GPS advice please

[Mark Blue]

Okay guys: I think this post says it all:

http://www.franson.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7763&SearchTerms=Delorme

If I understand what Johan is saying, you will need the Delorme Serial Emulator (DSE) to create a serial port to which GPSGate can then connect to. This stinks because IMHO the DSE is a POS period! There are all kinds of rants on the web about it, especially with Vista.

Mikey - is the Delorme BT-20 (Bluetooth) puck an option for you? I wonder if Delorme would let you exchange the LT-20 out for the BT-20?

Paul T. - what model of Bluetooth receiver do you have (Jeff also asked in his post)?

 

[Paul Townsend]

I have a Sony NV-U83T. I was able to get the gpsgate status color to go to green, but it claimed to have no position data. I had made sure that a position was obtained on the gps unit before trying it with gpsgate.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

Hell I'll buy two of the BT-20's if it will get this damn thing working. I don't even know if this laptop has bluetooth capability. I'm going to poke around on it in a minute and if it does I'll just reorder the other gps device.
So does nobody else run the LT-20 with gps gate? I started to go through the instructions on the DSE, but I don't know how to figure out which com port to select. I used to have to do that back when I started chasing to get my gps working with xm, but that was years ago and don't have a clues how I got to the com ports.

 

[Mark Blue]

I have a Sony NV-U83T. I was able to get the gpsgate status color to go to green, but it claimed to have no position data. I had made sure that a position was obtained on the gps unit before trying it with gpsgate.

I just went to the Sony site and searched and scanned the user guide. When it comes to Bluetooth they talk about connecting the unit to a cell phone, then later connecting it to a computer, but nowhere did I find that this unit outputs data in the NMEA format, which it will need to if you're going to use it with GPSGate to share it with other apps. You might want to dig deeper to find out if it can output data in this format, but it didn't look too promising from what I looked at. Don't give up! Persistence always wins in the end!

 

[Mikey Gribble]

It looks like my computer is bluetooth capable so I'll go ahead and order the other gps unit. I pray to god that ends this nightmare so I can move on to getting my other equipment set up. thanks everybody for your help. I appreciate it. I probably would have layed down on the train tracks if it wasn't for you.

 

[Mark Blue]

Hell I'll buy two of the BT-20's if it will get this damn thing working. I don't even know if this laptop has bluetooth capability. I'm going to poke around on it in a minute and if it does I'll just reorder the other gps device.
So does nobody else run the LT-20 with gps gate? I started to go through the instructions on the DSE, but I don't know how to figure out which com port to select. I used to have to do that back when I started chasing to get my gps working with xm, but that was years ago and don't have a clues how I got to the com ports.

Dude, if you have built-in Bluetooth that's good, but if not you can get a USB dongle to add it to your laptop. There are others who run an LT-20 with GPSGate, but apparently you need the DSE in between. I messed with the DSE 2 years ago and ended up punting it, so I'm not real familiar with it. I think you just right click it from the system tray and select whichever option takes you to the settings.

I've also hear Windows UAC and Defender should be turned off as it doesn't like the DSE. Let me know if either app is running on your rig, so you can turn them off. I also saw another post about running the DSE as an administrator and that made a big difference in the end. This is a mouthful, but we can break it down into bite size pieces if it helps. Hang in there!!

 

[Mikey Gribble]

Alright, here is the link to the delorme gps page.
http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10043
They have the bt-20 and the lt-20. I should get the bt-20 shouldn't I? Is that all the models of delorme gps units on that page because I remember hearing some other model numbers earlier in the thread.
I'm ready to pull the trigger on the bt-20 if that's what you think I need. I can always turn around and send it back if it doesn't work.

 

[Mark Blue]

Yes, the BT-20. I saw something on their website that if you just want the GPS unit you would need to call customer service. Hey, PM me your email address and I'll look for an e-mail I've received that has a priority code so you can get a discount.

Geez, I hate to see you shell out more when it would work with the DSE, but that program can be riddled with problems and it's pretty well known. If they'd let you exchange your LT-20 I'd sure feel better about this.

When the time comes and you try to set it up, if it doesn't work I'll go offline with you and help like I did with Stepen the original poster. I'm not going to bail on you, especially if you go to the trouble of buying another puck from Delorme.

Yes, this is what I saw, about the third Q&A down if you just want to buy the puck:

http://www.delorme.com/support/supporttemplate.aspx?id=274

 

[Paul Townsend]

I just went to the Sony site and searched and scanned the user guide. When it comes to Bluetooth they talk about connecting the unit to a cell phone, then later connecting it to a computer, but nowhere did I find that this unit outputs data in the NMEA format, which it will need to if you're going to use it with GPSGate to share it with other apps. You might want to dig deeper to find out if it can output data in this format, but it didn't look too promising from what I looked at. Don't give up! Persistence always wins in the end!

Thanks for your help, Mark. I figured it wasn't outputting NMEA formatted data based on what the gpsgate was doing when I was messing with it. Are there other courses of action other than GPSGate to split gps data to other applications? I am miffed that I made a thread asking about this very unit almost 2 weeks ago, before purchasing, including asking about how I would connect it with GRL3, but got not one response from 70+ looks at the thread.

 

[Mark Blue]

Man, I don't remember that thread, but I wish I would have noticed it now. Where did you buy it from? If it was like BestBuy, you could probably take it back under the old 30 day return deal.

 

[Stephen Locke]

Whew!

OMG I'm getting worn out reading through this thread. I feel your pain guys. It was Friday night one week ago (about 1am) when I finally got all the programs to play nice . . . after days of working on it. Hang in there . . . .!!! It'll be worth it in the end. Don't forget to B-R-E-A-T-H.

-Stephen Locke

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I'm done trying to get this thing to work. Is there another gps unit I could buy that will work with grlevel3 and xm mobile threatnet? If so I'll run that and my delorme one and just use the delorme one for street atlas.

 

[Robert Rohloff]

GPS

Mikey, I use a Garmin 2620 and it runs GPS for GR3, Barons, Spotter Net and I use Franson Gate. I have no problems running them all.

 

[Jeff Russell]

I'm done trying to get this thing to work. Is there another gps unit I could buy that will work with grlevel3 and xm mobile threatnet? If so I'll run that and my delorme one and just use the delorme one for street atlas.

Mikey, BU-353 is my choice! USGlobalSat

I run GPSGate, GRL3, SpotterNet and MS Streets & Trips with no problems!

Jeff

 

[Paul Townsend]

I got my BU-353 in the mail today and lo and behold I get a position on my GR software.

Since I have no concrete plans to split my GPS signal to more than just GR, I went with the BU-353 puck for a little less cash than buying GPSGate.

It was a simple installation process.