GPS input problems into laptop.

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Adonnante

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I've obtained a new to me laptop and loaded my CMap nav program and GPS mouse program, each is working well but the CMap software cannot recognise the GPS input. It would appear that the GPS software always locks on to COM port 3 which isn't the right one! Has anyone experienced this problem or can suggest a solution?

Peter.
 
Adonnante said:
I've obtained a new to me laptop and loaded my CMap nav program and GPS mouse program, each is working well but the CMap software cannot recognise the GPS input. It would appear that the GPS software always locks on to COM port 3 which isn't the right one! Has anyone experienced this problem or can suggest a solution?

Peter.
Click to expand...

I assume this is a USB or Bluetooth GPS? I suspect the GPS s/w is just creating a virtual com port at the first free com address. I think maybe it's the CMap s/w that you need to configure to use COM3!
 
Yes its a USB GPS. Setting the com port in the nav software makes no difference. When I look at the GPS Info panel it invites me to select a com port from 1 to 9, I can also use a scan com port option, all result in com port 3 being selected and showing no device.

Peter.
 
It depends upon the make of the GPS and the input options for the plotter software. For instance Garmin uses a proprietary interface via USB - if you want to use NMEA you have to use a RS232 serial interface. Some plotter programs do not recognise the proprietary interface - only NMEA. You may have to use the serial NMEA output from the GPS if it has one and then use an RS232/USB converter to get the laptop to accept it.
 
Adonnante said:
Yes its a USB GPS. Setting the com port in the nav software makes no difference. When I look at the GPS Info panel it invites me to select a com port from 1 to 9, I can also use a scan com port option, all result in com port 3 being selected and showing no device.

Peter.
Click to expand...
When you mentioned the "GPS software" in your OP were you referring to a utility that came with the GPS? Is it this s/w (as well as CMap) that can't see a device on COM3 (or any other com port)? If so, then I would guess that the driver, which communicates with the GPS receiver via USB, and simulates an NMEA connection on a virtual com port), has not been installed on the new PC.

Try using the Device Manager to locate the USB GPS device and (assuming it's there) reload the driver(s) for the device.
 
gps ports and cmap

a PROGRAM named franson GPS gate fixes this problem and it is not expensive for the basic program. Some of the USB gps dongle thingys especially if bluetooth, seem to need this program to sort our the problem. A facility is also created to re-broadcast the GPS info to another port. Seems to work ok. no connection.www.franson.com i think.good sailing to all.
 
Paul's correct to say that Franson GpsGate would provide a solution as it can convert from "Garmin USB" to a virtual com port but this should not be necessary! From your OP I take it that this all worked on your previous laptop. This must have had a driver to convert from USB to Serial so that your CMap s/w (and also the GPSInfo utility) could 'see' the GPS.

Did you receive a CD with the USB GPS? It probably had the GPSInfo utility s/w on it as well. If so, this CD will probably have the driver s/w for converting from USB to Serial. This is what's missing from your new PC. Have you changed operating systems? maybe from Win98 to XP or XP to Vista? If so, it may be that the driver is incompatible. The Device Manager should show if the driver's installed and working.
 
The OS in both cases is XP but the old laptop was on SP2 where the new is on SP3. The GPS software came with a CD that I've used on both occasions. Device manager in the new laptop shows a USB device but the drivers are not installed, reinstalling the driver has been unsuccessful. When the GPS is plugged into the old laptop the GPS shows up in the device manager as Prolific USB-to-serial Com Port (COM4) and is working properly.

p
 
What I would suggest is to download the Prolific software (its available on the net foc) and install it. Then connect the gps and drill down through settings into device manager and you should see the prolific driver there. You wont see it if the gps isnt plugged in.

right click on the prolific driver and find the bit (Someothing like advanced properties) wherte you can set the port number.

Then do the same for the Cmap
 
Adonnante said:
The OS in both cases is XP but the old laptop was on SP2 where the new is on SP3. The GPS software came with a CD that I've used on both occasions. Device manager in the new laptop shows a USB device but the drivers are not installed, reinstalling the driver has been unsuccessful. When the GPS is plugged into the old laptop the GPS shows up in the device manager as Prolific USB-to-serial Com Port (COM4) and is working properly.

p
Click to expand...
Peter, that's pretty much what I expected. I think there must be a suitable driver on the CD as you had this setup working on your old laptop - so don't go searching the internet for drivers just yet.

Did you try re-installing the drivers (either from Device Manager or from the new HW wizard) and specifying the CD as the place to look for the driver?

PS: The difference in Service Packs should make no odds at all.
 
Last edited:
Huge thanks to everybody, at last a working screen showing a live position! I'm still not clear what was the problem but with your helpful advice and reading the manuals (don't tell the wife) I've succeeded. And yes your right Frank, it shouldn't be this difficult.

Again many thanks for your support.

Peter.
 
Connecting USB GPS is not so straightforward as it should be, but You have to follow these instructions:

1. Connect USB GPS to Laptop

2. Install driver from CD, sold with GPS (important). If CD is lost, You always find driver from GPS manufacturers homepage under support section. Download and install it.

3. Look from Device Manager ports setting (Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager) in which port newly installed GPS is. Usually it's in Com 7 or Com 8 or 4.

4. Read from GPS documentation, what is the speed of GPS data exchange. Usually it is 9600 bps or 4800 bps;

5. In navigation software open Devices or GPS settings and select BOTH correct COM port and correct speed in bauds. If one of these numbers is inforrect, GPS is not visible.

6. never use GPS diagnostic probrams same time with navigation program GPS can supply data to only one client, so it should be navigation program.

this shoult be it

In some rare cases mouse goes crazy on the laptop, cause NMEA data is treated as Microsoft Ballpoint mouse. To cure that problem, please read mmy Leaping Mouse Syndrom post in mu blog.

Jaak
 
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