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Old 15-05-2011, 11:52   #1
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GPS Receiver BU-353

I am having a problem with OPNCPN reading my GPS. I had this working in the past and received good positions in Delaware Bay. We have shifted to Lake Michigan (via car) and my GPS no longer shows that the GPS/Nmea Data Stream Window is getting info. The Data Stream window in blank. I have moved the boat on OpenCPN to its location @ Douglas, MI and centered the map over it: then hit AUTO FOLLOW but get no GPS

I have gone to the GPS set up and redone steps 4-14 but still get no input in the data stream window. The GPS unit indicates that it is working fine by flashing a red LED.

How do I get it to input data into OpenCPN?

I'm not very techy when it comes to solving computer problems so please be very specific with guidelines.

Thanks for your expertise,

Don
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Old 15-05-2011, 13:18   #2
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

It sounds as if your BU-353 has slipped into Sirf mode. Search for and download SIRFdemo.exe. Use this program to reset the gps to NMEA mode.

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Old 15-05-2011, 14:43   #3
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Thomas,

The GPS is working fine in Coastal Explorer. Does that still mean that it has slipped into SIRF mode for OpenCPN?

Thanks,
Don
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Old 15-05-2011, 15:33   #4
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Corlfoot,
Can you find what "Port" Coastal Explorer sees the gps?And then set OpenCPN to the same in the GPS settings?You have already read the OpenCPN helpfile... and I don't have CE but most Nav apps are similar.
(FYI per above:You can only run the gps to one app at a time UNLESS you want to try "XPort" or another "Port emulator"...XPort can search for the gps for you and save some computer tunneling to identify the port.)
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Old 15-05-2011, 21:23   #5
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Happy Seagull,


Both Coastal Explorer and OpenCPN are using COM5 for reading the GPS. I just opened up Coastal Explorer and it wasn't reading the GPS. Shut that one down and went to OpenCPN--lo and behold-- it was receiving the GPS signal. Can't figure that one out!!

Thanks for any input.

Don
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Old 15-05-2011, 23:07   #6
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Are you using Windows 7??
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Old 16-05-2011, 04:13   #7
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

No, I'm using Windows XP on an Ausus mini laptop.
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Old 16-05-2011, 09:31   #8
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

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Originally Posted by corlfoot View Post
Happy Seagull,


Both Coastal Explorer and OpenCPN are using COM5 for reading the GPS. I just opened up Coastal Explorer and it wasn't reading the GPS. Shut that one down and went to OpenCPN--lo and behold-- it was receiving the GPS signal. Can't figure that one out!!

Thanks for any input.

Don
gps can only be used by one app at a time,without a port emulator.
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Old 06-08-2011, 05:33   #9
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

You are in luck.

When you "suddenly" move the BU-353 a large distance, it must re-load the tables showing where the satellites will be at various times. On my BU-353, this requires either the START or COLDSTART when starting a new BU-353 or moving it a long distance.

When I got my BU-353 to replace a BU-303 that didn't work on XP, the 353 duplicated the 303 exactly - it didn't work either.

Lots of tracing and figuring and I found the GPSINFO program supplied with the GPS didn't properly work on Windows 7.

Called Globalsat - got a new version for Windows 7 - it didn't work either. They claim their version works - nonsense.

Anyway, plug in your GPS, load GPSINFO, see if a clean data stream is present and press COLDSTART. It will acquire in about 45 minutes if you have a clear view of the sky.

In the meantime, stay on XP. The inability to START my GPS if I move a lot or have some other problem makes it unacceptable for Windows 7.

I tried Cap'n, Coastal Explorer, and Open CPN - with no GPS data stream, neither of the 3 had any hope of telling me where I was.
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Old 22-03-2012, 17:44   #10
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Quote:
Originally Posted by captstu View Post
You are in luck.

When you "suddenly" move the BU-353 a large distance, it must re-load the tables showing where the satellites will be at various times. On my BU-353, this requires either the START or COLDSTART when starting a new BU-353 or moving it a long distance.

When I got my BU-353 to replace a BU-303 that didn't work on XP, the 353 duplicated the 303 exactly - it didn't work either.

Lots of tracing and figuring and I found the GPSINFO program supplied with the GPS didn't properly work on Windows 7.

Called Globalsat - got a new version for Windows 7 - it didn't work either. They claim their version works - nonsense.

Anyway, plug in your GPS, load GPSINFO, see if a clean data stream is present and press COLDSTART. It will acquire in about 45 minutes if you have a clear view of the sky.

In the meantime, stay on XP. The inability to START my GPS if I move a lot or have some other problem makes it unacceptable for Windows 7.

I tried Cap'n, Coastal Explorer, and Open CPN - with no GPS data stream, neither of the 3 had any hope of telling me where I was.
Press COLDSTART? Where is that?
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Old 22-03-2012, 18:56   #11
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Kojiro, I think captstu means the "Coldstart" button in "GPSInfo" -the supplementary software he mentioned... If my memory serves, Sirfdemo (in Post 2) also has a "cold start" feature.
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Old 24-03-2012, 15:17   #12
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Thanks to all those who offered their experience and expertise for the Bu-353. We now have the unit working on Windows XP with OPNCPN and Windows 7 with CMAP. I did not do anything special to make this happen and I´m not too savvy with electronic gadgets so I can´t offer any advise on how to make it work for others.

Don
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Old 25-03-2012, 20:44   #13
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

Trying using xport.

XPort
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Old 29-03-2012, 16:00   #14
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I have had my dongle working on con port 3. Now however opncpn keeps telling me it can't connect, try closing all other apps. I do that and it keeps giving me the same message.

I run W7..

Anyone have any ideas how to fix?
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Old 29-03-2012, 16:04   #15
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Re: GPS Receiver BU-353

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Originally Posted by Kojiro View Post
I have had my dongle working on con port 3. Now however opncpn keeps telling me it can't connect, try closing all other apps. I do that and it keeps giving me the same message.

I run W7..

Anyone have any ideas how to fix?
Check the previous message. try Xport
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