Hi Folks Now that I've got a computer ready to be a time server, I am now fiddling about with my GPS modules, checking that they are working and the like.
As I have yet to build and interface board for my Trimbles (requires a very fine pitch IDC connector, which is on backorder), I am testing my Oncores, for which I have an interface box that I got through eBay and have hacked to pass the 1PPS signal to DCD (this was unconnected when I got it). I tried talking to all three units using minicom - a VP and to GT+s at both 9600bps and 4800bps. The VP kept spouting binary stuff at me, which seemed to make most sense at 9600bps. The GT+s wouldn't do a thing. I then fired up Windows through VMware (quite surprised to see that it found my USB to serial adapter), acquired a copy of VisualGPS and, after changing the port speed, managed to get the VP initialised so that it is now sending NMEA data, which I can now get via minicom under Linux. What is puzzling me about the VP is why I was unable to get this working myself. Through minicom, at both 9600bps and 4800bps, I typed @@Ci, which the manual tells me should get the device into NMEA mode. Nothing happened at all - didn't even get the characters echoing back at me. Yet VisualGPS managed to do this OK. One of the GT+s is being totally dumb - to start with, both were, one has now initialised at 4800bps and is spewing NMEA data, but is not registering any satellites or a position - does this just need to be left to its own devices for a while? Don't really know what to do with the other one; there is a rechargable lithium battery on it - it's showing 1.75 Volts. Wonder whether I should unsolder this and try the unit without it. Really wish there was SOMETHING on the boards - a jumper or whatever - that would guarantee me a factory reset. Cheers M -- Matthew Smith Smiffytech - Technology Consulting & Web Application Development Business: http://www.smiffytech.com/ Personal: http://www.smiffysplace.com/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/smiffy _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
