Send Routes To Garmin GPS via USB?

[jdycus]

Is it possible for OpenCPN to send routes to my Garmin GPSMAP 640 by way of a USB connection?

[rgleason]

First please read the manual.

[fgd3]

The short answer is probably. The GPSMAP 640 has a USB port for connecting to a computer. OpenCPN can upload routes to most Garmin GPS receivers via USB. The GPS has to look like it is on a serial port to OpenCPN.

If you export your routes to a GPX file you can copy that file to your GPSMAP 640 via the USB cable outside of OpenCPN. The GPSMAP 640 looks like an external drive on your computer.

Fabbian

[jdycus]

Originally Posted by fgd3

The short answer is probably. The GPSMAP 640 has a USB port for connecting to a computer. OpenCPN can upload routes to most Garmin GPS receivers via USB. The GPS has to look like it is on a serial port to OpenCPN.

If you export your routes to a GPX file you can copy that file to your GPSMAP 640 via the USB cable outside of OpenCPN. The GPSMAP 640 looks like an external drive on your computer.

Fabbian

Thank you. This I consider helpful.

[rgleason]

Thanks Fabbian, This has been asked many times I guess it should go into FAQ

I would like to send routes to my Garmin XXX via USB, via Nmea Serial connection

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...ser_manual:faq


If we can improve this FAQ it would be good.

[Rasbats]

This is going to get messy!

Suggest a first port of call should be the program "EasyGPS" - EasyGPS - FREE GPS Software for your Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance GPS

The Garmin GPSMAP 640 is on the list of GPS in that program.

Make a GPX in OpenCPN. Open it in in EasyGPS and send it to the Garmin.

This will prove the basic transfer of routes is working correctly.

Then try the suggestions from this forum and the manual.

I tried a lot of things but I could only directly transfer waypoints from O.

The program https://www.gpsbabel.org/ is OpenSource and, like EasyGPS, transfers routes and waypoints.

In the end I wrote the OpenCPN plugin oBabel. This automates the use of "gpsbabel" and means that I can directly transfer a route created with OpenCPN to my Garmin, with the plugin, without leaving O.

The connection was a Garmin NMEA 0183 cable via serial plug to a USB/Serial adapter. Not all USB/Serial adapters are created the same. I think Prolific drivers used to have problems with Windows 8.1/10. Not sure if this is still the case.

Mike

[fgd3]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Thanks Fabbian, This has been asked many times I guess it should go into FAQ

I would like to send routes to my Garmin XXX via USB, via Nmea Serial connection

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...ser_manual:faq


If we can improve this FAQ it would be good.

Rick, I rewrote the lines from my post to make them more general. See if you like that better.

Fabbian

[rgleason]

Fabbian, that's much better and more general.
Should we say anything about setting/not setting the device to Garmin proprietary Serial or not? Or is this a thing of the past now?

Sorry, I have an Old Colorado so have not kept up.

[rgleason]

We should also incorporate Mike R.'s good suggestions in the Faq too.

[fgd3]

I don't know how much we want to put in the FAQ. I think a quick explanation in the FAQ followed by pointers to the User Manual where things should be explained in more detail.

Fabbian

[fgd3]

Originally Posted by Rasbats

In the end I wrote the OpenCPN plugin oBabel. This automates the use of "gpsbabel" and means that I can directly transfer a route created with OpenCPN to my Garmin, with the plugin, without leaving O.

I wanted to add a pointer to the documentation for your oBabel plugin to the FAQ but couldn't find it. Nor did I find oBable in the downloads section. Have you released it? Can you provide some more information about it?

Fabbian

[fgd3]

I've added a bit more to the FAQ. I couldn't find any better place in the manual to put the material.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...ser_manual:faq

Fabbian

[janp391]

Originally Posted by Rasbats

In the end I wrote the OpenCPN plugin oBabel. This automates the use of "gpsbabel" and means that I can directly transfer a route created with OpenCPN to my Garmin, with the plugin, without leaving O.

Mike

Can this plugin also handel route transfer to Raymarine (a95)?

Jan

[rgleason]

This topic may eventually become larger, in fact I expect it to. Therefore we should figure out where to make a new page in the manual dedicated to "Sending Routes and Waypoints" via everything!

Links to obabel and EasyGPS and the whole nine yards. We should probably start with a broad outline first.

[Rasbats]

Had a look at the manual. You have NMEA 0183 input.

The A95 installation instructions show the connections for the power/data cable.

Suggest you connect the pc to the power/data cable (via usb/serial adapter) and try some of the standard connections.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...al:connections

You may not need the plugin.

Mike