Any gpsu experts out there?

[alisdair4]

I am currently trying to get my Garmin GPS 152 to talk to my PC using a waypoint utility. It already works fine with Seapro, so that I know the hardware and connections are not an issue.

I have tried using EasyGPS, but it will not recognise my GPS. I downloaded GPSU, which happily recognises the GPS when in NMEA in/out mode. However, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to upload or download waypoints. Ie, I click the "download all" button and nothing happens! All the other parts of the programme seem to work fine (GPS interface, etc) Just not the bit that I need!

I am clearly missing something blindingly obvious, but having spent the day head-down in the galley replacing a calorifier, it is not jumping off the screen at me!

 

[nigelmercier]

I've got a feeling you may need to put the Garmin in a different mode to send data.

 

[earlybird]

I've got a feeling you may need to put the Garmin in a different mode to send data.

I think that may be correct. IIRC, when I interfaced my Garmin to send waypoints to a utility, (Oziexplorer ), the Garmin wouldn't download in NMEA/NMEA mode, it has to be Garmin mode. Havn't used this facility for a while though.

 

[alisdair4]

Gps 152 transfer mode

Nigel, thanks - I have just tried that (all possible options, including "none". But the programme creates only a blank txt file - no waypoints!

 

[MudShipper]

Check boxes

I have used GPSU with an ETREX. and a 152.

With the Etrex, I set it and the GPSU utility to Garmin mode, then when downloading, I am sure there should be a screen asking if you want Waypoints, Tracks and or routes. Check appropriate boxes and this should give you a result and download into the file you currently have open on your PC.

Just digging out my Etrex to make sure I'm right.

I did do a down load and upload to my 152, but can't remember now if I had to change much. I am sure I left it set to NMEA and set the GPSU to the same.

You'll probably kick yourself when you find the problem, but it can be done.

 

[earlybird]

If you look at the Garmin instructions, the WPL sentence, which is what you want, can be switched off under advanced NMEA settings. Do you need to switch it on?

 

[alisdair4]

Nmea settings

Earlybird,

I have just gone through the Garmin menu and cannot find what you describe.

 

[earlybird]

According to the 152 manual, App. H, p84, that I have in my downloads:-
i) Select NMEA in/ NMEA out; press Menu, select NMEA Setup, enter.
ii) To turn a field on/off, highlight field, enter, make selection, enter.

Hope that works.

 

[alisdair4]

GPS 152

Yep, done that and restarted GPSU. Sadly, no change!

 

[lenseman]

When I started playing with the Garmin 152 about 4 years ago whilst working for Pharos Marine, I think that Garmin NMEA is 'not quite standard' and includes a 'G' (for Garmin) in the word which renders it unintelligible to other systems.

I am an RF Engineer and the software problems caused me a few headaches?

 

[Fantasie 19]

I think the other guys have mentioned my first thought - data mode - my only other thought is Baud rate???????

 

[nigelmercier]

I think the other guys have mentioned my first thought - data mode - my only other thought is Baud rate???????

But ...

I am currently trying to get my Garmin GPS 152 to talk to my PC using a waypoint utility. It already works fine with Seapro, so that I know the hardware and connections are not an issue...

 

[Fantasie 19]

But ...

Yup - I hear you, hence the number of ??'s but there are very few other things to change in EasyGPS...

OK - so the cables good, the baud is good (to other applications), but it's still not talking to EasyGPS... reset GPS to factory settings and try again???

 

[Wunja]

If you are using easyGPS, you need to put the GPS into Garmin data transfer mode.
Push the menu button twice, then scroll down the tabs until you get to Com.
You will probably see NMEA in/ NMEA Out as the current option. Scroll through these options until you find the data transfer one.

The Garmin data transfer mode is far superior for transferring routes and tracks.

The NMEA WPS sentence does work with the Garmin, used from SeaClear (The preceding G is ignored)

OpenCPN has the capability to use GDTM and you could also look at the win2G7 conversion software which allows SeaClear to also use this method.

I usually forget to switch back to NMEA transfer and wonder why the DSC radio gets upset!

 

[alisdair4]

Out of options?

I am grateful for the good ideas, as a means of eliminating the "dumb mistake'. However, I have now tried every permutation of COM settings on the GPS, with both GPSU and EasyGPS. I am loth to do a factory reset, because I would (I presume) lose all of my waypoints.

Interestingly, in GPSU, the programme returns the message "Connected to NMEA Interface on COM 13" even though the GPS is actually set to Garmin Data Transfer mode.

 

[Wunja]

I'll have a closer look at the configuration options for easyGPS when I get home.

Are you using a genuine rs232 port or via a USB to RS232 adapter?

 

[alisdair4]

Adapter

It's a RS232 to USB adapter.

 

[Playtime]

Could this be a Windows COM port problem?

Have you checked that the COM port used by GPSU/EasyGPS is the correct one and that it is not already in use by some other programme?

A COM port can only be used by 1 programme at a time.

You will need to leave the GPS in GRMN/GRMN mode for the transfer to work.

 

[TQA]

I use GPSU with a Garmin 72 and 76.

It is a little quirky but I was able to download stuff and upload new waypoints from a PC.

One problem is getting it to connect. Are you sure you have a connected message at the bottom of the screen. If you are still having problems post again here and I will post a couple of screen shots of what it should look like.

I could only get plain txt files to upload.

There is a GPSU forum.

 

[LadyInBed]

Will it go the other way (from the Garmin)?
If so, you could then check the format of the result.