Can I use my computer to input into my GPS?

[Mike Everett]

Here's a question from an electronically challenged person.
Last evening, in hopeful anticipation of spring, I sat down to input routes and waypoints into my Garmin 38. After an hour or so of tediously thumbing through the alphabet one character at a time, I wondered: If this gadget has a plug for a data cable, is there some way I could use my computer keyboard to input and edit my waypoints? Even better, can I do this without having to buy software? Has anyone done this?



everett@megalink.net

[Neil Gordon]

>>... is there some way I could use my computer keyboard to input and edit my waypoints?<<

Sure! That's the whole idea of the data cable. <G>

>>... can I do this without having to buy software?<<

Don't know about that... but my guess is that the transfer program is freeware of shareware. Try the garmin web site... maybe there's something there. (I don't have the manual handy.)

Btw, I had a Garmin 45 die a year or so ago... sent it back to Garmin and they replaced it with a new one. I was pleased to see that they transferred all my waypoint entries from the old unit to the new one!

Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Lyn Heiges]

Neil,

I tried looking up the Garmin 38 in the 1999 BOAT/US Catalog to see if it was listed or the data interface cable listed. I couldn't find a reference. Probably they have a new model for 1999.

However, I have the Garmin 45XL for which I have the data/power cable (about $30) which will input data from a PC using the Garmin program for the PC and output stored data for the PC when desired or the NEMA 0138 interface for use with an autopilot or other NEMA 0138 instrumentation.

From all I can see, you HAVE TO buy Garmin's PC package which about $80, but can really help you load up for selected trips and provide data from your trips back to storage media for the next excursion!

Hope the 38 has the data interface capability. Contact Garmin and see what they say, if it doesn't have the port!

Best Regards,
Lyn Heiges
CD28 MOON CHILD
CD27 GUILLEMOT

Here's a question from an electronically challenged person.
Last evening, in hopeful anticipation of spring, I sat down to input routes and waypoints into my Garmin 38. After an hour or so of tediously thumbing through the alphabet one character at a time, I wondered: If this gadget has a plug for a data cable, is there some way I could use my computer keyboard to input and edit my waypoints? Even better, can I do this without having to buy software? Has anyone done this?

lheiges@compuserve.com

[Dana]

Here's a question from an electronically challenged person.
Last evening, in hopeful anticipation of spring, I sat down to input routes and waypoints into my Garmin 38. After an hour or so of tediously thumbing through the alphabet one character at a time, I wondered: If this gadget has a plug for a data cable, is there some way I could use my computer keyboard to input and edit my waypoints? Even better, can I do this without having to buy software? Has anyone done this?

_________________________

If you have a serial port on your computer and a NMEA 183 port on your GPS....you are all set. It is just a two wire connection between the two. Looking thru some freeware sites (found by doing a Web search, i.e. GPS), I had found a number of downloads). I remember a lot of sites refering to Garmin. I had tried a nice program (shareware) from http://ourworld.com/homepages/wingps/index.htm which actually does active GPS navigation, etc. This site does have info about the wiring connections BTW. Tired it on my CD26, worked great. Fun to play with, especially in the winter since it also has a "boat simulator" which you can get a feel of the program without the GPS connected. Great fun.



darenius@aol.com

[Dana]

Here's a question from an electronically challenged person.
Last evening, in hopeful anticipation of spring, I sat down to input routes and waypoints into my Garmin 38. After an hour or so of tediously thumbing through the alphabet one character at a time, I wondered: If this gadget has a plug for a data cable, is there some way I could use my computer keyboard to input and edit my waypoints? Even better, can I do this without having to buy software? Has anyone done this?

_________________________

OK......TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEB SITE BELOW FOR THE CONNECTIONS...
DANA

If you have a serial port on your computer and a NMEA 183 port on your GPS....you are all set. It is just a two wire connection between the two. Looking thru some freeware sites (found by doing a Web search, i.e. GPS), I had found a number of downloads). I remember a lot of sites refering to Garmin. I had tried a nice program (shareware) from http://ourworld.com/homepages/wingps/index.htm which actually does active GPS navigation, etc. This site does have info about the wiring connections BTW. Tired it on my CD26, worked great. Fun to play with, especially in the winter since it also has a "boat simulator" which you can get a feel of the program without the GPS connected. Great fun.

DARENIUS@AOL.COM

[Mike Everett]

Thanks, Dana, Lyn, and Neil.
It's amazing what's out there on the Web. I found exactly what I needed to know with a quick search.
It's interesting that it costs about $90 to buy the official Garmin connector with software, and about $40 for the connector.
The connector (for my Garmin 38) needs only two or three wires between the GPS receiver and the COM port. One can buy a home-made connector for about five bucks. The software is free.
So my plan is to try the do-it-yourself route, and I figure if I burn out my GPS it will prove the saying "You get what you pay for."



everett@megalink.net