Sony HDR-XR500V User Manual [en, es, fr]

How To Use GPS

4-135-833-11(1)

2009 Sony Corporation



Using GPS functions

Utilisation des fonctions GPS

Uso de las funciones de GPS

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FR

ES

Using GPS functions

This section describes how to use the GPS functions equipped with your camcorder and also
provides some important notes on using. Read the following instructions and also refer to the
supplied “Operating Guide” before using your camcorder.

What is GPS?

The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a
system that calculates geographical location
from highly accurate US space satellites. This
system allows you to pinpoint your exact
location on the earth.

GPS functions you can use

Map Index

You can find a movie or photo on a map by its recording location.

YOUR LOCATION

You can display the current location on a map.

AUTO CLOCK ADJ / AUTO AREA ADJ

Your camcorder adjusts the clock and the time difference on each area automatically.

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How to use the GPS function

Set the GPS switch to ON ( appears on the LCD screen). Your camcorder starts trying
to triangulate. When your camcorder triangulates successfully, it will record the location
information at the time movies and photos were recorded. You can identify the GPS switch by
the “Operating Guide” supplied.

Notes



The indicator changes according to the strength of GPS signal reception.



Triangulating status GPS indicators GPS reception status

Function off No indicator

The GPS switch is set to OFF, or the GPS receiver is not
functioning normally.

Difficult

Your camcorder cannot find a GPS signal, therefore, it cannot
triangulate. Use your camcorder in an open area.

Processing

Your camcorder is confirming the GPS signal, and will be able
to acquire location information soon. Wait until your camcorder
completes the triangulation.

Triangulating

Your camcorder is receiving a GPS signal, and can acquire location
information.

Triangulating

Your camcorder is receiving a strong GPS signal, and can acquire
location information.

The GPS switch is set to ON in the default setting. Movies and photos recorded during triangulation by



GPS will be recorded with location information. If you do not want to record location information, set
the GPS switch to OFF.
It may take from several seconds to several minutes to acquire the location information when you use the



GPS for the first time or use it again after long intervals.
Even if the camcorder is turned off, the GPS function is working as long as the GPS switch is set to ON.



Make sure that the GPS switch is set to OFF during take off and landing of an airplane.
You may not be able to acquire location information depending on the strength of GPS reception.



When is displayed and it takes a while to triangulate, set the GPS switch to OFF, then set to ON



again.

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Map Index

Where movies and photos were recorded is
marked on a map. You can select a movie
or photo by recording location. Select the
recording media which contains the movie
or photo you want to play back before
starting this operation.

You can use the Map Index only with movies



and photos having location information that
was recorded with the GPS switch set to ON.



You cannot use the Map Index with photos
recorded on “Memory Stick PRO Duo” media.

Press (VIEW IMAGES).



The VISUAL INDEX screen appears.

Touch ( VIEW IMAGES) 



[ MAP].

Returns to the VISUAL INDEX screen

Displays photos

Previous
Next
Scale
Image marker



You can change the scale using the zoom
lever or zoom buttons (W: larger, T:
smaller).



The point you touch on the map scrolls
to the center automatically. If you hold a
certain point, the map keeps scrolling.



will appear at the upper right corner
of the thumbnail of the movie or photo
without location information.

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Touch the location marker where



you recorded the movies and
photos to be played back.

The image marker turns red. The
movies or photos recorded at that
location are displayed on the left of the
screen.

Touch the desired movie or



photo.

Playback starts from the selected scene.

The map always displays the north at the top.



When you record several movies and photos at



the same location, the movie or photo recorded
most recently will be displayed on the LCD
screen.
You can also display the Map Index screen by



touching (HOME)  (VIEW IMAGES)
 [ MAP].

You can also search for the thumbnail of the



movie or photo you want to play by touching

/ in step 3. The recording location of the

movie or photo will be displayed at the center
of the map.

YOUR LOCATION

You can display the current location on a
map.
Set the GPS switch to ON so that your
camcorder can acquire the current location
information.

Touch ( YOUR LOCATION) on the
recording screen.

The current location is displayed and
marked at the center of the LCD screen.
If you touch a certain point on the screen,
the map shows the area with that point at
the center.
Touch (your location) at the bottom
left of the LCD screen to move the current
location back to the center.

To close the map screen

Touch .

Notes



The map always displays the north at the top.



Tips



You can change the scale using the zoom lever



or zoom buttons (W: larger, T: smaller).
Your camcorder acquires the current location



information every 10 seconds. The displays
of the center marker, etc., appear differently
according to the status of the current inquiry.

When your camcorder cannot acquire the



current location information, the center marker
turns gray and the map shows the last location
acquired.



If you hold a certain point, the map keeps
scrolling.



You can also display the current location by
touching (HOME)  (OTHERS) 
[ YOUR LOCATION].

AUTO CLOCK ADJ/AUTO AREA ADJ

Your camcorder can maintain accurate
time and compensate for time difference
automatically, by acquiring time and
location information from GPS.



Touch (HOME) 
(SETTINGS)  [CLOCK/ LANG]
 [AUTO CLOCK ADJ]/[AUTO
AREA ADJ].



Touch a desired setting  

 .



Notes



You must set the date and time on your
camcorder before using your camcorder.



There may be discrepancies of a few seconds
even if [AUTO CLOCK ADJ] is activated.



The clock is adjusted automatically by
[AUTO CLOCK ADJ] when you turn off your
camcorder if the camcorder is receiving a GPS
signal while it is being used. The clock is not
adjusted until the camcorder is turned off. Also,
the clock is not adjusted unless the camcorder
is receiving a GPS signal, even if the GPS switch
is set to ON.



The [AUTO AREA ADJ] function automatically
compensates for a time difference when it
detects a time differences with the current area.

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The clock may not be adjusted to the correct

60

min

W139˚ 44’ 43

N35˚ 37’ 19

W139˚ 44’ 43

60

N35˚ 37’ 19

min

VOL



time automatically, depending on the country/
region selected for your camcorder. In this case,
set [AUTO CLOCK ADJ] and [AUTO AREA
ADJ] to [OFF].

COORDINATES

During playback, your camcorder can
display the coordinates information
recorded on movies and photos.

Touch (HOME)  (SETTINGS)
 [VIEW IMAGES SET]  [DATA

CODE]  [COORDINATES]  

 .

Latitude
Longitude

Trouble shooting

The camcorder is not receiving a GPS
signal.



Your camcorder may not be able to receive
radio signals from GPS satellites because of
obstructions. Bring your camcorder to an
open area, and set the GPS switch to ON
again.

The current location on the map of the
camcorder is different from the actual
current location.

The margin of error of the radio signal from



GPS satellites is large. The margin of error can
be as wide as several-hundred meters at the
maximum.

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About GPS

The GPS system consists of 24 or more GPS
satellites. A GPS receiver receives radio signals
from the satellites, and calculates the current
location of the receiver based on the orbital
information (almanac data) and travel time of the
signals, etc.
Determining a location is called “triangulating.” A
GPS receiver can determine the location’s latitude
and longitude by receiving signals from 3 or more
satellites.

As the positions of GPS satellites vary



constantly, it may take longer to determine
the location or the receiver may not be able to
determine the location at all, depending on the
location and time you use the camcorder.
“GPS” is a system for determining geographic



location by triangulating radio signals from
GPS satellites. Avoid using the camcorder
in places where radio signals are blocked or
reflected, such as a shadowy place surrounded
by buildings or trees, etc. Use the camcorder in
open sky environments.
You may not be able to record location



information at locations or in situations where
radio signals from the GPS satellites do not
reach the camcorder as follows.

In tunnels, indoors or under the shade of



buildings.
Between tall buildings or at narrow streets



surrounded by buildings.
In underground locations, locations



surrounded by dense trees, under an elevated
bridge, or in locations where magnetic fields
are generated, such as near high voltage
cables.
Near devices that generate radio signals of the



same frequency band as the camcorder: near

1.5 GHz band mobile telephones, etc.

On triangulating errors

If you move to another location right after



setting the GPS switch to ON, it may take
a longer time for the camcorder to start
trianguating, compared to when you stay in the
same place.
Error caused by the position of GPS satellites



The camcorder automatically triangulates your
current location when the camcorder receives

radio signals from 3 or more GPS satellites. The
triangulating error allowed by the GPS satellites
is about 30 m (98 feet). Depending on the
environment of the location, the triangulating
error can be greater. In this case, your actual
location may not match the location on the map
based on the GPS information. Meanwhile,
the GPS satellites are controlled by the Unites
States Department of Defense, and the degree of
accuracy may be changed intentionally.



Error during the triangulating process
The camcorder acquires location information
every 10 seconds during triangulating. There
is a slight time difference between when the
location information is acquired and when the
location information is recorded on an image,
therefore, the actual recording location may not
match exactly the location on the map based on
the GPS information.

On the restriction of use of GPS on an airplane



During take off and landing of an airplane,
set the GPS switch to OFF and turn off the
camcorder, as you will be instructed to do by
the on-board announcement. In other cases, use
GPS in accordance with the regulations of the
place or situation.

On the map data



The camcorder contains map data for the
following countries/regions.
Europe, Japan, North America, Oceania, etc.



Built-in map is powered by companies as
follows; Map of Japan by Zenrin Co., Ltd., other
areas by NAVTEQ.



The map data included is as of the date of
production of this manual.



GPS maps will appear in 2-dimensional
graphics except for certain landmarks in Japan,
which will appear in 3D.



You cannot change the language on the map.



You cannot update the map data.



The scale of the map is 25 m to 6,000 km (or
100 feet to 6,000 miles).

On the geographic coordinate system



The “WGS-84” geographic coordinate system
is used.

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On copyright

The map data of the camcorder is copyrighted.



Unauthorized copying or other usage of the
map data may be contrary to the copyright laws.

On the navigation function

The camcorder does not have a navigation



function that uses GPS.

Australia
Copyright. Based on data provided under license
from PSMA Australia Limited (www.psma.com.
au).
Austria
© Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen

Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and
Slovenia

© EuroGeographics
France
source: Géoroute® IGN France & BD Carto® IGN
France
Germany
Die Grundlagendaten wurden mit Genehmigung
der zustaendigen Behoerden entnommen.
Great Britain
Based upon Crown Copyright material.
Greece
© EuroGeographics; Copyright Geomatics Ltd.
Hungary
Copyright © 2003; Top-Map Ltd.
Italy
La Banca Dati Italiana è stata prodotta usando
quale riferimento anche cartografia numerica ed
al tratto prodotta e fornita dalla Regione Toscana.

Japan

Norway

Copyright © 2000; Norwegian Mapping Authority
Portugal
Source: IgeoE – Portugal
Spain
Información geográfica propiedad del CNIG
Sweden
Based upon electronic data © National Land
Survey Sweden.
Switzerland
Topografische Grundlage: © Bundesamt für
Landestopographie.

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