GPS advice please

From what Steve told me in a PM, he used the Delorme BT-20 and is now up and running. What it usually boils down to is persistence. When I first tried to configure my GPS using Delorme's serial emulator, I had nothing but trouble. After purchasing GPSGate I've had really good luck and have never looked back.

My configuration has been working fine for two plus years until last night when I offered to help Steve by phone. All of a sudden I kept getting this error message from GPSGate and I couldn't get a signal to share with my apps. I worked on it for two hours and never got anywhere. I ended up deleting the "Instances" folder per this post on Franson's forum: http://www.franson.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7218

Even after that it still wouldn't work. Tonight I boot up and magically it works like a champ. If this isn't evidence that computer gremlins really do exist I'll eat my hat. I'm just glad it's working again!
 
success

From what Steve told me in a PM, he used the Delorme BT-20 and is now up and running. What it usually boils down to is persistence. When I first tried to configure my GPS using Delorme's serial emulator, I had nothing but trouble.

Yes, the Delorme BT-20 is the devise working OK for me now. I never did get the Sprint Data card w/gps to show up with GpsGate. Franson tech support said I had to determine the port used by the Sprint card. Sprint help says I cannot configure the Sprint card to use a port as the port is chosen by the Operating System based on next available.

Ultimately everything came together after doing a restart of the machine. I remember in the old days you had to restart after modifying anything. I guess restarting is still a good idea especially when problems persist.

As I told Mark Blue, the real value of Stormtrack may be the moral support. When others show an interest in your situation it kept me from throwing the whole machine out the back door.

Thanks again,

steve
 
I can offer one more bit of advice on using the Sprint data card for your GPS. If you open device manager on your laptop and expand the ports selection in the tree, you will be able to see which ports the operating system created for your Sprint data card. Then you will know which ones GPSGate will be looking for when you run the wizard to split your signal. You could also just use the ports directly with certain applications and bypass GPSGate altogether.

The one advantage that the Delorme BT-20 has is it will always stay connected no matter where you are chasing. I could be wrong, but if you are not connected to the Sprint network the GPS function will not be able to get a fix on your location. I think it only works when you're on the Sprint network and not when you are roaming, or at least that was my experience on a few chases. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me, but the Delorme will always be connected which goes a long ways when you're chasing in BF Egypt.

I read a post from Dave Drummond a few months ago in which he indicated that he uses a Sierra Wireless data card and the built-in GPS function, as well as a Delorme unit for added value. Here is the post I'm referring to:

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showpost.php?p=173263&postcount=2

I hope this helps.
 
I never did get the Sprint Data card w/gps to show up with GpsGate. Franson tech support said I had to determine the port used by the Sprint card. Sprint help says I cannot configure the Sprint card to use a port as the port is chosen by the Operating System based on next available.

That is odd. While the Sprint card does assign itself a port I've never had a problem with GPS gate seeing the card as a GPS device when I run the setup for GPS gate. I'm assuming you are done messing with things since your delorme is working and you are happy, but did you run the setup while the Sprint card had a fix on your location? Another thing with the Sprint card is when you click the "play" button to allow it to output NMEA to other devices a box pops up and you have to agree to the Privacy Consent for NMEA in order to allow it to work with applications. In the connection manager software under settings - location/gps will show whether you accepted it or not.
 
The one advantage that the Delorme BT-20 has is it will always stay connected no matter where you are chasing. I could be wrong, but if you are not connected to the Sprint network the GPS function will not be able to get a fix on your location. I think it only works when you're on the Sprint network and not when you are roaming, or at least that was my experience on a few chases. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me, but the Delorme will always be connected which goes a long ways when you're chasing in BF Egypt.

I have used mine in my living room to test things out without being connected to Sprint's data. I usually get a warning about location based services from Sprint not being available because I am not connected. I have also used the GPS while roaming when I went to visit my Grandmother in Missouri last summer.

I do use my Sprint card exclusively for GPS but I do keep my Delorme in the truck for backup if needed.

Sorry for the double post, not quite sure how to quote more than one source.
 
I have used mine in my living room to test things out without being connected to Sprint's data. I usually get a warning about location based services from Sprint not being available because I am not connected. I have also used the GPS while roaming when I went to visit my Grandmother in Missouri last summer.

I'm sitting here in the house not connected to the Sprint network and the GPS function is working just fine. Maybe it was a limitation with the previous software as I'm using Sprint Smartview and it seems to work just fine like you said. My datacard is inserted in the Expresscard slot, I'm just not actively connected to the network. I was actually thinking about uninstalling Sprint Smartview and reinstalling the Sprint Connection Manager as I actually prefer the old interface over the new. I hate to hose anything up though as I'm in the process of reinstalling all of my apps on a new hard drive and I hate installing something only to uninstall it. It leaves to much gunk behind in the registry. If I do uninstall I'll have to run Registry Mechanic to clean up the mess!
 
ports hit but miss

Got a new gremlin. GpsGate says I can access data on COMs1, 2, 4, 5, & 6.
When I try to start GPS in GR3 it only gives me the option of ports 3, 8, & 9.
How do I get GR3 to recognise at least one of the options that GpsGate provides?

steve
 
I read through this thread, but I don't understand half of it and I can screw up a two car parade so I'll ask. I just got an aircard from verizon. I have delorme street atlas installed with the lt-20 gps unit. I also have grlevel3 and XM mobile threatnet. I am trying to set it up so that my location will show up on both grlevel3 and on XM. Anybody know exactly what software I need and what exactly to do.
I also signed up for spotter network and am trying to get that working too, which is a whole other problem. I love playing with the technology in the field, but I hate trying to figure out how to work it first. This sucks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Mikey,

I've always been a GPSGate guy as it has always worked seamlessly for me. It's a program that takes your GPS signal then splits it for use among several applications by creating virtual COM ports. More information can be found here:

http://franson.com/gpsgate/

The one question I have for you is what operating system are you using on your laptop? The reason I ask is Stephen and I have had a heck of a time getting his configuration running, as evidenced by the posts in this thread. I can't speak for Baron's WxWorx as I don't use their product, but otherwise I use the others you mentioned and my setup works fine.

Mark
 
I am using vista home premium edition and a 32 bit operating system.
I tried installing gps gate and it went through the setup and everything, but it never did pick up on my gps. I tried opening grlevel3 and starting the gps and obviously it wouldn't work. I've been screwing with this thing all morning. I don't know what the problem is.
 
I'm having the exact same problem as Mikey. I'm operating 32 bit Vista with a Dell Studio laptop. I'm trying to run GPSgate to spread my GPS data to street atlas, spotter network and GR. For some reason the GPS will work with Street Atlas only. I'm thinking that maybe GPSgate isn't compatible with the 32 bit version of Vista?? I really hope I can get this working before things start to heat up! :-(
 
I'll try to contact somebody and see if it's compatible. If it's not I'll let you know. I can't imagine why it wouldn't work though.
I am really glad I'm working on this early. Normally I don't start getting the equipment ready until a few days before the first chase and it bites me in the ass. This is literally the first year I started early and I'm glad I did because this could take a while.
After this I have to work on setting up streaming video. I have about as good of a chance of doing that right as I do of climbing Everest without oxygen.
 
Mikey and Paul,

I've been using GPSGate on Vista Ultimate 32-bit for about two years now and it has worked really well for me, so it is definitely compatible. I did help Steve (the original poster) through his issues, so he can chime in here as well as I'm sure he learned quite abit from our work together as he has been a Mac user his whole life, but got baptised by fire on navigating Windows with me Friday night.

I'd recommend first making absolutely sure your GPS unit is connected to a satellite by placing it in a window hopefully facing south. Then going through the GPSGate user guide making sure you follow the getting started instructions as well as any other useful advice. Both can be found here: http://www.franson.com/gpsgate/guide.asp?platform=winxp. The getting started stuff is a hyperlink and the user guide is in the upper left hand corner in a pdf format. The forums over at Franson are good as Johan (what did you call him Steve??!!) is usually willing to lend a hand. I tell you guys, it worked so easily for me that I'm not sure why it's giving other users so much trouble. The information posted earlier in this thread is also good to review, especially the instructions on resetting GPSGate by deleting the settings in the "Instances" folder here: http://www.franson.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7218, especially if it just doesn't seem to work. I would also recommend installing GPSGate for all users versus just for your user name. Hang in there guys, it will end up working and getting started early was a good move!

Thanks,
Mark
 
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