"Google like" to flying fields, shops and "clubs"

[merlin703]

I'm a bit surprised :shock: that not many people have contributed with ideas or suggestions to a thread that rcheli.dk started on creating a map for helifreaks looking for flying fields, and rc shops. I have actually checked out the map he did and it's pretty good. :noteworthy I suggestion I made is to make it more user friendly. :smokin: Also add "Clubs" to the already three existing options "Flying fields", "RC shops", and "RC pilots". OK, maybe I'm lazy :roll: but I would like to type in the zip code or city/country and find the closest fields, shops and clubs to my place. Specially when I'm just starting and don't know anybody. :arggg: I think the potential of something like this for all noobs or so to have a one source for local clubs, fields, shops, etc is huge. So come on, check it out and provide suggestions rcheli.ck is eager to put some crazy work into this to make things easier for us. :lolol

I have seen some references to local shops and flying fields in my are of Virginia being used by some local clubs and I will input them to help out. I hope rcheli.uk add the "Clulbs" option too :YeaBaby:

[/URL]
Map Here:
http://usmap.rcheli.dk/?club (http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=63400)

Video on how to use map here:
[URL]http://rcheli.dk/instruction.htm

Original Thread here:
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=63400

[rcheli.dk]

Once again thanks for supporting.

And based on public demand :) I have created a test site, where you can test the new feature, please let me know that you think.

http://ajax.rcheli.dk this is a temp test site and the push pins on the map is not the correct pinid’s but you can use the site to test the search function at the top of the map, please have a look.

And please don't register on the ajax.rcheli.dk site, it's a test site, if you like to register please use this site, http://usmap.rcheli.dk

Thanks

[merlin703]

Much better, I like being able to type in the city and what I'm looking for so I don't have to drag to my desired location. Nicely done. :rolling

I will test it some more tomorrow by entering other locations to see how it works. I did entered my city and country and boom, took me there with nearby hits. I tried selecting/deselecting the "shops", "RC shops" and "flying fields" and nothing happened on the test site. I guess this might be just because it's a dummy site, right?:thinking

[astroflyer]

What a great idea and map!

what would be really nice in this day and age of cheap GPS units is to see this project done in google earth. That way flyers could check the sites and use the goodle earth .kml file to load these spots directly into their gps units. a simple file conversion is all that is needed.

is there any way to get these locations in such a file....cvs etc...?

[rcheli.dk]

Well everything is possible :) I just have some questions/issues about this request.

First of all I just have to ask, how many would like this feature?

Second I don’t have any knowledge about the GPS files, I don’t have a GPS and I can’t test the files one a real live GPS, and what about the standards on the different types of GPS’s do they have one file you can use for all or are they different from GPS to GPS?

[astroflyer]

Can't tell you how many would be interested, but GPS use is growing. Some larger companies are setting up files for their locations worldwide for downloading into GPS units for instance.

anyway I fooled with this a bit this afternoon and can tell you manually it'd be a major job, but then you already know that. I'm in Nova Scotia so I took the coordinates from your map and manually entered them into a google earth file using a program called poiedit (www.poidedit.com)

I found a couple of the club fields locally to be out from the position indicated, but not far enough to make it a problem for people using it in a GPS. Since I know all the fields here I corrected the location.

once set up in google earth the file can be easily converted for use in many gps units, tomtom and garmin for sure.

Here is the result for you to take a look. Of course, you do need google earth on your system.

[rcheli.dk]

Hi astroflyer

I see what you need and i would properly be able to create a file with some place marks in, fairly easy :) but i am sorry to say, i am not going to. It would compromise my "marked" position, i am right now the only one that have made that big a effort and got 2564 flying fields on the map with a lot of hard work, if i create one big file with all the flying fields in, then it would be easy to copy all my data and use it on another site :( i am not interested in shearing my handwork just yet. sorry.

I can however create a kml file for one field at a time, but i am not sure that is what you are looking for.

I am sorry if that was not the answer you where looking for. Thanks for your feedback.

Your comment about Google map, i don't need that system to create a file, i can do that with the coordinates from my map too.

[astroflyer]

I understand completely and didn't think of it in that way. Not a problem at all sir. Many thanks for your efforts as this is a very valuable resource!

[merlin703]

astroflyer had a good suggestion but I see your point rcheli.dk. It would really suck if someone just copies your work to start something else. :arggg:
For the time being, make sure you do whatever you need to do to protect your work with "copyright".
I will send you more suggestions tomorrow, I hope. Today work was crazy :shock:

[rcheli.dk]

HOD DAME I think I did it, it was not easy but I did it, test it on the test site, before I release it on the main site.

I fixed the enter issues, now you can enter something in a text box, and hit enter and the correct button are hit.

And now you can search for some shop or something, you will get a view of the 10 first results and then you can get driving direction for the shop you just search for by entering your pinID a the textbox at the pushpin text, well test it, let me what you think. It works like the driving directions for flying fields

I am going to bed, I can get 4½ hours of sleep before I have a loooooooong day at work tomorrow, but hey it was all worth it, nice to some new stuff working. And it’s the last day before a weeklong vacation :)

Goodnight.

[merlin703]

Yeah, I pressed my <enter> key and it worked just fine. Here is a screenshot of the text being off center. As you can see it's too far right. I sent you a PDF just a couple minutes ago. I also had a long day so now I have to go home and work in my heli. I got the parts I needed and it should be ready to go for this weekend. The map is looking great! http://www.helifreak.com/C:\mapb.bmp

[rcheli.dk]

Now I have made some changes, please have a look and check if you find the registration process self intuitive on the site. Here is a test site http://ajax.rcheli.dk where you can make a test registration, please give me some feedback.

If you would like to register on the REAL site then go here http://usmap.rcheli.dk

[merlin703]

I just saw the released map with the changes you made and man, HUGE improvements!!!! :noteworthy Now, I can enter my city, state and country... press <enter> and I'm taken to the place and see who is closest to my area. Really nice man! The registration feature is also more self intuitive. For some reason, I can't see how to get directions from my side of the computer. I will enter my LHS and try to get dirrections from there later to see if I'm given any options. Nice job man!!!!!!!!! :thumbup:

[rcheli.dk]

Once again the Helifreak sprit helps out.

I would like to take the time to Thank Merlin703 for helping me with reviewing the map site that I have created. A few weeks ago Merlin703 asked me if he could come with some ideas for the map site, and I accepted his offer, and I am VERY glad I did. Since that I can’t even explain the amount of work Merlin703 did for me with reviewing and adding new features. He is the only reason why I added the search function to the site, and that’s just one of many thinks he is the founder of.

THANKS Merlin703 you have been a GREAT help, check it out yourself guys, the site is very easy to use now with the help from Merlin703 http://usmap.rcheli.dk

I am getting addicted to Helifreak

[heliMark]

great idea guys :thumbup:

I'll try to get some of the guys in my areas to sign up their fields and hobby shops

M3

[merlin703]

rcheli, your site looks very cool man. I believe it has a huge potential and I hope more people sign up soon.
I think it would be specially helpful for people like myself, trying to find local pilots, stores and clubs. All I have to do is enter my city, state and country and I can quickly see what's around (closer to me). I LOVE the new feature that allows me to get directions to the location found by just entering my PUSH PIN (id). Very cool indeed. I will start gathering information of my LHSs and flying areas I use to let other users know where they can shop, fly, and potentially meet other pilots. Together, helping each other out, we can make the rc community grow. I don't know if I'm being selfish but I believe if the RC community grows, the prices will come down even more for RC stuff (supply and demand = competition from various companies entering the market).
I'm already on your map as merlin703, course :YeaBaby:

[terrybeb]

Flying Dutchmen Ktchener, Ont. Canada pushpin now added with link to website.

[merlin703]

Flying Dutchmen Ktchener, Ont. Canada pushpin now added with link to website.
I also added my 3 local hobby stores in VA...and included their phone number with address :YeaBaby:

[Ricky Bobby]

Here's something a little easier to use to let everyone know where you're at. I hope this helps and maybe it could get stickied or something. Just copy and paste that into your Browser. Its from Frappr and its VERY easy to use. Thanks.

<div><embed quality="high" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.frappr.com/ajax/yvmap.swf" flashvars="host=http://www.frappr.com/&origin=unknown&lo=1&mvid=137440640382" salign="l" align="middle" scale="noscale" width="600" height="400" ></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://visitor.frappr.com/?sig=visitor_map&src_mvid=137440640382&origin=unknown" target=_blank><img src="http://frappr.com/i/gyo.gif" border=0/></a><a href="http://www.frappr.com/?a=constellation_map&mapid=137440517323&src=flash_map&sig=visitor_map&src_mvid=137440640382&origin=unknown&ct=seemore" target=_blank><img src="http://frappr.com/i/s.gif" border=0/></a><a href="http://www.frappr.com/?a=constellation_map&mapid=137440517323&src=flash_map&sig=visitor_map&src_mvid=137440640382&origin=unknown&ct=pendingpins" target=_blank><img src="http://frappr.com/dyn_map/137440517323/origin:unknown/p.gif" border=0/></a><a href="http://www.frappr.com/?a=feedback&type=vm" target=_blank><img src="http://frappr.com/i/h.gif" border=0/></a></div></div>

[merlin703]

Sorry but I couldn't make the link work for me. Can you also filtered by pilot, rc shops or flying fields like rcheli's does? I like the fact that his also gives you directions ;)

http://i32.tinypic.com/rmp3q9.jpg