Visit our Popular Forums

solosail · 12-01-2017, 09:07

Can someone recommend a GPS that works right out of the box. I bought a BU-353S4 because the reviews said it works with OpenCPN or (Openplotter) however I have spent HOURS trying to get it to work to NO eveail!

So... Is there a GPS that works?

I'm using a Rpi3b with the current (most stable) OS.

Thanks.

denverd0n · 12-01-2017, 09:33

Got myself a BU-353S4 for Christmas. Plugged it in and... nothing. The problem was that the COM port was set for 9600 baud (or maybe even more than that, I don't remember). The BU-353S4 transmits its serial data at a 4800 baud rate. Adjust the rate and voila! Everything works just fine.

rwidman · 12-01-2017, 10:13

I installed two Garmin 5208s years ago and they worked (and still work).

petter5 · 12-01-2017, 10:31

Tested, works out of the box with openplotter and very cheap:VK172 G-MOUSE USB GPS/GLONASS USB GPS Receiver for Windows 10/8/7/VISTA/XP | eBay

Tested: BU-353S4 (yours) works out of the box with openplotter.

Tested: High end: Dual-nav from Digital Yatch:Digital Yacht - GPS150 DUALNAVâ„¢ GPS/GLONASS SENSOR

. really, I must admit that I have tested many GPS versions, and most works out of the box when run under Linux (openplotter for example) either in GPSD mode or as serial device. For example the VK172 G-MOUSE in the ebay link above was not immediately recognized when using GPSD but worked perfect as a serial device.

Some Garmin USB GPS versions need a little bit more fiddling so they might not be the best option if you are not experienced with linux.

I suggest that you try your VK172 G-MOUSE (Ublox 7020 chip) ( with /dev/ttyACM0 and 4800 baud - just confirmed the setting from a running openplotter 0.8 installation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solosail

Can someone recommend a GPS that works right out of the box. I bought a BU-353S4 because the reviews said it works with OpenCPN or (Openplotter) however I have spent HOURS trying to get it to work to NO eveail!

So... Is there a GPS that works?

I'm using a Rpi3b with the current (most stable) OS.

Thanks.

solosail · 13-01-2017, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by petter5

Tested, works out of the box with openplotter and very cheap:VK172 G-MOUSE USB GPS/GLONASS USB GPS Receiver for Windows 10/8/7/VISTA/XP | eBay

Tested: BU-353S4 (yours) works out of the box with openplotter.

Tested: High end: Dual-nav from Digital Yatch:Digital Yacht - GPS150 DUALNAVâ„¢ GPS/GLONASS SENSOR

. really, I must admit that I have tested many GPS versions, and most works out of the box when run under Linux (openplotter for example) either in GPSD mode or as serial device. For example the VK172 G-MOUSE in the ebay link above was not immediately recognized when using GPSD but worked perfect as a serial device.

Some Garmin USB GPS versions need a little bit more fiddling so they might not be the best option if you are not experienced with linux.

I suggest that you try your VK172 G-MOUSE (Ublox 7020 chip) ( with /dev/ttyACM0 and 4800 baud - just confirmed the setting from a running openplotter 0.8 installation.

My BU-353S4 dosen't work? I can see the data using gpsd but somehow OpenCPN and OpenPlotter can't see it?

petter5 · 13-01-2017, 13:43

Try serial conection and /dev/ttyACM0 at 4800 baud.

Disable GPSD ( be sure it is not checked on any connection.

Are you using openplotter 0.8 ? - 0.9 is in early beta and only for excremental use still.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solosail

My BU-353S4 dosen't work? I can see the data using gpsd but somehow OpenCPN and OpenPlotter can't see it?

barnakiel · 13-01-2017, 14:31

Think if using an IP based gps signal solves your challenges.

There is no hardware issues nor driver required when the gps signal comes via an IP.

b.

solosail · 13-01-2017, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by petter5

Try serial conection and /dev/ttyACM0 at 4800 baud.

Disable GPSD ( be sure it is not checked on any connection.

Are you using openplotter 0.8 ? - 0.9 is in early beta and only for excremental use still.

I'm using v.8... Yes... tried serial conection and /dev/ttyACM0 at 4800 ... still nothing?

solosail · 13-01-2017, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Think if using an IP based gps signal solves your challenges.

There is no hardware issues nor driver required when the gps signal comes via an IP.

b.

Humm... well presumably this thing works "out of the box" for some folks?

SecondBase · 13-01-2017, 16:02

I run one iOS and one Garmin -- critical detail be absolutely sure they each have different chart datum !!

iOS navionics is the day and hourly planning / operating view.

Garmin is for "short game" 100 meter view and often particularly dialed in on ICW width.

Zero issues.

barnakiel · 14-01-2017, 05:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by solosail

Humm... well presumably this thing works "out of the box" for some folks?

It very well should.

Joint the nmea AP with your plotter machine.
Look up your IP.
Indicate this IP in OpenCPN connections window.

No toying with COM or tty issues. No baud speed settings. Etc. Simple and elegant.

Things are simple unless we make them not so.

b.

petter5 · 14-01-2017, 05:28

Are you using openplotter 0.8 ?
What about your RPI powe supply, is it capable of delivery 2 A and are you using a proper cable for the power supply ? The RPI needs a
good quality power supply, if not you will have all kinds of problems when starting to connect USB devices. The original RPI power supply is of outstanding quality and is very cheap: T5875DV | 5.1V, 1 Output, Micro USB Level VI Plug In Power Supply, 2.5A, 13W Official Raspberry Pi Power Supply | Raspberry Pi

Does the inspector in openplotter show any NMEA traffic at all ??

Quote:

Originally Posted by solosail

Humm... well presumably this thing works "out of the box" for some folks?

barnakiel · 14-01-2017, 05:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by solosail

I'm using v.8... Yes... tried serial conection and /dev/ttyACM0 at 4800 ... still nothing?

Solo:

Is ACM something Pi specific?

Devices pop up at ttyUSB on my Linux machines.

I have noticed that a USB puck does take a moment to kick in and while it is doing so, it is not sending any data to the terminal.

How I do it when I get lost I look up the startup log to see on which dev tty the puck attaches. Then I use this dev tty with cat to see what is flowing in.

THX.
b.

barnakiel · 14-01-2017, 05:57

You know if power is up by looking up the diode on the puck. (it has two modes - one for power up, another for data flow).

But I would not use OpenCN nmea inspector to find the signal. I would look up the startup log files on your Linux/Pi and make sure where the puck attaches. Then I would cat this one tty. I say this because OpenCPN can only use or show what is available on the machine, so you first want to know if the machine gets what OpenCPN is looking for. I mean, track this challenge from the source outwards and only one step at a time.

Cheers,
b.