Laptop Connections

[multihull1]

PLease excuse what may seem to some as a stupid question.
I bought one of the GPS recievers for my laptop that uses 1 of the USB ports, works fine.
Then purchased Cmap-93 it says need to use RS232 serial port for GPS
Is there an adaptor for the serial port on my laptop to the USB end from my GPS???
Or is there another way around this?? Any help greatly appreciated
Thank you Heaps

[edsailing]

Originally Posted by multihull1

Then purchased Cmap-93 it says need to use RS232 serial port for GPS
Is there an adaptor for the serial port on my laptop to the USB end from my GPS???
Or is there another way around this?? Any help greatly appreciated
Thank you Heaps

Purchased? Why when you can get free....... and use with OpenCPN

What have you tried doing - sometimes instructions are junk.

If you need to, you can buy a USB to serial adaptor

[Kiwikat]

If you Google "cmap-93 with usb" you will see some advice as to how to change the settings in Windows and in the Cmap set up, to get this to work without using a Serial Port.

[multihull1]

Thank you Ed and Kiwikat
Ed have open cpn live in Australia so no free charts here
was trying to find some type serial to USB.
I will Google as kiwikat said and hopefully can try to do what he explained
I sail much better than i do software
Robert

[multihull1]

KIwikat
Did google as you said..
I have the old cd cmap93. using with XP as vista has problem with video.
I couldnt find the info you were talking about, if you see this could you email me the site address please??
multihull1@aapt.net.au
would really like to get it to work as paid 100 dollars for the Cd
Thank you for your reply

[edsailing]

Originally Posted by multihull1

Thank you Ed and Kiwikat
Ed have open cpn live in Australia so no free charts here
was trying to find some type serial to USB.
I will Google as kiwikat said and hopefully can try to do what he explained
I sail much better than i do software
Robert

google CNF.SeaSoft and download. You will need 7-zip or similar to unpack

[ActiveCaptain]

To answer your original question...type "keyspan usb" into google and look at the shopping results.

There's nothing wrong with paying for the nautical charts you have. It always amazes me how many people are willing and eager to steal when it is "just" a downloaded file.

[SailFastTri]

I posted the step-by-step answer to this the other day here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post529626

edit: Cancel the above -- I re-read your post... You just need to choose the serial port in in your program that corresponds to the Windows port assignment of your USB GPS.

If you don't know what that is, in Windows right-click on "My Computer" or "Computer", choose "properties", choose "Device Manager" and then expand the list of "ports".

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

You just need to choose the serial port in in your program that corresponds to the Windows port assignment of your USB GPS.

This is true *if* the GPS provides a virtual serial port via the USB connection. Many do, but for example a Garmin GPS may be providing a "native Garmin" interface, which does not appear as a serial port.

There are ways around this (if this is the case), such as using GPSgate to do the conversion. But if your GPS supports it the easiest solution is as SailFastTri suggests. What brand / model GPS adaptor do you have?

[multihull1]

Thank you Paul and Sailfast
will attemt that after breakfast(in Australia) the GPS i have is one of the Mouse GPS
it works fine and is on COM 4 in windows XP home.
I apparently need to change it to com 1 or try to change Cmap to com 4 just got up from dreaming about it was glad to see you guys trying to help me. as stated not real good at software.JUst getting into the electronic side of Navigation. Taught Celestial and coastal at Uni. Trying to keep up with the times you might say
Thanx for all your help and patience
Robert

[multihull1]

What I wanted to ask is if there is someway to change the parameters on XP home to com1 or the Cmap to com4 that I could understand???
Com4 is my USB port on Laptop. I havent been able to even find device manager on XP
On vista i can but cant run Cmap edition that i have (old) how ever bought last week, guess I got keel hauled on that one, on it. So trying to use older laptop with XP
Thanx again for your patience
Robert

[multihull1]

Sailfast
Thank you for showing me how to find device manager
found the ports you were speaking of as you know parallel port is LP1 Cmap is asking for com port1 I can see a com port 5 in device manager. my gps is using the usb port which is com4
I have tryd to change the Cmap to com4 but want let me, only com1??? I did buy this off ebay here in Australia so maybe a problem with the software or disc???

[Jim Cate]

G'Day MH1,

CM93 is just a set of charts, not a navigation program. So, I wonder what program you are using to display the charts? Very likely it is CmapsECS.

If so, you can go into the program's files and change things around. Look for a file called "Nmea.ini. Open it and look for an entry that looks like this:

[CHANNELS]
IN0=COM9: baud=4800 parity=N data=8 stop=1

Then change the "COMx:" to match your com port assignment, ie "Com4".

save the change and re-open the program. I think that it will now work.

Cheers and good luck.

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Cairns, Qld, Oz

[multihull1]

Thank you Jim
How do I open the program files??? you are exactly right the nav program is Cmap ecs
I have tryd config but that just takes me where ive been
I met Jon Sayer many years ago I live near Mooloolaba had my cat moored there fore awhile nice guy great designer.Thank you for trying to help me hopefully you still can
My e-mail address is multihull1@aapt.net.au if you want to do this offsite
Robert

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by multihull1

Thank you Jim
How do I open the program files??? you are exactly right the nav program is Cmap ecs
I have tryd config but that just takes me where ive been
I met Jon Sayer many years ago I live near Mooloolaba had my cat moored there fore awhile nice guy great designer.Thank you for trying to help me hopefully you still can
My e-mail address is multihull1@aapt.net.au if you want to do this offsite
Robert

G'Day Robert,

OK, you likely have a shortcut icon for cmapecs.exe on your desktop. Right click there and select "properties" from the menu that appears. This will bring up a window that includes the location of the file. On my computer it is found on the "C" drive. Go there and open the file. You should see a long list of folders and files, one of which is NMEA.ini.

And yes, Jon is a good guy and we think a great designer. At least, he got this one pretty right!

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lyng Cairns, Qld, Oz, watching it rain.