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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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.