[UPDATED] How to the PPC as an External GPS Receiver for a Laptop

DJwa163 · Jan 14, 2010

***For Those who need it. Others may ignore it.***

Solution: How to the PPC as an External GPS Receiver for a Laptop
[Works 100%]

Introduction: I found out this topic on a Forum, originally posted by Motukker (a pilot by profession) @ XDA Developers Forum way back in 28th May 2008 Here.

Overview: This topic deals with the much awaited issue about how to the PPC as your External GPS Receiver for a Laptop. This needs some intervention to be done both on PPC and the Laptop.

Hardware Requirement:
1.Laptop/PC running on Windows XP, Vista or Seven, with or without an integrated Bluetooth Device, but must have working USB-2 ports. And, you should always have Active Sync (WinXP) or Windows Mobile Device Center (Win Vista or 7) installed.
2.Pocket PC running on Windows Mobile 6, 6.1 or 6.5. It must have an inbuilt GPS receiver. Its device specific. Don’t try all these, if you don’t have it. (Refer to your Hardware Guide Details Manual.)
3.A connecting USB cable, supplied along with your PPC (if you haven’t bought a stolen one, LOL!)

Software Requirement: This takes into account the followings.
1. GPS2Blue (with MS DotNet CF 2.0, may work with later versions too), on PPC (WM 6-6.5)
2. HW Virtual COM Port Single 3.1.0 on Laptop/PC (WinXp –Win 7)
And good news is that it's all for free.

Step1: (on Your PPC)
Download GPS2Blue.

Code:

[FONT=Book Antiqua]Homepage: [URL]http://users.skynet.be/hofinger/GPS2Blue.html[/URL]
Remote Link: [URL]http://www.uploadjockey.com/download/443479/GPS2Blue.rar[/URL][/FONT] 
[FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=2]Mirror: [B][URL="http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/0VNTDDSN/GPS2Blue.rar_links"][COLOR=#008e9b]http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/0VNTDDSN/GPS2Blue.rar[/COLOR][/URL][/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

Transfer the file to PPC.
Install in the device memory (Preferably).

Step2: (on your PPC)
Download Microsoft .Net Compact Framework 2 (or higher)*

Code:

[FONT=Book Antiqua]Homepage: [URL]http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AEA55F2F-07B5-4A8C-8A44-B4E1B196D5C0&displaylang=en[/URL]
Remote Link: [URL]http://www.uploadjockey.com/download/6773175/netcfsetupv2.msi[/URL][/FONT] 
[FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=2]Mirror: [URL="http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/60TUSSXW/netcfsetupv2.msi_links"][B][COLOR=#008e9b]http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/60TUSSXW/netcfsetupv2.msi[/COLOR][/B][/URL][/SIZE][/FONT]

MS DotNET Compact Framework 2.0 or higher is required.
Microsoft .Net Compact Framework 2 must be manually installed in the PPC (Preferably, in Device Memory).
(* if not preloaded within the ROM)
(**Note: Microsoft releases .NET Compact Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 which can be easily installed on storage card. But, installing on Device Memory would allow you to work even without a Storage Card. Choice is yours.)

Step3: (on your Laptop/PC)
Download HW Virtual COM Port Single* 3.1.0

Code:

[FONT=Book Antiqua]Homepage: [URL]http://www.hw-group.com/[/URL][/FONT]

Use it to create virtual COM ports on your PC, from TCP/IP. Its useful for those who don’t have an integrated Bluetooth Device on their Laptops/PCs. Those who have it may use Bluetooth. Its specially useful for me because, my New OS (Win 7) has succumbed my Bluetooth. And now, I don't have a working Bluetooth yet...

Code:

[FONT=Book Antiqua]Homepage:  [URL]http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html[/URL][/FONT][FONT=Book Antiqua]
Remote Link: [URL]http://www.uploadjockey.com/download/9344548/hw-vsp3-single_3-1-0_0.rar[/URL][/FONT][FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=2]
Mirror: [URL="http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/JPLRH77I/hw-vsp3-single_3-1-0.rar_links"][B][COLOR=#008e9b]http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/JPLRH77I/hw-vsp3-single_3-1-0.rar[/COLOR][/B][/URL][/SIZE][/FONT]

(*Do NOT use the Multi Port Version, I couldn’t make it to work. So better, you avoid it.)

Step4:
How to use with TCP/IP over USB?
1. On the PC, install HW VSP Single Port (version 3.1.00 or newer, when available). Choose the standalone application installation mode while installing.

2. Connect the PDA to the PC with an USB cable.

3. On the PC, run HW VSP.
-In Settings tab: check "TCP Server Mode" and,
to avoid unwanted traffic, uncheck "NVT Enabled".
-In Virtual Serial Port tab: set the Port Name (the port
to be created on the PC, it must be a free COM port not already
used on the PC; for example COM3). Set IP Address to
xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx and Port to 31873.

Note: to accept only data from the PDA, instead of 0.0.0.0 you can put the IP address of the PDA obtained with the "What's my IP" menu item of GPS2Blue. (Its Device-specific, let’s call it xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx)

-Click on Create Com.

4.On the PDA, run GPS2Blue.
-Set the GPS COM port (it's the COM port that Windows Mobile
uses for GPS communication. Its available under Settings => system=> External GPS Menu. Though, it depends of your PDA model).

You can choose the GID port if available.
-Set the communication Speed of the GPS COM port (depends of
your PDA model, usually 4800). I use 38400. Don't ask me
why, but it works great!
-Check TCP/IP box (and uncheck BT box).
-Click the On button.
Note: if everything is OK, Bytes: xxx will increase in GPS2Blue and Rx Counter will increase in HW VSP.

5. On the PC, run your GPS software (MMI Black Edition PC Version in this case worked flawlessly, couldn’t manage to work with Google Earth though)
-Set the COM port to the once created by HP VSP (COM3 in our example).
-Set the speed to the once set in GPS2Blue (4800 in our example).
-Start the connection.

Motukker is a pilot, and he tested everything in the aircraft on PocketFMS, the day before posting these all

Code:

[FONT=Book Antiqua]Homepage: [URL]http://www.pocketfms.com/[/URL][/FONT]

flying from Copenhagen to Aberdeen, AND IT WORKS FANTASIC ON THE LAPTOP USING HTC P3300 AS AN EXTERNAL GPS RECEIVER!!!!!!

And because the HTC is attached via the USB to the laptop, it uses the battery of the laptop as an external power!!!.

HAVE FUN!

Credit goes to Motukker @ XDA Developers Forum

File Links on some Shared WebSites have been added.

Filipe M. said:
Hi, could you please post a rough guide on how to do this? I'm burning my brain cells trying to get GPS2Blue to work, but I'm having no luck whatsoever... (HTC Polaris, not the Artemis...)

Thanks in advance!

Code:

[FONT=Book Antiqua][COLOR=Red][B][I]
Alternatively, you may use some Sharewares/Freewares:
They are equally good.
[I][SIZE=3][COLOR=Blue][URL="http://gpsgate.com/index.php?id=7"]
Franson GPS Gate[/URL]
[URL="http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpsproxy/"]Andrew Klopper GPSProxy[/URL]
[URL="http://www.uploadjockey.com/download/9283234/portsplitter_mobile2003_setup.zip"]Exosyphen Studios Port Splitter[/URL][/COLOR][/SIZE][/I]
[/I][/B][/COLOR][/FONT]

DJwa163 · Jan 14, 2010

Solution Using GPS Gate: Getting started with GpsGate on Windows PC

Getting started with GpsGate on Windows PC

The main purpose of GpsGate is to share one GPS between several GPS applications running at the same time. In its simplest form GpsGate is very easy to install and setup for a novice user.

For the more advanced user there are many other uses as well, like GPS simulator, Logger, protocol translation, sharing over ActiveSync and network sharing to just mention a few, the options for configuration and usage are endless.

Install GpsGate for Windows
GpsGate 2.0 can be installed on the same computer as GpsGate 1.1 For more information on how to upgrade from GpsGate 1.1 to GpsGate 2.0, please read this: How to upgrade from GpsGate 1.10

1. Download GpsGate. 2. Run GpsGate.exe and go through the installation steps.
If you get an error while running the installtion program you need to install "Microsoft Windows Installer" first (see below)

NOTE! To run the installation program you must have "Microsoft Windows Installer" installed on your computer. This is already installed on Windows XP and Windows ME. But for earlier versions of Windows you need to download and install this update separately.

Windows NT/2K Download More info Windows 9x Download More info
Run GpsGate You can launch GpsGate under "Start->Programs->Franson GpsGate 2.0".

The first time GpsGate is run a setup Wizard will start. The Wizard will help you to find your GPS and tell you how to connect your GPS applications to GpsGate. If you have had GpsGate 1.1 installed before the settings from 1.1 will be used in 2.0, and the Wizard will not run.

Running the setup Wizard

Make sure you turn your GPS on, and connect it to your computer, if it is a wireless Bluetooth GPS simply turn it on. To speed up the search you can uncheck the types of GPS receivers you do not want to search for. If you are unsure, keep all options checked. After this is done, click "Next" and the Wizard will scan your computer for a connected GPS.

If you are an advanced user, click "Advanced setup..." for a setup process where you have complete control. You can always run the Wizard again from the Settings Dialog.

Click Next. The Wizard will now start searching for a GPS. This can take some time.

When the Wizard finds a GPS, a message dialog is displayed. Click "Yes" to accept the found GPS as input. If you have several GPS receivers connected, click "No" until GpsGate finds the receiver you want to use.

If GpsGate won't find your GPS, you need to use "Advanced Setup..."

Select Output and click "Next". If you are unsure, simply click "Next".

The next screen displays a summary. It is importaint to save this summary. You can save it to a file and print it. You can also find the this information later in the Settings dialog (from the Tray menu).

You connect Garmin applications like nRoute to the first port in the list, and other NMEA applications to the remaining ports. You can only connect one application to one port at a time. If you need to create more ports you can do that from the Settings Dialog at any time.

Now you can start your GPS applications and connect them to the ports created by GpsGate in the last step above. You can run all the GPS applications at the same time!

When GpsGate is running it is displayed as a Tray Icon. By clicking on this icon you can access its functions.

You can re-run the Wizard at any time by selecting clicking "Setup Wizard.." in the Settings dialog.

Tray icon colors and shapes

The tray icon always indicates the status of GpsGate. Here is a list of the possible displayed tray icons:

No GPS or NMEA data is detected by GpsGate.

Valid GPS data has been detected at the selected input, but the GPS data has no fix, that is it cannot determine its position (yet).

A valid GPS position (fix) has been detected at the selected input.
If the tray icon is not green your GPS application will not display/use a correct position.

See next Post...

DJwa163 · Jan 14, 2010

Solution Using GPS Gate: Getting started with GpsGate on PPC

Contd...

Getting started with GpsGate on PPC

The main purpose of GpsGate is to share one GPS between several GPS applications running at the same time. In its simplest form GpsGate is very easy to install and setup for a novice user.

For the more advanced user there are many other uses as well, like GPS simulator, Logger, protocol translation, sharing over ActiveSync and network sharing to just mention a few, the options for configuration and usage are endless.

Install GpsGate for Windows
GpsGate 2.0 can be installed on the same computer as GpsGate 1.1 For more information on how to upgrade from GpsGate 1.1 to GpsGate 2.0, please read this: How to upgrade from GpsGate 1.10

1. Download GpsGate. 2. Run GpsGatePPC.exe and go through the installation steps.

Run GpsGate You can launch GpsGate under "Start->Programs->GpsGate 2.0".

The first time GpsGate is run a setup Wizard will start. The Wizard will help you to find your GPS and tell you how to connect your GPS applications to GpsGate. If you have had GpsGate 1.1 installed before the settings from 1.1 will be used in 2.0, and the Wizard will not run.

Running the setup Wizard

Make sure you turn your GPS on, and connect it to your computer, if it is a wireless Bluetooth GPS simply turn it on. To speed up the search you can uncheck the types of GPS receivers you do not want to search for. If you are unsure, keep all options checked. After this is done, click "Next" and the Wizard will scan your computer for a connected GPS.

If you are an advanced user, click "Manual" for a setup process where you have complete control. You can always run the Wizard again from the Settings Dialog.

Click Next. The Wizard will now start searching for a GPS. This can take some time.

When the Wizard finds a GPS, a message dialog is displayed. Click "Yes" to accept the found GPS as input. If you have several GPS receivers connected, click "No" until GpsGate finds the receiver you want to use.

If GpsGate won't find your GPS, you need to use "Advanced Setup..."

Select Output and click "Next". If you are unsure, simply click "Next".

The next screen displays a summary. It is importaint to save this summary. You can save it to a file and print it. You can also find the this information later in the Settings dialog (from the Tray menu).

You connect Garmin applications like nRoute to the first port in the list, and other NMEA applications to the remaining ports. You can only connect one application to one port at a time. If you need to create more ports you can do that from the Settings Dialog at any time.

Now you can start your GPS applications and connect them to the ports created by GpsGate in the last step above. You can run all the GPS applications at the same time!

When GpsGate is running it is displayed as a Tray Icon. By clicking on this icon you can access its functions.

You can re-run the Wizard at any time by selecting clicking "Setup Wizard.." in the Settings dialog.

Tray icon colors and shapes

The tray icon always indicates the status of GpsGate. Here is a list of the possible displayed tray icons:

No GPS or NMEA data is detected by GpsGate.

Valid GPS data has been detected at the selected input, but the GPS data has no fix, that is it cannot determine its position (yet).

A valid GPS position (fix) has been detected at the selected input.
If the tray icon is not green your GPS application will not display/use a correct position.

Quenbo79 · Aug 16, 2010

Congratulations for this topic, exactly the one I was looking for...
My device is a HTC Touch HD with WM6.5 Duttys Holy Graal ROM.
My PC is running Win7 x64 Pro.
BUT, I have a problem with Settings => system=> External GPS Menu > GPS Hardware port !
Initial value for COM port is (none) and, if I change it (COM3 for example), and then close and reopen the External GPS menu, it always come back to (none) and I'm not able to save my hardware port settings.
I don't have this problem for the 2 other tab ('GPS program port' and 'manage GPS automatically), where my settings are saved correctly.
I tried to change the registry value, following the microsoft link "GPS Intermediate Driver GPS Hardware Registry Settings" (sorry I'm not allowed to post direct URL on xda for now), but I was not able to find the appropriate keys.
They don't seem to exist !
Can you help me?

costa.simoes · Aug 29, 2011

The same problem.
Solved it like this:
- set on pc com port to 9 and ip to 0.0.0.0
- started on pocket google maps a long with gps2blue outside so google maps could lock the satelites
- just after locking GPS I pulse the created COM on PC
- and started working

Hope it helps...

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[UPDATED] How to the PPC as an External GPS Receiver for a Laptop

DJwa163

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[*UPDATED*] How to the PPC as an External GPS Receiver for a Laptop

DJwa163

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[UPDATED] How to the PPC as an External GPS Receiver for a Laptop