GPS to VHF interface ?

[MM5AHO]

Any ideas on a simple way to interface a GPS with USB connector to a VHF transceiver?
The GPS USB connector supplies 5V to the GPS receiver/antenna, and is suitable for connection to a laptop or similar, (its an Evermore SA320), but the NMEA interface on the VHF (Navman 7100) is a two wire system without power supply.
Can make up a small 12V to 5V regulator, but there might be an easier way?

 

[wotayottie]

yes - buy either a built in or portable gps and connect that.

 

[Guest]

IMHO - forget it ... if its a Mouse GPS as I suspect - you have now come up to the biggest problem with them ... they are designed for PC use only ... by time you set-up a 12 - 5V power supply ... by time you sort out USB connections etc. ........ better to get hold of a cheapo Handheld of eBay etc. to feed the VHF and as back-up ... Most Handhelds will run via 12V power leads as well - so not needing batterys etc.

The connection to Navman VHF is standard NMEA two wire ... ground and signal ...

If you are absolutely set on using this GPS Mouse ... then do feedthrough of Data from PC to VHF ... but then it means that PC will always have to be on and working plotting to feed the VHF ...

 

[Gumpy]

I have two systems I use
1: when I dont want the PC on I use a cheap (£35 on ebay) Garmin Etrex handheld for the VHF feed, this has the advantage thet both the GPS and the VHF are waterproof.

2: when using the PC with the GPS mouse I use this software
http://franson.com/gpsgate/
( recomended on here) and port the output to the serial port on the PC and feed the VHF from there.

Spent ages trying to interface the USB GPS mouse directly to the VHF, they dont talk the same language, and in the end gave up!

Julian

 

[Billjratt]

A 7805 will give you power ( as you probably already know) from the boat's 12v supply to the radio. Then you're left with the signal pair (the two inside pins on a standard USB)
the mouse will probably talk at 96K instead of48 so the radio will have to capable of being configured to suit. There is a freeware available called NMEASLEUTH which might be of use while the kit is still on the bench.. Good luck! (mm5ajt)

 

[MM5AHO]

[ QUOTE ]
A 7805 will give you power ( as you probably already know) from the boat's 12v supply to the radio. Then you're left with the signal pair (the two inside pins on a standard USB)
the mouse will probably talk at 96K instead of48 so the radio will have to capable of being configured to suit. There is a freeware available called NMEASLEUTH which might be of use while the kit is still on the bench.. Good luck! (mm5ajt)

[/ QUOTE ]

This solution works. Regulator fitted to a tiny board and built into a dongle like protrusion on the cable.

thanks for suggestions.