Failure to Communicate, GPS pt.2

Arghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

I've tried almost everything to get my GPS/Mapping Software to work but nothing.......

It seems the problem is that I can't enable a virtual Port (COM & IPT) in device manager. As far as I can tell when I load the driver/program to run the USB/Serial adapter it should set up a virtual COM & IPT port, I've tried installing/un-installing the driver (PL-2303 Prolific Technology Inc) and nothing. According to the install instructions once the driver is loaded plugging in the adapter only (no GPS attached) Windows should open the 'Found New Hardware' tab, then install the relevant information, then when I connect the GPS unit it should all work. It doesn't, only once did I manage to get the 'Found New Hardware' tab but connecting the GPS resulted in 'Unknown Device' and still no sign of a COM/LPT port in Device Manager.

I un-installed Quo in the vain hope that everything would sort itself out but no luck.

It's possible that my USB/Serial adapter is faulty so I'll get another which should come with a driver and I'll try again, I'm also going to get a Serial Card to see if I can at least get the Streetpilot 3 to work with Map Source as it's the priority unit, the hand helds can be replaced with USB compatible ones as a last resort.

Failure to Communicate, GPS

I've encountered a problem with my GPS units and mapping software since Saturday night when I was working with Quo/Garmin Geko. It seems my PC no longer recognises any of my GPS units and none of them work with any of the mapping programs I have installed in spite of the fact all were working perfectly.

I have 3 GPS Units, a Garmin Streetpilot 3 which was working with Map Source, a Garmin eTrex Summit which worked with Memory map and Quo and a Garmin Geko which was also working with Memory Map and Quo. All the units are designed to connect using a Serial Port but were working fine using an RS232 adapter which allows the data cable to be attached to a USB socket, I have to connect via USB as my PC doesn't have a Serial Port. Now nothing works, when I connect the units I get a variety of messages but all say pretty much the same thing, Windows doesn't recognise the hardware!!

I've tried un-installing the drivers, re-installing the drivers, system restore, disconnecting/re-connecting the units but to no avail, there's simply no communication.

I know that when using Memory Map the GPS unit communicated via Garmin Serial Protocol COM7 (port) and while I have a choice of 9 ports none of them can establish a communication. Using Quo and selecting Garmin Serial Protocol no ports are displayed and attempting to connect the Streetpilot 3 to Map Source results in similar messages.

I've tried everything I can think of apart from a full PC reformat which isn't an option. I've posted a variety of screen shots in the hope that somebody, somewhere knows what the problem is. If I can't sort it I'm left with 3 GPS unitsand 3 mapping software programs that are effectively useless. I don't have Windows Auto Update enabled so again I can't see how anything could have changed, I'm inclined to blame Quo as it's really the only thing that's changed but to be honest I don't see how it could have changed anything. Maybe I should un-install Quo to see what happens?

Mapping Software for Northern Ireland

For a variety of reasons tourism, in particular the outdoors side of things isn't well catered for in Northern Ireland, there are a few areas of interest though with the most promising being the Mournes. It's not surprising then that Digital Mapping software hasn't been available from the major brands like Memory Map, Tracklogs etc.

Call it an unexpected Christmas present but I recieved an e-mail earlier in the week informing me that that Mapyx.com/Quo had released mapping software based on the Northern Ireland OS (OSNi)1/50,000 Discoverer series maps. The software is free to download and comes with a free XYZ UK Mainland map (1:1.000.000)

OS maps for Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Mainland UK can be purchased as sets or as 40 x 40 km tiles. Mainland UK is obviously better catered for with maps available in both 1/50,000 and 1/25,000. At present only 1/50,000 scale are available for N.I. but hopefully Mapyx can make the 1/25,000 scale Outdoor Leisure maps available in time.

I downloaded and installed the software and purchased the full set of OSNi maps which cost £39.99. The maps installed easily and initially looked good, the software being easy to use and fully compatible with my Garmin Geko 301. I did however run into a few problems some of which are easily sorted.

First the heights given were about 10m out, second there are no gridlines, third the searchable database feature didn't work and fourth, the coordinates given do not correspond to those found when using an official printed Discoverer map.

I posted a few question on the Quo forum and managed to find the answer to and the way to solve some of the problems. In addition to the actual maps I needed to purchase the OSNi 50k DTM (Digital Terrain Model) which sorted the height problem, and the OSNi Gazetteer which provided the information to allow the searchable database to function. These cost £7.99 and £4.99 respectively which brought the total cost to £52.97.

Unfortunately the coordinate issue is unresolved at present due to the format used by Quo. The Irish Grid format used is technically correct but isn't the same as commonly used in practice and on printed maps. When used on maps, Ireland (North and South) is split into 100km x 100km squares, each of which is designated (much like the British Grid) with one or two letters per square which results in a vastly different grid ref, for example, Trostan when using QUO is E318903/N424154 while on the printed map it is D179000/236000. In response to a question on their forum Quo have indicated that they intend to add the relevant information in a future update. I should point out that if I type a waypoint from an OSNi printed map into my GPS and upload the information the Quo displays the waypoint in the correct place, that said I'd much prefer to have the option of displaying gridlines on Quo printed maps which relate to official OSNi maps.

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet as I've been playing around with the various features, so far I'm generally pleased with it (apart from the gridline/grid ref issue). I've posted a few screen shots below which hopefuly will be useful.


Above. Using the 'Search' facility (Note Coordinates, OSNi map Coordinates would be 17900/23700)



Above. Relief Enabled, Accessed from 'Explorer Icon' on Toolbar.



Above. Route Summary, To Display, Right Click on last Waypoint and select 'Show Summary' from list.



Above. Route Card pt 1. Information



Above. Route Card pt 2. Summary



Above. Route Card pt 3. Gradient Profile.



Above. Route Card pt 4. Waypoints



Above. Waypoint Information Displayed, Options Selected from Explorer Tab

New GPS

I pretty much have my gear sorted now as far as weight or preference is concerned but there are a few items still on the wants list. One item that always looked too heavy was my GPS, a Garmin Etrex Summit. I don’t use a GPS as my primary navigation tool for a variety of reasons, for a start there’s no mapping software for N.I. and although I use Memory Map software for trips to Scotland I’m not keen on using the GPS without the visual aid of a map, add the issue of batteries and I tend to only use the GPS as a back-up.

The Etrex Summit has a barometric altimeter which I like so I wanted to make sure that any GPS I bought also had this feature. I looked at the Geko range which is fairly basic and lighter than the Etrex range. The Etrex Summit weighs 170g including pouch and 2 x AA Lithium batteries. The Geko 301 has all the features of the Etrex Summit including the barometric altimeter but with 2 x lithium AAA batteries only weighs 86g. I managed to pick up a refurbished one from a seller on ebay for £54 plus postage. The unit came next day and looks like a perfect solution for my needs, it’s quite a bit smaller and I find the buttons on the front easier to use than the side mounted buttons on the Etrex. So far I’ve only messed about with it, getting it set up and so on but I’m pleased with it so far. I haven’t tried using it with Memory map but I think it should work with the data lead that I used with the Etrex. I think the battery life is better than the Etrex and as it uses AAA batteries rather than AA any spares I carry will be lighter, in addition my head torch uses AAA batteries so the cross compatibility is useful.