Franson GpsGate software has been around since 2004. It has been developed by Johan Franson, the current CEO of Franson Technology AB, a Stockholm, Sweden company specializing in GPS software development.

Many of us have been using GpsGate (or the "light" version, GpsGate Express) on our laptop computers, netbooks, tablets, car PCs, UMPCs, etc, for a number of years. I will list here, in no particular order, some of the benefits we can gain by using this little piece of software.

• GPS signal splitter - One GPS receiver can normally feed signal to only one GPS software at a time. GpsGate Express can let users run up to two GPS applications, and GpsGate (standard version) lets us share a GPS between any number of applications.

• Baud rate converter - Programs such as Microsoft Streets & Trips, Microsoft AutoRoute, and Microsoft MapPoint don't work with GPS receivers at baud rates other than 4,800, so if your USB GPS unit outputs NMEA signal at a higher rate, the Microsoft software will not be able to use the GPS signal - unless you use Franson GPS Gate (or Gps Gate Express).

• Use Garmin GPS receivers with standard (non-Garmin) GPS applications - Use USB GPS receivers, such as Garmin 20x with non-Garmin GPS software programs.

• Use Garmin nRoute with a standard (non-Garmin) GPS receiver - Garmin nRoute has been designed to work with Garmin receivers, but in connection with GpsGate it will accept even standard NMEA signal.

• Some PNDs (personal navigation devices) may be used as laptop GPS receivers - GpsGate may make it possible to use your portable GPS navigation device as a GPS receiver for your laptop computer.

• More stable GPS connection - In particular to Bluetooth GPS receivers. Make the configuration of your Bluetooth GPS receiver simpler and connection more stable by selecting "Bluetooth GPS" in the input pane.

• GPS data logger

• GPS signal simulator

• Share a GPS signal over a network, HTTP, or Bluetooth

- Download

I have likely missed a few other uses of GpsGate. Please share your experience with us by replying to this thread.

I've used GPSGate pretty much since I started using the laptop as a GPS device. It's invaluable to have.

Not only do I use it to split my GPS signal over multiple applications, but I also have it sending out my current location every 60 seconds to the GPSGate server. Then, at home, I have my computer download my location using GooPS, which then will display my location on Google Earth. My wife loves being able to see where I'm at and where I've been on it.

GPSGate is just one of those "gotta have it" applications.

It's hard to imagine life without GpsGate, isn't it.



One of the many nice things about GpsGate is that the user can at all times easily tell if s/he has good enough GPS signal. GpsGate runs in the system tray. Green icon indicates 3D lock, Yellow = connection between the GPS receiver and the laptop has been established, but there is not sufficiently good GPS signal (or no signal lock yet). Red = bad connection between laptop & GPS.

Where did you get that icon? My GPSGate 2.6 still looks like this.

Terry

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That's the same icon I've got tcassidy.

Edit:

Just found the setting for it:

Go to the GPSGate Settings, Advanced tab
Select the option box for "Display brighter tray icon"
Boom - you've got the other icon

Thanks malaki86, I knew I'd seen it before. I thought it must be an older version. I like the original better anyway.

Terry

Checkout Xport too, it's a little lighter weight and very easy to use, too.

Hello Mal,

Yes, Xport is lighter weight and it's free. For the record, this thread was a review of GPSGate.

In that context it's probably worth mentioning that Xport is "light" for a reason.

1. Xport doesn't work directly with USB-connected devices or Bluetooth devices. You need to add a serial device driver for the device before Xport will work with it. GPSGate works directly with USB and Bluetooth devices without another driver.

2. Xport doesn't understand Garmin's variation of the NMEA protocol. GPSGate can convert either way. You can connect a device that does only Garmin protocol and use it with software that only accepts generic NMEA. Or you can connect a generic NMEA device and use it with software that expects the Garmin protocol.

Bottom line is, if Xport does what you need, it's a great program. If not, get GPSGate because there's almost nothing it can't do.

...ken...

I will also point out that xport is donationware. If no one ever contributes, the writer has no reason to update it.

Terry

Although GPSGate works directly with Bluetooth GPS devices, it does not support any USB GPS (except Garmin products) directly without a USB-serial driver.

Terry

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Wizard.jpg (60.3 KB)

Ooops, you're right. Sorry about that.

...ken...

Phew.. I didn't think I was going insane.. Trying to use standard USB/NMEA without a driver certainly failed!

I have tablet PC, and I can not connect my Gamin eTrex receiver to it.

I need a solution.

Welcome to Laptop GPS World. You've come to the right pace, and you've found the appropriate thread. Just scroll up to the top of the page till you see the download link for GpsGate (in the top of the first post). Give that a try. It should work just fine to connect your Garmin eTrex to your Table PC.

I have been using GpsGate (standard version) for years running Streets & Trips with iGuidance at the same time. I love that Green G icon!

Is it possible to use my GPS-capable laptop as a Bluetooth receiver to use the GPS signal on my PDA?

The PDA GPS software works using NMEA sentences, and my GPS hardware (Ericsson F3507g mobile broadband module with GPS) uses them too (checked the log).

I setup the input (says OK, valid coordinates) and then Bluetooth server for output (service running OK!), connect with my PDA, but it says no GPS data available.

You might need a specific app on the PDA to send the GPS data out on Bluetooth. The internal GPS handler in the PDA probably does not do that itself. It likely only makes it available on an internal "port" for the PDA apps to use.

...ken...

Yes but this is a thread about GPS Gate. There is a version for PPC and it might be able to do that. It would not output the BT signal to the port you use to connect the PDA to the computer though.

Terry

Thank you for your reply.

Actually I didn't tell the whole story, wanted to be as simple as possible.

The truth is I have a jailbroken iPod touch, which is able to connect to Bluetooth GPS receivers using a special app. This app can handle almost all Bluetooth GPS receivers which use NMEA sentences. I wanted to know if GpsGate could transmit Bluetooth signals from the notebook, that the iPod recognizes as an external receiver.

It was just an idea, was curious if I can do that, cause it would be easier to handle a small device to navigate than a notebook.

I'm not sure if I did it right. But the green G is showing. I have Garmin Mobile PC and nRoute running at the same time. But only Mobile PC is showing satellites while nRoute is still attempting connection to GPS. Help please.

Make sure nRoute is set to look at the COM port GPS Gate designated as Garmin output.

Terry

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nRoute COM.jpg (234.8 KB)

Thanks for the tip. It works now.

For a single Vista laptop, with one Global Sat BU-353 receiver, is the Express version OK?

It has nothing to do with your computer or GPS receiver.

The Express version only allows you to connect the GPS receiver to two navigation programs simultaneously. It's possible that it does not have all the features of the more expensive version. I don't know if that's the case because I have not compared the features. I have the Express version because it's just what I need.

If you only want to have two navigation programs running with a GPS connection and you don't want any other features that it doesn't have, the Express version is the one to get.

...ken...

I'm having to run GPS Gate wizard to assign a com port each time I turn on the computer and plug in the receiver. Is this normal, or is there a setting I have to set after the process.

I know with Vista, this can be normal if switching USB ports, but I'm using the same USB port.

Is the com port different each time you experience this?

It shouldn't be. I know if I plug into a different USB port each time, it has to search, but I'm using the exact same USB port each time.

It might be a Vista problem. One of the reasons I delegated the Toshiba with Vista to the Hummer and purchased a new HP with WIN 7 for everyday use. I have had problems with other devices too.

Everytime I sync'ed my blackberry to the Vista machine, using the same USB port, it had to load the driver. But if hooking up my external drive on the same computer it didn't have to reload the driver each time.

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem.

Thanks to all....

GpsGate seems to save user preferences on exit. Set your preferences, then close GpsGate by clicking its icon in the system tray (just restarting your computer is not enough). After that all should be fine.

Thanks, I'll give that a try

Vista's 'forgetting' about the drivers for the gps puck seems to be fairly normal. That's why GPSGate is using the GPS on port 42 now. It started out at port 7.

I have Vista 32 bit on the HP laptop still and only see that problem if I change USB ports. Otherwise, the COM port always stays the same and GPS Gate has no difficulty remembereing where it is. Could you have some other issues?

Terry

I have downloaded GPS Gate, installed in correctly, found how to add Google Earth as an output, but it won't open Google Earth automatically, and won't find my GPS position when I open it manually, but GPS Gate shows that I am connected with a good signal. EarthBridge isn't doing anything.

Any tips?

Thanks,

Devon

I don't believe it is any other issues other than the software is terrible. Now, it does not even load after the last removal from the laptop. I lived with the removal/install after each reboot of the computer, but not having it work now, tells me the software is garbage. All other software products have worked.

And I might add, I am using the same USB port for all installs. I know of Vista's problems with USB ports and drivers.

You are way off base with your comments. GPS Gate is an excellent and very reliable product. You aren't running Win 7 or Vista 64 bit by any chance are you?

http://forum.gpsgate.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8252

What problems are you expecting to have with Vista and USB? In my experience it behaves the same as XP and Win7. I have not had any unusual problems. I was commenting on the common driver for USB to serial GPS. It will install itself to a different COM port for each USB port. This is not a Vista issue, but rather a feature of the driver.

Terry

I am not off base. I am running Vista 32.

When you set GPS Gate to start with Windows, you don't get a splash screen to indicate it has started. There will be an icon in the notification area (bottom right of the screen) that shows it is running. It will be one of 3 colours; red indicates no signal, orange - signal but no lock and green means a satellite lock. You can right click on that icon and choose 'Settings' if you need to make changes.

Terry

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I've used GPSGate for years, both on a 32bit XP and a 64bit Vista laptop. It's probably the BEST piece of software I've ever ran. It has *NEVER* caused me a problem.

Hi there, I'm a newby to this business although I have used a Garmin 12 for years. I am a sailor and I want to use a gps like the GM-2 on my boat. I have a computer aboard, a home built 12 volt box. I need to connect the GPS to the computer and the GM-2 usb connection sounds just right but I also need to send GPS data to my VHF radio, my SSB radio and my AIS transponder. The VHF and SSB radios are set up for GMDSS (Global Marine Distress Signalling System) emergency signalling and will include my GPS position in the message if connected. The AIS transponder (Automatic Identification System) transmits my position and other identifiers to nearby vessels by VHF radio. One post said GPSGate was a multiplexor but it sounds like it is an internal mux for use with several programs not an external one for multiple devices. Any help on how to hook up my stuff would be appreciated.

Interesting application.
How are the VHF, SSB and AIS designed to receive the GPS signal?

The connections are two wire - signal and ground. The messages are sent in NMEA 1183 code.

There are several threads on marine applications... You may want to do a search of the forum for them... As I recall, some address parts of your interest... You may also want to consider "Xport" and "Compass"... They are freebies...

Does GpsGate work with Garmin Nuvi 3760?

If the Nuvi 3760 is capable of sending the GPS location data to the computer, GPSGate will work with it. I don't know if the 3760 will do that. Many Nuvi models do not. Please see my comments in your other discussion thread.

...ken...

DyMz, the following link will bring you to a discussion thread which contains step-by-step instructions on how connect a compatible Nuvi via GpsGate to a laptop. Give that a try. You may discover if your Nuvi can do this or not.

http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/2689-how-use-garmin-nuvi-gps-receiver-ms-streets-trips-via-gpsgate

Hi,

Would just like to tell everyone that GpsGate Client Express for Windows is now available for free.