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GPS to Laptop (GPS2LT) is a component of Jamar's PC-Travel for Windows (PCT4W) software suite. The GPS2LT program allows users to do travel time runs and record Global Positioning System (GPS) data output from a standard GPS receiver with any laptop running Windows. The data is stored in files by GPS2LT which can later be utilized to construct Travel Time studies using PCT4W.
Up to now, the speed data for PC-Travel was gathered using a TDC-8 count board (made by Jamar) connected to a transmission sensor installed in a vehicle. This transmission sensor is the type used with Distance Measuring Instruments (DMI's),
which normally requires installation by a mechanic, or at least someone very familiar with the electrical systems in modern cars and trucks. This can be a little complicated and time consuming, especially if you
only want the transmission sensor installed to do travel time studies and have no need for a DMI.
This whole process is made easier with GPS2LT since all you need is a laptop and a GPS receiver to collect Travel Time data. You don't have to dedicate a specific vehicle for
your travel time studies; you can use any vehicle that is convenient.
The basic idea is simple. The GPS receiver outputs data every second. Some of this data includes the speed of the vehicle, which is measured to a surprisingly high degree of accuracy (better than 1 MPH). The
laptop reads the data from the GPS receiver and stores the speed information, plus other information that you input via the keyboard, in files on the laptop. The PC-Travel for Windows software then can read and
process these files into travel time studies.
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