mode, Navigator will allow you to display a map and will show your current direction on the map. You can easily download maps from the internet, load them onto your Palm Pilot, and choose which to display. In this way you can store road maps for different cities, or large scale and small scale maps of the same area. Review the Installation section about MapSync to review loading maps onto your Palm Pilot. To use map mode: 1. To use map mode, start the Navigator application. 2. If the program does not start in map mode, touch the "map" button on the bottom left of the Navigator screen. 3. Use the Map Manager to choose the map you wish to display. 4. You must hold the Palm Pilot level for your direction to be accurate. 5. Point the Palm Pilot forward. Navigator will display the direction you are facing on the map. The top of the map is always north. 6. You can drag the map to see different areas. Touch the map and drag the stylus across the screen to drag the map. 7. You can drag the direction indicator to different areas. Touch the direction indicator and drag the stylus across the screen to move it. It is useful to drag the indicator to your current position on the map to show directly where you are facing. In Map mode, Navigator assumes the top of the map is always north. Navigator indicates your current direction on the map with either a compass rose or an arrow. You are facing the direction the compass rose (or arrow) is facing on the map. This is the opposite of Compass mode, where the compass rose rotates to point north. The map displayed will in general be larger than the window of the Palm Pilot can display. You can drag the map around so that Navigator will display the part of the map you need. Touch the map, and drag your stylus across the window. The map will follow the stylus. The direction indicator can be moved as well. Simply touch the compass rose (or arrow) and drag it to its new position. Use Map Manager to choose which map to display and delete unwanted maps from the Navigator memory. Demo Mode If Navigator is run without the sensor module attached, it will run in demo mode. Demo mode allows you to get the "feel" of the Palm Navigator system. Because the sensor module is not attached, the program cannot give you real heading information. But you can do everything else just like the usual Navigator program. You can load and display maps; you can change the appearance of the compass and map direction indicator. You can simulate a change in direction by using the "page up" and "page down" keys on the Palm Pilot. Pressing the up key will change your heading by 2? counter-clockwise. Pressing the down key will change your heading by 2? clockwise. 4.4 Navigator Menu Options The Navigator Menu gives you access to features that allow you to control and customize the Palm Navigator. Calibration Choosing this will recalibrate the Palm Navigator. To calibrate the compass you will need to hold the compass level and turn the compass through two complete circles. Keep the Palm Pilot away from metal objects when you are calibrating. A simple way to calibrate is to set the Pilot on a wooden table, and turn it around twice, keeping it flat on the table. Be careful about metal! Many tables and desks have metal fixtures that can throw off the Palm Navigator calibration. Refer to the previous section about calibration for more details. Preferences This menu item allows you to change the style of the map compass, change the measurement frequency, change the auto-off feature, and select whether you display magnetic north or true north. You should try the various map compass features to see which you prefer. You have the choice of changing the size, style and color of the map compass direction indicator. Touching the upsidedown triangles will give you a pop-up menu -- choose the style you prefer. The update frequency for compass information can be changed. Faster updates make the compass flow more naturally, slower updates conserve power. You can choose update rates of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times per second. The auto-off feature will automatically turn off the sensor module if the module is left on without input from the user. You can let the auto-off default to the Palm Pilot system preferences, or choose to auto-off after 10, 20 or 30 minutes. You can choose to have the Palm Navigator display magnetic north, or you can enter a declination and display true north. Enter your declination as a number followed by "e" for east declination, or "w" for west declination. (You can use either the Graffiti writing area or the keyboard function.) Touch the checkbox labeled "declination" to display true north. Touch the checkbox labeled "magnetic north" to display magnetic north. Map Manager This gives you access to the map manager. Use this to choose which map to display, or choose maps to delete from memory. You can store multiple maps in your Palm Pilot, and easily switch between which map is displayed. There is no built-in limits to the number of maps you can display, but maps do use your Palm Pilot memory. You can check how much memory Palm Navigator is using by looking at the Palm Pilot Memory application. It is best to store unused maps on your PC and load them onto your Palm Pilot when you think you will need them. Online Manual Navigator includes an online manual that briefly covers how to use the program. The manual will remind you how Navigator works, but is not a replacement for this document. About This will tell you what version of Navigator you are running on the Palm Pilot. This window will also tell you the Palm Navigator serial number, product ID, and driver ID. This will be useful if you need to contact Precision Navigation with questions. 5. TROUBLESHOOTING Distortion Flag Always On 1. Recalibrate. Review calibration instructions. 2. Hold the Palm Navigator level. 3. Look for nearby metal objects that could be affecting the Palm Navigator. Compass Heading Doesn't Seem Accurate 1. Keep compass level. 2. Recalibrate. 3. Have you entered the correct declination? Are you in "magnetic north" mode when you are expecting "true north"? "True north" when you expect "magnetic north"? 4. Is the distortion alarm on? Look for nearby metal objects that could be affecting the magnetic field. Won't Recognize the Sensor Module 1. Make sure the sensor module is plugged in correctly. The module should "snap" into place. 2. Do you have good batteries in the Palm Navigator sensor module? MapSync Only Loads One Map 1. MapSync will only convert one map file at a time. Drag one icon at a time onto the MapSync icon. Map Displayed Looks "Messy" 1. You have probably loaded a color map into the Palm Navigator. Avoid maps that use large areas of color. The Palm Navigator can only display in black and white. Some mapping sites will allow you to download black and white maps. 2. Your map may be too large. Check the size of the .pdb map file on your PC. It should be less than 64 K. Memory Full Error When Loading Maps 1. The Palm Navigator Install Tool will stop installation of maps that would overflow the Palm Navigator memory. Delete unneeded maps from the Palm Navigator to make room for the new maps. 6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Why do I need to hold the Palm Pilot level for the compass to be accurate? Compasses use the earth's magnetic field to orient themselves relative to magnetic north. Compasses use the magnetic field that is level to the earth's surface. So if you don't hold the compass level, you are measuring the "wrong" field, and the compass will give you the wrong heading. What is Declination? Declination is the difference between magnetic north and true north. There is a difference between the two directions because earth's magnetic north pole is not in the same place as the true north pole. A compass measures earth's magnetic field, so it always points to magnetic north. Just to make things more difficult, the difference between magnetic north and true north varies from place to place. Luckily, there are many ways to find out your local declination. Most hiking topographic maps will list your declination. You can also find web pages such as the National Geophysical Data Center's site www.ngdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/seg/gmag/fldsnth1.pl . Declination is defined as "east" if magnetic north falls to the east of true north; and "west" if magnetic north falls to the west of true north. A positive declination is "east", and a negative declination is "west". For instance, if you go to the NGDC website listed above, and enter the latitude and longitude for Mountain View, CA (37N, 122W) you'll find our declination is "15d 25.7m". First, it is positive, so it is east declination. The "d" stands for degrees, the "m" stands for minutes. 60 minutes = 1 degree, so the declination is 15.4? east. The Palm Navigator uses declination to the nearest degree, so you would enter this into the Palm Navigator as "15e" (or "15E", the program is case insensitive.) Now go into the Preference menu. Touch the declination entry to change it; use backspace to erase anything there already, then just write your declination in, remembering to add "e" for east declination, and "w" for west declination. Then touch the checkbox in front of the declination entry. This tells Navigator to use the declination you've entered to correct the magnetic reading to give you a heading relative to true north. Simply touch the checkbox saying "magnetic north" to return to a heading relative to magnetic north. When you are using the declination, a flag will appear on the top right of the window saying "TRUE" to indicate that your heading is relative to true north. Appendix A. Using the Palm Navigator in a Vehicle The Palm Navigator is not intended for use in a vehicle and is not guaranteed to be accurate. Precision Navigation is working on a mounting system to allow the Palm Navigator to be easily and accurately used in a vehicle. However, if you do choose to use the Palm Navigator in your vehicle, there are several important points: 1. The Palm Navigator must be mounted in a fixed position within your vehicle at all times during use and calibration. This means you can not keep it on your seat and then pick it to use it when you want to. 2. The Palm Pilot with the Palm Navigator attached should be secured to a flat surface in your vehicle, such as the console or armrest by using a relatively strong double stick tape or Velcro attachment material. It must be positioned at an angle less than 60? from level. 3. The Palm Navigator must be calibrated in the position you intend to use it; secure the Palm Pilot before beginning calibration. 4. Calibration must be done on a level section of pavement. When calibrating the Palm Navigator in a vehicle, the vehicle must be driven around in 2 circles. This is a very important point. Do not rotate the Palm Navigator two times inside the vehicle, but rather mount the Palm Navigator and rotate for calibration by driving 2 circles with it in its mounted position. This allows the Palm Navigator to measure and calibrate for the magnetic distortion fields of both the Palm Navigator and the vehicle in which you use it. 5. If the Palm Navigator is moved to a different vehicle or used outside the vehicle, it must be recalibrated. Recalibration is also recommended if the Palm Navigator has been removed from the location that it was calibrated in, as it is very difficult to position it in exactly the same location.