Map This Faq

**deniska** · January 30th, 2007, 06:12

Q: What is MapThis?
A: MapThis is a freeware map viewer for PSP. It is based on free map imagery and data from Google,Yahoo, MSN, etc.

Q: How Do I run it?
A: You'll need a "homebrew friendly" firmware in order to ba able to execute the program. The latest versions of the program were tested with 3.03 OE-B custom firmware. If you are not sure what firmware you have and how to change it to the proper one, search internet for details.

Q: Can it show me where I am on the map?
A: Yes, MapThis can display your current position on the map if connected to an external GPS receiver.

Q: What's GPS?
A: Global Positioning System - a network of satellites...Check this article for details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System

Q: Hmm, can the goverment trace me with this GPS thing?
A: No, it is a receve only, the unit does not send anything to the satellite network. But dump your cell phone asap if you feel paranoid... :-)

Q: What GPS units are supported?
A: Sony GPS-290, Holux GPSlim236, GPSlim240.
Last two require a special cable which can be made by hand (see this article: http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/diy-simpl...kup-30035.html)
or purchased from a chinese manufacturer:
http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/sho...=45279&page=27
Note, that numerouse people reported success with other GPS models (supporting serial comm and NMEA), but the overall setup is usually more complicated and it's hard to officially verify it.
Below is the complete list of GPS receivers that people reported success with:
HOLUX GPSlim240:
baud rate needs to be changed in the config.txt to 4800
HOLUX GPSlim236:
HOLUX GR-231:
Use the default Readtime of 1.
No need of resistor – some say it only works without this but try with a 1k resistor first to be on the safe side.
HOLUX GR-230:
wiring for all four Holux devices
GlobalSat BR-305
Pharos GPS-360 (requires customizing the config file, reported by A Fn NOOB)
baud rate needs to be changed in the config.txt to 4800
You need to put fakefeed=0 in ms0:/psp/game/mapviewer/system/config.txt
Works with setting read time at 2 try different settings for better results
Garmin GPSmap 60C (reported by Xern) baud rate needs to be changed in the config.txt to 4800
Sony PSP GPS290

Q: So which receiver is the best?
PSP-290 is the smallest and the easiest to hookup (plug and play) but it seems to be not as sensitive as the holux models.
Out of Holux models 236 offers the best sensitivity (since it has external antenna jack) and slightly better battery life then 240.
On the other side, 240 is half the size of 236.
Which one is right for you? - If you live in suburban area with lots of open spaces and hate extra wires then Sony's unit is probably for you. For all others, I'd recomend getting a holux receiver.

Q: How come you have different versions now?
Since the PSP-290 requires some modules from 3.xx FW and holux unit use some 1.5 kernel calls I had to branch out the program in to two different versions. So, make sure you get the appropriate version for your recever?

Q: So, what's the deal with prx files?...
A: PSP-290 version requires usbacc.prx and usbgps.prx modules to be present in the program's directory. I can't distribute those modules, since they are intelectual property of Sony. There is some evidence that the latest firmwares encrypt the modules in sucj ways that they cannot be used on different PSPs. So your best bet is "extract" the module from the 3.xx firmware update using the appropriate psar dumper (following link has details: http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/sho...=49838&page=10)

Q: I am having problems interfacing with a generic gps device...Suggestions?
Check your wiring with green-screen program (http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/diy-simpl...kup-30035.html)
If it does not work, try to test it with lua "serial echo" example, which comes with lua player. (You should see some data pushed to the screen - usually some weird characters) - If you don't get any signal - check your wiring...
There are also some helpul hints and programs in following thread: http://forums.ps2dev.org/viewtopic.p...&highlight=gps
If you run MapThis, makesure that FAKEFEED is set to 0 in config.txt file.

Q: How come my time, speed, distance, altitude appear to be way off?
Most of gps devices report GMT time, speed in knots altitude in meters, etc. The MapThis; config.txt file offers convertion modifiers to adjust/convert those variables to your prefered formats...

Q: While in gps mode, MapThis shows my location with a small error (show me off road while I am on one, etc).. Why?
2 main reasons:
1) Current hdop (dillusion of presicion) value is to high - your receiver gets poor signal, bad choice of satellites, some interference, etc.
2) Mapping data/imagery for that area is not precise enough. Apparenlty Google, MSN, Yahoo coverage of some areas is far from being perfect. If you encounter this problem - try experimenting with maps from different vendors and see what works the best.

You may olso check yet another FAQ here: http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51440

Q: How to get prx files for 3.5X custom firmware?
http://www.vampire.se/misc/PSP/flash...xtract_prx_us/

**Jes1FromFL** · January 31st, 2007, 01:18

it's a start... you should make this a sticky and lock it..

**mrplov** · April 27th, 2007, 19:25

Good faq, just missing one Q: Where can i download the newest version of MapThis?

**Russoxley187** · April 30th, 2007, 16:50

No joke, especially since it gets updated soo much...

**replogle** · May 14th, 2007, 22:45

thanks Deniska for such a great program, way to go

**crabman08** · July 19th, 2007, 03:40

when i get done doin the stuff the list tells me to do to run my gps it sayd corruped data what does that mean

**Nieko** · December 8th, 2007, 13:32

deniska: will you update the FAQ soon? E.g., 3.03 OE-B is quite old, it works with all homebrew friendly firmwares AFAIK, both on slim and fat (starting 5.20), and a link to the newest MapThis version would be great

.

If you don't have time for this, I'll try to make a quick short one myself, giving most basic up-to-date information and linking to the other FAQs.