Imray Digital chart - how long for gps to connect?

[Burnham Bob]

I just bought the ID10A chart pack with tides for use on the laptop. I have an ND 100S USB GPS dongle - the same one reviewed in East Coast Sailing as I know they use Imray Digital charts too.

Got the chart software and tides registered (this has to be the most complicated registration process ever!) and the GPS works fine with its own program - gives me my lat and long in the conservatory in seconds.

The IDC 'sees' the GPS fine and asks if I want to connect so there's no com port or NMEA or BAUD rate issue I presume. Then the dialogue box opens and just runs with the animated flashing signal. Anyone know how long it takes to connect? I gave up after several goes as it just kept saying 'please wait'.

Is there a 'first time it takes ages' then next time no problem issue? Or is it confused because I'm on land (although not more than 3/4 mile from the river). Is it trying to find the right chart to show my location and failing?

Or is it never going to work? any advice please?

 

[Tranona]

Can't tell you exactly how to fix it, but if you call Imray they will talk you through the problem and if necessary connect up to your computer over the net. That is what I did after wasting loads of time trying to figure it out myself.

 

[Burnham Bob]

thanks - i may well have to do that

 

[nigelmercier]

... the GPS works fine with its own program - gives me my lat and long in the conservatory in seconds.

The IDC 'sees' the GPS fine and asks if I want to connect so there's no com port or NMEA or BAUD rate issue I presume. ...

There may be a conflict if the GPS program is still running.
There could be a baud rate issue, check the settings.

 

[Quandary]

No, it should all be working within about 2 mins of switching on, The longest wait is while it downloads tide info. but it should tell you it is doing that. Being a bit inland will make no difference as long as you are still on a chart. (Mine stops working going through the Caley canal but works at either end of the Crinan). Contact Imray as advised, they are very helpful.

 

[tillergirl]

See some advice on the 'other thread'

 

[jakeroyd]

I have the same components , which are now 3 years old so might not be relevant to your probem.
For me it was baud rate.
From memory I had to change the ND100 to output at 4800bps from 32000bps.
You will have had a little program with the GPS to monitor the output.
When you have sorted your com ports out you can monitor the output.
My utility is called minicdu.

I had to go to the ND100 site and download a new version of minicdu which would allow me to select the baud rate.

Once I did this all was fine.

Hope this helps

 

[yoda]

I also found that it won't work if the GPS is running on it's own program - seems to have to be dedicated to the IDC.

Yoda

 

[PetiteFleur]

I found you have to have the GPS on before turning on the netbook and starting the Imray chart programme. It did take ages to get it to work the first time. But now it starts easily, well it did last year - not switched it on in 2012 yet.

 

[Tranona]

Forgot to say that you have to close the GPS before opening in the IDC programme. If you don't it won't work!

My routine is to open the GPS, reset the com port, start it, check that the signal and position are there, close the window and then open IDC and wait for the box to connect.