XGPS160 won't connect with OpenCPN on Macbook

[Sealawyr]

I am unable to connect the bluetooth GPS XGPS160 with OpenCPN on a Macbook. The Macbook says it is not connected, but Dual Electronics says that is normal until the app requests GPS data. The XGPS shows up as a serial connection in OpenCPN & is enabled. But OpenCPN is not getting the data. My actual position is at the active waypoint. Attached is a screenshot of the connection dialog. The XGPS160 connects fine to an IPAD, Iphone, & Android. Any suggestions?

[nohal]

Nothing like "asking for data" exists in NMEA0183, the talker has no notion of listeners and simply outputs the data even if nobody is actually listening.
The description of the XGPS160 says "Supports both NMEA and Apple protocols", so what they say may apply to the "Apple protocol", which is not supported by OpenCPN and I honestly have never heard about it until reading through https://www.dualav.com/product/gps-s...-gps-receiver/
The manual for the device does not talk about it at all, and also does not mention the speed the device uses (But being a 10Hz multi constellation unit it likely might be higher than 4800 baud you configured), so I would probably try some higher speeds and see if anything appears in the NMEA debug window.

[bcn]

Originally Posted by Sealawyr

I am unable to connect the bluetooth GPS XGPS160 with OpenCPN on a Macbook. The Macbook says it is not connected, but Dual Electronics says that is normal until the app requests GPS data. The XGPS shows up as a serial connection in OpenCPN & is enabled. But OpenCPN is not getting the data. My actual position is at the active waypoint. Attached is a screenshot of the connection dialog. The XGPS160 connects fine to an IPAD, Iphone, & Android. Any suggestions?

Just another observation: only one application at a time can connect to a serial port. So make sure that only OpenCPN is running and connected to that port if you want to see data.

[CarCode]

Better listen to people which uses the same device so you are getting the correct answer.
The XPS160 is able to feed 5 different devices at the same time with GPS data. The correct baud size is 38.400.

[bcn]

Two applications on the same device in parallel?

[quinsky]

I am having the same issue with XGPS150 running newest version of OpenCPN on a MAC Laptop Pro. I tried selection 38,400 Baud rate and nothing happened. The MAC connects with the XGPS via bluetooth OK. I've tried disconnecting it from MAC but OpenCPN still wont connect or at least communicate. The GPS Icon stays red.

[CarCode]

And your settings in options/connection are what?

[Sealawyr]

I returned it and I'll try a BU-353S4. The macbook plainly says the XGPS is not connected, but Dual Electronics customer support insists it secretly is - it's just waiting patiently for an app to request data. A request, it seems, that will never come - from OpenCPN or any other NMEA device. Dual's defense is that it works with Google Earth - which is not what I need.

[quinsky]

Please post your results with BU-353S4. Unfortunately My XPS150 is beyond return timeframe.

[cdocsail]

I had the same problem. The workaround is to connect to an iOS device first. Then it will connect to a macbook. The device can support up to 5 clients and every time another conncts, another LED illuminates. OpenCPN and qtVLM both connect fine

[Sealawyr]

Originally Posted by cdocsail

I had the same problem. The workaround is to connect to an iOS device first. Then it will connect to a macbook. The device can support up to 5 clients and every time another conncts, another LED illuminates. OpenCPN and qtVLM both connect fine

Thanks for the tip. I'm still fiddling with this thing. I now get 2 blue lights on the XGPS, showing both the iphone and macbook are connected - even though the macbook itself says it isn't. However, I'm still not getting data into OpenCPN. Could you share your connection dialog? Mine is this:

[CarCode]

Originally Posted by Sealawyr

Thanks for the tip. I'm still fiddling with this thing. I now get 2 blue lights on the XGPS, showing both the iphone and macbook are connected - even though the macbook itself says it isn't. However, I'm still not getting data into OpenCPN. Could you share your connection dialog? Mine is this:

Protocol NMEA 2000 ???
That is not supported by the XPS160!
Please configure to NMEA 0183

[cdocsail]

here you go.

it seems you need the other NMEA protocol

[CarCode]

Originally Posted by cdocsail

here you go.
it seems you need the other NMEA protocol

And when you change the baudrate to 38400 instead of 4800 it will work.