KR1 and GPSd Technical Discussion

tz1 · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:50 pm Post subject:

Port 22947 is a pure passthrough port, so as long as you only need one connection, you can just connect there. It can also send data the other way (like turning on and off messages using a config program).

Using a virtual serial port, you can do "echo r >com3:" (or whatever the virtual com is) to start the data going across for the regular port.

You do need the special cable for the diagnostic port too.

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

tz1 · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:42 am Post subject:

Hyperterminal will work, but so would a batch file, i.e. a shortcut or command window. For me, simply typing "echo r >com3:" in a command window works, and I think having that one line in a batch file (e.g. startgps.bat) would make it clickable.

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

latest flash worked for me on my brand new KR1 (got it this afternoon!!)

telnet'd in no problems

now to go build the serial cable and if I have time before bed to play with gpsd

whoo hoo!

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

hurm...serial must not be working.

I can telnet to 2947 and see GPSD but nothing actually flowing
I can type 'r' and it switches modes

I can telnet to 22947 and connect but nothing.

Is there some other way to test the serial cable? My RS232 tester box shows RD flashing green when GPS is on and connected.

I'll keep trying

Here's what I built:

Click image for bigger picture.

The white lines on the right are showing the pinout...green into 2, white into 3 and black into 5. Red is not connected..just cut and folded back

The mini-tester blinks green on the RD light when the GPS is sending data. Blinks red/orange when KR1 is not connected. Goes off when GPS is turned off.

tz1 · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:22 am Post subject:

The tester box should have the other (TXD) lit when plugged into the KR1's diagnostic port - are you plugging into the one that had the cover, or the green phone port (you need to plug into the one next to the ethernet connection, not the phone port).

The only other thing to check is that you are on 2,3,5, and don't have it mirrored to 1,3,4. The 2/green is what will blink from the GPS, but the 3/white is coming from the KR1.

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

bah! I was plugged into the phone port. That's at least part of the problem. Wont be able to test until later today. I'll report back. Thanks!

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

She's alive!!!!!

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

Can't get any of my virtual com software to work now though.

Telnet to both ports (22947/2947) shows good data.

I've tried Franson GPSGate as well as the HW VSP you posted earlier. HWVSP shows Tx Bytes but when any of my mapping software connects to the virtual COM no data flows to the virtual com.

very wierd.

What settings are you using in HW VSP?

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

Okay figured out the problem.

The passthru port (22947) is dropping the return character at the end of each line so the GPS software thinks everything is on one gigantic line

If I connect to port 2947 and then do the "echo r>COM5:" my GPS software works great!

The only difference between 22947 and 2947 seems to be the newline thing.

Is that something you can "fix" in the gpsd that is on the flash?

tz1 · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:48 am Post subject:

Are you using the ddnsfix.bix version or some earlier version?

The 22947 port is a true passthrough (anything coming in on the serial port is dumped to the network socket unaltered, and vice versa) so I'm not dropping anything, but it is possible that the other layers aren't translating things or otherwise causing problems.

If the GPS was in a different mode (or if something other than a GPS was hooked up that used a binary protocol) any translation would cause problems.

I might be able to do something else. On my system with the HW virtual port, it works with the GPS software I've tried. Or I could have a bug, so will need to check on what I'm seeing.

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

dnsfix

well passthru must not be working because I can plug the GPS into my laptop and it works with my software.

If I connect it to GPSd and use the passthru port it doesnt work

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

ps: I did try GARMIN mode just for grins and it didn't work..which is what I expected Smile

tz1 · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:14 am Post subject:

The passthru didn't work right until the ddnsfix version of my firmware.

But is that the version you are using?

mysigp226 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 42

I flashed with this one:

http://homepage.mac.com/tz1/.Public/ddnsfix.bix