Garmin GPS 12 to IPAQ 5450

[flyguybri]

I just bought a cable to connect my Garmin GPS 12 to my PC with the eventual plan to get the cable to connect it to my IPAQ to experiment before spending the money on a bluetooth receiver. I can't figure out though how to communicate between the GPS and PC. I've googled my brains out and can't come up with anything, do I need a specific program to communicate between the two? Thanks for any help.

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by flyguybri
I just bought a cable to connect my Garmin GPS 12 to my PC with the eventual plan to get the cable to connect it to my IPAQ to experiment before spending the money on a bluetooth receiver. I can't figure out though how to communicate between the GPS and PC. I've googled my brains out and can't come up with anything, do I need a specific program to communicate between the two? Thanks for any help.

Two suggestions:

1. Go to the iQue forum and post an OT thread. Mention my name, bokkie, as that will add credibility to your thread! :D

Seriously, there are guys there who have a solid understanding of many GPS receivers.

2. Alternatively, and though I don't have the newsgroup name, but there is one frequented by again, very knowledgeable people. Post the OT thread to the iQue forum and someone there can point you in the right direction.

[flyguybri]

Thanks for the reply Bokkie. I've put off posting as this is my first post and some other forums I frequent can be quite unfriendly. I'll try in the other forum and see what they suggest. In the mean time I've still been trying to figure this out and am stumped. My guess is that newer GPS units use a usb connection that is automatically recognized by the PC, but I don't know. I'm thinking maybe I need something like hyperterminal that came with windows 95. Anyway thanks again for repyling.
-Brian

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by flyguybri
Thanks for the reply Bokkie. I've put off posting as this is my first post and some other forums I frequent can be quite unfriendly. I'll try in the other forum and see what they suggest. In the mean time I've still been trying to figure this out and am stumped. My guess is that newer GPS units use a usb connection that is automatically recognized by the PC, but I don't know. I'm thinking maybe I need something like hyperterminal that came with windows 95. Anyway thanks again for repyling.
-Brian

Brian, I can only comment on my iQue which does use a USB, though I know for certain, that there are a lot of serial cable devices out there. You might maybe search around Garmin's website for information. I think amongst all the PDA forums, the iQue forum probably has the best collective knowledge of GPS because that is what the iQue is. You'll find it very friendly. Pop over and add an OT post. On second thoughts don't mention my name, but mention The Swedish Contingent instead!

[Reidan]

Do you have GPS software loaded on your PC? You will need a software package that is capable of interpretting the signals from the reciever. Otherwise it is just digital garbage to the computer.

If you have software have you configured it to know "where" your reciever is plugged in? I am assuming from your comments that this unit has a serial connection. How many serial ports do you have on your PC? Have you told the software which one it is plugged into, ie port 1, 2, 3, etc?

Also, are the serial ports disabled in the BIOS of your computer? If so you will need to turn them on. Refere to your computer manual if you need help with that.

Have you set the correct speed, parity, and check bit for the hardware? Would look something like 57600, N, 8, 1.

Also, are you using the reciever indoors? The unit must have visible access to the sky in order to pick up the satellite signals. Stick the unit out a window that has a good view of the sky. Make sure the trees are not blocking the view to badly.


Reidan

[flyguybri]

I don't have any GPS software on the PC. That's kind of my question. Do I need proprietary software from Garmin or is there a generic program I can use? This is an older receiver with no mapping ability, so I don't want to spend the money on MapSource.


Actually I just found and downloaded a couple of demos and got one working. Looks like I'm on track now. Thanks for the help guys.

[Reidan]

Glad to hear that you got it working. FYI, as long as the GPS unit is NMEA compliant, there are tons of software packages available.

Reidan