Help! GPSOUT & IPAQ 5400 PFMS woes

[Gosman]

Help!

I am trying to get my IpaQ 5400 working with gpsout and pocketfms with no success at all. Here is what I did:

Downloaded the latest gpsout utility and placed the dll and .ini files in the module folder of FS2002. I modified the .ini file with the following:

[GPSout]

Sentences=RMC,PGRMZ,GGA

Interval=100

Port=COM2

Speed=57600 (I tried other speeds as well)

I configured my PDA version of pfms to match (i.e, GPS on COM 2 & 57600 Baud)

The PDA comes with a serial and USB cable so I didn’t need to modify or buy new serial cable. PDA is connected and verified on COM2 of the PC running FS.

I started the FS (even selected GPS on FS, not sure if it makes any difference), enables the GPS on the PFMS. I would expect at this point the GPS information flowing to the PDA. Unfortunately this is not the case!

I tried it with activesynch on the same COM port, different COM port and even with activesynch disabled. Same results :cry:

Can anyone please help?

Thanks,

Gosman

BTW – It run flawlessly with a BT-GPS using bluetooth connection.

[Pete Dowson]

I am trying to get my IpaQ 5400 working with gpsout and pocketfms with no success at all.

... I configured my PDA version of pfms to match (i.e, GPS on COM 2 & 57600 Baud)

Er"pfms" is running in the Ipaq, right? How many COM ports does your Ipaq have? COM2 seems a little unlikely!?

I started the FS (even selected GPS on FS, not sure if it makes any difference)

No, the FS GPS is totally irrelevant.

enables the GPS on the PFMS. I would expect at this point the GPS information flowing to the PDA. Unfortunately this is not the case!

I assure you that, installed in FS2004, and with an otherwise unallocated COM port set, GPSout will be sending NMEA format data out on your selected COM port at the intervals you say. You can get a serial port monitor and prove that to yourself (try portmon from http://www.systeminternals.com).

Your question is, what is happening at the Ipaq end? I have an Ipaq 5xxx (don't recall the number), and it comes with a USB cradle. I've absolutely no idea what "COM port" that would be if, indeed, it can emulate a COM port. I think you need to ask folks like the PocketFMS people. Presumably they will know how to set it up?

I tried it with activesynch on the same COM port, different COM port and even with activesynch disabled. Same results :cry:

ActiveSynch here seems to be a USB program and seems to own the link to the Ipaq permanently. This seems to be true even if I terminate it. If I go to the Device Manager and check the COM ports I have, there are still only the two at the rear of my PC -- COM1 and COM2.

Regards,

Pete

[Gosman]

Thanks Pete for our quick reply! My hat is off to you sir…

I verified the serial port using portmon as per your suggestion. Just as you predicted, there was nothing wrong with GPSOUT at all. In fact, I just managed to get my FS to work with Pocket Streets on my PDA on COM1.

At least I am now able to rule out GPSOUT, the serial cable and my PDA. My next step is to post on PocketFMS forum for help on setting up PocketFMS.

Much appreciated! Love your work.

Gosman