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GPS vial inux

  • 03-10-2011 12:30pm
    #1
    zagmund
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭


    Now that I've got my machine up and running, I'm trying to get an old GPS device working on it. I got it a few (4 maybe) years ago as part of some wireless security course I did, but never needed to use it.

    The device itself has no brand name on it, but it's marked with the model number TN-200. I checked google images and it's not like the other TN-200s out there though.

    I've plugged it in and I think it shows up as /dev/ttyUSB0, but I can't be sure. I've tried pointing a few GPS applications at it, but they're not getting anything back as far as I can tell.

    Can anyone give me any pointers on basic troubleshooting to see what (if anything) is coming down the line from the device to the laptop ? Once I establish that it's actually communicating with the device I can work out how to interpret the data, but the first step is making sure it's talking at all.

    It's been a long time since I've done anything with a serial port (or a pretend one) but if I recall correctly I need to open a terminal, connect it to /dev/ttyUSB0 and the data should just come up on screen. Is this correct ? If so, can someone remind me what the terminal program is called ?

    Thanks,

    z


Comments

  • #2
    cian1500ww
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,904 ✭✭✭cian1500ww


    minicom is the program to use for serial connections


  • #3
    zagmund
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭zagmund


    Thanks - I gave minicom a blast (oh, the memories of UCD back in the late 80s . . .) but either the application wasn't paying attention to me or I wasn't able to configure it properly.

    I opted instead for an app called cutecom, selected /dev/ttyUSB0, opened port and got data down the line just like that. Unfortunately the entire set of data was 0x00, even when the device indicated via LEDs that it had acquired a lock on satellites.

    At least I now know that the device is active and which port it is on. I think I'm going to hit the GPS forum and see if anyone there can help with the specifics of what I need to say to this device to get it to report location data back to me. I presume I need to send it some sort of command to say "send current location" or equivalent, but I've no idea what that command is.

    The device is shown here - http://www.gpscity.com/us-globalsat-tn-200-gps-with-usb.html - if any of the buzzwords ring any bells with GPS people here.

    z


  • #4
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,049 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    Maybe plug in the device and then run, from a terminal,

    dmesg

    Then have a look at the last number of lines that are shown .... it might indicate the status of the device .... or if some driver is needed


  • #5
    zagmund
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,501 ✭✭✭zagmund


    I gave dmesg a lash and it showed it being registered alright, but not a lot more. I haven't had a whole lot of time to spend on it, but I did manage to get it to talk to an application and record my location, so I'm partly in action.

    Now I have to get it talking to an application that I can use properly.

    I've now determined that it speaks 'NMEA' - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMEA_0183. This at least gives me a starting point. I can communicate with it using standards, so it's only a matter of working out what to ask it and when.

    z


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