Where to start. Read other Garmin Mobile PC threads but cant seem to find what I'm looking for.
Installed recently purchased GMPC following exact instructions supplied.
Have version without Garmin GPS. So then installed GPS that i purchased from MCS Philadelphia. Searching, searching, searching. mmm Maps look great, functionality exactly as i wanted it, and want to later intergrate it into Centrafuse.. but the thing does not see satellites. So, using GPSInfo, tested the receiver, have the port numbers, the baud rate etc, receiver shows with blinking light just fine.
Back to GMPC and select the port, but no baud rate selection ability anywhere. same thing. many hours wasted. So thought i would connect my old Garmin StreetPilot 2610 to it. Now, drive down the road, maps move and do all good things except i cant select / route anywhere on GMPC. mmm
Relace with USB GPS receiver again, searching, searching...
Retest next day, same old same old, then put 2610 back on, maps move again, wow, THEN, suddenly the GMPC screen goes all funny, and so does the 2610... THEN I dicover, no more maps on either units, 2610, blank, GMPC, blank.
so day later, reserect my 2610 and get the maps happening again. goodo.
but GMPC, now has no maps, nil, zilcho. yet when you look behind the scences it says it has maps 2010 unlocked 170 odd mbytes. Like where are they.
Someone suggested i uninstall GMPC and start again. mmm
I also run Mapsource with many maps over the years and interesting, when looking for a device in that, one of them listed is
GMPC???
What gives.
So confused now, want to get this going, not sure what way to go. Garmin support email, still waiting, if like last time i contacted them [ via email] they missed the point completely.
Hope you guys more expert than me, can sort of point me in a few directions..
am at a loss. want to take the kids away soon for 2 weeks [ separated ] and want this all squared away before then.. Thanks for looking, thanks for replying if you have any suggestions
Bye from 'down under'...
Installed recently purchased GMPC following exact instructions supplied.
Have version without Garmin GPS. So then installed GPS that i purchased from MCS Philadelphia. Searching, searching, searching. mmm Maps look great, functionality exactly as i wanted it, and want to later intergrate it into Centrafuse.. but the thing does not see satellites. So, using GPSInfo, tested the receiver, have the port numbers, the baud rate etc, receiver shows with blinking light just fine.
Back to GMPC and select the port, but no baud rate selection ability anywhere. same thing. many hours wasted. So thought i would connect my old Garmin StreetPilot 2610 to it. Now, drive down the road, maps move and do all good things except i cant select / route anywhere on GMPC. mmm
Relace with USB GPS receiver again, searching, searching...
Retest next day, same old same old, then put 2610 back on, maps move again, wow, THEN, suddenly the GMPC screen goes all funny, and so does the 2610... THEN I dicover, no more maps on either units, 2610, blank, GMPC, blank.
so day later, reserect my 2610 and get the maps happening again. goodo.
but GMPC, now has no maps, nil, zilcho. yet when you look behind the scences it says it has maps 2010 unlocked 170 odd mbytes. Like where are they.
Someone suggested i uninstall GMPC and start again. mmm
I also run Mapsource with many maps over the years and interesting, when looking for a device in that, one of them listed is
GMPC???
What gives.
So confused now, want to get this going, not sure what way to go. Garmin support email, still waiting, if like last time i contacted them [ via email] they missed the point completely.
Hope you guys more expert than me, can sort of point me in a few directions..
am at a loss. want to take the kids away soon for 2 weeks [ separated ] and want this all squared away before then.. Thanks for looking, thanks for replying if you have any suggestions
Bye from 'down under'...
Garmin Mobile PC should support any external GPS with a data rate up to 38.400 bps. You seem to indicate it found your first GPS but could not locate satellites. Is that the case? You can tell what GMPC is getting from the GPS by clicking on the satellite picture in the top right corner. More information is available from that screen by selecting the GPS Info button.
Using GMPC with a 2610 may require ProITM's modified GMPC exe if you get a message that the serial number of the GPS is not acceptable.
GMPC shows in the MapSource send/receive drop down so you can transfer waypoints, tracks, routes and sometimes maps between the two.
Terry
Using GMPC with a 2610 may require ProITM's modified GMPC exe if you get a message that the serial number of the GPS is not acceptable.
GMPC shows in the MapSource send/receive drop down so you can transfer waypoints, tracks, routes and sometimes maps between the two.
Terry
Terry, I think the StreetPilots are supported in Spanner. I had an indication from one of the senior support people that he thought the basic code for some of Mobile PC's virtual port capability comes from Spanner. He was speculating that's why some Garmin receivers work great with GMPC and some (typically newer models) do not.
I don't know if that holds water and he wasn't certain, just something he thought he'd heard a developer mention. But that could be why the original poster's StreetPilot works with Mobile PC.
SubaruH60z, can you confirm that you were seeing the vehicle icon in Mobile PC on your laptop working properly and tracking correctly on the streets you were driving on when you used the StreetPilot as a receiver for Mobile PC?
Can you also tell us how long in a single sitting you have allowed the new MCS receiver to sit in one spot, out of doors with a good view of the sky?
Do I understand that you are in Australia? And that the receiver came from America? If that is so, it will take the receiver a good long while to do its first "cold start". Here's a description of "cold start":
This process takes longer the farther from its last position fix that the receiver is. If the start position is somewhere in the USA and you are in Australia, the receiver is really going to have to do a lot of work to build its first working view of the sky for you.
That might not be the problem but it's one thing that needs to be eliminated.
It would be helpful if you could provide evidence from GPSInfo that the MCS receiver is indeed achieving a positional lock (location fix) when sitting still in a location with a good view of the sky. You mentioned that you saw the COM port and baud rate in GPSInfo. But it's one thing for GPSInfo to see the receiver; it's quite another for the receiver to have a location fix and be transmitting that data to the computer. Did you also click on the GPS Info tab and actually see a satellite constellation displayed on the graphic?
Once you find a GPS receiver on the GPSInfo Setup tab you push the Start GPS button. You should see raw data scrolling in that window. At that point if you switch to the GPS Info tab you should see a globe with little circles and the number of each satellite the receiver sees. You should also see a series of bars below the globe graphic. The bars might be hollow. That means the receiver sees those satellites but does not have a solid fix with them yet. Any bars that are solid are locked into the receover and usable for a location fix. The receiver needs at least three solid bars to have a location fix that is usable.
If there is a location fix, the GPS Info tab will also have the Date, Time, Direction, Speed, location lock Status, and the Lat. Long. all displayed beside the globe graphic.
Can you confirm that you can get this far in GPSInfo?
Please have patience with us if we're going over stuff you've already done. In order to help remotely we need a firm picture in our minds of exactly where you are at and what things we can eliminate from the possible problems.
...ken...
I don't know if that holds water and he wasn't certain, just something he thought he'd heard a developer mention. But that could be why the original poster's StreetPilot works with Mobile PC.
SubaruH60z, can you confirm that you were seeing the vehicle icon in Mobile PC on your laptop working properly and tracking correctly on the streets you were driving on when you used the StreetPilot as a receiver for Mobile PC?
Can you also tell us how long in a single sitting you have allowed the new MCS receiver to sit in one spot, out of doors with a good view of the sky?
Do I understand that you are in Australia? And that the receiver came from America? If that is so, it will take the receiver a good long while to do its first "cold start". Here's a description of "cold start":
Quote:
When cold starting the receiver has no information about the current time, the orbits of the satellites or its own current position. It proceeds to listen for satellites at random until it has acquired one or more.
This process takes longer the farther from its last position fix that the receiver is. If the start position is somewhere in the USA and you are in Australia, the receiver is really going to have to do a lot of work to build its first working view of the sky for you.
That might not be the problem but it's one thing that needs to be eliminated.
It would be helpful if you could provide evidence from GPSInfo that the MCS receiver is indeed achieving a positional lock (location fix) when sitting still in a location with a good view of the sky. You mentioned that you saw the COM port and baud rate in GPSInfo. But it's one thing for GPSInfo to see the receiver; it's quite another for the receiver to have a location fix and be transmitting that data to the computer. Did you also click on the GPS Info tab and actually see a satellite constellation displayed on the graphic?
Once you find a GPS receiver on the GPSInfo Setup tab you push the Start GPS button. You should see raw data scrolling in that window. At that point if you switch to the GPS Info tab you should see a globe with little circles and the number of each satellite the receiver sees. You should also see a series of bars below the globe graphic. The bars might be hollow. That means the receiver sees those satellites but does not have a solid fix with them yet. Any bars that are solid are locked into the receover and usable for a location fix. The receiver needs at least three solid bars to have a location fix that is usable.
If there is a location fix, the GPS Info tab will also have the Date, Time, Direction, Speed, location lock Status, and the Lat. Long. all displayed beside the globe graphic.
Can you confirm that you can get this far in GPSInfo?
Please have patience with us if we're going over stuff you've already done. In order to help remotely we need a firm picture in our minds of exactly where you are at and what things we can eliminate from the possible problems.
...ken...
Interesting info on the 2610. I couldn't even remember if it was USB.
However, SubaruH60Z is not using the GPS that comes with GMPC in either case and he tested the MCS one locally with GPS Info. I think, if the GPS was already set up, GMPC should respond immediately. Of course, if the MCS unit lost its position before being connected it would have to cold start based on GMPC settings. Maybe the 'New Location' button in the GPS screen would help if that is the case.
Terry
However, SubaruH60Z is not using the GPS that comes with GMPC in either case and he tested the MCS one locally with GPS Info. I think, if the GPS was already set up, GMPC should respond immediately. Of course, if the MCS unit lost its position before being connected it would have to cold start based on GMPC settings. Maybe the 'New Location' button in the GPS screen would help if that is the case.
Terry
Hi guys for your very quick replies. will answer as best i can questions asked. The StreetPilot 2610 has a mini USB port behind a waterproof cover next to the power connectior. I like this old beast 'cause it has breadcrumb, multi via points, upload / download routes etc, i still use it every day in my works car.
With respect to Garmin Mobile PC I did not buy the one with a GPS included.
Yes, i could see without any problem, vehicle icon, and moving, when I was using the 2610, In fact i compared both the 2610 and the GMPC, incidentally, installed in a CaePC with 7" screen, and both screens replicated locations as I drove. Nice display on GMPC, till I lost the maps.
As for the MCS GPS, I used it, outdoors, clear view of sky, and aquired good signals using GPSInfo. It worked as should. Trying it however on GMPC.. searching, searching. Yes, tried new location button as well. After initial power up when i received it, it alwayds had very quick acqusition times tested under GPSInfo.
Am kinda replying to both of you, Terry and Ken... in this one post. Yeah, knew about long times getting sats if from the States, have been using GPS since Garmin eMap days. still have that too. Oh, am in Australia too. Sorry if this is disjointed, am reading down your replies as i go.
In GPSInfo, going to the satellite screen, could see the satellites, and actively change strengths etc just sitting in driveway, then went for another drive, could see the speeds etc and correlated that with the 2610 as a benchmark, both read same speeds etc. Yes, saw bucket loads of raw data in GPSInfo too. This was done again and again of many test days, with same results. the MCS gps definitely works.
I appreciate heaps your technical help and expertize, and certainly have much patience with your efforts. i have been dealing with this now for weeks before resorting to posting a question. So another day, or two, or a week is just fine.. I just want to get it up and running. eventually. I had it connected thru a unpowered 4 port hub, again from MCS, using an active USB cable, no change, powered the hub, same, removed the hub, same. talking of hubs, not happy how it does not wake from hibernate at times, am getting off subject, will search the forums here later, its now close to midnight, must go as i have a 5am start. Goodnight from Oz....
Val
With respect to Garmin Mobile PC I did not buy the one with a GPS included.
Yes, i could see without any problem, vehicle icon, and moving, when I was using the 2610, In fact i compared both the 2610 and the GMPC, incidentally, installed in a CaePC with 7" screen, and both screens replicated locations as I drove. Nice display on GMPC, till I lost the maps.
As for the MCS GPS, I used it, outdoors, clear view of sky, and aquired good signals using GPSInfo. It worked as should. Trying it however on GMPC.. searching, searching. Yes, tried new location button as well. After initial power up when i received it, it alwayds had very quick acqusition times tested under GPSInfo.
Am kinda replying to both of you, Terry and Ken... in this one post. Yeah, knew about long times getting sats if from the States, have been using GPS since Garmin eMap days. still have that too. Oh, am in Australia too. Sorry if this is disjointed, am reading down your replies as i go.
In GPSInfo, going to the satellite screen, could see the satellites, and actively change strengths etc just sitting in driveway, then went for another drive, could see the speeds etc and correlated that with the 2610 as a benchmark, both read same speeds etc. Yes, saw bucket loads of raw data in GPSInfo too. This was done again and again of many test days, with same results. the MCS gps definitely works.
I appreciate heaps your technical help and expertize, and certainly have much patience with your efforts. i have been dealing with this now for weeks before resorting to posting a question. So another day, or two, or a week is just fine.. I just want to get it up and running. eventually. I had it connected thru a unpowered 4 port hub, again from MCS, using an active USB cable, no change, powered the hub, same, removed the hub, same. talking of hubs, not happy how it does not wake from hibernate at times, am getting off subject, will search the forums here later, its now close to midnight, must go as i have a 5am start. Goodnight from Oz....
Val
Hi Val,
Us Canucks (Terry and I) are always happy to help a Commonwealth cousin.
If the computer and GPSInfo are recognizing the MCS receiver it means it's somewhere between Mobile PC and the USB port ... something that Mobile PC doesn't like. That's unusual because it's rare for Mobile PC software-only version to not find a working GPS receiver.
If GPSInfo is finding it on a virtual COM port, the next possibility is that there's something about the USB-to-serial port driver that GMPC doesn't like. Or possibly the bit rate ("baud"). As Terry mentioned, GMPC only goes up to 38,400. You didn't mention what COM port and speed GPSInfo is finding the MCS on. Might not be relevant but it's another bit of information that would be useful to have.
The next step is to give it a try with a program called GPSGate. You can download it for a 14-day free trial. It will mediate between the virtual COM port that the MCS is appearing on and present it on another one that Mobile PC should handle.
I'm not recommending GPSGate as the solution (at least not yet) but as another troubleshooting tool to see if we can pinpoint or eliminate the USB-to-serial port driver as possibly the culprit.
Have you managed to restore the maps in Mobile PC? To get back to your question about the relationship between Mapsource and Mobile PC, as Terry mentioned, you can transfer routes and tracks and waypoints between them. So, if your StreetPilot already has "Favorites" or "My Locations" or whatever the StreetPilot calls them, you can transfer them to Mapsource and then from Mapsource to Mobile PC and they'll land in the Favorites on Mobile PC. Same thing if you have any saved routes that you favour in the StreetPilot.
It's easiest to think of Mobile PC as if Garmin took a StreetPilot or Nuvi, stripped off the case and shoved it into your laptop. As far as Mapsource is concerned, Mobile PC is just another Garmin GPS device and will treat it that way in all respects. It will transfer maps, waypoints, routes and tracks to it.
So if you have any maps you use on the StreetPilot that you normally load from Mapsource, and if they are not locked, you can also load them to Mobile PC.
Maps you transfer to Mobile PC from Mapsource will be named GMAPSUPP.IMG, just as they are when transferred to the StreetPilot.
The maps that came with Mobile PC are named GMAPPROM.IMG. You should be able to see that file in the same directory (folder) as the Mobile PC program is installed in. If you aren't sure where that is or how to find it, just right-click on the Mobile PC icon on the desktop, click Properties, and click "Find Target". That will bring up My Computer (Windows Explorer) in the correct folder with "Que.exe" highlighted. Look for the following files in that folder:
gmapbmap.img -- basemap
gmapprom.img -- preloaded detail maps
gmapsupp.img -- if you have loaded any maps from Mapsource
If the GMAPPROM.IMG file is missing you will have to reinstall Mobile PC. It's a precompiled map file so you cannot reproduce it from Mapsource.
If the GMAPPROM.IMG file is there you should be able to view it just by running Mobile PC and clicking View Map on the main screen. No need for a GPS connection.
If the GMAPPROM.IMG file is broken or missing, you should still be able to view the basemap by clicking View Map on the main screen. Again, no need for a GPS connection.
You can tell whether you are viewing the basemap or detail maps by clicking the Browse Map button in the lower left of the map display. When you do that, the screen changes and the scale marker in the lower right corner of the map display will now tell you whether you are looking at the "detail map" or "base map".
Depending on what you have your Map > Detail setting at, you should see the transition between base map and detail map at around 12km.
There is no reason I can think of that you should have actually physically lost your maps (as opposed to a temporarily screwed up map display), especially not simultaneously on both Mobile PC and the StreetPilot. It sounds more likely that you experienced some sort of gremlin in the StreetPilot that made it lose its noodle and when it sent the bad location data to Mobile PC, as well as to its internal map display processor, you saw the identical reaction to the garbage data displayed on both.
Let us know if you have any difficulty getting the Mobile PC maps back in place.
...ken...
Us Canucks (Terry and I) are always happy to help a Commonwealth cousin.
If the computer and GPSInfo are recognizing the MCS receiver it means it's somewhere between Mobile PC and the USB port ... something that Mobile PC doesn't like. That's unusual because it's rare for Mobile PC software-only version to not find a working GPS receiver.
If GPSInfo is finding it on a virtual COM port, the next possibility is that there's something about the USB-to-serial port driver that GMPC doesn't like. Or possibly the bit rate ("baud"). As Terry mentioned, GMPC only goes up to 38,400. You didn't mention what COM port and speed GPSInfo is finding the MCS on. Might not be relevant but it's another bit of information that would be useful to have.
The next step is to give it a try with a program called GPSGate. You can download it for a 14-day free trial. It will mediate between the virtual COM port that the MCS is appearing on and present it on another one that Mobile PC should handle.
I'm not recommending GPSGate as the solution (at least not yet) but as another troubleshooting tool to see if we can pinpoint or eliminate the USB-to-serial port driver as possibly the culprit.
Have you managed to restore the maps in Mobile PC? To get back to your question about the relationship between Mapsource and Mobile PC, as Terry mentioned, you can transfer routes and tracks and waypoints between them. So, if your StreetPilot already has "Favorites" or "My Locations" or whatever the StreetPilot calls them, you can transfer them to Mapsource and then from Mapsource to Mobile PC and they'll land in the Favorites on Mobile PC. Same thing if you have any saved routes that you favour in the StreetPilot.
It's easiest to think of Mobile PC as if Garmin took a StreetPilot or Nuvi, stripped off the case and shoved it into your laptop. As far as Mapsource is concerned, Mobile PC is just another Garmin GPS device and will treat it that way in all respects. It will transfer maps, waypoints, routes and tracks to it.
So if you have any maps you use on the StreetPilot that you normally load from Mapsource, and if they are not locked, you can also load them to Mobile PC.
Maps you transfer to Mobile PC from Mapsource will be named GMAPSUPP.IMG, just as they are when transferred to the StreetPilot.
The maps that came with Mobile PC are named GMAPPROM.IMG. You should be able to see that file in the same directory (folder) as the Mobile PC program is installed in. If you aren't sure where that is or how to find it, just right-click on the Mobile PC icon on the desktop, click Properties, and click "Find Target". That will bring up My Computer (Windows Explorer) in the correct folder with "Que.exe" highlighted. Look for the following files in that folder:
gmapbmap.img -- basemap
gmapprom.img -- preloaded detail maps
gmapsupp.img -- if you have loaded any maps from Mapsource
If the GMAPPROM.IMG file is missing you will have to reinstall Mobile PC. It's a precompiled map file so you cannot reproduce it from Mapsource.
If the GMAPPROM.IMG file is there you should be able to view it just by running Mobile PC and clicking View Map on the main screen. No need for a GPS connection.
If the GMAPPROM.IMG file is broken or missing, you should still be able to view the basemap by clicking View Map on the main screen. Again, no need for a GPS connection.
You can tell whether you are viewing the basemap or detail maps by clicking the Browse Map button in the lower left of the map display. When you do that, the screen changes and the scale marker in the lower right corner of the map display will now tell you whether you are looking at the "detail map" or "base map".
Depending on what you have your Map > Detail setting at, you should see the transition between base map and detail map at around 12km.
There is no reason I can think of that you should have actually physically lost your maps (as opposed to a temporarily screwed up map display), especially not simultaneously on both Mobile PC and the StreetPilot. It sounds more likely that you experienced some sort of gremlin in the StreetPilot that made it lose its noodle and when it sent the bad location data to Mobile PC, as well as to its internal map display processor, you saw the identical reaction to the garbage data displayed on both.
Let us know if you have any difficulty getting the Mobile PC maps back in place.
...ken...
Hi Ken
Hello Terry
Quick reply, only 'cause I have my 'meekats' this weekend, I take them home again this arvo.. 320klms [ seperated ]
So wont be able to go thru your info properly till I get back. Thank you for your detailed replies.
GPSInfo found the GPS on port 3 when directly connected to the CarPC, and the baud rate certainly was higher than 38,400 you speak of. When I had it via a 4 port hub, the port number was around 10. Some higher from memory. Have not tried GPSGate as yet, did try xport but that did not seem to change things except I could not see my IC 7000 transceiver into Ham Radio Deluxe.
Opening GMPC, still no maps, looked at files there quickly [ hard to get time with the kids for now ] and saw files but have not listed them here. Am indoors on laptop at moment, files in CarPC.
Good to know I can transfer the waypoints etc from 2610 >> Mapsource >> GMPC.
So from my understanding what you say, i could transfer existing unlocked Mapsource maps to GMPC, ok, the GMPC had the 2010 maps, my Mapsource had 2009 maps. So they woiuld work with 2610, but would not i imagine if the other GPS was recognized.
I was looking at detailed maps when they were there...
anyway, just a quick not saying I have not ignored your replies, hope to get time this evening after I get back home, if not too tired with the drive today, else reread your responce tommorrow afternoon [Monday] and see what files I do have etc. Will list all files / folders I have... wonder what 'should' be there.
all the best from down under
Val
Hello Terry
Quick reply, only 'cause I have my 'meekats' this weekend, I take them home again this arvo.. 320klms [ seperated ]
So wont be able to go thru your info properly till I get back. Thank you for your detailed replies.
GPSInfo found the GPS on port 3 when directly connected to the CarPC, and the baud rate certainly was higher than 38,400 you speak of. When I had it via a 4 port hub, the port number was around 10. Some higher from memory. Have not tried GPSGate as yet, did try xport but that did not seem to change things except I could not see my IC 7000 transceiver into Ham Radio Deluxe.
Opening GMPC, still no maps, looked at files there quickly [ hard to get time with the kids for now ] and saw files but have not listed them here. Am indoors on laptop at moment, files in CarPC.
Good to know I can transfer the waypoints etc from 2610 >> Mapsource >> GMPC.
So from my understanding what you say, i could transfer existing unlocked Mapsource maps to GMPC, ok, the GMPC had the 2010 maps, my Mapsource had 2009 maps. So they woiuld work with 2610, but would not i imagine if the other GPS was recognized.
I was looking at detailed maps when they were there...
anyway, just a quick not saying I have not ignored your replies, hope to get time this evening after I get back home, if not too tired with the drive today, else reread your responce tommorrow afternoon [Monday] and see what files I do have etc. Will list all files / folders I have... wonder what 'should' be there.
all the best from down under
Val
A question. You are in Australia. When Mobile PC doesn't know where it is it defaults to Garmin's head office in the USA as a location. Perhaps you have no maps in North America?
Try zooming out as much as possible so you can see most of the earth and then move yourself to an area of the earth where you know you do have detailled maps, then zoom in. Take your time with this or Mobile PC may crash.
Sorry for this suggestion if I've misunderstood something or you have already tried this.
Try zooming out as much as possible so you can see most of the earth and then move yourself to an area of the earth where you know you do have detailled maps, then zoom in. Take your time with this or Mobile PC may crash.
Sorry for this suggestion if I've misunderstood something or you have already tried this.
Unlocked maps (ie legal Garmin maps that you have an unlock code for) will not work with Mobile PC. The maps must be ones that were never locked in the first place to work with Mobile PC.
From my testing, Mobile PC will work with bit rates up to 38,400. However it will not work with 115,200 bps. If you have something in between those 2 numbers, I can't say as I am unable to test it. I think xport can resolve that but have not tested it. GPS Gate should be able to resolve it though. USB hubs are not recommended for GPS but may work.
You can remove and reinstall Mobile PC and it will retain your ID. A standard reinstall does not remove the file 'GarminDevice.xml' buried in Documents and Settings. Don't delete that file!
Terry
From my testing, Mobile PC will work with bit rates up to 38,400. However it will not work with 115,200 bps. If you have something in between those 2 numbers, I can't say as I am unable to test it. I think xport can resolve that but have not tested it. GPS Gate should be able to resolve it though. USB hubs are not recommended for GPS but may work.
You can remove and reinstall Mobile PC and it will retain your ID. A standard reinstall does not remove the file 'GarminDevice.xml' buried in Documents and Settings. Don't delete that file!
Terry
Well my Canuck friends.. I thank you both. Sitting in the car tonight, raining outside. fired up the CarPC, and reading your messages on the laptop, I looked at many things, firstly, i note what you say about GMPC does not like any baud rate above 38400. well GPSInfo showed, and only showed, when the baud rate was set at 57600. So there is a problem there straight away. so i downloaded the trial GPSGate and read / played with that for asome time before i got the hang of it. had it auto start on boot up etc as well.
Then, to my delight, i saw that it saw the GPS, the GPS Gate icon changed green. 57600 on port 3. So after a bit more playing with the output side, I changed and tried various settings [ sorry, forgot to write them down, now inside house, nice and dry and warm ] I fired up GMPC. instantly noticed a few green SAT bars top right hand corner. great. So clicked on view map, no map. what!!!!!.
Then poked around a bit more, decided to get it to route to next town to me, and there before ny eyes, was a map, my street, and a pink line off and away to where i just asked it to go. A quick drive round the block, the maps followed as expected.
I did notice however when i went into About, that it said this time Software ID, last time i can remember I had Device ID and a diffrent number. I dont understand that. There were many things i did, cant recall all the steps, as i received a mobile call at that time too, and am tired too..... but it is working.
am about to take the car down the road to get some stuff from shops, will test it side by side with my 2610, see how it goes... then off to bed.. more testing tommorrow.
But of concern, I have the GPS at the moment direct into my CarPC USB port, the second port is direct to the touch screen. leaving me with 2 other ports. Shall test it with a 4 port hub tommorrow, but am concerened about that, what do you guys use to get extra ports, i saw on web an interesting device ACPPSv1 [ google it ] + a USB isolator and thought that may help. Am i getting off topic? Hope not. I tried emailing him, bounce back, and no number to call him.
Anyway, the GMPC appears to be alive and well, thanx to you guys, so prompt too.. Your advice got this one going. how to THANK YOU both.?????????
Eventually on the USB ports i want in no particular order,
AM / FM RADIO
OBDII
TPMS [ have not found much on that as yet ]
DVD DRIVE
KEYBOARD
IC 7000 TRANSCEIVER
VOICE COMMAND
Val
Australia
will try importing the waypoints etc POI's etc tommorrow as well. now understand about my unlocked mapsource maps, thats fine.
Good night
Then, to my delight, i saw that it saw the GPS, the GPS Gate icon changed green. 57600 on port 3. So after a bit more playing with the output side, I changed and tried various settings [ sorry, forgot to write them down, now inside house, nice and dry and warm ] I fired up GMPC. instantly noticed a few green SAT bars top right hand corner. great. So clicked on view map, no map. what!!!!!.
Then poked around a bit more, decided to get it to route to next town to me, and there before ny eyes, was a map, my street, and a pink line off and away to where i just asked it to go. A quick drive round the block, the maps followed as expected.
I did notice however when i went into About, that it said this time Software ID, last time i can remember I had Device ID and a diffrent number. I dont understand that. There were many things i did, cant recall all the steps, as i received a mobile call at that time too, and am tired too..... but it is working.
am about to take the car down the road to get some stuff from shops, will test it side by side with my 2610, see how it goes... then off to bed.. more testing tommorrow.
But of concern, I have the GPS at the moment direct into my CarPC USB port, the second port is direct to the touch screen. leaving me with 2 other ports. Shall test it with a 4 port hub tommorrow, but am concerened about that, what do you guys use to get extra ports, i saw on web an interesting device ACPPSv1 [ google it ] + a USB isolator and thought that may help. Am i getting off topic? Hope not. I tried emailing him, bounce back, and no number to call him.
Anyway, the GMPC appears to be alive and well, thanx to you guys, so prompt too.. Your advice got this one going. how to THANK YOU both.?????????
Eventually on the USB ports i want in no particular order,
AM / FM RADIO
OBDII
TPMS [ have not found much on that as yet ]
DVD DRIVE
KEYBOARD
IC 7000 TRANSCEIVER
VOICE COMMAND
Val
Australia
will try importing the waypoints etc POI's etc tommorrow as well. now understand about my unlocked mapsource maps, thats fine.
Good night
Glad to hear you got something working, Val. Yes, so much to learn, so little time!
Re: Software ID versus Device ID. Very observant. Most would not catch that little detail. And it's an important one.
If you use a Garmin GPS device as the receiver, Mobile PC is able to communicate with it and query it for its Device ID. So when you have the StreetPilot connected, Mobile PC is acquiring its Device ID and displaying it.
With a non-Garmin GPS receiver there is no Garmin Device ID available. So, the software-only version of Mobile PC falls back to the Software ID. (Garmin explains that as being some unique ID that it is able to acquire from the motherboard of your computer.)
Mostly none of that matters. As long as everything works.
The reason it matters sometimes has to do with how Garmin handles locked maps. When you get an unlock code for Garmin maps to use them on, say, your StreetPilot, that unlock code is created from a combination of the serial number on your Garmin device (the Device ID) and the Product Code of the map product that is being unlocked.
That unique unlock code will only allow those maps to be used with that specific Garmin device.
The software-only version of Mobile PC is designed so it will work with non-Garmin receivers. Ooops, no Garmin Device ID to unlock the preloaded maps to! So they grab the Software ID from the motherboard and use it, along with the Product Key on the green tag in the DVD case, for the unlock code. So your preloaded maps in the software-only version of Mobile PC are literally unlocked to the computer it's installed on.
As I said above, mostly it doesn't matter if you only want to get the maps working that came preloaded. It starts to matter if you want to use maps for other regions of the world and they are locked.
...ken...
Re: Software ID versus Device ID. Very observant. Most would not catch that little detail. And it's an important one.
If you use a Garmin GPS device as the receiver, Mobile PC is able to communicate with it and query it for its Device ID. So when you have the StreetPilot connected, Mobile PC is acquiring its Device ID and displaying it.
With a non-Garmin GPS receiver there is no Garmin Device ID available. So, the software-only version of Mobile PC falls back to the Software ID. (Garmin explains that as being some unique ID that it is able to acquire from the motherboard of your computer.)
Mostly none of that matters. As long as everything works.
The reason it matters sometimes has to do with how Garmin handles locked maps. When you get an unlock code for Garmin maps to use them on, say, your StreetPilot, that unlock code is created from a combination of the serial number on your Garmin device (the Device ID) and the Product Code of the map product that is being unlocked.
That unique unlock code will only allow those maps to be used with that specific Garmin device.
The software-only version of Mobile PC is designed so it will work with non-Garmin receivers. Ooops, no Garmin Device ID to unlock the preloaded maps to! So they grab the Software ID from the motherboard and use it, along with the Product Key on the green tag in the DVD case, for the unlock code. So your preloaded maps in the software-only version of Mobile PC are literally unlocked to the computer it's installed on.
As I said above, mostly it doesn't matter if you only want to get the maps working that came preloaded. It starts to matter if you want to use maps for other regions of the world and they are locked.
...ken...
Hi again. well I'm still smiling.
did some tests again this arvo, the old 2610 on the dash, the GMPC running on the CarPC and being feed by the SiRF based USB GPS. Both independent of each other.
Set up a route to Katoomba, both set with identical parameters, fastest route, avoidance's, etc. The GMPC just ran and updated sooo quick, I deliberately 'avoided' the suggested route that GMPC offered, so it forced recalculations all the time. Well the GMPC literally provided the new route as i intended to go, the 2610 wanted me to exit on the 4th exit of a few roundabouts before eventually rerouting the same as GMPC, that is till i altered my drive yet again. No doubt the GPS receiver assisted in this having SiRF.
one point i wonder if there is any customization available. coming back in darkness, I found the screen way too bright, especially when pop up direction advice etc operated. Set the screen to AUTO for day / night differentiation. No good, then just set it to night mode, still to bright. I find that the pop up windows are white with black text, and would rather experiment and set them say with a dark grey background and maybe white text.. But cant find anywhere to alter this. Maybe this ahould have been a new thread, come to think of it. mmm.
Oh, also connected my 2610 to the CarPC and downloaded waypoints to Mapsource, then with GMPC running had no problem transfering those waypoints to GMPC. so easy.
Interesting, whilst the Garmin 2610 was connected, GMPC appeared happy to work with that too, routing away, maybe because now using GPSGate? I did not realy leave it connected long as my primary GPS will be the SiRF based one.
Whatever, i'm a happy little bunny now, except the brightness thingy..
and moving onto sort out USB hubs and all the other goodies then I want to have working, one step, one step at a time..
must go, again thanx to all those whom wrote.
toodle poops
exit, stage left....
val
oh yeah,, was going to write something about the weather button, greyed out, cant remember, another time, tis getting late.
did some tests again this arvo, the old 2610 on the dash, the GMPC running on the CarPC and being feed by the SiRF based USB GPS. Both independent of each other.
Set up a route to Katoomba, both set with identical parameters, fastest route, avoidance's, etc. The GMPC just ran and updated sooo quick, I deliberately 'avoided' the suggested route that GMPC offered, so it forced recalculations all the time. Well the GMPC literally provided the new route as i intended to go, the 2610 wanted me to exit on the 4th exit of a few roundabouts before eventually rerouting the same as GMPC, that is till i altered my drive yet again. No doubt the GPS receiver assisted in this having SiRF.
one point i wonder if there is any customization available. coming back in darkness, I found the screen way too bright, especially when pop up direction advice etc operated. Set the screen to AUTO for day / night differentiation. No good, then just set it to night mode, still to bright. I find that the pop up windows are white with black text, and would rather experiment and set them say with a dark grey background and maybe white text.. But cant find anywhere to alter this. Maybe this ahould have been a new thread, come to think of it. mmm.
Oh, also connected my 2610 to the CarPC and downloaded waypoints to Mapsource, then with GMPC running had no problem transfering those waypoints to GMPC. so easy.
Interesting, whilst the Garmin 2610 was connected, GMPC appeared happy to work with that too, routing away, maybe because now using GPSGate? I did not realy leave it connected long as my primary GPS will be the SiRF based one.
Whatever, i'm a happy little bunny now, except the brightness thingy..
and moving onto sort out USB hubs and all the other goodies then I want to have working, one step, one step at a time..
must go, again thanx to all those whom wrote.
toodle poops
exit, stage left....
val
oh yeah,, was going to write something about the weather button, greyed out, cant remember, another time, tis getting late.
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