GPS Logger with a NSLU2

Disclaimer

This is my short exerpt of how i tried to install Debian on a NSLU2. It is recomended to first read the original Links. NO Guaratee that it works with your Box !!! If you really know what you're doing, then proceed here and take it as a vague guideline.

In the meantime I found the NaviGPS Loggers, which are about 90,- .. 120,- Euros each. They are (for what I need) a complete Logging solution. So for now I abandoned this Project. I even sold my two NSLU2 to one of the OpenBSD Kernel Developers.

More Info

Motivation

The OpenStreetMap(OSM) project is based on GPS-Tracklogs which are converted to Vectordata. For these GPS-Tracks to gather I needed a unit which:

is reasonably priced ( worst 200 Euro )
- nslu2 70,- Euro
- usb flash memory 50
- power adaptor for a car 2.50 Euro ..25,- Euro
- USB GPS receiver 50 Euro
can log more than 8 hours of gps-Tracks in an adequade resolution
Doesn't need too much installation if the prototype once is complete
Is expandable
Based on Debian
comparably low power consuption: 600mA-900mA @ 5V ==> 3W-4.5W
If I can box it i expect it only to have 2 external connectors:
- USB-GPS
- 12V Power

Hardware needed

nslu2: 70,- Euro
usb flash memory >= 1GB: 50,- Euro
5V power adaptor for a car: 2.50 Euro ..25,- Euro
USB GPS receiver: 50,- Euro

Installation

Connect to your NSLU2 (Web interface) and configure your Network completely incl. IP-Address, DNS and Gateway
Download von http://www.slug-firmware.net/d-dls.php
comming from www.slug-firmware.net ... download ... debian-etch-beta2-20060311.zip
upload debian-sda1.bin onto the box
Either via Webinterface ( Administration - Advanced - Upgrade)
or use upslug
Download Image NSLU2-Debian-HDD-on-ext3-26.04.2006-01-35.tgz (~240MB)
As root: Partition your USB Stick
where sdx is your USB stick
create sdx1 with ext3
create sdx2 as swapspace(64MB) (works without too)
As root: create an ext3 filesystem on your USB Stick
mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdx1
As root: create swapspace
mkswap /dev/sdx2
As root: mount your USB Stick to your PC
mount /dev/sdx1 /mnt
As root: Unpack the image
cd /mnt; tar -xzf NSLU2-Debian-HDD-on-ext3-26.04.2006-01-35.tgz
Unmount the USB Stick
cd /;umount /dev/sdx1

Good Luck and beware from creating a dead Slug out of your NSLU2

Usage

Plug everything into your Box(GPS,USB-Stick,Power).
Give power to your Box.
And press the ON Button.
Then wait about 3 Minutes.

The runlevels will be signaled with a number of beeps: Runlevel 1 with 1 beep, ...
Every received GPS Package will do a beep. And every GPS Packet with a lat/lon will be signaled by a high beep. Pressing the OFF Button (same as ON ;-) will turn off the slug. After the lights went off you can take your USB Stick and have your NMEA Log in var/log/nmea.log

Connection to the box can be achived with
ssh 192.168.0.42

Known Problems

the gpsd does not start everytime

TODO

The Box does not start booting as soon as 5V is supplied. You have to press ON to start it.
When starting your Car-Engin>e the Box probably will stop.
When switching off your 12V Power you need 3 Minutes to boot up your box again.
When turning off power(1V) the Box cannot write it's Data gracefully.

Whishlist/Dreams

USB-VGA-Adapter:
You currently can plugin a USB-VGA-Adapter (such as DELOCK 61434 USB 2.0 zu SVGA Adapter 99.90 Euro) and connect your Box to a buildtin VGA Display.
The VGA Adapter already has the driver installed. I also can display one picture. Starting the X-Server fails because it tries to open a /dev/tty and cannot find it.
Attaching a camera to take snapshots even recognize streetsigns automatically
Use a wavelan card to connect to a server for automatic uploads of your Track-Data
Use a Bluetooth Stick
Use a USB Soundcard to play MP3 Music

Gallerie

More Pictures