Fantasie 19
Well-Known Member
Hmm - might be worth trying XPORT?? I swear by it for connecting my 72 to OPENCPN as I can be sure which COM port it's actually using...
Any gpsu experts out there?
- Thread starter alisdair4
- Start date
Hmm - might be worth trying XPORT?? I swear by it for connecting my 72 to OPENCPN as I can be sure which COM port it's actually using...
alisdair4
Well-Known Member
Playtime, thanks, I have checked that, and it seems to be correct. I have also shut down other programmes which could be using the GPS port, just to be sure!
alisdair4
Well-Known Member
Nope, I have tried sending from the Garmin and it doesn't want to play!
SAMYL
Well-Known Member
I have used GPSU with my Garmin III Plus and Garmin 128 and it works well but the interface has to be set to Garmin/Garmin. I think the baud rate is 4800. It is some time since I used it but it took a bit of working out.
I could not get it to work through a USB port, you need to connect it directly to one of those 9-pin connectors usually on the back of older computers - are they DB9 Serial Connectors?
Anyway I had to cut the usb plug off the cable and solder on one of the plugs for those sockets, your Garmin manual gives you the pin numbers. If your unit has the 7-pin connector on the back then the connections are:
Pin 5: Ground Black. - also connected to 12v -ve.
Pin 3: Data In. Brown
Pin 2: Data Out. Blue.
The red wire in your cable is connected to 12v +ve
I think the 152 needs a seperate 12v power supply. My 128 needs 12v as it will not run on power supplied by the computer and the 152 is really the newer model of the 128. Hence the connections above.
If your unit has 13/6/4 pin round/18/4 rectangular plugs on the back then I have the diagrams for those too.
New cables can be obtained from these very helpfull people http://www.pfranc.com/cgi-bin/pub/c_uk
I could not get it to work through a USB port, you need to connect it directly to one of those 9-pin connectors usually on the back of older computers - are they DB9 Serial Connectors?
Anyway I had to cut the usb plug off the cable and solder on one of the plugs for those sockets, your Garmin manual gives you the pin numbers. If your unit has the 7-pin connector on the back then the connections are:
Pin 5: Ground Black. - also connected to 12v -ve.
Pin 3: Data In. Brown
Pin 2: Data Out. Blue.
The red wire in your cable is connected to 12v +ve
I think the 152 needs a seperate 12v power supply. My 128 needs 12v as it will not run on power supplied by the computer and the 152 is really the newer model of the 128. Hence the connections above.
If your unit has 13/6/4 pin round/18/4 rectangular plugs on the back then I have the diagrams for those too.
New cables can be obtained from these very helpfull people http://www.pfranc.com/cgi-bin/pub/c_uk
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alisdair4
Well-Known Member
Cable surgery
Samyl,
Thanks for that. Unfortunately, my laptop only has USB ports, so the method you suggest will not work for me. However, it is good to know the wiring setup for future reference. I also tried telling GPSU that the GPS was a 128 not a 152. Nada! Looks like I am into typing!
Samyl,
Thanks for that. Unfortunately, my laptop only has USB ports, so the method you suggest will not work for me. However, it is good to know the wiring setup for future reference. I also tried telling GPSU that the GPS was a 128 not a 152. Nada! Looks like I am into typing!
SAMYL
Well-Known Member
Have you asked Garmin Support?
Look up www.garmin.com/support or email Alex Collard at product.support@garmin.com. I have found them very helpfull in the past.
There must be a way round the usb problem, after all they sell cables for the units with usb plugs on them! I only discovered the problem when I needed the 12v supply so had to dump the usb plug and use a DB9.
Can you not do all your plotting on a laptop then copy it to a desktop with a memory stick and transfer it to your unit that way?
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RobbieW
Well-Known Member
Just had a quick look at my Garmin 72 which interfaces with GPSU in both directions. On the 72 the interface is set to GARMIN and in GPSU its set to the generic Garmin choice - mine also goes through a serial to USB adaptor.
alisdair4
Well-Known Member
More gpsu stuff
Robbie,
thanks, I will give that a try. I really have to crack this as there are too many Waypoints on the 152, and I need to add more.
(later). Just looked at this, and while I guess you mean Garmin Data Transfer on the GPS, there is no "generic" Garmin on my GPSU. It offers Garmin USB, Garmin GPX or an SD card option. Anyway, none of the above works!
Robbie,
thanks, I will give that a try. I really have to crack this as there are too many Waypoints on the 152, and I need to add more.
(later). Just looked at this, and while I guess you mean Garmin Data Transfer on the GPS, there is no "generic" Garmin on my GPSU. It offers Garmin USB, Garmin GPX or an SD card option. Anyway, none of the above works!
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RobbieW
Well-Known Member
Being specific - in GPSU (v 5.12) the GPS Interface Options are set as follows:
GPS Make - 'Garmin (Serial, USB/Serial)
Type/family - 'other'
Model - 'Generic'
and in the Garmin 72 Setup Menu the Interface option for Serial Data Format is set for 'GARMIN' (GPSU 'Help' suggests either GARMIN or GRMN/GRMN mode)
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alisdair4
Well-Known Member
STILL NIX
Robbie,
I tried your settings ( Being specific - in GPSU (v 5.12 (i am using 5.14, but don't think that will matter!)) the GPS Interface Options are set as follows:
GPS Make - 'Garmin (Serial, USB/Serial)
Type/family - 'other'
Model - 'Generic') and they all made sense. I set the 152 to Garmin Data Transfer, and still nothing. In fact, now the bl@@dy GPS isn't speaking to the GPSU at all. I have had a long day, brilliant sailing, so I guess this will have to wait!
Thanks for trying - I do appreciate the advice.
Robbie,
I tried your settings ( Being specific - in GPSU (v 5.12 (i am using 5.14, but don't think that will matter!)) the GPS Interface Options are set as follows:
GPS Make - 'Garmin (Serial, USB/Serial)
Type/family - 'other'
Model - 'Generic') and they all made sense. I set the 152 to Garmin Data Transfer, and still nothing. In fact, now the bl@@dy GPS isn't speaking to the GPSU at all. I have had a long day, brilliant sailing, so I guess this will have to wait!
Thanks for trying - I do appreciate the advice.
RobbieW
Well-Known Member
The quote above is from your 2008 thread on the subject. Its not clear whether you actually got your set working after that, however I would say the wiring is where you need to go next - good luck
alisdair4
Well-Known Member
GPSU Wiring/USB options
Thanks for that - I did look back at what had been written after you pointed out the "repeat" nature of the problem. My only excuse is having a "year off" in somewhere hot and sandy! I never did get to the bottom of the problem in 2009.
I suspect that the root of the problem does lie in the wiring - I hadn't redone the wiring when I replaced the GPS, merely plugged in the old Garmin plug with attached spaghetti. So the underlying problem may lie there. However, as I am about to fit a new GPS Plotter, I will have to address this, and the whole NMEA thing, from first principles.
Incidentally, I managed to get GPSU to work perfectly with my handheld GPS (Magellan 320 with data connection) and a Serial to USB adapter. I am just curious if I could send waypoints between my two GPS, using a GPS Serial to USB, USB to USB, USB to GPS Serial sort of lash-up? If I could, I could back up the GPS 152 before I start messing around with the wiring. (if you detect a lack of self confidence when it comes to dealing with small coloured wire, you are absolutely correct)!
Thanks for that - I did look back at what had been written after you pointed out the "repeat" nature of the problem. My only excuse is having a "year off" in somewhere hot and sandy! I never did get to the bottom of the problem in 2009.
I suspect that the root of the problem does lie in the wiring - I hadn't redone the wiring when I replaced the GPS, merely plugged in the old Garmin plug with attached spaghetti. So the underlying problem may lie there. However, as I am about to fit a new GPS Plotter, I will have to address this, and the whole NMEA thing, from first principles.
Incidentally, I managed to get GPSU to work perfectly with my handheld GPS (Magellan 320 with data connection) and a Serial to USB adapter. I am just curious if I could send waypoints between my two GPS, using a GPS Serial to USB, USB to USB, USB to GPS Serial sort of lash-up? If I could, I could back up the GPS 152 before I start messing around with the wiring. (if you detect a lack of self confidence when it comes to dealing with small coloured wire, you are absolutely correct)!
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RobbieW
Well-Known Member
My guess is not because I think to move waypoints, routes, tracks etc around you need to use the Garmin proprietary protocol not NMEA. That wouldnt be supported by the Magellan which probably has its own proprietary protocol for those activities?
What your trying to do seems perfectly reasonable to me though. Its more or less the same strategy I use in that all my waypoints, routes etc are derived through OpenCPN on the laptop and stored there. They are transferred via GPSU and the Garmin data cable to my Garmin 72 which lives in the cockpit when on passage. The 72 is usually cleared out between passages so it only has the current route and any diversion ports I've chosen to put in.
alisdair4
Well-Known Member
Gps protocols
Robbie,
I fear you may be right in respect of the protocols - however it's worth a shot!
FWIW, I am never happy having all of my electronic eggs in one basket, and would ideally have them backed up off the boat, perhaps even in Google docs!
Robbie,
I fear you may be right in respect of the protocols - however it's worth a shot!
FWIW, I am never happy having all of my electronic eggs in one basket, and would ideally have them backed up off the boat, perhaps even in Google docs!
MudShipper
Well-Known Member
Just a quick update so you don't lose heart.
I also use GPSU via a USB/Serial adaptor (Targus), and have connected successfully to a GPS152.
You can use NMEA, but will only transfer Waypoints and routes.
If you change to Garmin protocol, (GPS>Setup>'make/mode'=Garmin serial, usb/serial, 'type/family'=GPS, 'model'= generic) this will allow the full range of transfer including tracks.
Use the serial port check facility, mine picked up the mouse/keyboard port first.
It may be worth double checking the wiring, and it isn't that daunting really as you only need 3 wires including the 0volt common.
I also use GPSU via a USB/Serial adaptor (Targus), and have connected successfully to a GPS152.
You can use NMEA, but will only transfer Waypoints and routes.
If you change to Garmin protocol, (GPS>Setup>'make/mode'=Garmin serial, usb/serial, 'type/family'=GPS, 'model'= generic) this will allow the full range of transfer including tracks.
Use the serial port check facility, mine picked up the mouse/keyboard port first.
It may be worth double checking the wiring, and it isn't that daunting really as you only need 3 wires including the 0volt common.
alisdair4
Well-Known Member
Losing heart -moi?
Mudslipper,
Thanks for that encouragement. Much of the problem is that I get to the boat fairly infrequently, so when I do, I want sail the thing, not mess around behind the instrument panel. That said, I hate a sub-optimal solution, so the wiring is next on my list to check! I have to do some electronic digging to install the new plotter anyway, so it shouldn't be too painful!
Mudslipper,
Thanks for that encouragement. Much of the problem is that I get to the boat fairly infrequently, so when I do, I want sail the thing, not mess around behind the instrument panel. That said, I hate a sub-optimal solution, so the wiring is next on my list to check! I have to do some electronic digging to install the new plotter anyway, so it shouldn't be too painful!
MudShipper
Well-Known Member
you're welcome, I know what it is like having minimal time on your boat when you want to be out sailing. I've spent most of my boating time this year working through the electrics, getting things to work, removing redundant cabling etc. At an average of once a month, I find that I've forgotten what I did on last visit, or why, and I'm definitely getting too old for squeezing behind things tracing old wiring and plumbing that was probably put in when the hull was made and before fitting out was complete.
On the plus side, it is good to know that it all works now and I can go sailing with confidence in the electrics.