H everyone,

For some years I’ve been taking a small lightweight Bluetooth GPS data logger with me on my travels. This device is very useful when travelling as an aid to recording where my shots were taken especially when viewed at a later date when things aren’t so fresh in one’s memory. Simply switch it on before leaving for the day, pop it in one’s pocket or camera bag and switch it off again later. I have a Holux RCV-3000 data logger which I bought eight years ago now. It’s about the size of a matchbox has three LEDs on it which show GPS satellite connection status, Bluetooth active and power/charging status, an on/off switch and a Type B mini USB port. It runs off a small, inexpensive, easily obtainable, replaceable rechargeable battery for which I have a spare and also a separate USB battery charger so that I can charge a battery outside of the unit and the battery lasts quite a good time between charges and it can also be powered via USB, a USB power bank for example. It connects to either the computer by USB cable or my Android phone via Bluetooth connection so that one can download and view the track files. It also fits nicely in one of my waterproof battery cases. Unfortunately I don’t think the company is trading anymore but I’m sure that there must be alternative makes and models out there.

Software-wise I use a free program called Geosetter which comes with a program called EXIF Tool to sync the GPS track data to my photographs and write the location data to their EXIF information. I also use some software called GPS Track Editor to view and possibly edit the GPS tracks . These programs also show the location of the shots on a map which is very useful. The important thing is to make sure that the date and time setting in one’s camera are accurate, I set them before each trip to make sure as it’s this date and time information that’s used to sync the photos correctly to the location. You can also correct for different time zones eg. daylight saving time but I keep my camera set to UTC time whilst travelling.

For my Android phone I use an app called GPS Device Toolbox to download the track files via Bluetooth to my phone for backup at the end of the day and clear the device’s memory should it become full and the device’s internal memory can record up to 200,000 position data sets and I’ve set it to record a waypoint every 10 seconds which is generally more than sufficient for my needs. I use another app called GPS Track Viewer to view the track files on the mobile phone all these programs and apps are free at the time of writing. I think that there must be comparable software out there for Apple devices.

Additionally the data logger can act as a “Mock GPS Location Provider” and use it’s GPS rather than the phone’s inbuilt GPS via Bluetooth connection using the Bluetooth GPS app. There are cameras like my Olympus TG-5 with built in GPS and one could use the GPS in one’s phone but both would increase the battery drain on these devices, mission-critically in the case of my camera/s and for that reason I prefer to use a separately powered device. Along with my indispensable Anker 5-port USB charging hub and USB camera battery chargers it’s one bit of kit that packs itself.

Kind regards

Leigh

PS. Correction, the free version of Bluetooth GPS no longer supports Mock GPS Location, this free app does: Bluetooth GNSS , tested and working with my data logger.