GPS to laptop computer connection
Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 11:44
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Member - Lindsay
I have had a Garmin GPS 2 for many years now whick I carried just in case Mrs Navigator got us lost. Fortunately this has not happened in about 1000 days of exploring Oz so I figured the we are due to for it soon.
My question is will the GPS & computer running Oziexplorer work normally with a data cable (which has a serial port plug) is plugged into a USB port with an adapter cable.
I am planning a trip along the Anne Beadell & Connie Sue Highway next year & want to practice beforehand.
Reply By: Tessysdad - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 11:54
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 11:54
Yes, just don't forget to install the software that comes with the serial to usb adapter.
Happy camping,
Mike
AnswerID:
144682
Follow Up By: Penguin (NSW) - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 12:56
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 12:56
How right you are. I found that out after agonising about why the cursor was all over the screen when the cable was plugged in. Load the correct driver and it works fine.
Mike
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 17:28
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 17:28
Penguine Mike, I have to boot the computer each time without the GPS connected (or have the GPS off) through serial anyway as the 'puter thinks the GPS has control of the mouse driver. :-((((
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Reply By: signman - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 13:02
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 13:02
Without meaning to offend...I hope you're not planning on towing the Galaxy on the Anne Beadell???
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Follow Up By: Member - Lindsay- Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 17:04
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 17:04
No way!
For the first time in years I am leaving Mrs Navigator & doing a "boy"s trip". Apparently I was granted long service leave after ten years of hard labour (marriage).
Look at the gallery pictures for a couple of our non Galaxy off road caravan excursions.
Thanks for spotting the deliberate mistake.
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398252
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 13:33
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 13:33
Thats the way I have
mine setup too.
But you need to boot the computer while the GPS is turned off, otherwise the computer may think the GPS is a mouse, and it all stuffs up.
Secondly, you'll need to go into Control Panel to find out which COM port is being assigned.
Mine is usually "COM port 4" - this needs to be put into your Oziexplorer configuration.
Cheers
Phil
AnswerID:
144703
Follow Up By: nrb1748 - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 15:16
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 15:16
---- and if you have more than one USB Port, make sure you keep using the same one for the GPS. Otherwise you need to reconfigure Ozi with each USB port change.
nrb
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 17:30
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 17:30
sorry Phil, I hadn't read right down to your post.
Mine is the same but since using a PDA and WindowsCE with a good little Chinese Bluetooth GPS all is sweet :-))
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Reply By: Keith_A (Qld) - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 21:52
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005 at 21:52
Sugestions :
1. As above - always plug the USB into the same port.
2. Windows will detect the 'USB to serial Adaptor' as a pointing device.
Simple solution - with the cable disconnected, go into :
control panel/system/harware/Device Manager.
Select Mice and other pointing Devices.
Locate the 'new' one and click disable.
With the device disabled, you never get the 'mouse out of control' problem again.
Another small point - normally to use moving map you have to set the GPS to NMEA output (National Marine Electronics Assoc) - a standard protocol for communications between electronic devices. Changing the GPS every time can be a PITA.
Now Oziexplorer lets you tick a box in its program - under configuration - COM . The box is marked - 'Use PVT for Garmin instead of NMEA'.
Tick this box, and you don't have to change the GPS settings to NMEA.
Give it a try - the moving map is simple and works
well. We have used it a number of times when feeling 'Geographically challenged'.
regards.......Keith
AnswerID:
144774