Windows 8 and GPS mouse BU353

[Robin]

Bummer, my new laptop with Windows 8 would not run OpenCPN with my Bu 353 Globalsat GPS.

ANyway Problem solved I just received a new BU353S4 version GPS mouse from Amazon which now gets me up and running again.

WINDows 8 sucks as they have not made it backwards compatible with both recent as in not old software and hardware, never mind the stooopid cellphone style desktop with 'Apps' ( I hate that word) that try and persuade you to upgrade to a newer versions at fee of course just to make them work like the older versions used to.

[/rant]

 

[fishermantwo]

The version 4 is a massive improvement over the old Bu 353. I have not read on the Seaclear forums that the windows 8 has been a problem. However I have had a Bu353 just fail. Apparently there is a common fault that a re solder can fix if you do a Google search. Just enjoy the greater sensitivity of your new bit of kit.

 

[prv]

However I have had a Bu353 just fail. Apparently there is a common fault

That's a bit worrying. Any idea if it applies to the presumably-similar BR355? During last weekend's Scuttlebutt cruise, one of those (connected to the radio) was my only useable on-board GPS, as I've been having some instrument wiring issues.

Pete

 

[Robin]

As I understand it there are no WIN 8drivers available for the bu353 and win 8 but there are for the newer bu353s4 version, shame as we have TWO BU 353s that are now redundant ( his & hers laptops) The new one gets s fix quick from cold restart out on our condo balcony looking west over the ICW here in Florida but will not cold start inside the building although it runs if started in the open air first

 

[BrendanS]

Bummer, my new laptop with Windows 8 would not run OpenCPN with my Bu 353 Globalsat GPS.

ANyway Problem solved I just received a new BU353S4 version GPS mouse from Amazon which now gets me up and running again.

WINDows 8 sucks as they have not made it backwards compatible with both recent as in not old software and hardware, never mind the stooopid cellphone style desktop with 'Apps' ( I hate that word) that try and persuade you to upgrade to a newer versions at fee of course just to make them work like the older versions used to.

[/rant]

useful resource. They can only provide superficial support, drivers are the responsibility of the hardware suppliers, not windows 8
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/compatibility/win8/CompatCenter/Home?Language=en-US

 

[nigelmercier]

You can't blame Microsoft when manufacturers fail to provide drivers. But they have:
http://forums.centrafuse.com/showthread.php?16-BU-353-Windows-8-drivers-released!

 

[Robin]

FAIry Nuff. I am but a simple wrinklie, reasonably 'puter literate but I just want things to work correctly, right out of the box without me having to hunt the net for workarounds or free IT advice. I was Forced into a new laptop when A LOCAL Geek company washed and rerolled my old one losing me all the useful software I had that I then couldn't replace (like a working version of QUICKEN (UK version no longer available) plus They also lost my openCPN (easily downloaded again of course but sans saved routes and tracks) but also lost all the loaded CM93 world charts and the little port duplicator prog that allowed the gps to feed Seaclear 11 and other nav software simultaneously. I eventually caved in and bought a brand new Samsung sooper doper lappie with Windows 8 and was warned in the store in advance that it might not run an older version of MS Office that I had (fortunately it did) and also that my 12 month old Epson all in one might not work properly either but again I got 'lucky as it prints but doesn't scan although it does to SWMBO's laptop still so she emails me a scanned file if needs be. Then I spent days slaving to get BU 353 GPS running but without success Forgive me if I think Microsoft are at all at fault..

I would move to a Mac as frequently advised on here except that my Iphone and Ipad drove me mad until I finally ditched Apple and went to Samsung .My password for all things 'Apple ended up after multiple resets as Apple5ucks which reflected my feeling when yet again Apple said my username and password did not match oh and all my contacts addresses and phone numbers got lost in the 'Cloud' between my puter and my IPhone. I learned hard from all that and added a Toshiba external hard disk drive to back up stuff plus I bought a notepad and pencil.

You can't blame Microsoft when manufacturers fail to provide drivers. But they have:
http://forums.centrafuse.com/showthread.php?16-BU-353-Windows-8-drivers-released!

 

[Hydrozoan]

You can't blame Microsoft when manufacturers fail to provide drivers. But they have:
http://forums.centrafuse.com/showthread.php?16-BU-353-Windows-8-drivers-released!

Resuscitation of old thread just to thank Nigel for this information - and the forum for coming up trumps.

Having changed my laptop and finally moved to Windows 8, I loaded the navigation software successfully but could not get my old BU-353 GPS puck to work. A search on the web produced first a work-around - which was not ideal - and then a reference to this thread (which the forum search engine, regrettably, did not); I downloaded the new driver and Hey Presto! So thanks again.

 

[mjcoon]

WINDows 8 sucks as they have not made it backwards compatible with both recent as in not old software and hardware, never mind the stooopid cellphone style desktop with 'Apps' ( I hate that word) that try and persuade you to upgrade to a newer versions at fee of course just to make them work like the older versions used to.

Um, do you mean to Win 8.1? I upgraded to Win 8.1 because I too do not like that "Desktop" but it was free though a horrendous download. (Done twice because I had to re-install!). Was still disappointed that the "Start" button that M$ said it was reinstating does not lead to the old configurable program menu...

Mike.

 

[Robin]

Um, do you mean to Win 8.1? I upgraded to Win 8.1 because I too do not like that "Desktop" but it was free though a horrendous download. (Done twice because I had to re-install!). Was still disappointed that the "Start" button that M$ said it was reinstating does not lead to the old configurable program menu...

Mike.

Had you noticed this is a very old thread resurrected?? Anyway in my case the newer GPs works fine and I have also upgraded to windows 8.1. actually I had consitantly said no to the upgrade and then one day went out leaving the computer still running and it installed without my say so anyway, bar stewards. It all looked fine initially but then I found my Skype subscriptions and credit had not been picked up and registered on the Skype App. Fortunately the Skype desktop version still had it but why do these freakin upgrades have so much hassle associated? prior to the upgrade I had already got the Quickstart program set up to run on the desktop and seemingly this is really only what MS consider to be the return of the start menu in 8.1, there is now a shutdown button option on the 'start menu but for some reason it is very slow to actually do so as is doing the shutdown the win 8.0 way. I had and still have the power down function linked to the 'power on' button and to closing the laptop lid, both of these methods shut down much faster. I wish when they let their 2 year olds write new software that they would at least let their 5 year olds in Quality control do some beta testing before inflicting new stuff on us simpletons....:disgust:

Although I have got openCPN running (at home) on win 8.1, my original laptop that I use, and leave permanently on board, is used as a backup for my Garmin network plotter and is actually running Vista with the original BU353 GPS puck anyway.

 

[charles_reed]

It is getting worse and worse -hence the undertaking by Microsoft to upgrade for free all Win 7, 8.0 & 8.1 OS with Win 10 during the latter's first year of release.
The problems of backwards compatibility are just becoming too great.
So if you have a computer operating on any of these three "outdated" OS, be warned.
Thank God for Linux, is all I say.
As for the pathetic reports about recent IoS7 problems, leads one to believe that software is getting to smart for its own good.