X9i: How to Achieve a Maximum
Performance?
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Fora on SUUNTO X9i:
□
Yahoo
WriststopTrainers forum: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WriststopTrainers/ . Only in this forum I reply on
questions concerning this compendium.
□
‘X9i
User’s Group’ and the ‘Cross Forum’ in SuuntoSports: http://suuntosports.com/Default.asp
Table of contents
2 Birds eye view of the features of the X9i trekking wristop
3.2.1 X9i user interface and DISPLAY MODES
3.2.2 Setting up the displayed GPS UNITS
3.2.2.1 Available datums and position notations in X9i
3.2.2.2 How to set correctly the datum and position format in
X9i?
3.2.2.2.2 Correct assignment procedure
3.2.2.3 An example showing the assignment procedure
3.2.3 Setting up the current time
3.2.4 Setting up the X9i with STM
4 Recording Tracks, ALTitude, MEMory points and other data
4.1 Recording Tracks and ALTitude
4.1.1 Accurate position recording
4.1.1.1 Start a track log AFTER the
ACTIVITY is set to ►
4.1.1.2 Continue a track log NOT by setting the GPS ‘on’
4.1.1.3 GPSFIX, recording intervals, memory capacity, battery lifetime
4.1.2 Accurate altitude recording
4.1.2.1 Influences on altitude measurement: barometric drift
and ISA
4.1.2.2 Guidelines to obtain very accurate estimations of the
altitude
4.1.2.3 Altitude measurements at the same spot
4.1.2.4 A few practical examples
4.1.2.4.1 Example 1: Pic de Moufons
4.1.2.5 Conclusions on ISA corrections
4.3 Instant display of the recorded data
5.1 Digital mapping software with X9i drivers
5.1.1 Displaying Tracks in CompeGPS
5.1.1.1 Setting up CompeGPS LAND
5.1.1.2 Reading Tracks / Routes / Waypoints
5.1.1.3 Mapping in CompeGPS: OPTION 1: Internet servers.
5.1.1.4 Mapping in CompeGPS: OPTION 2: Digital maps.
5.1.1.5 Mapping in CompeGPS: OPTION 3: Scanned maps
5.1.1.6 Putting things together in 3D
5.1.2 Displaying Tracks in STM (Suunto Track Manager)
5.1.2.1 Setting up X9i with STM
5.1.2.2 Calibrating a scanned map, and displaying maps
5.1.2.3 Reading and displaying Tracks, Waypoints, Routes
5.2 Digital mapping software without X9i drivers
5.2.1 Displaying in other software than Google Earth
5.2.1.1 Example: Transcode track logs with GPSBabel to NGI
Digital Topographic Maps
5.2.2 Displaying in GoogleEarth
5.2.2.1 Transcoding to GoogleEarth with GPSVisualizer
5.2.2.2 Transcoding to GoogleEarth with
STE (Suunto Track Exporter)
5.3 What to do with Google tracks ?
6.1 Digital mapping software with X9i drivers.
6.1.1 Programming Routes / Individual Waypoints in COMPEGPS
6.1.1.1 Creating a ROUTE/WAYPOINT
6.1.1.2 Writing the Route to X9i
6.1.2 Programming Routes / Individual Waypoints in STM
6.1.2.1 Creating a Route from scratch
6.1.2.2 Editing/Inserting/Deleting a Waypoint somewhere in the
route
6.1.2.3 Splitting the Route into pieces
6.1.2.4 Concatenate two Routes together
6.2 Digital mapping software without X9i drivers
6.3 Direct programming on the X9i display
6.3.1 Be careful about the map DATUM and Grid
8 Position accuracy of the X9i
8.2 Three illustrative examples
8.2.2 A less demanding example
8.2.3 A best practice example for demanding conditions
8.3 Which distance is the most accurate one?
9.3 Which battery pack is the best?
9.4 Effects of degraded charging
9.5 Alternatives; but watch out.
10 Using X9i in real life: how to make things work
10.1 Preparation of the hike: creation of the route
11.1 Firmware bugs, abnormal behavior in X9i
11.2 Weak points of X9i and related best practices
11.3 Bugs and weak points in STM + workarounds
12 APPENDIX: Cartography and GPS in a nutshell
12.1 datums and position coordinate systems
12.1.1 Orthometric and ellipsoidal height
12.1.2 Geographic and square coordinates
12.3 Do certain UTM coordinates refer always to the same location on earth?
15 Document printing instructions
This document does not explain the
weaknesses (bugs, weird effects) and strengths of the X9i and accompanying
Suunto Trek Manager ‘alone’. It reports
as well on how you can get the maximum out of this tiny wristop GPS navigator.
This is done by discussing how to use the X9i from the very first beginning,
how to avoid bootstraps, and how to integrate the X9i intelligently with other
valuable softwares.
The document is set up in the same
chronological order as you would use the X9i and accompanying softwares:
1. First you would like to set up the
X9i ( Chapter 3) to record a first track log (Chapter 4);
2. Then you would like to display that
first track log onto a digitized map or in digital mapping software (Chapter 5);
3. The next logical step is to program
a WAYPOINT or a ROUTE (Chapter 6);
4. Then all the different navigation
guidance of the X9i is discussed (Chapter 7);
5. At last the expected accuracy and
navigation sensitivity is discussed (Chapter 8), the problem of the on the field charging (Chapter 9) is solved, and the pitfalls of the X9i and STM
software are enlisted (Chapter 11).
6. Chapter 10 tells a real life experience with X9i
An Appendix (Chapter 12) containing the essentials of GPS and cartography is
provided; and must-know shortcuts are enlisted in Chapter 14.
Discussions and comments on this
document are welcome in the Yahoo WriststopTrainers discussion group (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WriststopTrainers/ ).
Good
luck with your trekking mate!
© This document, even
parts of it, may not be reused in any form by other people or (commercial)
companies. Hyperlinking is allowed, as well as use for personal purposes for
X9i owners.