GlobalSat BT-359 and Garmin Mobile PC

Just picked up a bluetooth GlobalSat BT-359 on Amazon - "Used-Like New" for $18.

GPSGate found it - no problem
MS Streets & Trips - COM4- no problem
Garmin nRoute - COM1 Garmin Emulator - no problem
Nat'l Geo TOPO - COM2 - no problem
Google Earth - no problem
Garmin MobilePC - locates device on COM7, but never gets a fix, always "acquiring satellites". I let it sit outdoors for about 30 min, never got a fix. GPSGate states "1 client connected" on COM7

Any ideas?

Karen,

Try it without GPSGate first. Mobile PC will find Bluetooth devices without using a virtual COM port. When you have the GPS paired with the PC, fire up Mobile PC (without GPSGate). Click on the satellite icon in the upper right corner to get the satellite info page. Click on DISABLE. Click to select Bluetooth. Click to ENABLE. It should find the Bluetooth device. Click the GPS Info button and see what it's doing.

By the way, did you have COM 7 enabled in GPSGate when Mobile PC found it (GPSGate, Settings, Output tab for the list of ports it's sending data on)? If not, Mobile PC was probably finding the virtual COM port that the Bluetooth stack was creating and GPSGate was probably messing it up. Just a guess.

...ken...

It occurs to me a brief explanation is in order to put my previous post in context.

If you have Bluetooth running as well as GPSGate, there is a possibility there are two sets of virtual COM ports being created:

1. The Bluetooth stack will automatically create a COM port or two for the Bluetooth GPS.

2. GPSGate will create multiple virtual COM ports.

This could cause some confusion for programs trying to use these ports and it's possible that GPSGate may mess up the virtual COM port(s) created by the Bluetooth stack.

An embarassment of riches.

...ken...

I had tried that before, but will try again.....

.......30 min later-still no position fix!
Turned receiver off. Exited GPSGate. Restarted receiver. Started Mobile PC. It scanned the ports. Found receiver on COM5, which is the port assigned in the Bluetooth stack. But still "Acquiring satellites" forever.
Interestingly, GPSGate will not let me even assign a virtual COM port 5. If I add more COM ports, COM 5 isn't a choice.
Mobile PC finds the device and appears to assign the correct COM port, just can't receive the data stream from the receiver.
Even tried unpairing the device in Windows. Restarted receiver. Mobile PC found it. But still the same-no fix. And the green light is flashing on the device which means it has a fix.

This is me and Mobile PC:

GPS Gate can not assign COM 5 because the BT stack is already holding it for when this device is connected. However, you don't have to set it up in Windows BT as you did. Either GPS Gate or Mobile PC (one at a time of course) can query the Bluetooth stack directly and find the BT-359 via BT rather than the assigned COM port.

The only time we have seen the problem you are describing is when using a non registered GPS on a Mobile PC package that included a GPS( such as the 20x). That doesn't apply in your case, right? You are using the software-only version?

Terry

I deduced that was the reason GPSGate wouldn't assign COM5 as it sees it in use by the BT stack. Yes it is software-only version that works fine with GPSGate with my Garmin GPSMap 60CSx.
I really like this little gem - small, no cables, very fast position fix. So Mobile PC may head off to the GPS graveyard! (You know I'm not a big fan of it anyway. )

You should still try Ken's suggestion. The easiest way is go into your BT stack and remove the BT-359. Then tell Mobile PC to look on Bluetooth for the GPS...click on the satellite icon - top right, click Disable and Use Bluetooth GPS. If Mobile PC still says scanning attached (a problem I've complained about for several versions) restart Mobile PC. It will find your BT-359 and list it. Click on GPS info to see what satellites it is receiving.

You needn't replace your BT-359 in the BT stack if you are using GPS Gate as it also can scan the BT stack directly. However, if you wish to use the BT-359 directly with other navigation programs, you must re-establish it with the Windows BT stack so a COM port is available.

Terry

Here is an example using a Holux. Note that Mobile PC identifies the device rather than a COM port, indicating it is talking to the GPS via Bluetooth.

Terry

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Been there, done that...same thing...acquiring satellites..forever.

GPS "fix" light on unit is flashing which means has acquired a position.

Screenshot #4 shows a little app from GlobalSat for testing your unit. As you can see the data is coming in on COM3 just fine. (It switched from COM5 to COM 3 after removing from Windows BT stack to test. It was assigned COM3 after I added it back.)
I make sure I turn off the unit between tests and only have 1 app running at a time when testing.

GMPC has no problem finding the unit, but that's as far as it goes.

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Very strange. Mobile PC works with all the GPS I have tried (4 BT and 3 USB). I guess Mobile PC doesn't like you as much as you don't like it!

Terry

:rofl"
We have a love-hate relationship!

You know your #4 screenshot may show data coming in but I don't see any satellites. I assume you knew that though.

My screenshot is the same program but with a GlobalSat BU-353.

Terry

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I was going to point out the same thing. No satellites, no signal strength bars, no Status, no accuracy estimates (HDOP/PDOP).

That's generally a good indication that although the GPS receiver is sending data it does not yet have a lock.

...ken...

Karen,

Here's what it looks like with a lock.

Terry, you should update your GPSInfo so you can get it all on the same screen instead of having to switch between tabs for the configuration and the display. They now have a version for Vista, too. I assume it will work on Windows 7.

Just FYI, this is the iTrek M7. I tried for about ten minutes with the GPS10X and could only get two birds, not good enough for a lock.

I fired up the M7 and had the 2D lock in the screenshot in less than two minutes. I had a 3D lock a few seconds after I took the screenshot.

This is in my basement.

...ken...

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