No GPS data even though data stream window ...

[Netsurfer]

... shows the NMEA data!

In the German forum there is a user who has quite a strange problem which I am not able to solve or even can not explain it. Therefor I ask you guys ...

As you can see on the screenshot the GPS NMEA sentences from the GPS are shown in the data stream window and also on the statusbar there is a position given. But have a look at the GPS status icon.

He also wrote that he is running OCPN (and the chart dirs) directly from an USB stick. May this cause any trouble? I have never tried to do so ...

He is using an ASUS Netbook with Win 7.
Any tips or hints what may be the problem?

Thanks

Gunther

[sailorF54]

Gunther

You may have a data stream and still the red GPS icon if the GPS has not locked on satellites.
Your pic does not show the GPGGA sentence that carries Lat/Long data.
GPGSA is GPS DOP and active satellites
GPGSV is GPS Satellites in view (possibly only 2, I am not sure)

[Netsurfer]

Originally Posted by sailorF54

Your pic does not show the GPGGA sentence that carries Lat/Long data.

Yes, unfortunately he made the window very small - requested another screenshot with larger NMEA window.

GPGSA is GPS DOP and active satellites
GPGSV is GPS Satellites in view (possibly only 2, I am not sure)

I am also not sure at the moment but according to GPS Status | Official OpenCPN Homepage shouldn't the circle be green at least anyway?

Gunther

[sailorF54]

I have helped some French guy with the same problem. The icon stays red when the GPS is not locked on satellites (invalid data)
I've just cheked with mine before sending my message (hiding my puck under the table...)

[Netsurfer]

Originally Posted by sailorF54

The icon stays red when the GPS is not locked on satellites (invalid data)

Ah OK - I see (cannot test it myself because no GPS here at home).
Although the GPS sends data it's purely coincidental.

I will forward this information - let's see if it is the reason for his problem.

Anything about "running OCPN from a USB stick"?

Thanks

Gunther

[fgd3]

When I have my GPS connected indoors it sends a ton of data but no position information and the GPS status indicator stays red. That string of commas you see in the first line in your screen shot is a sentence with a lot of empty fields that should be filled with position data.

Fabbian

[Netsurfer]

Fabbian ...

Yes, thanks for the info and confirmation.
What I find irritating in this case is that the (last) position remain in the statusbar (instead of being cleared).

As you see I never had such a problem in real, yet.

Thanks

Gunther

[fgd3]

There are two positions always in the status bar, the cursor position and ownship's position. Ownship's position is always the last fix unless you change it with "Move Boat Here" from the popup menu. That's why it doesn't get cleared when there's no GPS position data available. If we don't know where we are we at least like to know where we were.

Fabbian

[Netsurfer]

Fabbian ...

I was talking about the own ship position indeed.

Originally Posted by fgd3

There are two positions always in the status bar, the cursor position and ownship's position. Ownship's position is always the last fix unless you change it with "Move Boat Here" from the popup menu.

Sure? On a quick test (with simulated GPS data and then stopped) the last fix remains no matter where you put the boat(s position) to.

That's why it doesn't get cleared when there's no GPS position data available. If we don't know where we are we at least like to know where we were.

I agree and that's reasonable. But it should be displayed in an optically different way (e.g. red, blinking).

BTW: It was a feature request on the German forum to have also an (acoustic) alarm when GPS connection got lost.

Gunther

[SethDart]

You can use the dashboard with "GPS Status" display to check how many sats are seen and used ;-)

[sailorF54]

Originally Posted by SethDart

You can use the dashboard with "GPS Status" display to check how many sats are seen and used ;-)

Quite true...

I've often suggested Xport to newbies for debugging, as it auto-detects the COM port spitting out NMEA data, baud rate, invalid/low level data, 2D ou 3D lock and number of visible sats... (plus virtual ports)
XPort