More on Blue2CAN - Camera Area Network for Nikon

More on BLue2CAN - Camera Area Network for Nikon

The Blue2CAN connects automatically (and silently) to ANY Bluetooth GPS in range (within 10 m of it's location) The idea is that in the rare event there is more than one Bluetooth GPS in range that any one will do as it's "close enough". However these receivers only connect to one device at a time, so the GPS device must be on, in range, and NOT connected to something else, it's most likely yours. If the GPS is separated from the camera Blue2CAN loses the connection and starts searching again. If the same one, or a different one comes it range it uses it. The advantage is that it is AUTOMATIC, and therefore easy to use.

Connection speed is not really a problem because the Blue2CAN stays connected to the GPS as long as the GPS receiver is on, even when the camera is turned off (yes, Blue2CAN gets power from the camera even when the camera is off). In this way the GPS data is available immediately when the camera is switched on. Note that it is best to turn the camera off when you’re not shooting because the GPS does hold the meter on (Nikon's design) and the meter takes quite a lot of power. Fortunately Bluetooth takes very little power so it does not put much of a drain on the camera battery in any case. The drain is so small that the D200 camera battery can keep the Bluetooth radio working for more than 25 days (and nights). GPS takes a LOT more power, so the batteries in the Bluetooth GPS device will probably not last more than about 14 hours.

If the Blue2CAN is not connected to a GPS when the camera is turned off it will search for 10 minutes longer, if no GPS if found it will turn itself off. It will start searching again when the camera is turned on, and takes about 5 seconds to connect in this case. It usually takes GPS receivers at least this long to get a fix from power up, so when the GPS data is available the Bluetooth is already connected. I'm sorry if this description was too complicated, but the complexity was necessary in the implementation to both manage power and make sure no GPS data was missed when a picture is taken...

The two real advantages of using a Bluetooth GPS instead of a camera powered GPS are that 1) the power systems are separate. And 2) the GPS antenna can be placed in a good position regardless of where the camera is.

Power: The GPS must be on all the time to “keep a lock” otherwise you have to wait for the fix before you take a picture (not a good use model). The GPS takes a lot of power, so it can put quite a drain on the camera battery, if the GPS battery goes dead you can still take a picture, it just won’t be geo-located.

Antenna: To maintain a fix the GPS antenna must have a clear view of the sky, if your shooting from inside a car or other vehicle it’s better to have the GPS on the dash than on the camera. Also if the camera is “stored” between shooting where it will not “see” the sky, a camera mounted GPS will loose lock and may take to long to re-acquire when you get the thing out to take a shot.

Red Hen does offer a camera mounted GPS unit for the D200, D2X as well, it's called the "DX-GPS" we’ve had it available for some time, these are the things we’ve learned from use and customer feedback.

BLUE2CAN - Nikon SLR Geotagging has never been so easy

BLUE2CAN(tm) is the next-generation integrated geotagging solution from Red Hen Systems for Nikon's D200 and D2X SLR cameras.

Integrating off-the-shelf Bluetooth GPS units and the industry leading Nikon D2X and D200 cameras, the BLUE2CAN allows users to automatically capture geospatially referenced images in the easiest, most reliable collection method today.


Red Hen’s BLUE2CAN establishes for the first time a "camera area network" Bluetooth solution that automatically links common Bluetooth GPS devices directly to the appropriate Nikon camera. Through Red Hen Systems' patent pending Camera Area Network, the Nikon D2X and D200 (and soon other digital cameras and handicams) GPS positional data is streamed into the camera and merged into the EXIF meta-data of the JPEG image file.
BLUE2CAN's spatial EXIF metadata information can be used to map these geotagged images by:

· Google Earth/Maps
· Yahoo’s Flickr
· Virtual Earth and other 3D Worlds
· Red Hen Systems MediaMapper, PixPoint and GeoVideo products

BLUE2CAN Features:

· The Bluetooth GPS unit may be mounted on top of the camera, carried in a pocket, put on the dash of your car, or placed in the scene
· Bluetooth wireless integration eliminates all cables
· Instantly inspect and view data on the camera LCD
· Very simple to use, just plug it in and go.
· Industry standard GPS geo-tagging offers compatibility with most GIS and mapping systems
· Includes IsWhere picture mapping software that operates in conjunction with Google Earth
· Release date 5/25/2007
· Price: $279.95 without Bluetooth GPS

Red Hen Systems, Inc.
2850 McClelland Drive Suite 3900
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
(970) 493-3952
http://www.redhensystems.com/
hoot@redhensystems.com

Nikon GeoTagging DX-GPS

The Red Hen Systems DX-GPS is an integrated solution for tagging Nikon digital still images with GPS data. Using a consumer, off-the-shelf GPS, Garmin Geko 301 unit and the industry leading Nikon D2Xs, D2X & D200 camera, the DX-GPS allows users to directly capture geospatially referenced images in the easiest, most reliable collection method today.

Information captured in the EXIF metadata of the JPEG image file can be read by Red Hen Systems’ MediaMapper and PixPoint for ArcGIS to create map features linked directly to the photo file.

Features & Benefits

• GPS mounts on top of the camera putting it in full view of satellites for maximum accuracy.
• Records Latitude, Longitude and Altitude data to EXIF header of each JPG image.
• Physical integration provides for hands-free use.
• Instantly inspect and view GPS data on the camera LCD.
• User interface on GPS allows for setting adjustments, verifying satellite acquisition and accuracy.
• Industry standard GPS-data tagging offers compatibility with most GIS systems.

Requires a Nikon D2Xs, D2X, D2H or D200 camera.