[aprssig] APRS and Garmin Nuvi

Fri Feb 1 08:56:34 EST 2008

DO you think this would work on the 260?  I know someone who just got one.
Also, how do you pry the little critter open?
Wes

On Feb 1, 2008 1:18 AM, Steve Noskowicz <noskosteve at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
>  In case you didn't know, Garmin has the complete Nuvi interface protocol
> spec
> on their web  site.  I got a 750 and saw reference to their interface
> 'cable'
> and I downloaded the spec.  I was curious, but just glanced at it since I
> don't
> plan to get into USB just yet.
>
> 73, Steve, K9DCI
>
>
> --- "Greg D." <ko6th_greg at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > Wow, I wonder if this would work on the other Garmin USB-based GPS's?  I
> see
> > it's not listed for their service, but I have a eTrek Vista HCx in the
> mail,
> > due for delivery tomorrow.  I figured I would have to keep using my
> GPS-III
> > (with the display going out), or pick up a simple serial GPS module and
> put
> > it in a plastic box, for attachment to my Kenwood D7.  Instead, maybe
> this?
> >
> > Does the cable have a standard mini-USB end on it (the small kind), or
> is it
> > something special?  If standard, then they must be emulating a USB host
> in
> > there, because there aren't any extra pins on the connector to do
> anything
> > other than USB.
> >
> > Greg  KO6TH
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org
> > > [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]On Behalf Of Scott Miller
> > > Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 11:01 PM
> > > To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
> > > Subject: [aprssig] APRS and Garmin Nuvi
> > >
> > >
> > > I discovered something interesting today.  Here I've been telling
> people
> > > all along that the newer USB-only Garmin receivers like the Nuvi are
> > > worthless for APRS.  Turns out I was wrong.
> > >
> > > When I heard about Garmin's fleet management interface, I decided it'd
> > > be worth checking out.  It needs a special cable, though - for the
> Nuvi
> > > 350 I picked up, it's Garmin p/n 010-10813-00.  By the looks of it,
> it's
> > > probably just got a level converter inside, but I'm not sure.
> > > Apparently there's a serial interface of some sort that can share the
> > > USB connector.
> > >
> > > The fleet management protocol looked suspiciously like a subset of
> > > Garmin's regular binary serial protocol, so (once I figured out the
> > > cable pinouts and soldered on a DB9) I fired up the test program I'd
> > > written, and sure enough, it spit out a list of supported protocols.
> > >
> > > I plugged it straight into a stock Tracker2 and the activity light
> > > started blinking green, showing a good fix.  I piped in some recorded
> > > APRS traffic and the map screen started showing APRS stations.  Here
> are
> > > some pictures I took (haven't tried the screen capture program yet):
> > >
> > > Map screen (2D mode): http://n1vg.net/images/nuvi-map.jpg
> > > Waypoint list: http://n1vg.net/images/nuvi-list.jpg
> > > Station detail: http://n1vg.net/images/nuvi-detail.jpg
> > >
> > > It's not perfect - the waypoint set is different, for one.  You can
> see
> > > that all of the cars are now up on lifts with the hood up!  The digis
> do
> > > show up as antenna towers, at least, and the houses are there.  I'll
> > > have to find out if it'll take custom symbols.  Also, it seems to have
> > > some quirks about showing waypoints at different zoom levels.
> > >
> > > The Nuvi 350 has a USB port on the side and another one on the clip-on
> > > base, so you can power it and plug it in to the tracker at the same
> > > time.  When I find out how the serial interface adapter works, I'll
> see
> > > if I can power it from the tracker, or maybe vice versa.  I'll also
> see
> > > about a cheaper substitute for the cable - this one cost me $30 after
> > > shipping.  It probably wouldn't be hard to build an equivalent circuit
> > > into a DB9 shell.
> > >
> > > The bad news is that the Tracker2 (at least the OT2m version) is
> totally
> > > sold out right now.  My only two spares are going out for CE EMC
> > > certification shortly.  The factory producing the boards is snowed in
> > > right now and hasn't even been able to get the parts for the next
> batch
> > > - DHL's had them sitting at the depot for days.  It'll probably be the
> > > end of February before I have any more.  The T2-135 (for the Alinco
> > > DR-135) is shipping, albeit slowly due to limited production
> capability
> > > here.  (The Tracker2 page has moved to
> > > http://www.argentdata.com/products/tracker2.html if you're looking for
> > > more information.)
> > >
> > > Hopefully by the time the boards come in I'll have figured out all of
> > > the Nuvi's quirks and dealt with them.  I also hope to make some use
> of
> > > the fleet management interface for some new features.  Most
> importantly
> > > - it does text messaging.
> > >
> > > Scott
> > > N1VG
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > aprssig at lists.tapr.org
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> > >
> > >
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>
>
> --
> 73, Steve, K9DCI
>
>
>
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