Maxsea 10

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by G4MJW

For a Laptop or PC that has no serial port . . . no need to purchase a hardware USB to serial adapter. I can confirm that a virtual serial port created using either Franson GPSGate or USBvCOM-109 both work fine. The later prog is only 750kB and is FREE!

Curious how you get a serial connector into a USB only computer without a hardware adapter. I tried all night and couldnt force mine in.

[G4MJW]

Curious how you get a serial connector into a USB only computer without a hardware adapter. I tried all night and couldnt force mine in

Installing USBvCOM sets up a virtual com port (a software port). Select say: COM1. It allows it to talk to a GPS connected to a USB port. Maxsea 10 thinks it's talking to a serial GPS connected to a COM port (RS232).

[Talbot]

Very happy with the electronics part of it (after all I am the one who recommended Franson in the first place.

But your post stated that no need for a hardware adapter.

Yes I know that usb carries serial data, but it is not a serial plug.

You need some version of

to go from serial to usb and that is a hardware adapter.

BTW, the main reason I use Franson, is not to create a comm port, because there are other ways to do that. I use Franson specifically so that I can share the gps signal with more than one piece of software simultaneously.

[dacust]

Originally Posted by G4MJW

Installing USBvCOM sets up a virtual com port (a software port). Select say: COM1. It allows it to talk to a GPS connected to a USB port. Maxsea 10 thinks it's talking to a serial GPS connected to a COM port (RS232).

Talbot posted while I was writing this, but I'm going to post mine anyway just because it states it a little different, and because I already spent a coupla minutes typing this and don't want to waste the pixels.

There are two separate issues here.

• If you have a GPS that has a 9 pin serial connection, but your PC only has USB, you have to have a physical hardware adapter.
• If you have a USB GPS, but your software only recognizes a COM port connection, you need the free software you are talking about.

Note: Actually, the hardware adapter does both. It physically allows the 9 pin connector to hook up to USB, then under the covers, it emulates a COM port (either through generic drivers or ones you load from the CD that came with the adapter). I don't know of any adapter that makes the 9 pin serial GPS to actually appear to the computer as a USB device. They all emulate a COM port. Someone may prove me wrong, but I've never seen one.

-dan

[G4MJW]

. . . . . Well, I sold my serial output GPS (Garmin 12) together with the D9 Comm port lead.

I now have an EverMore SA-320usb Marine GPS with a 20ft cable and a USB plug on the end. I use no other adapters at all. It works great.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by G4MJW

. . . . . Well, I sold my serial output GPS (Garmin 12) together with the D9 Comm port lead. I now have an EverMore SA-320usb Marine GPS with a 20ft cable and a USB plug on the end. I use no other adapters at all. It works great.

Any GPS with a USB interface cable (for example the Garmin 76) will interface directly through the usb socket to a serial port, that is what it is designed to do. You should not need any other software of any type to then connect it to Maxsea, other than to discover exactly what comm port the computer has assigned it.

However, you were initially talking about a serial conector (and the Garmin 76 has either), and for that you need a hardware adapter. There are still good reasons for using the serial port system, for example, it makes it a lot easier to tap into the output and feed the DSC VHF.

[G4MJW]

There are still good reasons for using the serial port system, for example, it makes it a lot easier to tap into the output and feed the DSC VHF

. . . . YES, that is a very good reason for using a serial O/P GPS with a USB to Serial Adapter. This is my system drawback. I am going to use my "Back up" GPS (when I get it!) for the DSC radio. However, it's all coming together.

[brig]

searching on google for USBvCOM-109 I can't find other result than your message. Do you have a link?

[G4MJW]

Strange . . . came up first search for me. Just as well, because I'd not recorded the site it came from. Have now!

Downloads

Steve

[ASkok]

Were can you get USBvCOM-109? When I google I end up back at this page.

[G4MJW]

Click on "Downloads" in # 24

or enter the following URL manually:

(http://www.idinnovations.com/downloads.html)

(Just remove the brackets at each end!)

Steve

[brig]

thanks a lot for the adress.
I find it but after installing I can't see any USB device to choose.....
I have Magellan Triton. It runs fine with GPSgate but it seems not to be recorgnized in USBvCOM

[G4MJW]

That is strange. I guess you've tried re-booting the computer? I've tried it with two GPS's and they pop up in the window OK. Don't know what else to suggest. At least GPSgate works for you, just have to shell out a few $ for it!

Steve

[Rossmonty01]

HI I have Maxsea10 and I am can get my GPS Data ok but my AIS Transpoinder data for does not come up any body got any clues. The Transponder comes in in a USb to RR323 converter, I am sure its just an address lie but cant find it
also anybody know where the free versions of Maxsea V 12 can be downloaded

[jantje]

Anybody now,s how to get a compass on my maxsea?i linked on groundspeed,groundcourse,but everything works,exept sog/cog,i stay,s on zero.