Modern Laptops and COM ports

[Dougal]

Sorry to revive this, but bearing in mind all the above, can anyone actually recommend a USB GPS receiver then for nav software on a laptop? I once got SOOOO frustrated with one setup that kept changing COM port numbers, that I actually threw the whole thing overboard - laptop included;-)

 

[ShinyShoe]

Not going to be much help on this, but certainly some are just the same as the old com port one with the USB to COM being in the device instead of seperate. So it will still appear as a new port rather than a specific USB device....
But equally some software need com port..

 

[Fantasie 19]

Sorry to revive this, but bearing in mind all the above, can anyone actually recommend a USB GPS receiver then for nav software on a laptop? I once got SOOOO frustrated with one setup that kept changing COM port numbers, that I actually threw the whole thing overboard - laptop included;-)

When I was getting mine most people here recommended the Globalsat one

http://www.amazon.com/GlobalSat-BU-353-USB-GPS-Receiver/dp/B000PKX2KA

I'm happy with it, but mine at least learns a COM port each time so I teamed it up with free software programme called XPORT that allows you to define the COM port

 

[Dougal]

When I was getting mine most people here recommended the Globalsat one

http://www.amazon.com/GlobalSat-BU-353-USB-GPS-Receiver/dp/B000PKX2KA

I'm happy with it, but mine at least learns a COM port each time so I teamed it up with free software programme called XPORT that allows you to define the COM port

That looks to be the type that I had all my trouble with Guess I'll have to try again, while also trying the XPORT sotware.
Thanks

 

[Dougal]

Oh ooger.... You're right too,the software i'm using INSISTS not JUST on having it on a COM port, but also HAS to be on COM1 grrrrr. I'm guessing then I could not use something like this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/usb-gps-dongle-a73kf

Can't find 'XPORT' either. Or at least not one that does as described above. Anyone know where to download please?

 

[DipperToo]

I bought a GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS which plugged into my Win 8.1 Asus Transformer and it ran with no third party drivers being required. Windows just recognised it and installed it.

At the same time, I needed a hard ethernet connection rather than WiFi, and a USB 3.0 to 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Network Adapter by Plugable also installed and ran just fine.

Some investigation showed the Prolific chip (PL-2303 HXD) used in the BU-353-S4 is the same in my USB to Serial adapter which also runs OK on Win 8 with no additional drivers required so I can connect to NMEA data.

There was a previous thread on this here>>

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread...t=#post4670190

I did read somewhere that the S3 version of the GlobalSat device was not as good?

No problems as yet, but since reading Nigels reply I am keeping a close watch on things!

 

[Fantasie 19]

Oh ooger.... You're right too,the software i'm using INSISTS not JUST on having it on a COM port, but also HAS to be on COM1 grrrrr. I'm guessing then I could not use something like this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/usb-gps-dongle-a73kf

Can't find 'XPORT' either. Or at least not one that does as described above. Anyone know where to download please?

http://www.curioustech.net/xport.html

I documented how I got my setup working at the time - not sure if it's of use to you but here goes: http://fantasie19papillon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/cheap-plotter-update.html

Anything to save someone turning their laptop into a submersible...