GPS/Laptop

[tony]

Help!

The laptop won't read the GPS. It keeps coming up with the error code "28 USB to serial port converter not installed".

Have gone through XP set up discs, download.com and Microsoft updates to try to find the driver. Could not find it in any of these places.

We've got a Magellan SportTrak Map GPS and downloaded Easy GPS.

Works fine from the home computer (which is also XP) when the GPS is connected directly through the serial port.

However, we can't get it working with the USB to serial port adaptor cable on the laptop.

Any of you computer wizards got any ideas?

[incisor]

not all pins/lines are supported on USB -> serial converters. Only those need to drive a modem.

some high end (read expensive) pcmcia -> serial adaptors support all lines but the cheap ones dont and the ones that do are getting quite rare.

does your laptop have a big old printer port? if it does you may be able to get a parallel -> serial converter that support all pins/lines and has a driver for xp.

[tony]

Thanks so much for your quick reply.

We have spent literally HOURS trying to get this thing operational - we hoped to be able to go Geocaching today with the GPS and laptop. Alas ....

The laptop is a moderately newish one .... well not that new I suppose considering how quickly they change. Only had it about 6 months - unfortunately it doesn't have an old printer type port.

Would there be anywhere we could go online and download the necessary driver? Although we have tried searching but all to no avail.

Went into device manager where it 'automatically' searches (including online) for the driver but was unable to find it.

This is soooooo annoying ....... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

[landrovermick]

Hey tony its Mick - Campbelltown you will need the driver from the serial to USB adaptor cable. I have one at work, I bout the cable from GPS OZ and online company,

Im gonna send you a Pm with my phone number and if ya cant get to to work give me a call.

I also found that in OZI explorer had to mess with the COM port settings.

If u recall properly had to list it as COM port 2 in the OZI communications bit.

Any way im no expert but I am local perhaps we can get it to work

Mick

[tony]

Mick,

Thanks for your response.

We've finally given up after downloading the driver and still unable to get the @!*$$ thing working. Talk about wasting a day stuffing around!!!

We'll now check the PM, expect a phone call soon!!!

Mick - no PM message. will PM you with our number.

Thanks again.

[Gidget]

I know I am late but how did you go? I had the same problem & I found a very tiny little disc in the packaging,this had to be loaded onto the computer for the serial port to usb port adaptor cable to work.(we did not relise this for about 4 hrs & searched the net high & low looking to no avail) but low & behold as all hope was lost & I had the sh*$s there it was hidden in between 2 bits of cardboard that where glued togeather. It was no bigger than 50 or 60mm in diameter. Well didn't i look the dill. Hope you get it.

[tony]

I know I am late

G'day

Yep we did the same thing the boss went an got the packet the cable

came in out of the bin (so as to take the bloody thing back)and there it

wz this tiny little disc felt a right dill............

We still hav'nt got the thing to work off the lap top yet but we'v got a bit

of a repreve as the lap top's gone to the doctors for a few days

so with a bit of luck when it comes home everything will work like clock-

work

Tony & Pan