usb gps doesn't work with laptop

Blue Fox

Blue Fox

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Mar 2005
Messages
186
Location
Muiderberg, The Netherlands
Visit site
usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

I bought a nice little Dell Latitude laptop (no serial ports, only USB) and a Garmin 60 USB GPS. Although I installed the USB drivers, and the Garmin does indeed work with Mapsource (a simple chartprogram delivered with it) I can't get it working with the two navigational programs that I want to use: Seaclear and Waypoints GPS. Both programs tell me there is no serial port, and that's of course true: in my configuration in Windows XP the category LPT and Com ports is missing. But I have to let the programs believe they can find the NMEA stream at the USB entrance. Btw: device manager tells me the GPS is working allright.
There seem to be quite a few computerexperts on this forum. Please gentlemen or ladies, how can I fix this?
Chris
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

Mine is a 60CS but it sholud be the same.

On the GPS go to [Menu][setup][interface] and check that USB says connected and that the Serial Data Format is set to NMEA. If it is not connected then try reinstalling the garmin drivers (check the garmin website for the latest version)>
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

I did just that: reinstall and setting the Serial Data Format (btw WaypointsGps accepts both). Didn't help a bit. The strange thing is that it works with mapsource!
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

I would suspect that the two programmes you have are expecting to hear data from a serial port rather than USB, If it were the other way around the solution would be easy, I'm not sure it is possible to make USB to appear to be coming via a serial port though I guess somebody may know different.

David
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

Often USB GPS devices will appear as Com5.... have you checked that both Seaclear and Waypoints GPS are expecting a Com5 port connection?

You can get serial ports from a USB port.... using virtual com ports.....
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

I don't know about Garmin but I have just installed a usb driven gps I got for EBay for 40 euro you could try opening seaclear then configure gps and enter the the number of the port into the dropdown menu.The correct number can be accessed by going to the hardware menu on your pc and checking to see which number your computor has given it,the number is often com5.Good luck
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

Maybe talking rubbish, but:
I can vaguely recollect similar problem with a USB GPS into a laptop at work last year. The issue was all to do with setting the mapping sotware to look at the right com port that relates to the USB port you are using. This is done from the settings menu in the mapping software. There can be something 5 or 6 com numbers to choose from I think, and AFAIK, it has to be found by trial and error on each number. Thing is, I think I had to wait each time for the GPS to capture satellites before I was sure I had got it right - quite tedious! There may also be a need to set the baud rate to suit the GPS (check the manual)
Amazes me they don't self-detect!

I'm probably stating the obvious, but it does sound like a similar problem.

Be
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

There are 19 (!) com ports in Seaclear, but I will do the trial and error method - will take some time. In the installation menu of Waypointsgps I can only pick com3, and that one isn't working. Indeed there could be a deficiency in the mapping software (laptop too modern?).
How can you create a virtual com port? That could be a solution, of course. Is there software on the web to do it?
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

Suspect it the fact that your PC has given a virtual serial port to the device and the charting software is not configured for that port.
Have a look at www.digiboat.com.au at the instruction booklet for the SOB software and they give excellent instructions for configuring a PC for their software including using "Hyperterminal" for checking the virtual serial port; just apply the same principals and logical steps to your system.
I could go into detail but am a firm believer in "if somebody has already done it, then pinch their ideas"!!

Good luck,
Alan.
 
OK ..... As the resident Seaclear bod ...

First USB connections will provide Virtual COM Ports ... so we first have to identify which one ....

So Right click on My Computer .... click properties and click through to Hardware / DEvice Manager ... so that you get all the listings of Network Adaptors, Display etc. etc. What you are looking for is the Ports (Com + LPT) section. Open that up and look for the ports available / set-up .... for my USB GPS connection I have a listing : Prolific ...... (COM4) ....

If you can't see or ID which one ... pull out the GPS mouse connector ... wait few secs. - you should see a port disappear ... now reconnect GPS and a port should reappear ... Thats the baby you want. Note the COM #

Now start Seaclear and Click on TOOLS .... Properties ..... and theh Tab COMM ...

Here I'm afraid is a little confusing as in latest version you have TX1/RX1 RX2 RX3 ......

TX1 and RX1 are used normally for Passthru and that is why the TX1 title. I suggest set this one to NONE
Now click on RX2 and set that to the Com# .....
RX3 to none.

Close and restart Seaclear .....

Now restart should not give warning about com port.

Now to get a position ....

First we can check you are receiving data ... TOOLS SYSTEM NMEA Input .... a box will open and a stream of data should display ....

OK so far so good ????

Now we want a position ... I assume that charts have been "calibrated" or library formed by Mapcal ?? Where you create the Directory listings etc.
Now in Seaclear FILE ....CHART .... List All ... and click on relevant chart ....
Then click on Automatic ON at bottom right .....

You should have a position in text top right ..... and a boat on the chart ?????

If you cant get it going ......... PM me ..... !!
 
Seaclear has its own Data stream display ...

Seaclear has its own Data Terminal .... to display NMEA strings .... and is far easier to use than Hyperterminal ....
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

are you trying to connect to seaclear while still linked to mapsource, cause gps will only link to one programme at a time. The other possibility is that you have not told seaclear etc which port to link to.
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

I have run Seaclear with both USB and USB to serial converter. seaclear does have a NMEA system checker, its just a matter of getting the rignt port!! If you want any advice on scanning and getting charts PM me
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

Thank you for all your advice. Alas, the Garmin 60 still refuses to work with waypointgps and seaclear. But it does work allright with oziexplorer and its own mapsource! Apparently the garmin doesnot generate a serial (virtual) com port, and Seaclear and wgps need that. And in my laptop no LPT or Com ports are visible in the configuration screen in Windows - can't change anything if there is nothing there.
There must be a warning here: the newest laptops and gps don't automatically work with the established navigation software. Oziexplorer seems to be the most up to date in this respect.
Chris
 
Re: usb gps doesn\'t work with laptop

The Garmin uses a proprietory sentence over the USB port. It works with some makes of software but you have to tell it that it is Garmin USB. What you need is either a GPS that will send NMEA data over the USB and also has a USB to serial driver. When loaded this will appear to the software as a serial port. You may also have to tell Windows not to recognise the new serial port on the USB as a Windows mouse as it will clash. Use the control panel to see if it installs a serial mouse when you connect the GPS, if it does, just disable it. The software will then be able to get the NMEA data from the USB to serial driver. The other option is to use the Garmin cable to deliver NMEA data and connect the wires to a serial to USB converter which will come with the correct driver (from someone like PC world). SeaClear software supports the Garmin USB and so does the OzzieExplore. I do not think that Maptech supports the Garmin USB unless they upgraded it since I last tried it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top