During video playback, the ShotMapper software connects to the camcorder (or DV deck) through an IEEE-1394 interface and decodes the audio back to the original data received from the GPS. The recovered and verified data is sent to a virtual serial port, creating a "virtual GPS." An application, such as mapping software, which uses standard NMEA data and which normally connects to a GPS using a hardware serial port (such as "COM 1,") can connect to the virtual serial port (for example, "COM 4 "). The output of the application will be the same as if it had been connected to the GPS receiver at the time the video was shot.

During playback, an icon indicates the status of received GPS data.

The ShotMapper software is also able to control the camcorder or deck over the IEEE-1394 interface.