Loss of GPS signal/ COM port on Windows (7)

[Netsurfer]

Hi ...

on the German OCPN website reports of loss of GPS signal are piling up.
Most often the users are on Windows 7 (different versions, but all 32Bit).

The most often described behaviour in common is:

• GPS works fine for an indefinite period
• Suddenly (for no apparent reason) the signal is lost

Some users even cannot end OpenCPN as the process hangs (and cna't be killed). Others get the message on restart that the selected COM port is occupied by another program.

The appropriate USB settings are done so it isn't a matter of the suspend/ standby mode.

And as this behaviour also occurs with other chart navigator programs I am very sure that it is rather a Windows problem than a OCPN problem.

Has anyone heard about problems of the same kind?
Any advice for the users what they could try?

Thanks
Gunther

[djmarchand]

I started a thread about this exact topic about a year ago. I think it was titled GPS Dropping Out. It was Windows 7 related. Several solutions were posed. One was a third party utility (can't remember its name). My solution was to drop the BU 353 GPS and buy another. Can't remember the name but it is in the thread and it solved all of my problems.

I believe the fundamental problem was a conflict between the BU353 driver and Win 7. My new GPS has a different chipset and driver. A year later they may have fixed the driver by now. So my first advice would be to download the current driver and try it.

David

[Netsurfer]

David ...

thanks for your reply.

Originally Posted by djmarchand

I started a thread about this exact topic about a year ago. I think it was titled GPS Dropping Out.

You are totally right - http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...out-49391.html
I should use the search function more often ...

Thanks
Gunther