1998 Mission Planning
Posted By Kelly Bellis on 2/9/2002 at 4:04 AM

Can anybody at Ashtech please comment regarding when the next release of Mission Planning is planned?

If there is any consideration for another release at sometime, Version 4.21 Copyright © Magellan Corp. 1998 could use some improving.

The first suggestion would be to make it more easy to locate online almanacs by automating the process to fetch the most current almanac, particularly since the Map330/PM2 does not carry an onboard ephemeris that can be downloaded.

Another idea would be to allow a new Site List to be created by extracting sites from existing Project Files (*.spr). From the Site Editor, the user could be presented with a browse option to navigate to an existing Project File and from there a pull down menu of available stations.

Similarly, if there ever was a way to create a user-defined database of waypoints for the Map330/PM2, the Site Editor ought to be able to make those predefined waypoints available for mission planning.

It might also be a nice feature, to add from the Satellite Configuration dialog window, an option to go online and fetch available information concerning the health of individual SVs.

Even if there aren't any plans to update Mission Planning, one last suggestion would be to ship any more new ProMark2s with an almanac a little more recent than September 14, 1998 ;)




The ftp server & MP
Posted By Phil athome on 2/9/2002 at 2:18 PM

I thought the 1998 almanac was pretty funny myself but it does encourage you to go exploring on the Ashtech ftp server.

ftp://ftp.ashtech.com

will work with Internet Explorer.

Frankly I hope they don't make it too automated because it is important for people to learn to use their computers for a variety of tasks. Every time I get a piece of software that does not require me to think I wonder just how much control over what I am doing I have to give up at the same time.

There are other things to find on the ftp server as well. There are manuals and documents. There is a bunch of freebie software. And there is one of my favorites

Practical GPS Surveying

Now I don't have a problem with them automating the process of fixing cycle slips. I remember those data editing days and have long felt that the good old days of GPS were not all that good.

I like some of your other ideas about connecting waypoints to projects and mission planning site lists.