clachan girl Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 I have downloaded a number of waypoints into the EasyGPS software and now that I have a USB/Serial Adapter, I am trying to upload them onto my GPS. It tells me that "No Data Received from GPS" -- I know that I need to configure my GPS, so I went to the "interface" menu and the only baud I can use is 4800... and the EasyGPS software is saying that its 9600 baud... How do I get it to work? Quote Link to comment
+ventura_kids Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Well... they have to match (baud rate). What kind of gps? Are you using a USB connector? Quote Link to comment
clachan girl Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 I have a Garmin Legend... and I just bought an USB/Serial Adapter as the Garmin cord still is using the Serial... Quote Link to comment
Dale_Lynn Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 (edited) I have downloaded a number of waypoints into the EasyGPS software and now that I have a USB/Serial Adapter, I am trying to upload them onto my GPS. It tells me that "No Data Received from GPS" -- I know that I need to configure my GPS, so I went to the "interface" menu and the only baud I can use is 4800... and the EasyGPS software is saying that its 9600 baud... How do I get it to work? You might find your answers somewhere in all this..... Finding Com Port It's quite possible your lap top or desk top machine can not "find" correct COM port!... Or your computer does not have traditional serial port. (they are slowly going away in favor of USB). A USB/Serial adapter may be the answer for you. FIRST and foremost, LOAD the USB drivers that came on CD included with USB/SERIAL adapter. Unless you do this everything else you try is a waste of time. IF this has been done them lets move on. If you have Serial/USB adapter and are not getting it to work, suggest you delve into what COM ports or USB/adapter ports your "systems" have available or how they are configured .... The major problem is usually identifying what COM port number the USB/RS-232 Serial Adapter was assigned by WINDOWS system. This is also valid for locating available hard wired serial ports. Port numbers can be verified in the "Control Panel" under "System" under "Hardware" under "Device Manager". Scroll down to “Ports” and it will tell you the “port number” and at what speed (baud) port is configured at. You can actually plug in and unplug adapter and see the "port" appear and disappear on ports field. Right clicking on "port" and selecting "properties" will tell you everything you need to know about port. This info is necessary to get EasyGPS and GSAK and “other” programs to communicate with GPS unit. Yes you do need to set baud rate on GPS to match computer COM port which may be set with whatever software computer is running. See instructions for GPS unit on setting Baud rate and other Serial Port parameters. Most software applications and hardware (modems) like to work with COM 1 ... Also if you have any "synchronize” software running for a Palm or other hand held PDA, it grabs COM 1 and will not let any other applications use it. You may need to disable any synchronization software it you have it as a running application to release COM 1 if you have to use that specific COM port. Also just plugging in a USB/Serial adapter to USB port may not trigger system to assign COM port number. In some cases you must have a valid device (GPS) on end of data cable from USB/Serial adapter and the device must be turned on for system to respond and assign a COM port number. Also having a loop back plug in USB/Serial adapter will trigger adapter/system to assign com port number if serial adapter requires a "valid" device on end of cable. Also be aware you will most likely need to load USB/Serial Port adapter drives from included CD to get adapter to work properly. This should be done before plugging in adapter for first time. Hyper Link Test Here is procedure to test COM/SERIAL/USB port. It will work with both hard wired serial port (COM) on older computers or with USB/SERIAL adapters if proper drivers are loaded. This test will require a “loop back” plug for serial connector that has pins 2 and 3 connected (shorted) back to each other. 1. Determine COM port number using the process above to find the port number (Finding Com Port). 2. Open HYPER-TERM the communications terminal program that is standard part of Windows supplied utilities. If installed it may be found under “Communications” on main menus. (or any other terminal program you are familiar with). 3. Establish a “new connection” file name something like “serialist” or “loopbacktest”. Specifying the specific COM port number (found in above procedure). Set ASCII options to NOT echo characters locally (Uncheck - Echo Characters Locally). 4. Plug in USB/SERIAL adapter and install “loop back” plug on serial connector plug ( if using hard wired port on computer that is where loop back plug goes also) . IF you can now type characters on key board and see them appear on screen the com port and path (and USB adapter) are good. If you unplug loop back plug and then type and characters do not appear on screen this further verifies port is working properly and adapter is working. If you type and get double characters (aa-bb-cc) for each key stroke with loop back plug in place it means “local echo” is turned on. If you only get single characters when loop back plug is removed then it still proves serial path is good. Hyper Terminal setup. Start Hyper Terminal and when “New Connection” window box is presented enter your file name (“looptest” or whatever) Click ok. Next box should say “Connect To:” In this box, at bottom it should say “Connect Using“ and there should be a com port number ( mine comes up COM 4 - Yours may be different). Click OK. Note: Hyper Terminal should only show you any valid COM ports available by system. IF you don't see and COM ports your adapter is not configured (drivers?). Your computers MODEM should also be listed if computer is so equipped and modem is “active”. With loop back plug in place try typing. Do you get characters? Answer should be yes. Remove loop back plug, do you get characters? Answer should be no. If you need to change “echo” settings. Go to File drop down menu and click on Properties. In properties box, click on Settings Tab. In setting box select ASCII Setup. Either check or uncheck “ Echo typed characters locally” (what ever you prefer). USB-PARAMETERS I think if you will fine that if you set up port parameters in GPS and Software (GSAK-EasyGPS) to same as "default" parameters found in "properties" for USB/Serial adapter you will not have any connection problems. Did you even know that there is a properties setting for COM port on control panel?. Try right clicking “Port" once you have hot swapped - plugged in USB/Serial adapter. By default mine are: Baud =9600 DataBits = 8 Parity = None Stop Bits = 1 Flow Control = None The driver "defaults" set in port parameters (Properties) in "hardware" can be adjusted and saved so every time you plug in adapter it will default to desired setting... You have to have software and GPS unit set to match. I still believe most of the "problems" is not having "port defaults" at (initialization- plug-in time), software, GPS all set to same parameters.... And boot up has nothing or very little to do with it. Though RS-232 Serial Ports are on way out, it would probably be a little beneficial for one to look up how they function and what parameters do.. http://www.arcelect.com/rs232.htm FINDING - PORT Here is how I find my USB/SERIAL adapter... Easiest solution to find COM port is to go into "Control Panel" >> Select "System " icon >> Select "Hardware" >> Select "Device Manager" >> Scroll down to "PORTS" (COM & LPT) and see what new "port" pops up when you plug in USB/SERIAL adapter cable Mine comes up as "Prolific USB to Serial Com Port (COM5) " What ever Com port number USB port is assigned by "system" (COM5 in my case) is Com port number you need to use when setting up parameters/properties in your software used to communicate with GPS unit through USB/SERIAL adapter cable. Be sure USB drivers for adapter cable are loaded from CD FIRST (or off I-net) before trying to plug in USB/Serial adapter cable. Pretty much like other user described in previous responses.. In this cases you probably need to clean out drivers and reinstall them BEFORE you attempt to plug in adapter cable.... Even though BELKIN is brand name, Prolific makes about 90% of USB/serial adapters on market today... Revised 8-20-2006 Dale Edited October 7, 2006 by Dale_Lynn Quote Link to comment
+El Diablo Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 I wouldn't think a lower baud rate would matter, but I may be wrong. You mentioned having a USB to Serial, did you install the drivers? El Diablo Quote Link to comment
clachan girl Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 I hate to do anything to the USB ports by changing the baud configuration... When I put the adapter into the USB port, one pops up -- I read the properties, and it does say 9600... should I change that to 4800 to correspond with my Garmin? My Garmin doesn't give me the option to change it to 9600.. Quote Link to comment
clachan girl Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 Yes, when I put the adapter into the USB port, it automatically opened a Wizard to install them.. and I got my little comment saying that "hardware was installed". Quote Link to comment
+Airmapper Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 (edited) Oddly enough, I have actually used EasyGPS to send waypoints to a couple Legends at an event. The USB adaptor for your serial port, throws EasyGPS off and it doesn't know where to look for the unit. Dale Lynn's post looks good for fixing that. In addition, make sure the unit is on when attempting to connect, and that the interface is the GARMIN default. Edited October 7, 2006 by Airmapper Quote Link to comment
Dale_Lynn Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 I hate to do anything to the USB ports by changing the baud configuration... When I put the adapter into the USB port, one pops up -- I read the properties, and it does say 9600... should I change that to 4800 to correspond with my Garmin? My Garmin doesn't give me the option to change it to 9600.. Do not be hesitant to change baud rates.... Many different devices use different speeds. You have access to these parameter just so you CAN change them... The baud rate of GPS has to match PORT speed... CHANGE whatever is necessary... Also when you find COM port number (such as COM 5) put that number into the "setup" for GPS unit in EasyGPS. Dale Quote Link to comment
clachan girl Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 Dale...FINALLY.. got it to work.. I kept moving my adapter from USB port to USB port in my computer and then as I looked in the Device Manager to see what port it was in, I would check in EasyGPS until it would allow me to change it to that same port... Thanks for all your help!! Quote Link to comment
+Quiggle Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Moving to GPS forum. Quote Link to comment
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