Connect GPS to PC using USB?
 

My Furuno GPS can be connected to a PC by a serial cable. The wiring
diagram can be viewed on the GPS itself. But: my laptop doesn't have a
serial port. Is there a way to make a USB-cable instead? (And to have
some chartplotting program recognize this)?

Jsp

I think computer stores sell cables that will have USB at your PC end and
serial connector at the other so you can use it as is or as a changeover
from serial to USB.

"Jsp" wrote in message
...
My Furuno GPS can be connected to a PC by a serial cable. The wiring
diagram can be viewed on the GPS itself. But: my laptop doesn't have a
serial port. Is there a way to make a USB-cable instead? (And to have some
chartplotting program recognize this)?

Jsp

Jsp wrote:

My Furuno GPS can be connected to a PC by a serial cable. The wiring
diagram can be viewed on the GPS itself. But: my laptop doesn't have a
serial port. Is there a way to make a USB-cable instead? (And to have
some chartplotting program recognize this)?


What you need is called a serial to USB adapter or converter.

You can find them at places like CompUSA, Fryes, Circuit City, Best Buy,
Staples, etc. The ones made by Belkin seem to be widely acceptable, I
have never found a serial input (including a number of GPS NMEA inputs)
that would not work with the one I have.

It is a short (10" or so) cable with a USB plug on one end and a small
housing with a DB9P connector (looks just like your missing serial port
socket) on the other.

The Belkin I have (model F5U109) also has three LEDs (RX, TX, LINK) to
indicate status of the serial connection and traffic flow.

If you are into shopping around for one, try eBay. There are hundreds
of them for sale there every day. A search for "serial usb" will turn up
a bunch.

Jack


--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

What you need is called a serial to USB adapter or converter.

I got mine at the Radio Shack........

Leanne

Leanne wrote:
What you need is called a serial to USB adapter or converter.


I got mine at the Radio Shack........

Leanne


Thanks all. I'll try out your suggestions. As I am Dutch, I'll look for
equivalents of the shops and site over here.

Jsp

Not likely, USB and RS232 serial are very different animals. One can
however buy a device that provides serial ports and does plug into USB.
I have one that has 4 serial ports and interfaces to a USB port.

Doug

"William G. Andersen" wrote in message
news:Hawee.1297$eU.222@fed1read07...
I think computer stores sell cables that will have USB at your PC end and
serial connector at the other so you can use it as is or as a changeover
from serial to USB.

"Jsp" wrote in message
...
My Furuno GPS can be connected to a PC by a serial cable. The wiring
diagram can be viewed on the GPS itself. But: my laptop doesn't have a
serial port. Is there a way to make a USB-cable instead? (And to have
some chartplotting program recognize this)?

Jsp

Check out www.keyspan.com

"Jsp" wrote in message
...
Leanne wrote:
What you need is called a serial to USB adapter or converter.


I got mine at the Radio Shack........

Leanne


Thanks all. I'll try out your suggestions. As I am Dutch, I'll look for
equivalents of the shops and site over here.

Jsp

Doug Dotson wrote:
Check out www.keyspan.com

"Jsp" wrote in message
...

Leanne wrote:

What you need is called a serial to USB adapter or converter.



That's exactly what I need. It never even occured to me that a thing
like this exists.
I saw one on the site mentioned above that provides one RS232 serial
interface. So I presume this also makes the OS and the chartplotting
program "think" the computer now has a COM-port, which is needed for the
setup of the connection with the GPS?

Thanks again.
Jsp

Jsp wrote:
Doug Dotson wrote:
Check out www.keyspan.com

"Jsp" wrote in message
...

Leanne wrote:

What you need is called a serial to USB adapter or converter.



That's exactly what I need. It never even occured to me that a thing
like this exists.
I saw one on the site mentioned above that provides one RS232 serial
interface. So I presume this also makes the OS and the chartplotting
program "think" the computer now has a COM-port, which is needed for
the setup of the connection with the GPS?

Thanks again.
Jsp

They come with driver software and have to be installed, only takes a few
minutes. Make sure the one you buy is compatible with your operating system
(WinXP, ME, 98 etc.) Ebay usually has loads of them. The converter is USB to
serial, NOT serial to USB as mentioned above!


--
Digital Photo-charts fo all UK areas.
Remove 'nospam' to reply.

Jsp wrote:

I saw one on the site mentioned above that provides one RS232 serial
interface. So I presume this also makes the OS and the chartplotting
program "think" the computer now has a COM-port, which is needed for the
setup of the connection with the GPS?

A Windows OS will Plug & Play the serial to USB adapter. You may need
to provide a driver the first time, that is normally supplied on a CD
with the adapter.

If you need to know the COM port number, you can then find that listed
in the Device Manager under COM and LPT ports. The port will usually be
identified with the adapter or maybe the IC that does the A/D conversion.

Jack


--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)