Genealogy Chat

Anyone been checking out 'google earth'. Its much better than it was a few weeks ago, I can even see the shed in my garden. Great for looking at the areas your family lived in. According to the date it was 2005 but I think that was probably the copyright or something, I think its about 2004. Ellen X

Ill have another look then.

Yes, our car is parked a bit crooked outside our house, so hubby must have parked it! Merry

How old are the images? Mine is full summer - trees covered in leaves and the neighbour 4 doors down having a bonfire.

I don't get it. I've put my address in and just get a blur. I can make out the street etc and terrain but even with zooming I don't get the detail others are describing. I can't see cars or bonfires! Am I doing something wrong?

Some of the images are still a bit blurred, especially in the rural areas, mine was until a few weeks ago. Keep checking back. Ellen X

Hi all. I think that at times the images are at least 18 months out of date..for example some for hampton hargate, hampton vale,peterborough dont show vale drive. or its associated buildings.(and the roads overlay is a bit misplaced) but yes there are more areas getting clearer. can now see the radio tower and mast at Morbonne though.........and I believe the image is of BEFORE the mast burned down nearly two years ago..........the temporary mast in the adjacent field, is not there........ earlier pictures suggested, to me that the time was around midday, but now they seem like 9-10ish in the morning Bob

I eventually sussed it. The terrain checkbox is automatically ticked, it causes a distortion of the image. Uncheck the box and the image is clear as crystal!

Our house/area is still a blur but checked on a friend who lives in South London & I can see everything!!! Perhaps it will be a Christmas present to me :-) I'll keep on checking! Penny

Bob, my son lives in your area so I will check out if the new houses next to him are showing yet.

For our area the pics are the summer before last. Our neighbours conservatory is still there - they have a new extension now.....and other neighbour has their old car....... Merry

I reckon the image of my son's street in Doncaster is probably about three years old. Both his garden and the one next door have changed radically since then! Anne

If you go to the google earth home page,(I hadn't done so, before) it says that the images were collected by satellite or aircraft in the last THREE years. and are updated on a rolling basis... mystery solved? also it gives some hints on how best to view the images.. Bob

Hi Dotty M, I was just wondering the exact same thing. I imagine you must have to. Anyone?

Yes just google 'google earth'

Aarrgghhhh....blooming Google Earth! It sounds fasinating. I've just downloaded it but no joy. The images are blurred - and I can't find the 'terrain checkbox' button to click either that an earlier poster mentioned. I've typed in my address but no results!! Aren't all addresses on? My house has been here since around 1970. I think I'm losing the plot and have just uninstalled it in a strop! Any advice, I'm probably not concentrating well enough - I knew I shouldn't have had that HUGE baileys! Cheers Helen

Maybe it is only available for those peeps with broadband? Does it work with dial-up? I can't seem to achieve anything successful.

I've got broadband, is it just me????? I typed my full address, house number included. Should I drop the house number?

I downloaded it at work and had a play around. For some areas it's great (definition down to showing the yellow lines in the Square by our office), but much lower definition in others e.g. at home ggggrrrrrrrrr!

yes peeps, its the free version, you want.once you have the program, each time you run it, it looks for updates..........via the internet. once you are viewing the UK, putting in just your postcode should get you to your street. I know dialup is slower, but if you are already using the net,why not let it download while you are surfing? BOB