Garmin 62s NMEA

[lustyd]

Hi all, has anyone successfully got NMEA data out of a Garmin 62s with the power/data cable? I have tried with 2 VHF radios and my computer (pins 2&5) and the best I've managed is a string of nonsense. I returned the first cable, assuming it was faulty (I've managed many other devices fine) but the second is doing the same thing. If I can't get it working I'll have to get a "proper" gps unit but that seems daft given that I have this one.
Cheers
Dave

 

[testmonkey]

Interface to NMEA instead of Garmin

From the main menu; select Setup > System > Interface > NMEA In/Out

The default is "Garmin Serial" and that is a proprietary format that looks like strings of nonsense to all devices of other brands. Change to NMEA and should work.

 

[lustyd]

From the main menu; select Setup > System > Interface > NMEA In/Out

The default is "Garmin Serial" and that is a proprietary format that looks like strings of nonsense to all devices of other brands. Change to NMEA and should work.

So you've had this working? If so maybe I have another duff cable.

I should add that after trying with NMEA and standard settings on the computer I have also tried with all other interface settings on the unit and also various speed settings on the computer.
Cheers
Dave

 

[lustyd]

Also, I'm fairly confident the GPS is OK since that works fine and can connect via USB (the same socket) to a PC and transfer data.

 

[elton]

So you've had this working? If so maybe I have another duff cable.

I should add that after trying with NMEA and standard settings on the computer I have also tried with all other interface settings on the unit and also various speed settings on the computer.
Cheers
Dave

A duff cable is extremely unlikely to give duff data. You'd most probably get no data at all.

I'd wager that your settings are wrong.

 

[lustyd]

A duff cable is extremely unlikely to give duff data. You'd most probably get no data at all.

I'd wager that your settings are wrong.

I didn't get duff data, I got a string of random characters which effectively is no data. As I said I've tried many combinations of settings so am doubtful that is the issue. What I'm trying to determine is:
A) Can this device actually send NMEA data (If anyone points me to the spec sheet they will lose their typing fingers!) - basically have you actually SEEN this working
B) Is my GPS broken?
C) Is the Cable broken?
D) Is there a setting I have not found?

 

[pvb]

A) Can this device actually send NMEA data (If anyone points me to the spec sheet they will lose their typing fingers!) - basically have you actually SEEN this working

I have no direct knowledge of the 62s, however if you read this review it suggests that you might need to download Garmin's Spanner program in order to use NMEA data from the 62s.

 

[elton]

I didn't get duff data, I got a string of random characters which effectively is no data. As I said I've tried many combinations of settings so am doubtful that is the issue. What I'm trying to determine is:
A) Can this device actually send NMEA data (If anyone points me to the spec sheet they will lose their typing fingers!) - basically have you actually SEEN this working
B) Is my GPS broken?
C) Is the Cable broken?
D) Is there a setting I have not found?

The GPSMAP 62s can definitely send NMEA data.

By "duff data" I meant random characters.

Trying "many combinations of settings" won't achieve a result. You have to use the correct settings.

If you're still suspicious of the cable it should be quite easy to test, but I think you'd be wasting your time.

 

[lustyd]

The GPSMAP 62s can definitely send NMEA data.

By this, do you mean that you have actually seen it sending NMEA data over the power/data cable with bare wires on the end? If so, which settings did you use?

 

[noelex]

It may not be much help, but I use spanner to send position from my 62 to the PC via the USB cable and it works fine.

 

[lustyd]

For clarity, here is some more info:
The cable I have is this one.
On the cable is a label, this states that Red=8-36VDC, Black=GND, Yellow=Serial Data Out, Green=Serial GND, White=Serial Data In.

I have connected red/black to the battery, and the GPS unit recognises power so I am confident this is correct.

I have connected Green to pin 5 on the serial, white to pin3, and Yellow to pin 2 as per the standard. I also tried white on pin 2 and yellow on 3 just in case but this did not work.
Using the same pins I can get my handheld VHF/GPS to output sentences to the computer, so I am sure I have the correct pins.

I have used the standard settings of 4800, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit no parity to no avail, I then tried 9600 and 38400 just in case.

I have tried the above with all interface settings on the GPS device, these are: Garmin Spanner, Garmin Serial, NMEA IN/Out, Text out, RTCM. None of these worked. When switching on the NMEA, I enabled all sentences except garmin proprietary which did not work. I then tried various combinations of the NMEA settings.

I feel I have tried everything on this one. There is a website which suggests that the 62s cannot give NMEA sentences directly but needs a PC and Garmin spanner to do so. The Garmin website does not mention this, neither does the manual, and the cable is apparently the correct one for the device according to all sources I can find. This is why I am asking if anyone has seen it with their own eyes - the internet is full of opinion and regurgitated "fact" but sometimes it's nice to have someone confirm things. I have a call open with Garmin but get the feeling they won't respond.
Cheers
Dave

 

[lustyd]

It may not be much help, but I use spanner to send position from my 62 to the PC via the USB cable and it works fine.

Thanks, unfortunately I don't want the data on the PC, I'm just using that for testing. Did you use the "Garmin Spanner" setting on the GPS, or NMEA?
Cheers
Dave

 

[elton]

By this, do you mean that you have actually seen it sending NMEA data over the power/data cable with bare wires on the end? If so, which settings did you use?

I think your problem is that you're trying to connect the USB output of the Garmin, to the serial (RS232) data input of a DSC radio. Would that be so?

If true, it won't work. The manual is somewhat vague, but it seems to have only a USB data out, and that is incompatible with the NMEA connection on a radio.

You will need a USB-to-serial converter lead, which is an active device, and not simply a wired connection.

 

[lustyd]

I think your problem is that you're trying to connect the USB output of the Garmin, to the serial (RS232) data input of a DSC radio. Would that be so?

If true, it won't work. The manual is somewhat vague, but it seems to have only a USB data out, and that is incompatible with the NMEA connection on a radio.

You will need a USB-to-serial converter lead, which is an active device, and not simply a wired connection.

So what you're saying is you have not seen it? If that's the case then perhaps you could be a little less condescending?

As I have said, I am using the Garmin cable which connects the USB port of the GPSMAP 62s to power and NMEA data using bare wires. I am then connecting these bare wires to NMEA input on a VHF, or to serial port of a PC for testing.
The manual is vague indeed, hence my question as to whether anyone has seen this working. Garmin sell a cable and state clearly that NMEA is supported. NMEA is a serial type interface and therefore if I require a PC as an intermediary then the spec is wrong since the device simply does not support that standard.

 

[pvb]

So what you're saying is you have not seen it? If that's the case then perhaps you could be a little less condescending?

FFS, he's trying to help you!

 

[noelex]

Thanks, unfortunately I don't want the data on the PC, I'm just using that for testing. Did you use the "Garmin Spanner" setting on the GPS, or NMEA?
Cheers
Dave

I used the spanner setting. It works well the 62 gets power from the USB cable. The 62 even works inside my aluminium boat. I can monitor our position on Open CPN, or at anchor while also watching a movie on the PC.

 

[elton]

So what you're saying is you have not seen it? If that's the case then perhaps you could be a little less condescending?

As I have said, I am using the Garmin cable which connects the USB port of the GPSMAP 62s to power and NMEA data using bare wires. I am then connecting these bare wires to NMEA input on a VHF, or to serial port of a PC for testing.
The manual is vague indeed, hence my question as to whether anyone has seen this working. Garmin sell a cable and state clearly that NMEA is supported. NMEA is a serial type interface and therefore if I require a PC as an intermediary then the spec is wrong since the device simply does not support that standard.

Sorry, didn't mean to come across as condscending.

If it is just USB data, then it's likely it would show as random data on an RS232 input.

I agree that the Garmin description of it as an NMEA output is incorrect.

You might try something like this, which will convert USB to RS232 (serial). The electronics are likely to be within the 9 pin 'D' connector, so you'd need to plug it into a female 9 pin 'D', and take wrires from that to the DSC. And you'd need a mini-USB to USB converter to plug it into the GPS.

 

[nigelmercier]

I am then connecting these bare wires to NMEA input on a VHF, or to serial port of a PC for testing...

So the PC works, the VHF doesn't? In that case, it's the voltage levels; the device is probably giving 0V/5V, the VHF NMEA may expect 0V/12.

 

[testmonkey]

what is the make and model of the VHF?

 

[lustyd]

Thanks guys, sorry for the delay I've been away from the computer.

Elton, take a look at the link I posted for the cable I have - this shouldn't need a converter. I am using a USB to serial at the PC end because I don't have a serial port but this works with other NMEA devices.
Nigel/testmonkey, there is no data coming from the device at all whether it be to the PC or to the VHF. The device is more likely giving 12v (or whatever the battery gives) given that the cable takes the power from this. The device has no charging facility so I doubt it's doing anything smart with that voltage.
As I said, I was using the PC for testing to prove that the GPS actually gives NMEA data. Once I prove that bit works and how to set it up I will move on to the VHF which is a Standard Horizon. I know there can be issues between Garmin and SH but for now the GPS is giving no data at all so please ignore that for now