GPS for Use with Laptop and OpenCPN

[Simi 60]

Even though I have bought that gmouse unit I am looking at other ways as its on a slow boat from china.

I stumbled on this which got me interested as my $40 mobile phone and $50 tablet both get GLONASS and GPS sats.

Share GPS
Android app for sharing GPS data with mapping applications
* Real-time GPS location tracking over USB, Bluetooth, or TCP/IP (wifi/mobile data)
Share GPS

add: eyes glazed over reading that then found an app from same person
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...shareGPS&hl=en

[CarinaPDX]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I did not say they do not exist, I said I did not see any.

Most contemporary GPS modules can use GLONASS, they just don't default to that. As I said before, the most important thing to do is to check which module is used; with that knowledge the full specifications will be available. Also, the module manufacturer usually publishes the interface documentation which will allow you to change its behavior, such as changing the serial data speed (RS-422) or update frequency, and which system to use. I don't see any advantage to using GLONASS but it is there if you like. Due to lack of interest it is often left out of the marketing hype.

Greg

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

I don't see any advantage to using GLONASS but it is there if you like. Due to lack of interest it is often left out of the marketing hype.

Try sailing in the southern hemisphere your opinion will change.

$40 mobile phone with glonass has heaps of satellites.
Expensive plotter with waas GPS has no where near as many and sometimes not enough to get a fix.

[CarinaPDX]

Good to know.

You shouldn't have a problem finding a GPS with GLONASS - just make sure you know which module is used and enable GLONASS with the manufacturer's instructions.

Greg

[blauohnewasser]

Hi everybody!
Since i did not find any mention of it, i would like to highly recommend the SEAANGEL (produced in Austria) dongles. They include AIS and GPS and are simply awesome with a laptop. You can find info here:
SEANEXX AIS USB STICK

I started my single-handed sailing without much experience. This little helper has helped me enourmously and made my voayage (North Sea, Channel, Biscay, Atlantic Coast of Spain & Portugal, Gibraltar Strait, intra-Med) much safer. I would not want to miss it on my boat.

I had it running OpenCPN on Mac and Win. And it costs only 140€ !!
Just take an old (or new VHF-antenna, place it somewhere in the cockpict and connect it to the stick and you have AIS on your laptop!

[rgleason]

This list of Gps could probably be expanded.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...re:gps_devices

Here are BT and Wifi techniques for phones. Good for emergencies but battery runs down fast.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...droid_gps_apps

[nzldude]

G'day fellow cruisers



Quick question:

I have a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 which only has the 1 USB port.



My G-Star IV GPS (BU-353S4) works fine when i plug it into the single USB port, however if i try and use USB hub (usb 3.0 card reader) with nothing else plugged in it doesnt work.



I would like to have my AIS data coming into OpenCPN simultaneously with the GPS data. Is there an easy solution to this?


Cheers

Gareth

[blauohnewasser]

Hi Gareth,
i'm not 100% sure, but i would blame this on the USB hub. If you happen to have anotherone lying around (or a friend who has one) try it with that one.
My second guess would be that OpenCPN is having issues with getting two (different) signals. But that one seems much less likely to me.


Of course the reason could also lie with the Surface. I do not know how much power your USB port can supply - and if it is enough to power all conntected devices. But in that case there is no alternative than to make hardware changes (Surface or USB-devices). If you really have to go there, i can highly recommend the Seanexx AIS+GPS stick (see my comment above). But i hope that you can resolve the issues with a different USB hub.


Fingers crossed!

[transmitterdan]

Gareth,

Maybe the com port number has changed when you use the USB hub. Look in Device Manager to see what COM ports are available when the USB hub is connected and try all of them in OpenCPN to see which one is the GPS. If you don't see any com ports in device manager then you have to try a different hub I guess. But most likely you will just have to change the COM port number setting in OpenCPN.

[CarinaPDX]

The changed COM port is a good suggestion. It is also possible that there is not enough power with the hub (it needs power itself), easily solved with a powered hub (many hubs have an inlet for a 5V power supply). My guess would be a problem with USB 3 - try using a USB 2 hub instead. Whatever the problem, it should be fixable.


Greg

[RaymondR]

I have 2 BU353s and when I bought the second found that it would not work. On researching the problem I discovered that they used different drivers because the manufacturer had changed the serial comms chip to another type. Downloaded a new driver and both units then worked.

[jamhass]

I have a surface. It's usb port is power limited. Might try a powered USB hub. Works for me.

Another approach is to send your GPS, etc data via wifi. RS232, 442 etc hubs are readily available on Amazon and EBay, and work very well. One on my boat was less than 30$.

[nzldude]

Thanks for the response.

Didn't have any luck with changing port number...

I will try a powered usb hub next.

What are you guys running with send data via Wi-Fi. I would love to know what the best option is.

Fully integrated wireless system.

[nzldude]

Powered usb hub did the trick. 5v/3a hub will need to hardware it into the 12v system when I get on board but does the job.

Interested in wireless system also

[sailscubasurf]

Originally Posted by subie

I have been using Open cpn on my laptop connected to my Garmin 72 gps for about 6 years on the west coast of south africa. This has been super reliable and very accurate for me. Course and speed always on display on the gps.
Garmin Marine Products: GPS 72H™ Marine Bundle

I see this is an old post, but what you have Laptop / Garmin GPS is what I'd like to set up.

How did you accomplish this? (I'm not technical).

Gary