[aprssig] Really CHEAP Puck-type USB GPS Receiver

[Sander Pool]

The BR-355 I mentioned before is a serial mouse GPS for which you can 
buy a USB converter or DB-9 adapter (not a level converter) with PS2 
plug for power.

http://www.usglobalsat.com/p-57-br-355-gps.aspx

These are still available and not expensive. I have one on order without 
cables so I can integrate the module into my D710. Its native output is 
RS-232 NMEA at 4800 baud, exactly what I need.  It's not quite the 
TTL-out type you're talking about but it's close.

For my netbook I use a BT GPS mouse. They were pricey when I bought mine 
but they're cheap now. Mine can be powered with a standard USB cable so 
I'm not concerned with the battery running out. Enterprising folk can 
combine TTL GPS modules with $10 BT boards to homebrew these types of 
solutions but frankly at current prices it's probably not worth the 
trouble. I do have a few of those BT boards waiting for other 
applications though such as adding BT to my D710 to make it a wireless 
TNC :)

73,

     Sander W1SOP

On 1/21/2012 11:28 AM, Stephen H. Smith wrote:
>
>
> During the transition period from serial to USB on PCs a decade or so 
> ago, there WERE some universal USB+serial GPS units that brought the 
> TTL/serial data, before the USB conversion, out of the unit on 
> additional conductors in the cable.  You typically had some odd 
> connector on the end of the cable and then two pigtails adapters; one 
> with a USB "A" plug,    and one that forked into DB-9 plug (for data) 
> and  round PS/2 connector (to steal 5VDC from a mouse/keyboard port on 
> a laptop).  Unfortunately these versatile units, that were the perfect 
> universal solution for APRS hams, disappeared from the market before 
> the excellent SiRF-III GPS chipset appeared.
>