PDA/PC connection for NMEA feed

Okay, I know some folks have solved this problem before, but I haven't
been able to find the details in any old postings...

I have a PC running XP Pro with no 9-pin serial ports, just USB (though
the System panel does show a COM1). I have my PDA (an IPAQ 4700) in its
cradle and connected via USB, and both ends have COM1 set to 4800 baud.
The ActiveSync is disabled (disconnected). But I can't get WinPilot to
get the feed from SeeYou are Condor.

What can I try ... ?

~ted/2NO

Also, my iPAQ cradle does not have a 9-pin serial connector (USB only),
so I do not have the option of using a USB-to-Serial adapter to solve
the problem.

wrote:
Okay, I know some folks have solved this problem before, but I haven't
been able to find the details in any old postings...

I have a PC running XP Pro with no 9-pin serial ports, just USB (though
the System panel does show a COM1). I have my PDA (an IPAQ 4700) in its
cradle and connected via USB, and both ends have COM1 set to 4800 baud.
The ActiveSync is disabled (disconnected). But I can't get WinPilot to
get the feed from SeeYou are Condor.

What can I try ... ?

I believe WinPilot only accepts NMEA input from a serial (COMx) port.
WinPilot is likely listening to COM1, but it is not connected to
anything if you are using a USB cradle. COM1 on the PC side is probably
an internal modem. I suspect the only way you are going to get this to
work is to buy a serial PDA cradle (or serial sync cable), and connect
to the PC through a serial to USB converter.

Marc

Marc Ramsey wrote:
wrote:
Okay, I know some folks have solved this problem before, but I haven't
been able to find the details in any old postings...

I have a PC running XP Pro with no 9-pin serial ports, just USB (though
the System panel does show a COM1). I have my PDA (an IPAQ 4700) in its
cradle and connected via USB, and both ends have COM1 set to 4800 baud.
The ActiveSync is disabled (disconnected). But I can't get WinPilot to
get the feed from SeeYou are Condor.

What can I try ... ?

I believe WinPilot only accepts NMEA input from a serial (COMx) port.
WinPilot is likely listening to COM1, but it is not connected to
anything if you are using a USB cradle. COM1 on the PC side is probably
an internal modem. I suspect the only way you are going to get this to
work is to buy a serial PDA cradle (or serial sync cable), and connect
to the PC through a serial to USB converter.

Marc
I use GPSGate from Franson (http://franson.com/gpsgate/) on both the PDA
and PC. Not free, but works nicely over the usb connection.

Hi Ted,

I think you are confusing USB and RS-232 Serial data ports.

PDAs and soaring software receive GPS data over RS-232 serial ports only.

USB can be used with active sync, but not to connect to a GPS device.

You'll need an RS-232 port on the PC, or USB to RS-232 serial converter. I
prefer to use a PCMCIA RS-232 serial port in my laptop. That way there are
no issues with converters because it is an actual serial port. You can see
2 examples he
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/pda.htm#SL0700-004

That would get your PC to talk RS-232 serial. You then need an iPAQ cradle
or iPAQ cable that can connect the iPAQ to the PC port.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
Okay, I know some folks have solved this problem before, but I haven't
been able to find the details in any old postings...

I have a PC running XP Pro with no 9-pin serial ports, just USB (though
the System panel does show a COM1). I have my PDA (an IPAQ 4700) in its
cradle and connected via USB, and both ends have COM1 set to 4800 baud.
The ActiveSync is disabled (disconnected). But I can't get WinPilot to
get the feed from SeeYou are Condor.

What can I try ... ?

~ted/2NO

Can you tell me what settings you use? I've installed GpsGate on both
my PC and PDA but haven't gotten far beyond that.

I use GPSGate from Franson (http://franson.com/gpsgate/) on both the PDA
and PC. Not free, but works nicely over the usb connection.

Never mind -- got it figured out. This GpsGate thing is a good
solution.

On the PC, the GpsGate settings "Input" needs a new virtual comm port
opened (before running SeeYou or Condor), and the "Output" needs to be
set to ActiveSync.

On the PocketPC, the GpsGate's "Input" needs to be set to "ActiveSync"
and the "Output" set to a (new) virtual port, created by clicking "Add"
with "Virtual com port" selected.

Then, of course, SeeYou/Condor and WinPilot/SeeYouMobile need to be set
to use the respective virtual com port numbers.

Now my problem is WinPilot giving me this "Vario Data NOT PRESENT"
message every few seconds!!!

~ted/2NO

Ted, to do this, does one need the Standard or Express versions of
GPSGate?


Dan

wrote:

Never mind -- got it figured out. This GpsGate thing is a good
solution.

On the PC, the GpsGate settings "Input" needs a new virtual comm port
opened (before running SeeYou or Condor), and the "Output" needs to be
set to ActiveSync.

On the PocketPC, the GpsGate's "Input" needs to be set to "ActiveSync"
and the "Output" set to a (new) virtual port, created by clicking "Add"
with "Virtual com port" selected.

Then, of course, SeeYou/Condor and WinPilot/SeeYouMobile need to be set
to use the respective virtual com port numbers.

Now my problem is WinPilot giving me this "Vario Data NOT PRESENT"
message every few seconds!!!

~ted/2NO