GPS Maps from Windows to Mac

GPS maps may come as windows ".exe" file that can be used to install the maps on a Windows OS. Once installed it's quite easy to convert them to the ".gmapi" format needed for Mac OS.

So, here is how I converted the ".exe" maps to ".gmapi" file for Mac OS:

- Using a Virtual Box with a Windows XP image, run the maps.exe file to install the BaseCamp/MapSource maps. Note that MapSource/BaseCamp don't actually need to be installed.

- Download and install the Garmin MapConverter from: http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3897. Note that to run the MapConverter, I also needed to install MS Visual C++ from: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5638

- Run MapConverter to generate the maps.gmapi file/folder. Copy the folder to the Mac and double click to open it in MapManager and install the maps.

The maps should now be accessible in  BaseCamp and available to MapManager. This is especially useful when you want to load and SD card with a specific set of maps.

Note that  GPS maps often come as a single Garmin ".img" file that is intended to be loaded directly onto a GPS device. While BaseCamp can read these files from a mounted SD card, disk image, or GPS device, only maps that you have "installed" on your computer will show up in MapManager and be accessible to MapInstall. I have found no easy way to convert or load ".img" files to "installed" maps.

Raspberry Pi Camera Commands

Useful commands to get started:

To take a photo:

raspistill -o cam.jpg

From the documentation.

To save a 5 second raw h264 encoded video file:

raspivid -o vid.h264

From RASPICAM Commands.

To wrap it in an mp4 from easier playback:

sudo apt-get install gpac MP4Box -add vid.h264 vid.mp4 

From this post.

Raspberry Pi SD Card Not Booting

If you connect the power and the red power light turns on, but the green activity light does not flash it means the SD card isn't booting. If the card if setup correctly, it maybe a bad connection between the card and the holder. Try applying pressure to the card while reconnecting the power to see if the activity light flashes green.

If your SD card is loose, try applying a few layers of tape to the top of the card and carefully reinserting it into the slot. The tape may add enough pressure to improve the SD card connection.