Bad Elf GPS Pro: App and Firmware Updates Available!
The latest version (2.0.14) of the Bad Elf GPS utility app is now available on iTunes. This update includes a number of new features and bug fixes, mostly for the Bad Elf GPS Pro.
New & Noteworthy
Trip transfers
After using the GPS Pro to log hundreds of hours of activities around the world, we quickly identified some areas that needed improvement for getting the trip files transferred from the accessory into our app. Included in this release:
- 6-10X faster transfers!
- Transfers can be canceled while in progress
- Transfers can finish while app is in background
Using the trip files
Of course, once the trip files have been transferred to our app, you want to do something with them. Previously you could send them off-board via email, but for large trips this was a pain. We added 2 new options:
- iTunes File Transfer:Now you can move trip files from your Apple device to your PC or Mac using iTunes. Just connect your device to your computer, find your device in iTunes, and then select the Apps tab. Scroll to the bottom and you'll see Bad Elf GPS listed in the File Sharing section. From there you can save log files to your computer for safe keeping or uploading to other services. KML and GPX file formats are supported, and can be configured via the Settings tab in our app.
- Open with... other apps: Now you can open the Trip files directly in any app that supports the GPX or KML file formats... for example, MotionX GPS, Google Earth, or GPS Kit. We'll be adding a section to our compatible apps page to indicate which third party apps support this feature. We're also working with a handful of app developers who will be adding support for these file types to their apps in the near future.
Datalogging improvements
The datalogger feature of the GPS Pro is proving to be a big hit with our users, especially with the 32-hour battery life in standalone (no Bluetooth) mode. We've added some features that make it even better:
- SmartFilter: You can now set a threshold to ignore points below a minimum speed for common activities such as walking, running, driving, and flying. This is perfect for users that care more about the overall journey and don't want a bunch of points recorded while stopped at a light or waiting for the plane to take off.
- 1-10Hz Logging: A much-requested feature from our racing enthusiasts, you can now enable higher recording rates of 2, 4, 5 or 10Hz. Log files will be much larger, of course, but when coupled with the SmartFilter threshold you can selectively capture high-speed movement and ignore the rest.
Other firmware updates
In additional to a handful of bug fixes, we made some improvements to the LCD screens:
- Configurable time zone offset for GPS time shown in bottom menu bar
- DDMMSS now supported for displaying latitude/longitude values
- Added indicator to clearly show that GPS heading value is relative to true north as opposed to magnetic north
- Enhanced warning dialogs when data logging memory is low/full
A firmware update is required to take advantage of all of these new features, so after updating the app, be sure to launch it with your GPS Pro connected and click the "Firmware" button in the first tab to install the updates.
Questions or issues? Any other features you'd like to see in a future release? Please visit our support page.
16 Responses
Zaheer
My GPS pro works great with my iPad but now I need it on my surface pro 2. Is that possible?
Thanks
Paul
Paul, we can help you unlock your Bad Elf. Please email us at support@bad-elf.com. Include your Bad Elf serial number (from the Info tab on the Bad Elf app.
Paul
My Elf Pro has a lock on the page and I can’t remember the code from first time round. I see my journeys but can’t view them. Help please. P
Paul
VIcky, please visit our support page from the options across the top of the website. Follow the instructions in bright yellow. If you still have trouble, please email us at support@bad-elf.com.
John Dyason
Thanks for assistance with problems getting hardware & Outdoors GPS to “sing from the same hymnsheet” Now have Bad Elf working on iPad Mini with both Tom Tom satnav and Outdoors GPS maps. Happy to set off to drive to Fort Willim and spend days on Ben Nevis and in Glenco! Now, anything you can do about the Scottish weather or midges? Cheers, JohnD.
Vicki
I have a bad elf GPS BE-GPS 1000. I couldn’t get the GPS to come on my iPad inflight. Is there an update that I need to do and if so how?
Brett
Please drop an email to support@bad-elf.com and they’ll help troubleshoot the issue. Thanks!
paul martin
hi Brett
could you please confirm that the gps pro will stream to navionics HD on a ipad wifi ( without gps) for live position on the chart.
Navionics are very non commital regarding this point, i’m sure other guys are needing this answer before buying the pro, if not sure, will the usb elf do it? and if so has anyone tried the lightning adapter for this set up?
many thanks for a really informative site re ipads etc
regards Paul
Brett
Hi Paul,
Yes – we have many customers that use their Bad Elf GPS (dongle or Pro) with Navionics HD, works great. Bluetooth, 30-pin, or Lightning-to-30pin are your viable options depending on what Bad Elf GPS and iPad models you have.
Hope that helps!
-Brett
Brett
Ah, sorry, I misunderstood your previous question. As far as I know, Navionics does not support importing GPX or KML files. So unless they add this feature you won’t be able to use Navionics to view the logs. This would be a great feature request to send them.
You can open these logs in apps like MotionX GPS or Google Earth. Or you can save them to your PC/Mac and then upload them to websites like http://gpsvisualizer.com.
Mark Pollard
I have hade bad elf gps for about a year along with wingx pro 7. I use these in my Ipad. Today I had a flight scheduled and my gps would turn off and on and eventually no gps signal at all. Im fairly certain something is wrong with my bad elf pro. The light flashes off and on the bad elf. I had to borrow a friends gps to make trip. Please help?
Brett
Hello!
Navionics should work great with the GPS Pro. The HD version is designed for the iPad so the graphics will be much nicer, but otherwise you’ll be fine using the iPhone version.
Keep in mind the Navionics app doesn’t know anything about the GPS logging functionality built into the GPS Pro. So just be sure to turn datalogging ON (via long press of bottom button or via our app) and then you can transfer the logs afterwards. The GPS Pro will stream the live data to Navionics AND log your GPS data at the same time, so no issues there.
Hope that helps, and have fun with your GPS Pro!
Best regards,
Brett
John Vye
Hi Brett,
I have a trip data logged and when I “Open KMLin Other App”, all I get showing is Google Earth. Navionics is not on the list in KML or GPX.
Any ideas. I think I have tried almost everything to get this working but if Navionics is not on the list, not sure what to do next ? It is the transferring of logs afterwards on to Navionics that stumps me.
Thanks John Vye
Scott McCall
What about indicated battery life? My GPS always says full battery but then suddenly dies from a dead battery. Once I restart the GPS, it finally shows dead battery status.
Brett
Hi Scott,
This firmware release includes a fix in the battery gauge logic but I don’t know if it’s going to impact what you are describing. I’ll add this to the list of things to investigate, and please drop us a note at support@bad-elf.com if you see the same behavior once you’ve upgraded the firmware to v2.0.35.
Best regards,
Brett
John Vye
Good morning,
I just did the firmware update to my Elf Pro. I notice that my Navionics navigation program does not show up as a compatible app. Can you advise on whether I will need the HD (ie: $49.95) version for this to work? I am using the iPhone version on both the iPad and the 3GS. I would like to use the GPS logger with this app. Thanks in Advance. John Vye Sidney Canada
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