Etrex GPS and Toshiba Laptop
Submitted: Saturday, Nov 26, 2005 at 18:06
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jc-wagin
Hi, Have read some previous threads on linking laptops and GPS units, but they don't seem to answer my question. I am hpoeful that somebody has solved this previously.
I have a yellow etrex which I am trying to link up to my Toshiba Satellite 1400 laptop. I have purchased the cable for the etrex but it is only 9 pin. My laptop has only a 25 pin serial/printer port, so I purchased an adaptor. When hooked it all up, and the etrex configured to either COM1, 2 or 3, the laptop does not recognise the GPS.
I have TRAX and Oziexplorer software loaded, but neither seem to work. I am ready to purchase some maps, but don't want to unless I can get the GPS to be recognised.
Any clues?
Reply By: Frank_Troopy - Saturday, Nov 26, 2005 at 19:33
Saturday, Nov 26, 2005 at 19:33
Hi,
Have you gone into SETUP and chosen INTERFACE and selected NMEA OUT? If not, you should.
You say 25 pin serial/printer port. It won't be both. It sounds like it is a parallel port and not a serial port. Looking at the Toshiba 1400 on Google it looks to me like it doesn't have a serial port. If that's the case you need to get a USB serial adapter.
Click here for an example of what you probably need.
Cheers Frank.
AnswerID:
141145
Reply By: jc-wagin - Saturday, Nov 26, 2005 at 20:31
Saturday, Nov 26, 2005 at 20:31
Thanks Frank_troopy, I believe you may have solved my problem. I see that I can get one of those from GPSOZ. Will do that next week and try again.
John
AnswerID:
141148
Reply By: Notso - Saturday, Nov 26, 2005 at 20:32
Saturday, Nov 26, 2005 at 20:32
Mate, Get a belkin USB to serial port converter or similar, Hardly Normal for about $30 or so.
Plugs into USB on puter plug your GPS into t'other end.
Mine is a Magellan but same issue.
AnswerID:
141149
Follow Up By: V8troopie - Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 01:31
Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 01:31
I'm using a toshiba 1400 laptop as
well. Bought a USB to serial cable and this runs
well with a Garmin 182 GPS.
I fitted a matching 9 pin 'D' connector on the end of the garmin cable to mate with the adapter 9 pin 'D'.
I power the GPS from a 12v battery as its a fixed 12V model, I guess you don't need external power for your Etrex.
The info on how to connect the 9 pin 'D' is on the net, as is the protocol which you have to use to set the GPS up for data transfer.
Klaus
FollowupID:
394821
Reply By: Pluto - Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 08:11
Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 08:11
jc,
The "25 pin serial/printer port" isn't a serial port. It's a parallel port. That's where you have the trouble. If your lappy doesn't have a 9 pin serial port (unlikely these days) then you will have to create one using a USB to serial converter.
They're not very expensive. I would recommend you get one with a 10cm (4 inch) cable. The ones with the 1m plus cables will have you trying to stow great loops of cable in your vehicle. Very inconvenient & unnecessary.
AnswerID:
141173
Follow Up By: stevesub - Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 12:03
Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 12:03
Not all USB to serial adapters work with all software. We have a Garmin Etrex legend and the USB to serial cable only works with software called Sendmap. Mapsource or Ozi-explorer does not work with that cable.
My solution is to resurrect an old Laptop with a serial port that is now dedicated for the GPS, messy but works
well. Not such a bad idea as it stops the good laptop from getting knocked around in the truck. I also have Cig lighter powering for that laptop as a bonus.
My next GPS will have a memory card or USB port me thinks.
Stevesub
FollowupID:
394841
Follow Up By: Pluto - Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 14:48
Sunday, Nov 27, 2005 at 14:48
Good point, Steve.
It would be worth while sticking to purchasing from vendors that have thoroughly tested their products in the GPS environment. Such as GPSOz, JA... Is there one in the
shop here at EO?
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