Can OpenCPN Interface with a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx via USB ?

[eric.toupin]

I'm running Ubuntu 10.

I am new to OpenCPN and am trying to interface a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx via the USB cable. I do not have a serial or other cable for the device.

The USB out for the GPSMAP 60CSx exports data in Garmin's proprietary format. While the data out type for the Garmin can be set for the serial cable (to NMEA for instance) the USB out format cannot be changed and must remain in Garmin's proprietary format.

I can output live data from the Garmin with xgps fine while hooked up with the USB, but selecting Tools->GPS->Network GPSD in OpenCPN doesn't do anything. If "Show GPS/NMEA data stream" is selected, nothing outputs.

If I use gpsbabel to read the GPS data from /dev/ttyUSB0 in the Garmin format, then write the GPS data to /dev/ttyGPS (a manually created file) in NMEA format, I can get OpenCPN to dump raw GPS data using the "Show GPS/NMEA data stream" option. Still, however, it doesn't use the GPS data to interface with the charts / waypoints / etc.

So.. I'm trying to get the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx to interface successfully with OpenCPN via a USB cable. Can anyone help me figure this out? Thanks!

[Sail323]

I don't think you will be able to get usable NMEA data from the USB port on your GPS. You will most likely need to purchase one of the following cables which plug into the round 4-pin RS232 port under the rubber cover on the back of the unit.

You will need one of following:

Power/Data Cable (If you want to hard-wire it)
Part Number: 010-10082-00

or

PC Interface Cable (RS232 Serial Port Connector)
010-10141-00

or

Vehicle Power Cable with PC Interface
010-10165-00

plus

A USB to Serial adapter

John

[eric.toupin]

John,

Thanks for the reply. I was looking for a different cable earlier on but gave up on that route, unable to find what I needed. Your specific reply is a big help. I'll try a different cable and report back.

It's a shame it won't work with the USB. With gpsbabel it seemed so close - but I guess that would be too easy =]

[cagney]

Originally Posted by eric.toupin

I'm running Ubuntu 10.


I can output live data from the Garmin with xgps fine while hooked up with the USB, but selecting Tools->GPS->Network GPSD in OpenCPN doesn't do anything. If "Show GPS/NMEA data stream" is selected, nothing outputs.

If you can get xgps to output data, then OpenCPN should be OK.
Don't use Tools->GPS->Network GPSD , use Tools->GPS->Network LIBGPS instead. You still will not be able to to see an NMEA datastream, as there isn't one. You have a stream of Garmins stuff, that gpsd understands. But this setting is the correct one for Ubuntu 10.x. Also, in ToolBox->GPS there is a Garmin box to tick and experiment with.
Thomas

[eric.toupin]

Thomas,

Thanks a ton for the reply.

Originally Posted by cagney

Don't use Tools->GPS->Network GPSD , use Tools->GPS->Network LIBGPS instead.

I don't have the Network LIBGPS option, only the Network GPSD option. I have the libgps19 package installed, v 2.92. I'm running Ubuntu 10.04, Lucid Lynx, and have OpenCPN v 2.2.

Any ideas? Much appreciated =]

[cagney]

Originally Posted by eric.toupin

Thomas,

Thanks a ton for the reply.



I don't have the Network LIBGPS option, only the Network GPSD option. I have the libgps19 package installed, v 2.92. I'm running Ubuntu 10.04, Lucid Lynx, and have OpenCPN v 2.2.

Any ideas? Much appreciated =]

If you are compiling yourself you need the package "libgps-dev".
This package should not be necessary if you installed a precompiled package, but install it anyway for good measure.
Your logfile could possibly give some hints.
Have you read Setting Up GPS | Official OpenCPN Homepage?
Any feedback if starting opencpn from the command-line?

Thomas

[eric.toupin]

I've stepped back to OpenCPN 2.1 for Ubuntu, which provided the Tools->GPS->Network LIBGPS option. That fixed the issue.

In order to get xgps to run, I still need to execute "sudo modprobe garmin_gps" *before* I run OpenCPN. Within a few seconds of that command, xgps & OpenCPN can acquire the GPS info.

My little ship icon showed up in the right place, which is exciting after messing with this for a few days.

Thanks for the input!

[cagney]

Originally Posted by eric.toupin

I've stepped back to OpenCPN 2.1 for Ubuntu, which provided the Tools->GPS->Network LIBGPS option. That fixed the issue.

In order to get xgps to run, I still need to execute "sudo modprobe garmin_gps" *before* I run OpenCPN. Within a few seconds of that command, xgps & OpenCPN can acquire the GPS info.

My little ship icon showed up in the right place, which is exciting after messing with this for a few days.

Thanks for the input!

Try to ad the line "garmin_gps" to the file "/etc/modules".

sudo gedit /etc/modules

Write :garmin_gps, on a line at the end of the file.
Next time you boot the driver will automatically be loaded.
It's a bit boring to modprobe every time!

Thomas

[djgrant]

Originally Posted by cagney

Try to ad the line "garmin_gps" to the file "/etc/modules".

Write :garmin_gps, on a line at the end of the file.
Next time you boot the driver will automatically be loaded.
It's a bit boring to modprobe every time!

Thomas

Just want to point out that this doesn't work for me, still have to do the "sudo modprobe garmin_gps" command in order for GPS to work with OpenCPN. This is with Ubuntu 11.04, OpenCPN 2.3.1. Any suggestions?

Dave

[ullis]

Just want to point out that this doesn't work for me, still have to do the "sudo modprobe garmin_gps"

Dave,
the garmin_gps module is blacklisted under Ubuntu 10.04 (and likely later versions too). Do

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

and comment out the respective line to make it look like

#blacklist garmin_gps

then reboot. The module should be autoinserted upon plugging in the USB cable. Works well for me with Garmin GPSmap 76CSx