ALK Copilot Live 11 Laptop + Earthmate Blue Logger

Trying to use my Blue Logger with ALK CoPilot Live 11 on my laptop. I've installed the DeLorme serial emulator and have successfully had it recognize my USB GPS, but I am not having the same luck with my Bluetooth GPS. Its successfully paired with my laptop by the way. Any help is appreciated

When the Bluetooth GPS paired with your computer, it should have told you which COM port it would use. Point your navigation program at that COM port (just as you did with the Delorme emulator) and it should find the GPS signal.

It might be a good idea to disable the Delorme emulator when you are testing the Bluetooth as it probably claims several COM ports.

Terry

Well i've tried that to no avail. Im also having problems getting the GPS to connect to my laptop when I turn it on. It shows to be paired but for the life of me i cannot figure out how to make it connect.

With the Windows Bluetooth stack, there is no way to manually connect the GPS to the computer. When a program such as CoPilot accesses the COM port assigned to the GPS by the Bluetooth stack, the connection to the Bluetooth device is automatically started.

To determine the correct COM port to assign, right click on the Blutooth symbol in the Notification bar (stylized B in blue oval - bottom right of screen) and choose 'Show Bluetooth Devices'. Click on your BT device and choose 'Properties' button. Make sure your BT GPS is turned on and choose the Services tab. The COM port listed is the one you want your navigation program to look at.

If you are using a different BT stack such as Widcomm or Toshiba, let me know.

Terry

I downloaded Delorme's Blue Logger Manager.... was not able to get it to recognize the blue logger at all. I followed your instructions above and after clicking on the Services Tab, my laptop appears to have connected to my gps (solid blue light rather than flashing). Unfortunately, the blue logger manager will not connect on the correct port and neither will copilot live.

Accessing that tab was to provide you with the details of the COM port to use. You must close the box after noting the COM port information. If you leave it open, the GPS will not be available to other programs as only one program can access it at a time.

Terry

Yep that's what I figured out.... new update though. Shut the blue logger down and removed the battery for about a minute. I found alot of discussion online stating that seemed to solve alot of connection issues. Popped it back in, turned it on, opened bluetooth manager, chose the right com port, clicked connect and voila, connected right up! Opened up copilot live, tried to add a new GPS with bluetooth as the selection. It searched for a half a second and gave me a 'search failed' message. Tried to add the GPS using every other possible means, both manual and automatic and in every instance, it never connected, even though according to the bluetooth manager, I was connected to the GPS.

I have been using bluetooth for almost 7 years now and I have never come across anything as buggy as bluetooth GPS. This blue logger is 6 years old and I have used it on several laptops/smartphones. I cannot recall a single instance where it was easy or consistent. I wonder why this is.

I took a look at the Blue Logger. That is an older 12 channel SirfStarII device that would take some time to lock on a signal. When you are testing it, are the navigation devices saying they don't see it; or are they not obtaining lock?

You would have to use it outside for a fairly long period of time to obtain your first lock signal.

I have 4 more recent BT GPS devices from Garmin, Holux, iTrek and qStarz. They are all very reliable devices but are based on SirfStar III or MKT chipsets

Terry

Yet another update....

Decided to try and connect right up to the blue tooth GPS from copilot live, without bothering with the blue logger manager. I only downloaded that because the copilot live staff told me I needed something else installed that would allow the delorme product to communicate with their product.

Anywho, never even opened blue logger manager. Opened copilot live, chose settings/gps/add new gps. Chose USB GPS > Manual > My com port and 9600 baud.. connected in about 2 seconds and obtained a 5 sat. lock from inside my kitchen!

I am going to have to keep some good notes here, because I'm sure when I go on duty tomorrow night and need my laptop GPS, nothing will want to work/connect and i'll be forced to break out the old USB earthmate

thanks for your help, T!

The Copilot techs sound about as smart as the Garmin techs. I am glad you finally got it going even if with no help from them. However, if you like Bluetooth GPS, units using SirfStar III or MKT chipsets are far superior to the Bluelogger.

Terry

Can you give me an idea of what brand/models are SirfStar and/or MKT?

No, but it is usually stated in the specs.
I have 4 BT GPS devices;
Garmin GPS10x (SirfStar III) - great but expensive if you don't use Garmin products
Holux 236 (SirfStar III) good reliable unit
iTrek M7 (MKT) great but no longer available
QStarz BT-Q890 (MKT) good - small with keyring

Terry