No activity in PortMon

[CAVUJIM]

Trying to get GPS output to moving map program on laptop.

I have FS9 running on XP machine with PFC Cirrus running off Com1 (works fine). I moved GPSout files into module folder (no changes to ini file). Placed serial cable (extension cable with null modem adapter) to remaining 9 pin serial port and connected to a moving map software program on laptop (Voyageur). I set the moving map to autodetect GPS signal ( I also tried forcing to Com1 on laptop). Started both programs up and PortMon on PC . I see no activitiy on PortMon at all. Shouldn't there be some activity for the PFC stuff?

I looked in System > hardware and see the Com2 port and it does not report any problem.

I tested the cable and the 2-3 connections are reversed but the 1 pin is jumpered to the 6 pin and feeds to the 4 pin on the other end. Pin 4 feeds to both 1 and 6. Without the null adapter its a straight through connection.

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

[CAVUJIM]

Portmon working,pfc activity continuous, but still no GPS. I have activeradar installed. Does that interfer?

[CAVUJIM]

in cmd mode. Typed Dir>>com2 and saw activity to com2, so the port works,

Why does FS not generate GPS output?

[flypfc]

I moved GPSout files into module folder (no changes to ini file)

you will need to set a com port in the gpsout.ini it is default to 1

and you will probably need to set the format for the output there just read the .ini

[CAVUJIM]

Thanks for responding. I thought it was pretty obvious that I had been though the entire INI file. The default by the way is Com2. Someone who uses the same moving map as me said it works fine on the default settings, so I didn't change any.

The problem seems to be in FS actually transmitting the data to the port, see my previous messages.

[Pete Dowson]

The problem seems to be in FS actually transmitting the data to the port, see my previous messages.

If GPSOUT.DLL is in the Modules file, and the Port specified in its INI file is definitely available, there is no way you can stop it sending data out. It is not dependent upon anything else. So if you see nothing it is because it cannot open the port you have specified. Show me the GPSOUT.INI file please. Also be sure you have the latest version.

Pete

[CAVUJIM]

Typing Dir>>Com2 from a command prompt sends data to the port and it shows up within Portmon. On my latest tests, I did not bother to hook up moving map laptop to FS9 computer. I assume it doesn't matter on a serial port. Here is the entire ini file that I extacted directly into the modles folder. I downloaded the GPSout last week. I do have ActiveSky installed. Besides FSUIPC v3.07 and PFC.dll (both downloaded 12/2003), I have no other modules installed.

; GPSout version 2.41 by Pete Dowson 31st October 2001

; email: pete@millhays.demon.co.uk

; ======================================================

[GPSout]

Sentences=RMC,GPRMZ

; This parameter selects the NMEA standard sentences to be sent by the

; GPSout module. Currently the following are supported:

;

; RMC -- best for FliteMap, provides course and ground speed, but no altitude

; RMA -- similar

; PGRMZ -- Garmin NMEA 0183 extension for Altitude only: use with RMC

; GLL -- used by Microsoft Autoroute 2001 but GGA works better

; VTG -- usually used with GLL to provide course and ground speed data

; GGA -- also works with FliteMap and others, and provides altitude,

; but not course and speed. Some need this for the number of satellites.

; GSA -- provides no useful information from GPSout, but appears to be needed

; by some applications (such as "Anywhere") in order for it to be

; able to use the altitude in the GGA sentence.

;

; To send more than one merely list them here separated by commas, with

; no spaces. For example:

;

; Sentences=RMA,RMC,GLL,GGA

;

; will make GPSout send these four formats every time (not very efficient,

; but useful to determine whether the target program supports any of these).

;

; GPSout has only been thoroughly tested only with FliteMap. With version

; 7 of that program, in the LORAN/Gps connection, select "NMEA 0183 RMC

; (9600)", or find a Garmin NMEA setting. Then the default settings in this

; .ini file should work okay (but possibly the Garmin setting will need

; the Speed setting to 4800) -- excepting for the Port which you'll need

; to set yourself (the default is COM2).

;

; In version 8 of Flitemap there are far more options, under "Connections-

; External Device Setup". Those I now find work best are the Garmin NMEA

; settings. All the values are recognised if you send RMC and PGRMZ

; sentences, or RMC, GGA and GSA, and you can choose a really decent

; speed like 19200 as well.

Interval=1500

; This specifies the interval, in milliseconds, at which the GPS message

; is to be sent. The minimum is 100 msecs, but bear in mind that the

; serial port is being asked to send around 65 characters at each interval.

; At the default port speed of 9600, this requires about 70 milliseconds

; in any case. The default interval of 1000 seems good for most purposes.

; I currently use 1500, as shown here.

Port=COM2

; The port to be used on the FS98/2K PC.

Speed=9600

; The speed to use. This must, of course, match the speed expected by the

; moving map program. most GPS's output at 4800 or 9600. Recent versions

; of FliteMap support 19200. Use the highest speed you can, for efficiency.

[Pete Dowson]

Besides FSUIPC v3.07 and PFC.dll (both downloaded 12/2003), I have no other modules installed.

; GPSout version 2.41 by Pete Dowson 31st October 2001

Any version of GPSout which was published before FS2004 has absolutely no chance of working on FS2004. Your version is so old that it probably might not even work on FS2002!

The same goes for your FSUIPC and PFC modules. Whilst they are at least recent enough to work on the older version of FS2004 (i.e. FS9.0), they are both almost two years (and about 30 versions!) outdated! I cannot (and will not) support such old versions. Please go to http://www.schiratti/com/dowson and download and install new versions of all three.

I would also advise you to update your FS9.0 to FS9.1.

Next time, before asking for any support, please first check some of the announcements at the top of this forum -- especially the one about Supported Versions!

Regards,

Pete