JK TracTrac

[graeme]

Testing a system is very important.
However, GPS Seuranta has been tested at events such as WOC, 2011, Jukola 2011-2007, Nordic Orienteering Tours, Harvester Relay, World Cup Races, Finish Champs, Swedish Night Champs.

And so, like Andy said, there was no need to test it again

[Freefall]

Hopefully I can explain what has actually happened and where we are today. Last year EventScotland agreed that we could hire in GPS tracking (Scott Fraser had set the ball rolling on this). I posted on Nopesport and approached suppliers including GPSSeuranta and TracTrac. The former could not commit to the supply of units or the support we looked for. At first we placed a contract with Emit and they supplied test units with their software. This proved complex and we cancelled the contract and moved to TracTrac (owner a former World Champion Orienteer). TracTrac were able to provide a number of hire units within our budget but I managed to persuade EventScotland that after a year the units had zero value and we were allowed to purchase rather than rent 10 units along with SIMs (from Eseye), software licence and on-line support. This was not available from GPSSeuranta. We ran GPS at Oban 2011, quite successful though there were issues with big screen display (very low resolution). TracTrac had been making money in the sailing market, but were/are keen to grow the orienteering market place. To that end they have made various improvements to the software, and over the winter FVO have tried the units (hardware) and TracTrac software at a number of low key local events. It is important to make the distinction between hardware and software - the hardware is pretty much bog standard whatever software you use. For JK2012 TracTrac kindly allowed us to extend use of the licence without charge. Thanks to a grant from Perth & Kinross Council I was able to authorise the purchase of an additional 10 GPS units - nothing to do with TracTrac and sourced independently by Ted Finch. Brian Bullen has also been much involved - they are both IT professionals. Andy Dalgleish has also offered useful feedback as has David Nicol. It is a learning curve and by the time WOC2015 comes along (along with other events) we will know what is good. My own view (as a GIS professional with 25 years in IT) is that there is an opportunity for someone to use Open Source GIS such as Quantum GIS to develop a fit for purpose UK system (with English support) suitable for orienteering purposes. Meanwhile we in the SOA have 20 units available for loan/hire at nominal cost should you wish to try then out. The units will interface with TracTrac, GPSSeuranta or whatever if you know enough about comms. We would like someone to get involved with the development of GPS leading up to WOC2015. I await your emails.