BugGPS Self-help and Support Page

SELF HELP AND SUPPORT

Please look through this section before contacting customer support.

If you issue cannot be fixed from this page, please contact us at: chrisonemillion@hotmail.com

Instuctions and Troubleshooting

A couple notes:

Power adaptor is not included. I don’t advertise as included, and I don’t order myself. BugGPS charges via USB. Magnetic case is included.
Instructions on CD say ‘place on windshield in direct view’. Ignore this. BugGPS works anywhere in the car. If you have any reception issues, try a different spot in or under your car. Still have reception issues? May be your area (mountains, buildings). You can purchase a GPS antenna for $13 at any time. As with any GPS products, there are gaps and delays every time to time.

After reading instructions and troubleshooting on the bottom, if you are still having problems, please email me.

Section 1. Copy CD to computer (must be done)

Place CD into your drive. Open the window to view files. Click the ‘Utility’ folder and drag it onto your desktop. This copies the folder to your computer. *Ignore any windows warnings. This is normal. Continue anyway.

Now, drag the USB-driver-CD110 folder over and place it into the utilities folder that you just put on your desktop.

Section 2. Battery installation

Insert battery and plug into the USB port you will be using all the time. Charge for 8 hours without removing. While you are doing this, you can do the Driver install (Section 3) and change your BugGPS setting (Section 4).

*This lithium battery is hard to find and runs about $50+USD. I purchase bulk and offer for $8 to customers who post +FB and 5 stars for me.

Section 3. Driver Installation - Like any new USB device, you need to install the driver so it will work with your computer. Remember to always use the same USB port or you will need to reinstall for the new USB port.

Go to the Utilities folder you copied to your desktop. Open the folders as seen below. Please run the program below called ‘Setup’ to install the driver. * Windows warnings are normal. Just ignore and continue.

Section 4. BugGPS settings
* If you have any problems where the setting buttons aren’t highlighted or you get a ‘Comm port error’, don’t worry. See the bottom FAQ - “Q1”

Before logging data, you need to make some setting changes. Go to the ‘Utility-Demo’ folder that you copied to your desktop. Run the ‘Dumplog’ Program.

The program will open. It may say ‘can’t find data logger’. Just click okay.

Now click the ‘Logger settings’ button. The logger settings window should open up as seen in the below picture.

*If the Logger Settings’ button isn’t highlighted and you can’t click it, then click the ‘Auto Open COM port’ button that is just above it. If it’s still not highlighted then try again. If it’s still not highlighted, see Q1 in Section 12 (FAQ section)

You should now be in the logger settings page as seen below. Make the changes listed 1-4.

LOGGER SETTINGS CHANGE

1. Log by time or distance - Click ‘distance’ and ‘50’ in the ‘meter’ box.

2. Log minimum speed limit. Set to 2 for now. This will prevent it from logging when not moving or moving slowly. It will also eliminate certain interference when in areas with hills or valleys that will cause straight lines to appear on your Google earth track-log (this is normal in GPS loggers).

3. Vibration Auto function - Click ‘enable’

4. Update Setting Value - When done making your changes, click this button to update your BugGPS.

Erase All Log Data - Not needed now, but click this to erase your BugGPS memory (when you need to). It’s the only way. This will not erase previous logs you’ve made and saved to your computer.

Section 5. Start logging (tracking)

You’ve charged it completely and made the setting changes. If the unit is off, turn it on by holding the middle button for 2 seconds or so. Now press the ‘volume up’ button and hold it for a couple seconds until you here a noise “uh-oh‘. It is now in data logging mode. If you didn’t here this noise then the volume is down.

If you had volume down and are unsure how many times you pressed the start/stop log button, turn the unit off and on again, then hold again for 2 seconds until you hear the sound (uh-oh). You can then turn the volume back down.

The logger is now logging. For now, with the settings you just made, it will not log when motionless and will not log unless moving faster than about 5mph. It is also logging by distance and will log position every 50 meters. Vibration sensor is enabled and only works when logging by distance. When logging ‘by time’, the vibration sensor will not work. Maybe keep these settings until you familiarize yourself with the unit.

Section 6. Google Earth download

BugGPS uses Google Earth, LOCR and Excel. If you don’t have these programs on your computer already, you can download them on the links below. Download Google Earth and install it. It’s free.

To download Google Earth, go here: http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

LOCR download instructions are below in Section 8.

Section 7. Dumplog program

Your tracking log is on your BugGPS. Now you need to get it to your computer so you can view it. Your Dumplog program is what takes the info off of your GPS unit and creates it into output files for Excel, Google and LOCR.

Viewing log: Once you’re done logging, plug the BugGPS into the USB port. Make sure it’s the same USB port that you installed it on. Now run the Dumplog program. Below is a screenshot. Follow the steps below.

1. Auto Open Com Port - Press this button to scan for the BugGPS if the buttons are not highlighted. You may need to press it more than once.

2. Use Local Time - Click this or your times will not be correct.

3. Output file - Before downloading (dumping) the log, choose how: by date or ’All log data’. ‘All data’ will transfer everything since the memory was cleared last. Or, choose a specific date.

4. Dump Log Data - Now click ‘Dump Logger Data’. Wait a few seconds.

Now that your log is on your PC…

1. Click ‘Build output file’ - Excel may open and show you all your travel times, speed etc.
2. Click ‘Output for LOCR’ - An output file will be created for LOCR. See
3. Click ‘Output for Google Earth - Google Earth should open up automatically.

LOCR output - LOCR will not open automatically.

Section 8. Downloading and installing LOCR

LOCR is like Google Earth… maybe better! First you need to register and download it. Follow the steps below.

* If you have an older version of windows, you may not be able to use LOCR. You’ll have to use Google Earth only. Sorry but there’s nothing I can to about this.

Go to LOCR.COM à Click ‘FREE SIGN UP’ à Register

After you register, get an email from LOCR and confirm your registration, log on to LOCR and go to the download page. it’s the link on the top right as see here:

If you can’t see the download page link, click the link below and you should see it on the top right. You may need to log in first. http://www.locr.com/user/my_page/user_home.php

Download the Windows XP/Vista version on the download page. If you can’t see it, click this link here: http://www.locr.com/clients/LocrGPSPhoto123.exe

After you download and are installing, you may see a little German. Just ignore it and keep going. Make sure you click ‘I accept’ or what ever it is saying in German there. Will all go back to English after that.

After you’ve installed LOCR photo program, go to your ‘programs tab‘ where all your programs are. If you’ve downloaded LOCR and installed it, you should see the new file folder there as seen below:

Open the ‘LOCR GPS Photo’ program. Leave the program window open and go to Section 9 right now.

Section 9. Viewing your track-logs on LOCR

Once you’ve done some logging (tracking), dumped your log data with the Dumplog program, instead of clicking the ‘Output for Google’ button, you now click the ‘Output for LOCR’ button (on the the Dumplog program). After you do, it will create the file for LOCR. The file is on your desktop in the same folder as your Dumplog program.

See? Look below in the picture. The ‘locr’ file is where all your logs will be from now on. It’s in the same folder as the Dumplog program. The Google Earth, LOCR and Rawdata folders will not appear there until you click one of the output buttons to actually create a file.

Double click the ‘LOCR’ folder to open it. Just leave it open and go below to Section 10.

Section 10. Viewing track-logs on LOCR

Okay, now you see below that the LOCR photo program is running and the window with your LOCR files is open. Now, drag the LOCR file from the folder and release it in the GPS Tracks window as seen below

Okay you’re on your own now! I’m not a LOCR expert so please read LOCR FAQ if you have more questions.

Section 11. Viewing stops and speed on Google Earth.

The start and stop times do not appear on Google Earth automatically. You need to do the following:

*Note: On the Excel page, the Longitude is first, but when you input to Google Earth, you input the Latitude first followed by a comma, no space, then the Longitude. Don’t forget to put the ’ - ’ (minus) character if needed. See below how your mapping program will then zoom in to the exact location. This is where the even occurred. In this case, it is the stop time you were looking for. Now the big question is…What were they doing there?

Tagging starts, stops and speed on Google Earth

This info does not automatically appear on Google Earth. When you see something on the excel record like a high speed or a lengthy stop, and you’d like to see exactly where that happened, take the Latitude and Longitude and input on Google Earth as seen above. When you see the location on the map, you can then ’tag it’ with the info such as ’Stopped for 2 hours’ or ’Speeding - 120mph’.

Go to the tool bar as seen in the picture below:

Troubleshooting FAQ

Q1: When I run the Dumplog program, my computer won’t find the BugGPS. I get a ‘comm port error’, or the buttons aren’t highlighted.

Regarding the 'No any Dump Logger Data file', 'COM PORT error', or the Dumplog program buttons not highlighted.
Don't worry! This is not a defect issue, but is the result of missing one of the installation steps or just not doing something correctly.

Be sure the BugGPS is plugged in.
The BugGPS must be plugged into the same USB port as you installed the driver on.
Try clicking the 'Auto Open COM Port' more than once.
Disable your antivirus. Antivirus software can mess with your USB port devices.
Some computers need to be rebooted before it will recognize the device

When you installed the driver..

You must install it from the folder you copied to your desktop and not from the cd. The CD should have been removed.
You must install the driver while the BugGPS is in the USB port.

When the dumplog program is open and you get the comm error, unplug the gps then plug in again. Wait 10 seconds and then click the 'Auto Open Comm' button again. Repeat if needed.

Q2: On Google Earth, I do see the log-track but also other random straight blue lines.
This is normal with GPS loggers and can be caused by hills, canyons or mountains. This can be eliminated or reduced by doing the following:

Go into the Logger Setting part of the Dumplog program.
In the ‘Log Min. Speed Limit’ box, enter ‘2’ or more.

Q3: How do I turn off the lights? Hold down the left and right buttons at the same time for 2 seconds. One small blue light will remain on. This will not turn off. A new Dumplog program will be out soon with the option to shut off completely so email me in a month or two if you need it.

Q4: How do I turn off the sound?
Press the volume down button until there is no sound. It will not come back on until turned up again

Q5: When I click ‘GPS UTC Time’ the Dumplog program says it needs a newer version.
just ignore this. You have the newest version.

Q6: How do I see the address on Google Earth?
On the bottom left of Google Earth, there are options like ‘Terrain, Traffic, weather’ etc. Click the one that says ‘roads’ and you’ll see the info you need.

Q7: I can’t see the times, speed etc. on Google Earth.
You can’t. You need to unput this yourself with the tag function. This info is viewable on Excel. Google Earth will provide Latitude/Longitude etc. To display the street names, click the ‘roads’ feature on the bottom left corner of your Google Earth screen.

Q8: BugGPS is in vibration mode, but it keeps logging dada while the vehicle parks and drains battery.
When the BugGPS is set to log ‘by time’, it will disable the vibration sensor and log until the battery dies (about 17-18 hours). Set the software to record ‘by distance’ not ‘by time’. Now, when the car is not moving, the BugGPS will not record the location and sleep mode will work.

Q9: If I erase my BugGPS memory, there are still prior log-tracks on Google earth.
To erase prior log-tracks on Google Earth, this must be done on Google Earth. It has nothing to do with the Dumplog Program. On Google Earth, go to My locations\tracklogs and delete there.

*I don’t provide tech support for Google Earth or LOCR. Please see the help section in those programs.

Warranty Return policy: Please respect my return policy, which is exchange only for defective. If a product is returned, I will test and return to you with with a tracklog on it and a file from my PC showing that it works.

Warranty: 4 months exchange only. No refunds.