Using A Garmin GPS As A “Spy” Trip Logger

A feature introduced into the newer affordable line of Garmin GPS devices is the use of a trip log. What this does is record every single movement locally to the unit. The only problem is that there is no clear cut way as to how to access this data on a map.

This tutorial will show you how to do that. It’s easy and you can use it for "spy" purposes later on.

What models does this work with?

Any three-digit nüvi model where the third digit is 5, such as 205, 255W, 755T, 885T, etc.

..or four-digit model that starts with 1 and ends with 0, such as 1200, 1260T, 1390T, etc.

Three-digit and four-digit models that end in 0, like 250, 260, 270, 2720, 7200 and so on will not work. For three-digit, the 3rd must be a 5. For four-digit, it must start with 1 and end with 0.

The model I will be using to show you how this works is the 255W.

Step 1. Knowing how to reset your trip log

You will need to do this from time to time when you want to reset the log. It’s not required, but nonetheless is good information to know.

This is accessed from the My Data folder.

From Main Menu you touch Tools…

Then My Data..

Then Clear Trip Log.

From here if you want to clear the log, just touch Yes.

Step 2. Drive around

In order to have data in the trip log you must drive around so the nüvi can store some data. It doesn’t matter if it’s as little as 5 feet, but you do have to drive somewhere. For a better sample of data, drive as you normally would. For example, your daily commute to work is a good sample right there. All that’s required is that the nüvi has to be on when driving. And no, it does not have to be navigating a route. As long as it’s on and has a GPS signal, it is storing a trip log.

Step 3a. Accessing the trip log using MapSource

If you don’t have MapSource, skip to step 3b below.

MapSource is freely available software from Garmin, however in order for it to work you must have mapping data installed with it. The way this is done is a huge pain in the neck.

You have to download MapSource and install it. That’s the easy part, but the first thing you’ll notice is that it doesn’t work because there isn’t any map data present.

The easiest way to get map data into MapSource is to perform a Garmin map data update – even if it’s just a re-download of existing map data so you don’t have to spend cash on a new update. After that, MapSource will work.

If you don’t feel like going thru any of this hassle (and I don’t blame you,) skip to step 3b for an alternative free way to do it.

Assuming your MapSource actually works, this is how it’s done.

First, plug in your Garmin GPS via USB to your computer.

Second, launch MapSource.

Third, click Transfer and then Receive From Device…, like this:

A small window will appear and detect your Garmin GPS. Check the box to receive Tracks and click Receive, like this:

On the left side, click the Tracks tab and you’ll see the data imported:

When you highlight one of the logs, it will show exactly where you drove on the map:

 

If you double-click one of the logs, it will show not only where but when, point by point:

 

Highlighting any one of these points and clicking the Show on Map button will show where the point was recorded.

If you click the Filter button you can get even more data:

The slider bar, if you moved to the right, will show even more points per track. You get an unbelievably ridiculous amount of data from this and truly get a grasp of how closely GPS can track you! Fortunately, now you can "see" what the GPS "sees" verbatim. This is very good data to have.

Accessing the trip log from the Garmin GPS does not delete it from the nüvi; it only copies it. If you want to delete the log, do so by resetting the log as outlined above.

Step 3b. Accessing the trip log using Google Earth 5

To note, I have tried this with Google Earth 4.3 and it didn’t work very well. You need version 5 which is the latest offering at the time of this writing.

When you plug in your Garmin GPS you will notice it assigns itself a drive letter in Windows. This is easy to spot because it’s accompanied by a large blue triangle and even states "Garmin nüvi," so you can’t miss it:

Double-click inside the Garmin’s "drive." Then double-click the "Garmin" folder, then the "GPX" folder. You should see something similar to this:

The file you want is Current.gpx. This file contains the data we want Google Earth to use. It may be shown (as it does above) as simply "Current."

Right-click the "Current" file, drag to the desktop and copy it there. Make sure you perform a copy and not a move because this can screw up the way the nüvi works if you boot it without its log file.

At this point, launch Google Earth.

Have Google Earth in windowed mode (meaning not maximized.) You do this so that the "Current" file is in view.

Drag and drop the "Current" file directly on to the Google Earth map.

You will get this screen:

The easiest thing to do is to have everything checked and click OK.

On the left side will be a new folder under Temporary Places called GPS Device. Subfolders under that will be Waypoints, Tracks and their descendants. The one you want to expand is Tracks, like this:

When you expand an "ACTIVE LOG," you’ll start seeing the data.

If you expand Points, you will see a ton of data. Double-clicking any point will zoom the map to where the point was taken, time of day, how fast you were going, etc.

This is not an elegant solution by any means, but you do get the data you were looking for.

An easier way is to play a little mini-movie of sorts by highlighting "Path," and clicking the path icon below it:

Note the small icon at bottom right from the screen shot above, that will start a mini-movie when Path is highlighted.

Where does the "spy" stuff come in?

I’m betting it’s pretty much guaranteed that you know the GPS tracks your movements, but other people (your husband or wife or children) don’t know this.

All you have to do is train those who use your car to always have the GPS on when driving and you can track every movement they make by downloading the trip log later.

If you want to do it in such a way where it’s mostly hidden, this depends what type of vehicle you have.

If you have a larger SUV or minivan with cigarette lighter accessory ports in the back of the vehicle, and are relatively sure nobody would go back there (especially the driver,) set the nüvi’s volume to 0% (if you don’t the nüvi may blurt out a bleep or a "lost satellite connection" message and completely freak out the driver,) turn the screen brightness down to 0%, secure it so it doesn’t shake around and that’s pretty much all you have to do. The nüvi will always be on and always recording data whenever the vehicle is moving.

If you have a vehicle such as a passenger car and want to do the same thing but have no accessory power ports in the back, you’ll have to find a way to hook one up somehow as a nüvi only has 2 to 3 hours of battery life at the most then quits.

You could get brave and wire in a nüvi under the passenger seat, but this may block the signal too much and it may not work.

Why would you want to spy on anybody that drives your car?

Here’s three reasons:

• If you have teenagers of driving age, the GPS will record how fast they were going and whether they were speeding or not.
• Again, if you have teens of driving age, it’s guaranteed they’re probably driving places they’re not supposed to be going to. You’ll easily be able to track these movements.
• If you have a significant other you feel is being unfaithful, you will be able to track where they’re going and moreover when.

Were you to employ some other method of GPS spying, such as AccuTracking, it’s going to cost you $6 a month. A nüvi is a one-time cost. While it’s true you don’t get real-time reports (you have to always check it later,) you get way more data than a third-party service could ever give you and it’s far more accurate because of the advanced GPS technology Garmin uses in their units.

One final note: If you know someone else that uses a Garmin device that keeps a log, all it takes is a quick hookup to a laptop with a USB cable, the download of the Current.gpx file (which is tiny,) and you now know every place they’ve been while the unit was on. The file after all is completely unprotected.

Now you know why I instructed how to reset the log. It’s important info to know.