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Old 17-01-2017, 14:10   #1
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BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

I have installed a BU-353S4 GPS per OpenCPN instructions on my Macbook Air and verified it is working. I can not get OpenCPN to recognize the GPS. I installed the same gps on my windows 10 laptop and OpenCPN recognized it immediately.

Any advice out there? Thanks in advance.
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Old 18-01-2017, 00:13   #2
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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Originally Posted by fjohnston View Post
I have installed a BU-353S4 GPS per OpenCPN instructions on my Macbook Air and verified it is working. I can not get OpenCPN to recognize the GPS. I installed the same gps on my windows 10 laptop and OpenCPN recognized it immediately.

Any advice out there? Thanks in advance.
You have installed the driver for Mac OS X 10.6 and above as seen here:
USGlobalsat Corporate
???
You have tested also the "Mac OS X GPS Utility" from the page above?

Gerhard
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Old 18-01-2017, 05:19   #3
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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Originally Posted by CarCode View Post
You have installed the driver for Mac OS X 10.6 and above as seen here:
USGlobalsat Corporate
???
You have tested also the "Mac OS X GPS Utility" from the page above?

Gerhard
Yes I have Gerhard. GPS seems to be working fine. thanks
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Old 18-01-2017, 06:38   #4
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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Originally Posted by fjohnston View Post
Yes I have Gerhard. GPS seems to be working fine. thanks
So you should be able to connect the device to OpenCPN also.
Go to Options/Connections and make a new serial connection as seen in
Connections | Official OpenCPN Homepage

If you don't get the correct device name in the drop down menue of "DataPort" you will have to look for the name with help of the Terminal program to be find in the Utilities folder of Mac OS X. Issue the command:
LS /DEV/*.*
I wrote here for clarity only in uppercase but should be written in lowercase. The answer of the command shows the names of attached serial devices.

Gerhard
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Old 18-01-2017, 16:11   #5
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

Thanks for response Gerhard, not sure what happened but when I opened OpenCPN a few minutes ago it locked up the computer. I forced a powerdown reboot and now everything is working including OpenCPN and the gps!

I appreciate your time and responses.

Fletcher
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Old 08-03-2017, 07:00   #6
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

There was an answer that may help you in a different thread. It said that you cannot use the virtual COM port for two different programs at the same time. My US GlobalSat BU-353-S4 comes with a utility program. I launch this to check to see if the receiver is functioning.

You cannot run this program and also use OpenCPN. The user reported that if he launched the Utility app first, OpenCPN cannot access the COM port. So, he rebooted and launched OpenCPN first and then it was able to access the receiver.

I have the same device and the same problem. I have not tried this solution yet, but it worked for him. Hope that helps
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Old 08-03-2017, 07:04   #7
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

I have a different problem. I also bought US GlobalSat BU-353-S4 and tried using it with OpenCPN. My main computer is an older 17-inch MacBook Pro. It did not work.

I launched the utility app and got no signal, no satellites and no fix. I was worried that I had bought a lemon.

I also have a newer MBP 15-inch. I downloaded the software and installed it. This time the receiver worked like a champ. It got signal, satellites and a fix.

The issue is that it did NOT work on my 17-inch MBP. Does anyone know how I can get it to work on this laptop? I'd really like to use the larger screen, if possible.
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Old 08-03-2017, 07:49   #8
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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Originally Posted by Bigjim View Post
I have a different problem. I also bought US GlobalSat BU-353-S4 and tried using it with OpenCPN. My main computer is an older 17-inch MacBook Pro. It did not work.

I launched the utility app and got no signal, no satellites and no fix. I was worried that I had bought a lemon.

I also have a newer MBP 15-inch. I downloaded the software and installed it. This time the receiver worked like a champ. It got signal, satellites and a fix.

The issue is that it did NOT work on my 17-inch MBP. Does anyone know how I can get it to work on this laptop? I'd really like to use the larger screen, if possible.
You should check which macOS you have.
Click onto the Apple logo at the left of the upper bar and open the menu item "About this Mac".
The needed driver for external devices depends of the OS version.

Gerhard
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Old 08-03-2017, 08:09   #9
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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Originally Posted by CarCode View Post
You should check which macOS you have.
Click onto the Apple logo at the left of the upper bar and open the menu item "About this Mac".
The needed driver for external devices depends of the OS version.

Gerhard
I know what OS I use and downloaded the appropriate driver. I was thinking it might be an older hardware issue, since my laptop is over 4 years old. The receiver works fine on my newer computer. Both have the same OS at the moment. I have updated both to the same one.
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Old 08-03-2017, 08:17   #10
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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Originally Posted by Bigjim View Post
I know what OS I use and downloaded the appropriate driver. I was thinking it might be an older hardware issue, since my laptop is over 4 years old. The receiver works fine on my newer computer. Both have the same OS at the moment. I have updated both to the same one.
So it is your secret which macOS you have?

Gerhard
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Old 08-03-2017, 08:25   #11
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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So it is your secret which macOS you have?

Gerhard
It is OS 10.11
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Old 08-03-2017, 08:27   #12
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

FYI, both laptops are using the same OS. The receiver works on one (newer) and not on the other (older).
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Old 08-03-2017, 08:27   #13
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Re: BU-353S4 GPS set up problem on Mac

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It is OS 10.11
You should upgrade both your Macs to 10.12.3.
Goto the App Store, it is for free.

Gerhard
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