Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

wrote in message
...
I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

Meindert

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Dec 5, 6:57 am, "Meindert Sprang"
wrote:
wrote in message

...

I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

Meindert

Meindert, Thank you, I have downloaded the virtualplex demo and am
having trouble getting the programs to recognize the virtual com
ports. I have restarted a couple of times and find that 1. device
manager does not see the virtual com ports, 2 airmail position
reporting does not see the virtuals, 3 when I got the Cap'n to see a
virtual port, airmail was told that the master port was busy. Any
ideas on fixes here, TIA Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Dec 5, 6:57 am, "Meindert Sprang"
wrote:
wrote in message

...

I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

Meindert

Meindert, Thank you, I have downloaded the virtualplex demo and am
having trouble getting the programs to recognize the virtual com
ports. I have restarted a couple of times and find that 1. device
manager does not see the virtual com ports, 2 airmail position
reporting does not see the virtuals, 3 when I got the Cap'n to see a
virtual port, airmail was told that the master port was busy. Any
ideas on fixes here, TIA Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Dec 5, 11:27 am, Jeannette wrote:
wrote:
I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

You don't need any special software. You can tell Winlink (Airmail)
where to look for the GPS data.
In the Module/Position Reports box, at the bottom right there is a check
box for data input and a 'setup' button next to it. You click setup
where you can set what port your GPS is on.
That's how it works for me.

Jeannette
Con Te Partiro
aa6jh

Hi Jeanette, I want to be able to keep my nav program tracking on the
route I am on while I gather data from the GPS for position reports
via winlink. When the com port that has the GPS is serving my nav
program, Airmail gets a com X is in use and can not read current GPS
data. Meindert's virtual port creating program is a good answer to
this if I can get it to run on XP.
UPDATE: I have gotten both programs to recognize a virtual port other
than the master port. The Cap'n is now flashing position alternating
with no fix at one second intervals. I guess that's progress. The
other thing I want to see it do is see it maintain data integrity when
I come out of hibernate. Hope it works, if not, I can alway either
close nav to get GPS to airmail, or enter data manually in airmail so
I keep track and time predictions going in nav.....Windoze is so much
fun to use LOL.Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Dec 5, 11:27 am, Jeannette wrote:
wrote:
I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

You don't need any special software. You can tell Winlink (Airmail)
where to look for the GPS data.
In the Module/Position Reports box, at the bottom right there is a check
box for data input and a 'setup' button next to it. You click setup
where you can set what port your GPS is on.
That's how it works for me.

Jeannette
Con Te Partiro
aa6jh

Hi Jeanette, I want to be able to keep my nav program tracking on the
route I am on while I gather data from the GPS for position reports
via winlink. When the com port that has the GPS is serving my nav
program, Airmail gets a com X is in use and can not read current GPS
data. Meindert's virtual port creating program is a good answer to
this if I can get it to run on XP.
UPDATE: I have gotten both programs to recognize a virtual port other
than the master port. The Cap'n is now flashing position alternating
with no fix at one second intervals. I guess that's progress. The
other thing I want to see it do is see it maintain data integrity when
I come out of hibernate. Hope it works, if not, I can alway either
close nav to get GPS to airmail, or enter data manually in airmail so
I keep track and time predictions going in nav.....Windoze is so much
fun to use LOL.Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Dec 5, 11:27 am, Jeannette wrote:
wrote:
I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

You don't need any special software. You can tell Winlink (Airmail)
where to look for the GPS data.
In the Module/Position Reports box, at the bottom right there is a check
box for data input and a 'setup' button next to it. You click setup
where you can set what port your GPS is on.
That's how it works for me.

Jeannette
Con Te Partiro
aa6jh

Hi Jeanette, I want to be able to keep my nav program tracking on the
route I am on while I gather data from the GPS for position reports
via winlink. When the com port that has the GPS is serving my nav
program, Airmail gets a com X is in use and can not read current GPS
data. Meindert's virtual port creating program is a good answer to
this if I can get it to run on XP.
UPDATE: I have gotten both programs to recognize a virtual port other
than the master port. The Cap'n is now flashing position alternating
with no fix at one second intervals. I guess that's progress. The
other thing I want to see it do is see it maintain data integrity when
I come out of hibernate. Hope it works, if not, I can alway either
close nav to get GPS to airmail, or enter data manually in airmail so
I keep track and time predictions going in nav.....Windoze is so much
fun to use LOL.Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Google reposts when I refresh to see if it took. Sorry for the double
posting, Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

wrote in news:efe8693b-38f6-4f1b-a0c1-
:

I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink
connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation
program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get
position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed
more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav
program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry


Unfortunately, for you, both Winlink and Cap'n are rather stupid
programs that cannot share data coming from what both programs
THINK is an old RS-232C serial port, simultaneously. So, only
one program can read the port at a time.

Now there IS a solution! Connect up a SECOND serial port input
from the same GPS data stream the first one is using. Only
connect up the two serial INPUT pins, not output. Airmail only
needs data IN, and doesn't need data out to get GPS information.

As I suspect your computer is using USB ports disguised as serial
ports with converter cables, use two cables to prevent the stupid
softwares from confusing it. Name each pseudo-serial port with a
different com port number...say COM1 and COM2. Hook Cap'n to one
of them...Hook Winlink to the other. Don't tell them they're
wired together and they'll never know...(c;

Too bad marine software is still in the 1980s...RS-232C computers
and RS-422 data networks. How silly.

http://www.aggsoft.com/rs232-pinout-...and-signal.htm
On a 9-pin 232 connector, Data IN is pin 2.
Of course, to confuse you, on a 25 pin the data lines are
reversed. Pin 3 is Data IN on a 25 pin 232 connector, really
dumb.

The only other wire you should hook up is the data ground between
the pins...to the shield of the cable between them to reduce RF
noise tearing up your HF radios. Pin 5 on 9 pin, pin 7 on 25 pin
is data ground.

DO NOT JUST parallel two cables as two SEND lines cannot be
hooked together without trashing each other...NOT GOOD!

Larry
--
Isn't it ironic that the same ISPs that are telling you
you're downloads threaten their networks......
.....are testing 100Gbps TV to sell on the SAME systems?
http://tinyurl.com/27qx3v

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
ll.nl:

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

OUCH! $75 for a little virtual serial port utility?!

That's kinda HIGH!

Larry
--
Isn't it ironic that the same ISPs that are telling you
you're downloads threaten their networks......
.....are testing 100Gbps TV to sell on the SAME systems?
http://tinyurl.com/27qx3v

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 03:07:47 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry

If you have a spare serial port on the computer, just make a "Y" cord
to connect the GPS data out to the data in on two serial ports. Do
not connect the computer data out on the second serial connector.

One NMEA-0183 output should be able to drive at least four listeners.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Thanks all for your good responses. The short term end result is that
I have not found a solution that works easily. I have USB only ports
on my PC and am sitting in South Caicos in the midst of a passage from
the VI to FL. I am going to get underway this morning. I thought
that I had the virtualplex debugged and working, but on bringing the
PC out of hibernation when I left the fuel dock yesterday, the Cap'n
would not find GPS and I decided to uninstall the virtualplex demo so
that I would have stable GPS sig to my Nav program. This serial to
usb business has been a PITA til I got an edgeport 2 serial to USB
which has been flawless. Later, Larry

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
wrote in news:efe8693b-38f6-4f1b-a0c1-
:

I am running an XP comp. When underway, I use winlink
connections to
give position report, but when I am running my Navigation
program
(Cap'n 6.1), the GPS data is unavailable to airmail to get
position,
course and speed info. Is ther ea way to have the GPS feed
more than
one com port so that I can do this without closing the nav
program to
make GPS (or it's com port) visible to airmail? TIA Larry


Unfortunately, for you, both Winlink and Cap'n are rather stupid
programs that cannot share data coming from what both programs
THINK is an old RS-232C serial port, simultaneously. So, only
one program can read the port at a time.

Now there IS a solution! Connect up a SECOND serial port input
from the same GPS data stream the first one is using. Only
connect up the two serial INPUT pins, not output. Airmail only
needs data IN, and doesn't need data out to get GPS information.

As I suspect your computer is using USB ports disguised as serial
ports with converter cables, use two cables to prevent the stupid
softwares from confusing it. Name each pseudo-serial port with a
different com port number...say COM1 and COM2. Hook Cap'n to one
of them...Hook Winlink to the other. Don't tell them they're
wired together and they'll never know...(c;

Too bad marine software is still in the 1980s...RS-232C computers
and RS-422 data networks. How silly.


Not silly. Proven and reliable technology. That's what we want in a marine
environment.
Don't confuse MS windows comport stuff with EIA and CCITT industry
standards.
Cole.

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
ll.nl:

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

OUCH! $75 for a little virtual serial port utility?!

That's kinda HIGH!

Larry
--

I guess you can develop a virtual serial port utility for all of us for a
lot less so we all can benefit?
Let us know when you have completed it. Then you are THE MAN!
Cole.

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

"Cole Maze" wrote in
:

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
ll.nl:

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

OUCH! $75 for a little virtual serial port utility?!

That's kinda HIGH!

Larry
--

I guess you can develop a virtual serial port utility for all
of us
for a lot less so we all can benefit?
Let us know when you have completed it. Then you are THE MAN!
Cole.



I'M THE MAN!
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads...rial-port.html
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
http://www.softslist.com/download-4-9-29679.html
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/B...com-ports.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COM_port_redirector
http://www.softplatz.com/freeware/virtual-serial-port/
http://www.softizer.com/
....yawn.....My clicker's tired. Go to Google and enter:
virtual serial port free
into the search engine. There's thousands for FREE....


Larry
--
Isn't it ironic that the same ISPs that are telling you
you're downloads threaten their networks......
.....are testing 100Gbps TV to sell on the SAME systems?
http://tinyurl.com/27qx3v

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Larry wrote in news:Xns99FED06BF8F2Fnoonehomecom@
208.49.80.253:

"Cole Maze" wrote in
:

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
ll.nl:

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

OUCH! $75 for a little virtual serial port utility?!

That's kinda HIGH!

Larry
--

I guess you can develop a virtual serial port utility for all
of us
for a lot less so we all can benefit?
Let us know when you have completed it. Then you are THE MAN!
Cole.



I'M THE MAN!
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads...rial-port.html
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
http://www.softslist.com/download-4-9-29679.html
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/B...com-ports.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COM_port_redirector
http://www.softplatz.com/freeware/virtual-serial-port/
http://www.softizer.com/
...yawn.....My clicker's tired. Go to Google and enter:
virtual serial port free
into the search engine. There's thousands for FREE....

Larry

Ah, but these aren't MARINE virtual serial ports! :-)

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Geoff Schultz wrote in
:

Ah, but these aren't MARINE virtual serial ports! :-)



Ah, I see, the ship's wheel logo on the desktop icon...sorry.

That must account for the $75 pricetag....

Larry
--
Isn't it ironic that the same ISPs that are telling you
you're downloads threaten their networks......
.....are testing 100Gbps TV to sell on the SAME systems?
http://tinyurl.com/27qx3v

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

OK, must admit...y're the MAN.
What is software worth these days...
Think I will go find another profession. Any suggestions?
Cole.

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Cole Maze" wrote in
:

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Meindert Sprang" wrote in
ll.nl:

http://www.shipmodul.com/en/virtualplex-1.html

OUCH! $75 for a little virtual serial port utility?!

That's kinda HIGH!

Larry
--

I guess you can develop a virtual serial port utility for all
of us
for a lot less so we all can benefit?
Let us know when you have completed it. Then you are THE MAN!
Cole.



I'M THE MAN!
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads...rial-port.html
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
http://www.softslist.com/download-4-9-29679.html
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/B...com-ports.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COM_port_redirector
http://www.softplatz.com/freeware/virtual-serial-port/
http://www.softizer.com/
...yawn.....My clicker's tired. Go to Google and enter:
virtual serial port free
into the search engine. There's thousands for FREE....


Larry
--
Isn't it ironic that the same ISPs that are telling you
you're downloads threaten their networks......
....are testing 100Gbps TV to sell on the SAME systems?
http://tinyurl.com/27qx3v

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

"Cole Maze" wrote in news:475c3e36$0
:

OK, must admit...y're the MAN.
What is software worth these days...
Think I will go find another profession. Any suggestions?
Cole.


Buy a service boat and do sanitation pumpouts. My buddy Joe took
his Jenneau 40DS to Tortola. As they approached BVI, they went
to open the seacocks to dump the tiny sanitary tanks overboard at
sea, only to discover they were stuck shut and wouldn't open, not
good.

It cost Joe FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS to pump out two tiny 15 gallon
holding tanks in Tortola so they could take out the valves and
replace them. God know what that cost down there!

We're both in the wrong business!

Larry
--
Isn't it ironic that the same ISPs that are telling you
you're downloads threaten their networks......
.....are testing 100Gbps TV to sell on the SAME systems?
http://tinyurl.com/27qx3v

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Jack Erbes wrote in news:475c9c80$0$2333
:

Sounds like Joe doesn't know his ****. :) Or ship either one.

But that is about a $5.00 fee around here if the pump out lines
are
working. But if you have to get it out the hard way I wouldn't
do it
for $500.


Did you read TORTOLA in my post? Pumpout is free, here....often if
you tip regularly. But, alas, in TORTOLA they get more...

Larry
--
Merry Christmas!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qi_NhFS4xEE

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
I'M THE MAN!
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads...rial-port.html
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
http://www.softslist.com/download-4-9-29679.html

These are all redirectors to TCP/IP....

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/B...com-ports.html

Aha, finally a similar product ("Share Serial ports"). Oops.... $111......

Oh and the generic serial port 'splitters' only allow incoming data to be
distributed to multiple virtual ports. VirtualPlex is only passing NMEA data
(discrete sentences) and can therefore also accept data from multiple
virtual ports and send it back to the master or hardware port without
creating garbage.

And VirtualPlex has always been 49 euros, which amounted to $39 a couple of
years ago, but since the value of the US dollar went down the drain....

Meindert

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Meindert, Thank you, I have downloaded the virtualplex demo and am
having trouble getting the programs to recognize the virtual com
ports. I have restarted a couple of times and find that 1. device
manager does not see the virtual com ports,

Correct. This is because they are not linked to hardware devices and because
of the way the program creates these ports.

But every normal windows program should be able to open the ports. If they
are not listed in a port selection dialog, it is because of the way programs
find out which ports are present in a system. There is no uniform way to do
that and several methods do or don't come up with virtual ports.

airmail was told that the master port was busy.

Which is correct, since VirtualPlex opens the master port. So all other apps
should open one of the created virtual ports.

Regards,
Meindert

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Larry wrote in news:Xns9A01D8829B535noonehomecom@
208.49.80.253:

Jack Erbes wrote in news:475c9c80$0$2333
:

Sounds like Joe doesn't know his ****. :) Or ship either one.

But that is about a $5.00 fee around here if the pump out lines
are
working. But if you have to get it out the hard way I wouldn't
do it
for $500.


Did you read TORTOLA in my post? Pumpout is free, here....often if
you tip regularly. But, alas, in TORTOLA they get more...

Larry

I'd like to know where you even find a pump-out in Tortola. When I was
last there with BlueJacket (1999 & 2000) there weren't any pumpouts and the
charter fleet didn't have holding tanks.

I remember clearing into Redhook in the USVIs and asking where I could find
a pump-out. They looked at me like I had 2 heads and finally came up with
a marina that was supposed to have had one. They had one that was buried
in the corner of the marina with a large boat blocking access to it...not
that it mattered anyhow as it hadn't worked in years.

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Geoff Schultz wrote in
:

I'd like to know where you even find a pump-out in Tortola.
When I
was last there with BlueJacket (1999 & 2000) there weren't any
pumpouts and the charter fleet didn't have holding tanks.

I remember clearing into Redhook in the USVIs and asking where
I could
find a pump-out. They looked at me like I had 2 heads and
finally
came up with a marina that was supposed to have had one. They
had one
that was buried in the corner of the marina with a large boat
blocking
access to it...not that it mattered anyhow as it hadn't worked
in
years.



They had some kind of boat or barge come alongside and pump it
out. I didn't get all the gory details, once the price made me
lightheaded...(c;

Larry
--
Merry Christmas!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qi_NhFS4xEE

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

Well, I am done with the passage that I wanted to use the virtual
port software on. It turned out to be easier to close the Capn, file
a position report on winlink for friends and family keeping track on
shore, reopen the Capn and sail to route....

In seven years in the Eastern Caribbean, I have never seen a pump out
or heard of people using holding tanks. One of the things I did while
waiting for weather was to install a new Y valve in case the marine
cops here in FL take an interest in my MSD. I have a virgin tiny
holding tank having replaced a full stinky one with a crack in the top
that came with the boat.

I intentionally put the PC into hibernate to save power and maintain
nav program - it assumes that you have been going in a straight line
while it has "lost the GPS" in hibernate. I like Peter's cable
splitter idea and may give it a shot using an old serial to USB
adapter.

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:02:17 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

I like Peter's cable
splitter idea and may give it a shot using an old serial to USB
adapter.

I have never been able to figure out why they use more than two wires
for a serial connection.

Casady

Nav & Position report pgm sharing GPS
 

On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:09:06 GMT, (Richard
Casady) wrote:

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 06:02:17 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

I like Peter's cable
splitter idea and may give it a shot using an old serial to USB
adapter.

I have never been able to figure out why they use more than two wires
for a serial connection.

Casady

For an NMEA-0183 connection from GPS to computer, only two wires are
required: ground, and data GPS-computer. To upload waypoints or
other data from computer, a third wire is needed for computer - GPS.

For other applications, additional signals may be required - some
applications use (or used) "hardware handshaking" - extra signals to
permit each end to tell the other whether or not they were ready to
transfer data.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca