SH CP180/C-map PC Planner questions .....

[CPD]

I am slowly getting used to the CP180 (with CMax card) and all is well.

I have bought the Cmap PC planner too and it reads the CMax card no problem. I would now like to be able to transfer routes etc planned at home onto the plotter. A couple of questions :

Is my understanding correct that I need to buy a seperate CMap memory card to plug into the card reader (attached to the PC) onto which routes etc can be saved, then same card goes into CP180 card slot from which the route info can be downloaded before the memory card is then replaced by the CMax card ?

Can the CP180 not be plugged directly into the PC using the mini USB socket just below the card slot and this used to transfer information ?.

Many thanks all.

Alan

 

[FullCircle]

Yep, connect up the PC direct.

I have used EasyGPS before (freeware)

Here's how from the CP180 manual


2.10 PERSONAL COMPUTER CONNECTIONS
The GPS Chart Plotter can be connected to output Marks, Routes and Tracks to many PC programs
available. To send or receive User Points the PC Program must be able to receive NMEA WPL and
RTE sentences. Refer to the table below for connection to a Serial DB9 connector.
Pin PC DB9 connection NMEA connection
2 Receive Brown
3 Transmit Blue
5 Signal ground Green
By default Port1 is set to receive or send User Points to and from a PC. The GPS Chart
Plotter may be setup to send and receive the User Points on a different Port using the
following procedure:
1. Press [MENU]. Move the ShuttlePoint knob to highlight SETUP MENU and press [ENT].
2. Move the ShuttlePoint knob to highlight ADVANCED SETUP and press [ENT] or move
the ShuttlePoint knob to the right.
3. Move the ShuttlePoint knob to highlight IN/OUT CONNECTIONS and press [ENT] or
move the ShuttlePoint knob to the right.
4. Move the ShuttlePoint knob to highlight SEND/REC RTE & MARKS and press [ENT]
or move the ShuttlePoint knob to the right to show the popup window.
5. Move the ShuttlePoint knob to desired Port and press [ENT].
The PC COM settings are:
· Baud Rate : 4800
· Parity : N
· Data Bits : 8
· Stop Bits : 1
· Flow Control : N
The format of the sentences that are sent:
· MARK $GPWPL,3249.061,N,00710.651,E,MRK002*22
· WAYPOINT $GPWPL,3933.008,N,00639.969,E,WPT012*22
· ROUTE $GPWPL,2544.362,N,08011.672,W,WPT003*32
$GPWPL,2543.921,N,08011.481,W,WPT004*31
$GPWPL,2543.493,N,08011.768,W,WPT005*37
$GPRTE,2,1,c,ROUTE01,WPT003,WPT004,WPT005*21


Also, see page 83 of the manual for backing up to C-Cards which are 30 quid for a 2mb from all good swindleries

 

[jerry098]

I can't get it to output a track. Can you?

 

[ithet]

I have transfered tracks, points and routes using a memory cartridge. I seem to recall not being able to transfer tracks via the data (NMEA) output, and there is no sentence defined.

Note that FullCircle's reply refers to using the NMEA output wires connected to a PC serial input (although a serial to USB converter can be added). The use of the Mini USB on the front of the SH180 is undefined. - unless anyone has analysed it?

Jerry, between the SH180 and C-Max PC plotter the track handling is dire. The SH180 does not auto initiate new tracks (even if the boat hasn't moved for months) so you have to remember to start a new one - then make it active - then set it to display. When saving to card you have to remember which tracks you have used as they need to saved individually. When you transfer them to the PC Plotter you cannot use the cursor to pick up points and times (as you can on the SH180), and there is no easy way to edit them to split up the tracks that span several passages.