Windows 7 (64bit) and BU 353 GPS

[captmikecoin]

I understand there is a problem with compatibility between OpenCPN on Windows 7 and the well known BU 353. I've done some searches of the forum but been unable to find any definite answers. Has anyone come up with a solution for the 64 bit version of Windows 7?

If not can anyone recommend an alternative puck type GPS with USB connection which doesn't suffer from the "drop out"?

As a second alternative is it possible to re-load Win 7 in 32 bit form? I only have the product recovery disc not a full version.

Mike

[djmarchand]

Xport solves the problem nicely.

David

[captmikecoin]

I was under the impression that Xport only worked on 32bit versions of win7. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Cheers,

Mike

[bvimatelot]

I use a garmin 18 hockey puck type. Had the devil of a job getting it sorted but now all is fine ands it acquires very quickly. tony

[bdbcat]

Folks...

We have just acquired (by very generous donation) a Win7/64 system, and a Bu353 puck.

Testing has just commenced, but already have experienced a dropout of GPS in OpenCPN Version 3.0.2. Once only, so far, and I cannot reliably reproduce the problem.

But we are on the trail of this one, and I have confidence that we will sort this out once and for all with OCPN Version 3.2 due for release in a month or so.

If anyone has any ideas on how to quickly induce the problem ( charts? multitasked background applications?, etc), then this would greatly speed up the problem resolution. Meanwhile, testing continues...

Thanks
Dave

[djmarchand]

Dave:

I struggled with this problem a few years ago and was the OP of a long thread on this topic. I now use Xport to solve the problem but I acknowledge that it may not work with the 64 bit version of Win 7.

I could never predict when it would drop out. But it did. Maybe in ten minutes, maybe in several hours. It was totally unpredictable.

Good luck. I hope you solve it once and for all.

David

[stscgaca]

I'm having problems getting a BU-353 to work at all in WIN 7/64. Have a BU-355 serial version coming. I received a Windows warning that the driver for the Prolific serial to USB chip (used in the BU-353) is known to have incompatibilities. Only saw it once and went ahead anyway. My usually super stable WIN 7/64 system crashed multiple times. Many developers of Amateur radio software deplore the Prolific serial to USB chip and prefer the FTDI serial to USB converters. I have an FTDI 4 serial port to USB converter and will run the BU-355 SERIAL GPS through that.
While looking for a better driver for the Prolific, discovered that the BU-353 Prolific chip is being phased out and is not supported in WIN 8. Time to replace the economical Bu-353 as the GPS of choice, I guess.
Bu-355 Serial Gps and the required adapter cable is about $52 online. If you don't have a serial port, be sure the USB to serial converter you'll need uses the FTDI chip. I'll post results here for those ready to just change GPSs. Besides the serial cable, I'm also getting their USB adapter cable for this unit. Probably the same Prolific chip, so probably the same problem. Going to be working for the nest six days, so give me about 10 days to post results.

[beaware]

Heyho,

i am not aware, that there are any general problems with BU353 chips. Maybe the driver notes gives you some hints:

==================================================
PL-2303 Driver Setup Installer, Prolific Edition
Setup Installer Revision Note History
==================================================

System Requirement:
. USB 1.1/2.0/3.0 Host Controller
. Device using PL2303HX/X/EA/RA/SA/TA/TB version chips
. Supports the following Windows OS Family:
- Windows 2000 SP4
- Windows XP SP2 and above (32 & 64 bit)
- Windows Server 2003 (32 & 64 bit)
- Windows Vista (32 & 64 bit)
- Windows 7 (32 & 64 bit)
- Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2 (32 & 64 bit)
- Windows 8 (32 & 64 bit)
NOTE:
- Windows 8 is NOT supported in HXA/XA chip versions (will show yellow mark Error Code 10).
- Windows 8 is supported only in following chip versions:
- PL2303HXD (HX Rev D)
- PL2303EA (ESD protection)
- PL2303RA (Built-in transceiver)
- PL2303SA (SOP8 package)
- PL2303TA (PL2303HXA/XA replacement)
- PL2303TB (12 GPIO)
- Download PL2303 CheckChipVersion tool program to check chip version.

Supported device ID and product strings:
. VID_067B&PID_2303 for "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port"
. VID_067B&PID_2304 for "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port" (PL2303TB chip)


Driver Versions:
-------------------
- Windows 2000/XP/Server2003 (32 & 64-bit) WDM WHQL Driver: v2.1.30.193
- Windows Vista/7/Server2008 (32 & 64-bit) WDF WHQL Driver: v3.4.31.231


Release Notes:
---------------
PL2303 Driver Installer v1.6.0

Changes from Installer v1.5.0:

Installer & Build date: 1.6.0 (2012-4-26)
GUID:ECC3713C-08A4-40E3-95F1-7D0704F1CE5E

Windows 2000/XP/Server2003 Driver v2.1.30.193
==============================================
Driver Change from v2.1.27.185:
------------------------------
. Added driver support for new chip versions (PL2303EA, RA, SA).
. Supports new CheckChipVersion v1.0.0.2 and above program for checking all Prolific chip version.
. Fixed COM Port won't disappear when unplug PL2303 during data transfer (Write Timeout issue).
. Fixed 12Mbps baudrate support for PL2303TB chip version.

Driver Change from v2.0.16.166:
------------------------------
. Added driver support for Prolific next-gen USB-to-Serial chips (Codename TA/TB).
- old driver will not work on baudrates higher than 115200bps.
. No driver functional difference for current H/HX/X chip versions.

Driver Change from v2.0.13.130:
------------------------------
. Use different service name in INF file to avoid driver conflict with Vista/7 INF driver.
- change line in INF file to {Serial.SVCDESC = "Prolific Serial port WDMdriver"}
. Added 10ms delay (downstream buffer) on close COM port to fix customer MCU application.


Windows Vista/7/Server2008/Server2008R2/8 Driver Changes v3.4.31.231
================================================== ==================
Driver Change from v3.4.25.218:
------------------------------
. Added driver support for new chip versions (PL2303EA, RA, SA).
. Supports new CheckChipVersion v1.0.0.2 and above program for checking all Prolific chip version.
. Fixed COM Port won't disappear when unplug PL2303 during data transfer (Write Timeout issue).
. Fixed Putty program BSOD issue on continuous transfer at 115200bps.
. Fixed 12Mbps baudrate support for PL2303TB chip version.
. Does NOT support Windows 8 for EOL chip versions (PL2303H, PL2303HXA, PL2303XA).
. For Windows 8, need to use PL2303HXD, PL2303TA, PL2303EA, PL2303SA, PL2303RA, PL2303TB.

Driver Change from v3.3.17.203:
------------------------------
. Added driver support for Prolific next-gen USB-to-Serial chips (Codename TA/TB).
- old driver will not work on baudrates higher than 115200bps.
. No driver functional difference for current H/HX/X chip versions.

Driver Change from v3.3.11.152:
------------------------------
. Use different service name in INF file to avoid driver conflict with XP INF driver.
- change line in INF file to {Serial.SVCDESC = "Prolific Serial port WDFdriver"}
. Added USB Selective Suspend power saving feature requested by Notebook PC vendors.
- Chip will go to sleep mode when idle for 10 seconds and COM port not open.
- Chip will NOT go to sleep mode when COM port is OPEN.
- requires to write Remote Wakeup in external EEPROM.
. Modify "SerialUndoExternalNaming" routine.
- Fix COM port is not removed in registry when device is unplug and program still open.
- update registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DEVICEMAP\SERIAL COMM when unplug and replug.
. Added support for TransmitCommChar() function.
. Added SpinLock function to fix customer GPS application.


Language Support:
- English (default)
- Chinese (Traditional)
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Japanese

Download Latest Driver here:
?????? 2012/06/01 ????

=======================
Counterfeit Warning!!!
=======================
Please be warned that counterfeit/fake PL-2303HX Chip Rev A (or PL-2303HXA) USB to Serial Controller ICs using Prolific's trademark logo, brandname, and device drivers, were being sold in the China market. Counterfeit IC products show exactly the same outside chip markings but generally are of poor quality and causes Windows driver compatibility issues (Yellow Mark Error Code 10 in Device Manager). We issue this warning to all our customers and consumers to avoid confusion and false purchase.

===========================
Windows 8 Driver Support!!!
===========================
Please note the following for Windows 8 Driver Support:
- PL2303H (Not Supported) - will show yellow mark Error Code 10 in Device Manager.
- PL2303HX Rev A (Not Supported) - will show yellow mark Error Code 10 in Device Manager.
- PL2303X (Not Supported) - will show yellow mark Error Code 10 in Device Manager.
- PL2303HX Rev D (Supported)
- PL2303EA (Supported)
- PL2303RA (Supported)
- PL2303SA (Supported)
- PL2303TA (Supported)
- PL2303TB (Supported)

[captmikecoin]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Either way, I'll wait a while and hope Dave can get the bug fixed before the season starts in the Med. If not then I suspect I'll have to buy a BR-355 serial GPS with adaptor and FDTI serial converter.

Cheers

Mike

[stscgaca]

Perhaps I received one of the fake Prolific converter chips... Anyway, the BU-355 serial GPS through an FTDI serial to USB converter works great, as does direct serial. The serial puck needs a 5 volt power supply though and the adapter cable comes with a PS2 connector you plug into a PS2 mouse or keyboard socket for that (The BU-353 gets it from the USB). The micro-ATX motherboard I'm using has USB, serial and PS2 ports so this works great for me.

BTW, the guys at Rose Point Nav/Coastal Explorer don't like the Prolific based USB GPSs either.

Steve

[rgleason]

I have a BU 353 which uses a PS2 plug. To connect it to Win7 64bit there is a specific PS2 to USB cable made by Globalstar whiich seems to work fine on the laptop. Uses Prolific driver I believe.

To provide DSC locaton on VHF connecting the BU-353 puck to the Standard Horizon VHF, another Globalstar Data-Power cable with PS2 connector was modified, using a 12vdc to 5vdc converter on the power leads, with Nmea connection of the signal wires. This puck works even when placed just under the cabin headliner, as a dedicated GPS signal for DSC emergency.