USB-GPS Problems

[janp391]

On my boat computer I run XP SP3
The set up is like this:
Com2 NMEA in and out from Raymarine Autopilot S3G (connected via RS232)
Com4 AIS and its GPS (connected via RS232)
Com6 GPS-puck (connected via USB)

I normally use com6 with the USB-GPS. When I shut down the program and the computer and restart there is no GPS-signal to open CPN.
Well I have a signal because the NMEA window in O shows the NMEA signals but O give me a black boat and a red dot in the GPS window.
To get O running I have to change the GPS port a few times. Com 2 and 4 will start at first start.
Sometime O can start with the USB-GPS and show a red boat. If I then try to look on the chart in a place where the boat is not situated.
(Just one click somewhere on the chart,) the chart moves as it should, but then when I click on the boat icon in the toolbar I get a black screen.
This problem is only related to the USB-GPS. To cure that I have to change com-ports and restart a few times.
Is this a known problem? and is there a solution?
//Jan

[bdbcat]

Jan...

When you have bad GPS positioning, you say that O has "some" NMEA data, according to the monitor window.

Could we see a screenshot of this data?

Thanks
Dave

[janp391]

Originally Posted by bdbcat

Jan...

When you have bad GPS positioning, you say that O has "some" NMEA data, according to the monitor window.

Could we see a screenshot of this data?

Thanks
Dave

Hi Dave

I am not at the boat at the moment, but as I remember all sentences that used to be there, was there in, among other the RMC sentence. All running down the side in a speed that was difficult to read. So "some" was perhaps not the right word to use
//Jan

[yachtvalhalla]

Originally Posted by janp391

When I shut down the program and the computer and restart there is no GPS-signal to open CPN.
//Jan

Jan

My experience using XP is that it does not always automatically recognize the USB GPS on a restart. After restarting the computer I find it necessary to disconnect then reconnect the USB GPS prior to starting OpenCPN.

HTH,

Terry

[jackdale]

Two things to try

1) use Xport to verify the com port being used by the GPS
2) start GPSinfo before starting OpenCPN. Look for the data stream and get a fix. Close it as well.

Then start OpenCPN.

[janp391]

Thanks for above info.

There is no change in com-port number when starting and restarting the computer.
And the monitoring window in O say that there is a stream of GPS/NMEA information coming in to the computer and O. But no red boat

After shifting com-port and restarting O, all of a sudden it works as normal. Have used O in a couple of years in different versions but have not seen this before. It is not a big deal but a little annoying

[Jeannius]

I have similar problems... GPS dongle is runnng fine on Com3. Good data showing in Hyperterminal and also position is correct in Maxsea. Opencpn 3.0.2 just ignores it. Doesn't try to open the port at all.

Got everything working once by changing the port to something invalid and then changing back to COM3 but can't get that to work now. Help please.

P.S. AIS on COM7 works just fine. Both are using Serial- USB converters.

[bdbcat]

Mike....

Could we see your logfile please?

Thanks
Dave

[Jeannius]

Logfile? Sorry, very new to OpenCPN, didn't realise there is a logfile!

Anyway... Here it is...

13:10:43: 2012-08-04
13:10:43: -------Starting opencpn-------
13:10:43: Version 3.0.2 Build 2012-07-07
13:10:43: MemoryStatus: mem_total: 1007 mb, mem_initial: 9 mb
13:10:43: SData_Locn is C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\
13:10:43: Using existing Config_File: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\opencpn\opencpn.ini
13:10:43: Setting Viewpoint Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
13:10:43: Setting Ownship Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
13:10:43: System default Language: en_GB
1:10:43 PM: Opencpn language set to: en_US
1:10:43 PM: ChartSymbols loaded from C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\s57data\chartsymbols.xml
1:10:44 PM: Using s57data in C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\s57data
1:10:44 PM: Setting Viewpoint Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
1:10:44 PM: Setting Ownship Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
1:10:44 PM: NMEA Data Source is....Serial:COM3
1:10:44 PM: AIS Data Source is....Serial:COM7
1:10:46 PM: Using WVSChart datafile: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\wvsdata\wvs43.dat
1:10:46 PM: NMEA AutoPilot Port is....None
1:10:46 PM: PlugInManager searching for PlugIns in location C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins
1:10:46 PM: PlugInManager: Loading PlugIn: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/dashboard_pi.dll
1:10:46 PM: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/dashboard_pi.dll Version detected: 106
1:10:46 PM: PlugInManager: Loading PlugIn: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/grib_pi.dll
1:10:46 PM: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/grib_pi.dll Version detected: 107
1:10:47 PM: NMEA input device open failed: COM3...GetLastError(): 2
1:10:47 PM: ChartDB Cache policy: Application target is 503 MBytes
1:10:47 PM: Loading chart db version: V016
1:10:47 PM: Chartdb: Chart directory list follows
1:10:47 PM: Chart directory #0: C:\CM93
1:10:47 PM: GPS Watchdog Timeout is: 6 sec.
1:10:47 PM: Initializing Chart C:\CM93\00300000\A\00300000.A
1:10:47 PM: CM93Composite Chart Root is C:\CM93\
1:10:47 PM: Loaded CM93 Dictionary from C:\CM93\
1:10:47 PM: Loading CM93 cell C:\CM93\03900840/F/04010871.F
1:10:54 PM: EnumerateSerialPorts() Found Garmin USB Driver.
13:11:36: Error: Cannot set locale to language Arabic (Uae).
1:12:23 PM: NMEA Data Source is....None
1:12:24 PM: LOGBOOK: 2012-08-04 12:12:24 UTC DR Lat 43.84210 Lon -69.63970
1:12:27 PM: EnumerateSerialPorts() Found Garmin USB Driver.
1:12:37 PM: NMEA Data Source is....Serial:COM3
1:12:37 PM: NMEA input device open failed: COM3...GetLastError(): 2

immediately after getting this log and with OpenCPN still running, I used hyperterm and could see the datastream on com3:

I've no idea why this next line appears

13:11:36: Error: Cannot set locale to language Arabic (Uae).

My pc is set to en_GB with timezone gmt

[Jeannius]

Logfile? Sorry, very new to OpenCPN, didn't realise there is a logfile!

Anyway... Here it is...

13:10:43: 2012-08-04
13:10:43: -------Starting opencpn-------
13:10:43: Version 3.0.2 Build 2012-07-07
13:10:43: MemoryStatus: mem_total: 1007 mb, mem_initial: 9 mb
13:10:43: SData_Locn is C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\
13:10:43: Using existing Config_File: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\opencpn\opencpn.ini
13:10:43: Setting Viewpoint Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
13:10:43: Setting Ownship Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
13:10:43: System default Language: en_GB
1:10:43 PM: Opencpn language set to: en_US
1:10:43 PM: ChartSymbols loaded from C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\s57data\chartsymbols.xml
1:10:44 PM: Using s57data in C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\s57data
1:10:44 PM: Setting Viewpoint Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
1:10:44 PM: Setting Ownship Lat/Lon 43.8421, -69.6397
1:10:44 PM: NMEA Data Source is....Serial:COM3
1:10:44 PM: AIS Data Source is....Serial:COM7
1:10:46 PM: Using WVSChart datafile: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\wvsdata\wvs43.dat
1:10:46 PM: NMEA AutoPilot Port is....None
1:10:46 PM: PlugInManager searching for PlugIns in location C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins
1:10:46 PM: PlugInManager: Loading PlugIn: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/dashboard_pi.dll
1:10:46 PM: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/dashboard_pi.dll Version detected: 106
1:10:46 PM: PlugInManager: Loading PlugIn: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/grib_pi.dll
1:10:46 PM: C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins/grib_pi.dll Version detected: 107
1:10:47 PM: NMEA input device open failed: COM3...GetLastError(): 2
1:10:47 PM: ChartDB Cache policy: Application target is 503 MBytes
1:10:47 PM: Loading chart db version: V016
1:10:47 PM: Chartdb: Chart directory list follows
1:10:47 PM: Chart directory #0: C:\CM93
1:10:47 PM: GPS Watchdog Timeout is: 6 sec.
1:10:47 PM: Initializing Chart C:\CM93\00300000\A\00300000.A
1:10:47 PM: CM93Composite Chart Root is C:\CM93\
1:10:47 PM: Loaded CM93 Dictionary from C:\CM93\
1:10:47 PM: Loading CM93 cell C:\CM93\03900840/F/04010871.F
1:10:54 PM: EnumerateSerialPorts() Found Garmin USB Driver.
13:11:36: Error: Cannot set locale to language Arabic (Uae).
1:12:23 PM: NMEA Data Source is....None
1:12:24 PM: LOGBOOK: 2012-08-04 12:12:24 UTC DR Lat 43.84210 Lon -69.63970
1:12:27 PM: EnumerateSerialPorts() Found Garmin USB Driver.
1:12:37 PM: NMEA Data Source is....Serial:COM3
1:12:37 PM: NMEA input device open failed: COM3...GetLastError(): 2

immediately after getting this log and with OpenCPN still running, I used hyperterm and could see the datastream on com3:

I've no idea why this next line appears

13:11:36: Error: Cannot set locale to language Arabic (Uae).

My pc is set to en_GB with timezone gmt

[barnakiel]

hey,

Do you give your USB GPS time to lock?

Seeing data flow in the data monitor window does not mean the nmea sentence O uses is there (unless you are damn sure the data IS there - stop the flow and look up the sentences and their structure very carefully).

The way the USB GPS works (power from the PC) if you shut down your PC next time you start it your USB GPS will take a moment to lock on and deliver. This is not an issue with externally powered RS devices which remain powered while PC shuts down.

I have found that leaving the USB GPS plugged in (not swapping USB slots at all)
and giving it some time normally works best. Once we unplug something THEN I have to spend some time finding it and, at time, re-assigning the COMs (gods only know why).

Cheers,
b.

[janp391]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

hey,

Do you give your USB GPS time to lock?

Seeing data flow in the data monitor window does not mean the nmea sentence O uses is there (unless you are damn sure the data IS there - stop the flow and look up the sentences and their structure very carefully).

The way the USB GPS works (power from the PC) if you shut down your PC next time you start it your USB GPS will take a moment to lock on and deliver. This is not an issue with externally powered RS devices which remain powered while PC shuts down.

I have found that leaving the USB GPS plugged in (not swapping USB slots at all)
and giving it some time normally works best. Once we unplug something THEN I have to spend some time finding it and, at time, re-assigning the COMs (gods only know why).

Cheers,
b.

I started this thread and I still have this problems.
I have a computer onboard that all is connected permanatly so no change of com ports.
Also I can see the "right" NMEA sentences coming in to O but O refuse to accept the GPS and to get it working i have to do what is described previously.
Have also done a reinstall of O after have cleaned the computer of all previous O files. But still have this problem
Any other ideas?
Jan

[MAS3]

Windows (XP) will assign an unused comport whenever a device is connected to an USB port.
If you remove the device form USB and then reconnect it to another port, the comport will also be different.
This is also a driver issue.
Only FTDI devices and their drivers will assign the same port once the device is installed, as far as i have seen yet.
FTDI uses an unique code (like a serialnumber) so the device can be recognised.

It is also known to be troublesome to have more than 1 USB converters in use.
I think both janp391 and jeannius use multiple converters.

I would advice to use FTDI based double converters (they are available, but somewhat pricey).

Last remark:
Sometimes it takes some time for windows to have all drivers loaded.
This will cause similar trouble as described above when you put O in the startup folder in the start menu, because O might try to start before all drivers are loaded.

[HappySeagull]

janp391...you can try changing the port's Baud rate...I'd try 4800 in the Device Manager or wherever else you can get your fingers into it....

[janp391]

Originally Posted by HappySeagull

janp391...you can try changing the port's Baud rate...I'd try 4800 in the Device Manager or wherever else you can get your fingers into it....

Thanks.....will try next time I visit my boat