GPS is not talking to laptop

[mrapocalypse]

Hi Boffins.

Just set myself up with: A dell mini 10" laptop (Awesome) and a cable to run my Etrex Summit GPS through a GPS OZ Usb to Garmin cable with the relevant drivers. Also running Oz Explorer.

Computer is not responding to GPS even thoughI have triple checked the settings, made sure it's on the right port, is set to the right system in the gps, and have reloaded the drivers twice. Also it is seeing that there is something on the USB and getting the correct drivers through Windows hardware and device manager but it doesn;t want to let the port comunicate with Ozi Explororer.

When I try to down load or up load waypoints or navigate it tells me it can't comunicate with the coms. Any tips on how to get it all to operate. I paid a heap for all the software and cables so am a little frustrated at the moment!

[HowardSmall]

Have you checked that the speed setting for the com port in Ozi Explorer and the GPS are the same - typically 9600,n,8,1?

If you have hyperterminal then make sure oziexplorer is not running and start up hyperterminal doing a direct connection to the comms port at the correct speed settings. You should see data coming from the GPS. If you do not then the problem is probably to do with your USB to serial adapter. If you do then OziExplorer should run OK.

The other possibility is that something else has grabbed the com port. Unlikely but make sure you do not have sync for PDA programs or others that use com ports running.

Howard

Hi Boffins.

Computer is not responding to GPS even thoughI have triple checked the settings, made sure it's on the right port, is set to the right system in the gps, and have reloaded the drivers twice. Also it is seeing that there is something on the USB and getting the correct drivers through Windows hardware and device manager but it doesn;t want to let the port comunicate with Ozi Explororer.

When I try to down load or up load waypoints or navigate it tells me it can't comunicate with the coms. Any tips on how to get it all to operate. I paid a heap for all the software and cables so am a little frustrated at the moment!

[Xtreme]

I experienced similar problem once and found that I had to tick the 'Use PVT for Garmin instead of NMEA' box in the COM section of configuration.
Might be worth a try if not already done.

[Chenz]

I had a similar problem and it was the USB to Serial connection. It did not take much to make it play up. I am seriously thinking of getting a serial port put onto my laptop.

Here is some info that Bushie gave me and this got me going. I have a garmin GPS76 but the same should apply to your Garmin unit.

First make sure the GPS is set to NMEA under the setup menu interface, you should have something along the lines of

NMEA/NMEA
NMEA 0183 2.0 or something very similar
2400 baud }>>
If this wasn't set try Ozi again.
If still no working the next step is to confirm the GPS is talking to the computer. Connect up the GPS start up Hyperterminal

Start | All programs | Accessories | Communications | Hyperterminal it will ask you to configure - it any name will do - set the comm port to the one you are using - usually comm 1 or 2 the rest of the settings should be OK if it works you should get a whole heap of crap like this

>$GPGSV,3,1,12,02,14,120,40,05,47,343,47,10,49,117, 47,12,36,004,45*72
>$GPGSV,3,2,12,15,08,041,36,18,09,337,37,21,32,278, 44,24,66,238,49*79
>$GPGSV,3,3,12,26,08,055,37,29,61,202,49,30,59,316, 48,31,06,256,36*74
>$PGRME,15.0,M,22.5,M,15.0,M*1B
>$GPGLL,3404.032,S,15058.964,E,080536,A*3F
>$PGRMZ,670,f,3*1A
>$PGRMM,WGS 84*06
>$GPBOD,,T,,M,,*47
>$GPRTE,1,1,c,0*07
>$GPRMC,080540,A,3404.027,S,15058.954,E,010.8,300.0 ,170408,012.6,E*60
>$GPRMB,A,,,,,,,,,,,,V*71
>$GPGGA,080540,3404.026,S,15058.953,E,1,12,2.0,204. 4,M,19.1,M,,*5D
>$GPGSA,A,3,02,05,10,12,15,18,21,24,26,29,30,31,2.6 ,2.0,3.0*34
>$GPGSV,3,1,12,02,14,120,39,05,47,343,47,10,49,117, 47,12,36,004,45*7C
>$GPGSV,3,2,12,15,08,041,36,18,09,337,37,21,32,278, 44,24,66,238,49*79
>$GPGSV,3,3,12,26,08,055,36,29,61,202,49,30,59,316, 49,31,06,256,35*77
>$PGRME,15.0,M,22.5,M,15.0,M*1B
>$GPGLL,3404.026,S,15058.951,E,080540,A*3D

if you see this it confirms the GPS is talking to the computer. try
connecting to Ozi again with the same comm port.


Now that we at least know the GPS is talkng to the computer, get everything connected and fire up OziEx then go to the configuration screen File | configuration or Alt C System tab,
in the box 'map file path' type the path to your maps you have stored

Maps tab
This should be pretty much OK but set the region to SE aus

Map Images tab
Point this to where you keep your maps

GPS tab
Set the GPS make and model as per yours
set the two datum boxes to WGS84

Com tab
Comm port (generally either 1 or 2, but set to how it was earlier to get the NMEA data) Upload download baud @ 9600 NMEA baud @ 2400 parity - none Stop bit 1 the rest can be ignored

Obects tab
leave as is

track tab
leave as is

moving map and navigation tabs should be able to leave as is


Once you have done this close and restart Ozi

connect & fire up your GPS go to Moving map on the top menu, click on 'moving map control' this will open up a box on the RH side of the screen select 'START' and it should open up the map at your location

next try on the moving map tab ' show MNEA intput & output' this will open up a separate window and you should be seeing the same sort of data from the GPS.

I'm not sure what functionality you get through the trial version not sure if "No communication with the GPS for upload/download" will allow it to work in moving map mode, if you still have trouble try the shareware version.

Just to add to the confusion, when Ozi talks about map files etc they are a 2 file set. One with a .map extension contains the scale, datum, registration info, and the path to the second file which is the raster image of the map ie .bmp, .tif, .ecw, .ozf2 .jpg etc.

Hope this helps

[miky]

Although I have never had serious problems myself I have helped people who have. I am not an expert - just using some savvy and common sense.

The usual problems are:
1.
usb to serial cables - they are not all equal. Most work ok but some have problems. Find someone who has a working system, then try your cable.

2.
Getting the com port correct.
--------

And once I had this: swapping the usb to serial adapter to a different usb port. Although there was more that two usb ports on the laptop the usb to serial cable would only work on one usb port - dunno why, real weird.

[mrapocalypse]

Thanks a lot everyone. lots of stuff there to kget me going. Will let you know.

Ian.

[Bandito]

Hi Ian,

Have you had any success?

I have a Garmin (60csx), that would not talk to my 10" laptop, but I found a solution the other day......If your still stuck let me know.

Steve

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/120.jpg

[D3Jon]

I have an Etrex Summit as well, great little unit. I've tested it with Ozi and it worked fine.

As mentioned by others it could be to do with the setup of the GPS unit (i.e. the handheld) itself.

It sounds like you definately know what your doing here, but just to be sure: Press the top right button until you get to the menu screen, go down to setup and press the enter button, go down to Interface and press enter, press enter again and change the box to either Garmin or RTCM/NMEA.

Try both depending on your PC software setup - this should hopefully get it talking.

If not, then it sounds like a COM port issue or a setting in Ozi.

Jon