[aprssig] Garmin GPS-18-USB for $25 !

[Joe Bennett]

I cannot recall the whole conversation, but since Garmin's
headquarters is just a few miles down the road, I have a few
acquaintances working there... I posed this same question to them...
The issue boiled down to the fact that a serial port is (of course)
native serial data, but USB is packet based. Being packet based, they
designed the binary protocol to be more frame friendly so messages
that are time critical are not fragmented and such... The USB protocol
is more like ethernet than serial comms...



-Joe
KA3NAM


On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 9:08 PM, Chris Rose <kb8uih at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Argent Data Systems has the Garmin GPS 18 on its site and it says it defaults to NMEA output.  Why does this one with USB connector doesn't do this?  Argent has the bare ended cable and options for 9pin serial plug and the Alinco 3.5mm plug.
>
> Help
>
> Chris
> KB8UIH
>
> --- On Fri, 12/5/08, Stephen H. Smith <wa8lmf2 at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> From: Stephen H. Smith <wa8lmf2 at aol.com>
>> Subject: [aprssig] Garmin GPS-18-USB for $25 !
>> To: "TAPR APRS Mailing List" <aprssig at tapr.org>
>> Date: Friday, December 5, 2008, 11:24 PM
>> This may be of interest to users of Windows-based APRS
>> software.   I
>> received an emailed flyer from CompUPlus, a US mail-order
>> computer
>> store.   They are currently offering the USB version of the
>> Garmin
>> GPS-18 for USD $24.99.
>>
>> The URL for this item on their website is:
>>
>>
>> <http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?sid=1ci31i3rtyvw8yo&id=1004357&utm_medium=refer>
>>
>> The proprietary Garmin binary output from this device CAN
>> NOT be used
>> directly by any APRS program (or most mapping programs
>> other than the
>> included Garmin NRoute software).  However, either
>> Garmin's own
>> downloadable freeware driver, or Franson GPSgate can
>> convert the
>> proprietary data on USB to generic NMEA on one or more
>> virtual COM ports
>> usable by any APRS or mapping program.
>>
>> Note that this device WILL NOT work with standalone APRS
>> hardware such
>> as TinyTracks, Kenwood Radios, TNCS, etc (you need a GPS
>> with a real
>> serial output for these devices).    It would be a cheap
>> solution for
>> APRS applications running on computers, especially new ones
>> that lack
>> classic serial COM ports.  For computer use, a real
>> convenience of using
>> USB-interfaced GPS units is that they are powered by the
>> USB port - no
>> batteries or external power adapters required!
>>
>>
>> No connection with this enterprise (other than that I have
>> bought stuff
>> from them before with no problems).  Just thought this
>> might be of
>> interest to other APRS users.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
>> EchoLink Node:      14400    [Think bottom of the 2M band]
>> Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.com  --OR--
>> http://wa8lmf.net
>>
>> World Digipeater Map
>>   http://wa8lmf.net/APRSmaps
>>
>> JavAPRS Filter Port 14580 Guide
>>   http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm
>>
>> "APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection
>> & Digipeating
>>   http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths
>>
>> Updated "Rev H" APRS
>> http://wa8lmf.net/aprs
>> Symbols Set for UI-View,
>> UIpoint and APRSplus:
>>
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