Delorme Topo USA, FS wide, GPSOUT, and Mix W

[dagipper]

Hello, let me get this straight. Technically, I should be able to send my current position in the aircraft, through FSUIC,FSwide & GPSOUT to my laptop. Using Mix W will help both computers connect this data because it will act like a "COM" Port.

I have heard that TOPO USA will work with GPSOUT, but I have been trying different things for a week and I cannot make the connection.

Is there anyone out there who has made such a connection and if there is, could you help me? Or can someone give me some suggestions to make such a connection possible? I admit I am rather clueless on this topic, but I hope I'll be able to figure this out. I'm not sure if this connectiion is physically impossible or if I just have the wrong configuration somewhere.

Thank you for your time and your help!

[Pete Dowson]

Hello, let me get this straight. Technically, I should be able to send my current position in the aircraft, through FSUIC,FSwide & GPSOUT to my laptop. Using Mix W will help both computers connect this data because it will act like a "COM" Port.

No. The freeware MixW does not connect two computers.

The WideFS solution is for an existing Network. If your two computers are not Networked then the easier solution is a direct null modem cable between two serial (COM) ports -- USB ports with a simple USB-Serial Port adapter.

GPSout does include a facility to send its data via WideFS, as an option, instead of the more usual COM port out route. The MixW freeware is used at the client end to simulate two COM ports there, linked together. Two are needed because WideClient needs one of them to send OUT the GPS data it is receiving, and the application, whatever it may be, needs the other one to receive the data coming IN. MixW links the two simulated ports with an imaginary null modem cable.

Beyond that it is merely a matter of setting the "speed" correct for the application, setting the choice of NMEA sentences to suit its needs, then configuring the application to actually receive the data and respond to it.

Regards,

Pete

[dagipper]

Wow Pete! I am amazed by your quick reply! It shows you stand by your product and you are willing to help us fellow simmers get the most out of FSUIC, WIDEFS, and GPSOUT. Thank you, I appreciate you help.

I do have a network running data to my laptop with TOPO USA. I have configured GPSOUT to send to port Wide FS. With MixW I am getting the 2 com ports that I configured to display in the TOPO USA gps settings, however, for some reason I get no readings. I will just have to keep testing different settings. I did set up MixW on both computers with the same COM port settings. I notice you said to set it up on the client computer. I'll try to see if this could be my problem. Thanks for the help, I'll let you know if I have any luck.

[Pete Dowson]

I have configured GPSOUT to send to port Wide FS. With MixW I am getting the 2 com ports that I configured to display in the TOPO USA gps settings, however, for some reason I get no readings.

You also need to edit the WideClient.INI file on the target PC to provide the GPSout parameters there -- identify the COM port it is to send stuff out on, and the speed (nominally usually 4800). Have you done that? See the WideFS documentation, search for GPSout.

It is also not always obvious what COM port numbers have been assigned to the two MixW ports. Take a look in the Windows device manager (Start-Settings-System-Device Manager).

I did set up MixW on both computers with the same COM port settings. I notice you said to set it up on the client computer.

Using the WideFS method no COM ports are used at all on the FS PC, so that's just a waste of time. It won't do any harm, but you'll have two extra COM ports on that PC linked together for no reason! ;-)

If you've set everything up in GPSout.ini and Wideclient.ini, and found the right COM ports on the Client, then the remaining problems are likely to be in setting up the application program correctly.

Regards

Pete

[dagipper]

I got it! Turns out I did not configure gps out into WideClient. Also, I had to tinker with my TOPO USA settings and figure out the right COM port. I can't thank you enough for your quick replies and you help!