Hi all,

Kind of new to the whole notebook-as-GPS-receiver thing. Not sure if this fits better in the hardware or software section, sorry; I've searched for some answers I seek with mixed results.

First off, I am hoping to set up my Acer Aspire One (running Windows 7 starter) to run Deloreme TOPO USA 8.0 using a GlobalSat BU-353 antenna. Are all these items compatible? I'm especially concerned with the ability of the software to run on the minimalist Windows 7 Starter OS. My goal is to have great off-road mapping capability as well as street navigation capability in one package.

And...

I've seen posts by people who have purchased Topo USA 8.0 promising a review of the software, but I don't see any follow-ups with a thorough review. Can someone point me in the right direction to find the promised reviews or, if there aren't any, can somebody post a review of their Topo USA 8.0 experiences?

Thanks!

--Mark

Topo 8 runs fine under Windows 7 HP and the starter verion has everything needed so that should not be a problem. Topo 8 should see your BU-353 if you set the Device to Generic NMEA and Port to the appropriate COM port under Options>GPS.

I have Topo 8 but can not test it as it does not include Canadian coverage. I do note the startup for the program is incredibly slow even on a fast computer.

Terry

My experience is the same as Terry's except that my Acer Aspire One has Windows XP on it. Topo 8 runs fine on it and works with the BU-353. Like Terry, I'm also in Canada so I can't really do a good review. No topo coverage without massive downloads of raster images and the road coverage isn't great. In particular, routing is an issue in Canada.

Topo 8 is a powerful program and I suspect that for offroad use in the continental United States it will be a great benefit. If you want aerial images to supplement the topo maps in specific areas, it's great because you can download aerial imagery from DeLorme's site and add them to Topo 8. This is a great way to supplement the topos. But it's not the way to provide default coverage for large areas. The downloads are large. That means they take quite awhile to download, quite a bit of disk space to store and add to the time it takes to load the program.

As Terry said, it takes quite awhile to load the program even on a fast computer. Once it's loaded, panning and zooming over large areas can be slow as well.

The only program I've encountered that is as slow to load and as slow for panning and zooming is Garmin's Basecamp. Both do gorgeous map displays and have a lot of flexibility in the map views you can display. But both require a lot of patience to work with if you are trying to pan and zoom over fairly large areas. As long as you stay in a relatively small area of the map, they are fine to work with.

...ken...

Thanks Terry and Ken- Sounds like I won't have any issues, aside from the risk of hard disk damage from off-road travel with a very stiff, 37 year old Land Rover...

--Mark

Hi Mark,

I had the exact question with all the same hard and software. So how did it work out. I have had NO luck keeping Windows 7 Starter from crashing on the Acer. I've done 4 restores so far. Very frustrating.

Did you have to download a new driver for the BU=353?

Steve

You should send the netbook back for a replacement before the warranty expires. There is no reason Win 7 should crash if that is what the computer came with.

Terry

You read my mind. Thanks for the reply.

Well--I haven't had any trouble with the computer and Windows 7 Starter, though I really limit this computer's exposure to Internet risks like freeware/shareware downloads, etc. I do all that stuff on my lousy desktop.

By coincidence, I just received my BU-353 today, so I don't have a lot of time messing around with it. I've had Topo USA 8.0 (Eastern) on both computers for about a week, and Topo by itself works just fine. Not too slow--I can forgive a little jerkiness in the 3D mode sometimes, dependent on how complex the presented image is.

I have had the Topo program lock up several times with the BU-353 plugged in and tracking. Sometimes it happens when I try to start or stop the GPS or change the GPS options or other options. Having no DVD drive, I just downloaded the drivers from the manufacturer's website. Sometimes I could kill the locked up Topo program from the Windows Task Manager, sometimes I had to restart Windows and once I had to remove the battery to get the computer to shut down.

I think my woes are caused by the BU-353 driver. As I attempted to reply to this thread a few minutes ago, I got the old "blue screen of death" saying that there was a problem with a driver (I had Topo US 8.0 running in the background with the BU-353 plugged in and idling in Nav Mode).

I have gotten it to display the moving map without issue as I drove to work today. On the way home after work, I set it to follow a simple stored route from my work to my house and Topo froze up about halfway home while I was fiddling with some of the features and map zoom (in 3D mode).

I'm going to have to record the exact circumstances when the program freezes up and try to figure out what triggers the problem. Again, as a stand alone mapping/route planning program, it's smooth sailing, but when I add the BU-353 it becomes prone to lockups.

Sounds like the netbook is struggling to manage the amount of work required to run Topo in nav mode. Especially when you are performing other, even minor, tasks.

Terry

I've been using Delorme topos for about 10 years now and have always had some degree of problems on shakey off roads. But I can't even get out of my neighborhood now.

Sounds like the UB-353 driver might be common to our problem though.
I downloaded the driver for Windows 7/etc but now I might try the one for vista 32 bit since our computers are 32 bit.

USGlobalSat Incorporated

Do stay in touch, I may return the Acer tomorrow just to see if I can.

I changed the flow control to "hardware" in accordance with the user comment at the very bottom of this page. I couldn't change the buffers because it says I don't have write permission to do so. I'll see if changing the flow control has any effect and report back when I know something...

LOL that's what I'm doing too. Except I'm stuck at finding "ports" in Device Manager.

Expand the Ports(COM & LPT) heading. When you plug in the BU-353, it should say something like 'Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port(COMx)'

Terry

Where is the Ports Heading?

I thought you were in Device Manager. Just look down the list...you can't miss it.

Terry

Attached Images

Ports.jpg (124.1 KB)

Ya but nope, not there. This may be the difference between Windows 7 and Windows 7 Starter.

Could be. I don't have a copy of W7 Starter so maybe someone else could check.

Terry

Thanks Terry

Strange that you can change the buffers through the device manager but not through "Devices and Printers" in the start menu...

I suspect that reconfiguring this helped on the driver front, but I still had a few issues, like failing to center on GPS and not displaying the little arrow (or litle car/truck) symbol in 3D nav mode. Then it locked up after fiddling wih the options for the dozenth time that session. This was with flow control = hardware, but no buffer change.

I've got starter and it was in my list in the device manager.

Control panel>>Hardware and sound>>Device manager (under "Devices and printers" heading)>>Ports (COM & LPT)>>Prolific USB-to-serial (com__)>>Port settings tab

Flow control = "Hardware" then press "advanced" button and set the buffers both down to "1"

Well, even changing the flow control and buffers, I could still get features to drop off and the whole thing to lock up when changing options while tracking in nav mode. Perhaps the Aspire can't handle all that's going on tracking GPS in nav mode with few user requests thrown in (as Terry said, above). I see spikes in some of the graphs in the Resource Monitor about the time the program locks up.

Could it be that, as the Aspire doesn't have a physical COM or LPT port, they are disabled in the BIOS? Then there would be no reason to show them in Device Manager. A check in your BIOS could tell you.

Terry

Faster way to Device manager is right click 'Computer' and select Properties.

Terry

Attached Images

Device Manager.jpg (109.9 KB)

Finally got the port to show using a different USB port. Don't know why. Drove around last night and so far so good. Didn't use Nav but usually don't need it. I use the head unit for that. My use is mainly getting to fishing spots I've discovered at home.
Fingers crossed.

Steve

I now think my issue may be related to the driver for the GlobalSat BU-353 antenna/GPS, though I'm not really that tech-savvy, so I can't say for sure.

Here's why I suspect the driver: The driver tricks the computer into thinking that the USB port the antenna is plugged into is a COM port, since the Aspire doesn't have any real COM ports. Using only the BU-353 driver to accomplish this eventually results in Topo 8.0 locking up or the whole computer to crash while GPS tracking. BUT...

I installed GPSgate software so I could share the GPS signal and monitor the BU-353 through GlobalSat's GPSinfo utility while simultaneously tracking in Topo 8.0. GPSgate tricks the computer into thinking the GPSsignal is coming over 3 (virtual) COM ports instead of just one. It seems that the Aspire w/Windows 7 starter and/or Delorme Topo 8.0 likes the GPSgate COM port trickery much more than it likes the BU-353 driver's single COM port trickery--I haven't had a lockup or crash since I began running it through GPSgate. Perhaps the BU-353 driver isn't as compatible with with Windows 7 as is suggested by the GlobalSat? I really don't know. All I know is that it works through GPSgate so far.

To summarize: When using an Acer Aspire One (Windows 7 starter version) with DeLorme Topo 8.0 and a GlobalSat BU-353 GPS/antenna, I need to run the signal through GPSgate to keep the system from eventually crashing or the program from eventually locking up in GPS tracking mode. So far anyway... I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Nice find. Does GPSGate work like a driver that you download or do you have to be online (server)?
What does it cost?
Also, do you think Xport would do the same thing?

GPS Gate takes the GPS data from any COM port and allows it to be used on one or more other COM ports. I can't see why it would help keep Delorme Topo from crashing but anything is possible.

Terry

Nope, you don't need to be online for the basic features of GPSGate to work. That's only required if you want to get into the more exotic stuff like vehicle location tracking. The Express version is pretty cheap. It was about $13 when I registered my copy. But that was awhile ago.

Pretty much. It's missing two features of GPSGate. One is that it won't convert NMEA protocol to Garmin protocol .. usually not an issue. And unless it's been added to recent versions it does not find devices that have a straight USB connection. It needs to see a COM port, so the device needs its own USB-to-COM port driver.

It's this last feature that might be the positive influence with crusader's problem. If crusader is letting GPSGate find the direct USB connection for the BU-353, it's bypassing the GlobalSat USB-to-COM port driver. If there are issues with that driver on his system, this takes it right out of the picture.

...ken...

Gps Gate will only find Garmin USB devices. It would only see the BU-353 because the Prolific driver provides a COM port.

Terry

Thanks for the correction, Terry. Now that I think about it, I think I've made that same error before. Must be Oldtimers kicking in.

...ken...

That's right. I've given it a 3-hour, 200-mile test using GPSgate today and had absolutely NO issues tracking/ nav mode in Topo 8.0. Not so much as a single hiccup. I do have to open things in a specific order to get everything properly recognized though:

1) Turn on computer.

2) Plug in BU-353, activating its Prolific USB to COM driver

3) Run the GPSgate program

4) Open DeLorme Topo USA 8.0 & start GPS

If the GPSgate software is running before the BU-353 driver is activated, the driver will not function and the (virtual) COM port will not be recognized (shows "No Device" on all COM ports).

Would be a great feature, though! People wouldn't have to bother with installing software drivers for their USB GPS receivers, they would just use GpsGate instead. I suggested it for GpsGate v.3, but I'm not sure how difficult it would be to implement. Perhaps impossible.

If you plug the BU-353 into your laptop before the laptop starts, and if you set GpsGate to start automatically when Windows starts, you will not have to worry about starting things in a specific order.

You are correct, sir! I just tried this, and it works like a charm--Thanks!

You're pretty proficient on the technical end of all this, Marvin. Any ideas why I can't get this setup working using the GlobalSat driver alone, but it works fine with the GlobalSat driver + GPSgate?

Which version of gpsgate did you download?

They already do it for Garmin USB receivers, as Terry pointed out. As far as I know there isn't anything super special about Garmin's USB receivers. But I've been wrong at least once before. :rofl"

...ken...

It was the 14 day trial of GPSgate standard client v2.6, though I think when it comes time to buy it, I can get by with the express version for only $12.95

Rat own brotha! Thanks!
EDIT: Gave it a good test all day today. Worked perfectly.

Whew--It's nice to have this accidental fix independently validated like this. It is, however, driving me slightly further insane not knowing how GPSgate fixes it...

True and I wonder if we even need the BU driver.

If you read the previous posts, you would know. GPS Gate will only find the BU-353 because the Prolific driver provides a COM port output from the USB GPS input. GPS Gate can only see Garmin USB devices in its present form.

Terry

Yup...you do need it.

What was given up by setting the buffers to 1?

Oh...I forgot to say...I changed my buffers back to the max and also put the flow control back to "none", since changing them didn't really solve anything for me anyway.

Off Topic but can anyone tell me how to get the red and green routing buttons to activate? For some reason they are now all grey.

Those routing buttons are only active in the right map window, not the left one. Sounds like you have only the left window displayed.

You are correct sir. Thanks.

I don't seem to have the "voice" tab in my options menu on the Acer. Any ideas?

Don't know how to fix it, but I CAN say from personal experience that the notebook can't seem to handle listening, interpreting and navigating/tracking all at once...

Good to be aware of that. I have a quest in to Delorme too. I'll post here if I get an answer.
Although I am thinking it has to be the Acer's lack of components to handle the mic.

Well, the built-in mic works sufficiently and it it actually responds to my voice commands while tracking for a few minutes, then it gets a bit overwhelmed and jams up. I de-select the voice command function and all is well.

Okay then, well back to Delorme for now.

Uh I didn't have the "voice" tab tagged. (duh)

But on to another prob. Did GPSGate charge you $39 for the download?
Apparently my trial has run out already.

You want the light version; GPS Gate Express. Its around $13 but can provide 2 COM ports.

Terry

I think I got it. Thanks for all your help and patience.

Hi again,

Have you had any trouble getting GPS Gate to automatically initiate when you turn on the Acer?

If you have GPS Gate set to start automatically with Windows and it doesn't, maybe you have too many things starting with Windows. Another thing that can affect start up programs is UPNP. I don't know why but there was a lot of discussion about it some time ago.

If you need to disable UPNP you can do it through the Add/ Remove section of Control Panel.Choose the Add/Remove Windows components icon on the left and then Network Services. Click the Detail button and uncheck UPNP User interface and OK. Restart your computer and see if GPS Gate starts.

Terry

Thanks Terry,

This computer is new and used only to run Delorme Topo. I don't even go online with it, eliminating protection software. There have been two occasions where the program failed on the road. I'm going to try booting the program on each startup to see if that will invoke GPS Gate.

I also wonder why clicking on the desktop icon does nothing.

I'm running a bunch of other stuff on my Aspire One and don't have any problems IF I DO THINGS PROPERLY.

You've got to do things in a certain order--

The antenna driver has to be installed/running before GPSgate kicks in and GPSgate has to be up and running before Topo 8.0 runs. If you plug the antenna in after GPS gate is already running, it won't find it and you'll have to manually open GPSgate and then open the port.

Also, GPSgate needs to know which virtual "COM" port you're using (each USB port corresponds to a different COM port):
The USB port on left side of the keyboard closest to the screen = COM4, the one closest to the mousepad = COM3 and the USB port on the right side = COM5.

You must always plug the antenna into the same USB port unless you tell GPSgate what new "COM" port you are using.

To summarize: Presuming your GPSgate is set to the correct port, you should 1) Plug your antenna in to the correct port, 2) Turn the computer on and 3) Open Topo 8.0.

Hope this helps!

OK I've been consistent with COM4, so plug in ant., open computer lid, press start, then open Topo.

Do you just close the lid when done or close the Topo program first?

Just a correction. The COM ports are assigned as you use them. They are not dedicated to a USB port. Depending on which USB you used first will determine which COM port is assigned. Also, there is a way to have the GPS go to the same COM port, no matter which USB port you connect it to.

Terry

I never just close the lid--It seems to cause issues.

I tell it to sleep if I want to keep everything the same when I fire it up again in a few miutes (sleep still uses batteries). I tell it to hibernate if I want it to remember what I had open but fully shut down. If I don't care what I had open when I fire it back up, I'll just hit "shut down".

That's what I thought too, but it doesn't pan out that way (at least not on mine). I can plug my antenna into the right-side USB port from a cold start and it will be COM5 every time. Check it out using the GpsInfo program that came with the antenna.

That is because that is the COM port Windows assigned to the driver when you first plugged the GPS in to that port. If you had first plugged the GPS into a different USB port, your assignments would likely have been different. Once the COM port is assigned, it will not change though.

Terry

Ahh...So it remembers back when I first did it way back when? OK. Sounds good!

In that case... Disclaimer: Your USB ports may yeild different COM port equivalents than mine, but they will be consistent, once established.

Closing the lid of your computer may put it into Sleep or Hibernate mode. Although I can't remember how GPS Gate responds to Sleep mode, you might want to uncheck the 'Close Input when computer hibernates' to see if that makes a difference. You can access the option by closing the input COM port.

Terry

Attached Images

Hibernate.jpg (74.3 KB)

Just a quick note that if you tend to use different USB ports for your USB GPS, you may easily set your GPS receiver to use the same com port in all of your USB ports.

You could do this, one by one, for each of your USB ports, in the Device Manager. Ask if you need more info. It might have been discussed here before I think.

That brings up another oddity, I can't open the GPS Gate program. Clicking on the icon produces nothing. Does the antenna have to be hooked up for that?

To open the program which is probably running, right click the icon in the notification area and choose 'Settings'.

Terry

Attached Images

Notification.jpg (28.7 KB)

THANKS!

Just to add to that: The notification area is the one in the lower right corner, with the battery status and volume controls. My GPSgate icon is hidden down there, I have to expand the area to see it. Red icon=No GPS, yellow=GPS but no data, Green = GPS with position data.

Sorry, I was late with the screen shot. I always leave the notification area expanded.

Terry

Welp I've decided that the Aspire One just aint fast enough for the Topo (9.0 plus what I'm asking it to do.)
Since the CPU can not be upgraded any suggestions on a similar sized, maybe even touch screen computer upgrade?

Although I didn't try that program, I'll bet the ASUS EP121 Slate could run it fine. About twice the power of a netbook but the touch screen is a little large at 12". Pricey too! I wouldn't try it on my Fujitsu q550 slate but the HP 500 might be able to do it. It is a little better than a netbook.

Terry

12" would be even better than the 10" But you're right about the price.
Probably don't need the touch screen the more I think about it.

I don't suppose Delorme is working on an app for iPad.

Anyone know the best way to transfer GPSGate to another computer? Or is it easier to just redownload. But I think I paid something for it so...not sure.

If you paid for your copy, you should have received an email with the license key. Hopefully you saved the email or the key text somewhere.

If not you could download the free express version.

Terry

Thanks. I'll look for it.

Couldn't find it.

Having been to the site I can't figure out what or even how to buy. I was using GPSGate 2.6 and paid $12.95 back on 7/20/2010.

Has anyone bought the program recently?

Back then, that price would have paid for the Express version. It is now free. As I understand it, just download the regular version and it will work as the basic Express version if you don't pay for the upgrade.

Terry

What causes the rout buttons (green and red) to not light up?

I recently upgraded to the 722 model with 4GB memory, maybe a slightly better CPU and Windows 7 as opposed to 7 Starter in hopes of better operation off road.

It crashed after about an hour and more frequently from then on. I tried not loading the Topo9 program to see if it was just Windows that was crashing and it lasted at lot longer but eventually crashed.

I think it has to do with a combination of the GPS driver and GPSgate but I'm at a loss for now.

I don't know if the AMD C-50 CPU would be considered an upgrade from some netbooks with an Intel processor. Whether it is capable of running Delorme Topo is beyond my testing abilities but I can't see why it couldn't handle GPS Gate.

Terry

Sorry to be boring but I'm back to square one. I can't run Topo 9 with BU-353 and GPSgate on an upgraded Acer Aspire for more than 45 minutes without Windows 7 crashing (blue screen with info). Then after a reboot the crash is sooner.
There has to be an incompatibility somewhere.

Windows 7 usually only blue screens from a hardware issue. Does the message give you any clue what the problem is? Could it be heat related especially as it occurs more quickly after a reboot? Make sure you aren't blocking any vents.

Terry

I thought of heat too, but it's a new computer totally vented. I just purchased an LT-40 antenna on eBay at the advice of Delorme. I think I tried one years ago, but that might have been the LT-20. I just remember when I first tried the BU-353 it worked great. Maybe not now with Windows 7. Hell I'll try anything.

Delorme products don't require GPS Gate as they will work directly with NMEA receivers such as the BU-353. Have you tried that before you bother with that ugly yellow thing!

Terry

GPSgate seemed to solve the problem when a few of us here on the site tried it last year. But I have not tried without for some time so I will now. Thanks.

For whatever it's worth, it should never be necessary to use GPSGate with the DeLorme nav programs. They are perhaps the most flexible for choosing the type of GPS receiver you have. They will connect to serial or USB and they will even take input directly from Garmin's proprietary version of NMEA without needing the conversion that GPSGate does.

...ken...

Thanks Ken.