Speed Camera loading for Dummies

thanks

Thanks I didn't realize you could set the activation speed.

In Excel I used the "replace" function and added the @ sign to the all "speed camera" speeds in less than a minute. I left the speeds at default as I would like to be warned if I'm over prior to reaching the camera (makes me aware).

I'm driving through Phoenix on the way to golf this Sat. so I'll give it a try.

See this is the info that helps, I had no idea that you could do that with excel,,thanks that speeds up the whole thing by 10x,,,it took me 10 min. just to do the AZ file and I tried this and took seconds,,way cool..

Thanks for the info ramcruzer! Good post.

Thank you!

Wow thanks! I can't wait to edit the file!

thanks

Ok I have tested this out several times now since this was posted and have fine tuned mine for Phx and it works great,, I also have inputted all the locations of these cameras in the cvs file so in the future it is easier to make changes,, just be sure you all know what the speed limits are and at what speed the cameras will ticket you in your state,, You can also do this on any of your cvs files that are set for speeds,, you get the icon but not the alert if you don't want them ,,, Have fun with this ,,I sure have had fun playing with this and have learned alot about what these GPS can do...

The POI Factory Rocks

I've worked up an Excel formula that will insert the @ sign in the right place and let you specify an adjustment value to the speed limit as ramcruzer described in his original post. I've also written up a few steps to help you use it in the red light camera file. Hopefully, it won't be too hard to follow, even if you don't use Excel very often.

What it does: If a camera description contains the characters "MPH", the "@" sign will be inserted in front of the speed limit, the speed limit will have 5 mph added to it, and the result placed in a new cell. (Step 4 tells you how to use a different value than 5 mph if you want to change it. If you're OK with 5 mph, you can skip step 4.) If there is no "MPH" in the description, the contents will be copied unchanged to a new cell. The steps below assume as an example that there are 100 rows of speed camera data in the spreadsheet.

1. Open Speed-Cameras.csv
2. Insert a column between columns C and D. This should become the new, blank column D.
3. Copy the formula below and paste it into cell D1.
4. Look in the formula for the characters "&RIGHT". Immediately to the left of that is "+5". This part of the formula adds 5 mph to whatever the speed limit value is. If you want to use a different adjustment, change it here. (In other words, use "+7" for a 7 mph adjustment, "+0" for no adjustment, etc.).
5. Copy the formula in D1 and paste it into the remaining cells in column D that have data in the corresponding cell in column C. In other words, if there are 100 cameras in the file, copy D1 and paste it into cells D2-D100.
6. Next select all the non-blank cells in column D (D1-D100). Copy the selection. Leave the cells selected; don't click anywhere else on the spreadsheet until you do the next step.
7. On Excel's "Edit" menu, click "Paste Special". In the dialog box that comes up, choose the "Values" button and click "OK".
8. Delete Column C. Your new data will now become Column C.
9. Save the file as a CSV.

Here's the formula. Make sure you copy and paste it with no changes, spaces or line breaks. It should be one long line wherever it appears in your spreadsheet.

=IF(ISERR(FIND("MPH",C1)),C1,(LEFT(C1,FIND("MPH",C1)-4)&"@"&MID(C1,(FIND("MPH",C1))-3,2)+5&RIGHT(C1,LEN(C1)-FIND("MPH",C1)+2)))

I wrote this in Excel 2003 but it should work in Excel 2002 ("Office XP") and up. I hope you find it useful.

There is one other "gotcha" in the formula. The original column C data MUST HAVE a space between the original speed and the MPH. If there is no space, the wrong digit is incremented resulting in "Speed Camera@90MPH .0212z" for an original speed of 40 when it should read "Speed Camera @45 MPH .0212z". Other than that, the formula works well. Thanks Felix for the hard work in developing and testing the formula.

I didn't notice any rows like a_user describes in the current speed camera download, but you're correct that the arithmetic result will be weird if that space is missing.

I did notice one row in that file where it had "MHP" instead of "MPH". That row simply wouldn't be changed by the formula.

It's hard to do much data validation in an Excel formula, so the output will only be as good as the data coming in. "Garbage in, garbage out."

And I didn't realize until this morning that there were Canadian entries in the file (remind me not to go driving in Winnipeg again without this POI file in my GPS). Replacing the four instances of "MPH" in the formula with "KM/H" ought to produce valid results. If you travel between the US and Canada you'll have to do the conversions separately for each country.

Can someone emailme the file so I can see the formating? The AZ file would be great as that is where I live. Thanks

Thanks for the info Ram, but I am curious... after changing the proximity to 0 how far away from the camera will it warn you?

cheer

The alert distance is still the same, the only difference by doing this is you won't get any alerts if you stay about 7-8 mph under the speed setting in the file. Thats why I set mine for 10 over.

I have been driving around now since this post and I got to tell you it work great.

You can pay the dues to the poi factory and you can use them. To respect misspoi you have to help them out like the rest of us.

Nice try

Once you become an active member of this site you'll be able to download it from the Red Light Cameras tab at the top of the web page. Or you can pay for a subscription. For more information about active status, see the FAQs.

If you set the distance to zero will you gat an alert?

Yes if you drive over your setting
example: posted speed limit is 65 and you set the cvs file for 75mph(10mph over) you will get an alert around 67-68mph and when you slow down to 65 the alert will stop but your Icon will still show on the screen,,if you drive 65 icon only will show on screen no alert sound after awhile it got real annoying to here the alert every mile or so on the highway and I got to know where the cameras are so this works. Don't need the wake up call unless I am driving with my head up my beeep and not paying attention

And you are moving it will warn you? How far in advance? I am refering to the locations that don't have a speed included... I understand your concept but .... do you understand mine?

i.e. Speed Camera .023hf, MD Rockville poi-factory Jan07 09

Not sure on the ones with no speed in them all of the ones here in AZ have speeds in the file.
If no speed I would put one in any way.

Ang there aren't any listed for Ca I was just pointing out a concern for people who may live or travel near one without a speed... But when I visit my friends in Surprise AZ I'm sure your idea will come in handy... And thanks for the post..

One of the advantages of using the "@mph" in field 3 of each individual POI within the file is you don't have to load in the manual mode. "@mph" is top priority and cannot be changed in the manual mode, the proximity distance is calculated from the mph in the "@mph".

Just to verify this, I loaded an "@mph" file in my nuvi 350. The POI's 'displayed proximity distance' stayed exactly the same whether it was loaded in express or changed as above in the manual mode.

Another thing I noticed with the nuvi 350 (and possibly others) is the alert doesn't sound exactly at the set speed. It seems to have a "safety buffer" of approximately 5 mph. i.e., if the speed is set as @35 the alert will sound above 29 mph.

RT

This option has been added to POI Verifier II. It will set 'Priority' speed alerts based on the mph figure in field 3 of each individual POI within the file. The option will 'pull out' the mph from each individual POI and add an amount selectable by the user (@mph). This is a free upgrade to all POI Verifier II users.

There are 3 user-selected options:
1. Check the box to activate the option.
2. Select an amount to add to the mph figure in field 3 of each individual POI. (Range is -10 to +10 mph step 1; default is 5 mph)
3. Select a mph for an alert that will be created in the event no mph is found in field 3. (Range is 0 to 95 mph step 5, default is 5 mph. Selecting 0 will default to no alert)

Mph format requirements: xxmph or xx mph in any combination of upper and lower case. If this is not found in field 3, then step 3 above will be invoked.

Although this option is designed for speed camera files, it can be used to set 'priorty' speed alerts in any csv POI file. Setting the alert in this manner puts the alert in 'Top Priority', meaning it will over-ride any other settings. It cannot be changed in manual mode or by a number in the file name. This allows you to always load in 'Express Mode'.

RT
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Thank you!

Thanks for all you do.

Thank you

After a year and a half on the site, learning how to make poi's, changing them, adding speed alerts, jpegs, bmp's, mp3's and it still amazes me that if someone dont like what the gps does, they just write a program to make it happen. Does anyone actually know just how much talent is really on this board. It continues to amaze me everyday.

Thank You

Thank You

thank you

Is there a way to turn on automatic speed alert without need to specify the lat/long coordinates? Since the map in my GPS unit (Garmin nuvi 760) already has posted speed limits for almost all major roads, I should be able to specify a threshold (for example, 8 mph above the current posted speed limit) and have nuvi 760 alert me whenever I am speeding above this threshold. Most of the discussions talked about how to set the speed limit for specific POIs which is useful if you travel near these POIs on a regular basis. But if you travel outside these POI areas you will be on your own, unless you are willing to find out the posted speed limit for all roads and painfully create one POI for each road. I wonder why the smart people at Garmin (or other manufacturers) didn't think about this feature. Did I miss something?

Garmins don't do that.

This is true garmin does not do that but if they did then they would have to chagre more for them and it takes all the fun out of setting up your own custom gps kinda like when you buy a car and then start customizing it

I don't think that would be a good idea given that the speed limits that show on the screen are part of the maps. My 750's NT2009 map shows my house about 1,000 yards west of it's actual location, I wouldn't want my speed alerts to be off that much. You couldn't change it for seasonal alerts (like school zones) by just removing the file. Changing the speed limit would be almost impossible for the user.

I think that it would be a better idea to be able to set time-of-day and/or time-of-year when the alert would be active using the POI file info. GPX files will let you set proximity and speed alerts independently, why not time-of-day also?

Jack j

With automatic speed alert turned on, you can still set up your own customized POI alerts. It will not take away the fun as you mentioned. But it will definitely make a lot of people's life easier and promote safe driving habits. If you don't like it, you can always turn it off or set a crazy threshold like 100mph above the posted speed limit.

"Officer, I no longer look at the actual speed limit signs because my gps alerts me if I'm over the limit. How was I to know that the speed limit was changed on this road a few months ago?"

Thank you! This thread was very informative. I appreciate the information!

Since this thread I have run this file thru its paces and I got to tell you if you don't want the alert that drives you crazy this is the way to go.

I now have inputed the exact latitudes and longitudes and have removed all but the AZ location (not going to travel and if I do It takes second to load that state) and have even figured out how to set these so they show in the direction you are traveling which I do beleive it was said that it can't be done. Peace of cake..........

your update with others by sending it to Miss POI for inclusion in the weekly update.

I guess you can use the same excuse when a road was recently changed to a one-way only road and your GPS told you to turn and drive against the traffic. Or you ran a red light because your GPS did not tell you there is a new redlight camera installed recently. As a driver, you have the ultimate responsibility to follow the traffic regulations, not your GPS.

Poishopper

As soon as I am totally shure that these location are exact. I will send to miss poi ,, I am updated these files and improving them daily so I don't want to have to send updates to the poi factory daily causing more work than needed.

Great information. Thanks!

I use excel 2007 and have been beating myself up for and hour trying to use your formula for just the AZ cameras. I created a new blank D and can only get one D1 to Change. Can you please help the the stupid or upload the AZ ones for us stupid people to use. I appreciate all the work you have down and hate asking for a hand out but using my garmin on my bike I have trouble keeping my speed down. Thanks again for all your work.

Does this GPS have a similar feature to warn only if going to fast?

Some of they do but I don't know which one or how to load. I am shure there is someone in the poi factory that could guid you on liading the files.

Did you insert a column to get the new D? Paste the formula in cell D1, copy the contents of the cell and then paste it into the remaining cells in that column. It should automatically copy the contents of column C and add the speed change. When done, highlight the contents of the updated D column, copy then Paste Special Values.

... I pretty much would have written what a_user wrote. Just don't forget to delete column C after you've done the Paste Special Values.

If you need more help with it, email me through my user profile (click on my name at the top of this post). We'll work through it.

thanks, this is great

I was looking at the speed camera file and Felix's formula and I notice a couple of entries that don't work with the formula without mod, but now I'm curious if these names will even work if you're simply adding @ to the number:

Speed Camera 50 Kilometres .023qc
Redlight & School Speed Zone Camera 20 M .027xx

I'm no expert with POI Loader, but I assume that a speed format in the name overrides a speed format in POI Loader? But does anyone know how these two file entries actually act?

If POI Loader is actually "smart" enough to parse these two examples, then I might have a single formula that will do as Felix's does without modding it for mph/kph but I don't want to post it if these two examples don't actually work!