Handheld GPS connection to OpenCPN

[rgleason]

The intention of this thread is to provide some additional guidance in connecting handheld GPS to OpenCPN, in hopes that it will save some people some time getting started.

Garmin Colorado 400c
1. Under Setup / System / Interface set unit to "Garmin Spanner"
2. Make sure proper location is shown and satellites are being recieved.
3. Plug unit into mini USB and USB into computer.
4. Downloads USB Garmin driver on computer. Some searching done first.
5. Menu pops up on Garmin. USB Storage Device Yes, No. Select no.
6. There should be a Garmin USB driver under Devices now that is working properly.
7. Open up OpenCPN, and under Options / Connections Tab / Nmea Data Source select "Garmin" and under Nmea Baud "9600"
8. You should see a red ship located properly, rather than a grey one now.

[bvimatelot]

Now that's quite interesting: A couple of points about Garmin (which I use all the time).

Garmin Spanner doesn't work on Win 7 - I believe its only up to XP, but might be as far as Vista?

Baud rate: I've read before that Garmin has a 9600 baud rate but mine works with Open cpn on 4800!!

That's my garmin gps 60, by the way. This unit has 2 connection options: A direct cable with mini and standard usb, or from the main 4 pin plug, a serial to usb connection. Interestingly, it works with the serial to usb but is not found by open cpn when using the direct cable.

My other gasrmin is a hockey puck type, straight usb connection. Lord knows its baud rate but it works direct and picks up the satts much quicker.

Tony

[rgleason]

Odd about spanner, it seemed to work fine with my Win7x64 machine. Will know more later.

[sinbad7]

Have you tried using your Android smartphone with the ExtGPX app??
Works over bluetooth and passes GPS data to OpenCPN via a given COM: port.

Tore

[rgleason]

Sounds like a good backup. Will try it. Thanks.

[simonpickard]

Does anyone know if an iPhone can be made to do the same thing? I.e. provide GPS infomation?

Regards,
Simon