bigbop

I just got my new BT GPA that uses the SiRF-III chipset and I think I screwed up something. I got it working initially but I ran the test program that comes with the unit and I think I put it into some kind of binary test mode.
I can link the BT but the data coming out of the unit is not ASCII strings - it looks binary (garbage strings of misc characters every second).
Has anyone seen this and know how to reset the unit back to NMEA strings?

I tried using the SiRF utils but no-go. Also, I noticed that in my X50v, the input is com7 but the output seems to be com8. Is this normal?
Thanks for any help.

bigbop

Originally Posted by bigbop

I just got my new BT GPA that uses the SiRF-III chipset and I think I screwed up something. I got it working initially but I ran the test program that comes with the unit and I think I put it into some kind of binary test mode. I can link the BT but the data coming out of the unit is not ASCII strings - it looks binary (garbage strings of misc characters every second). Has anyone seen this and know how to reset the unit back to NMEA strings? I tried using the SiRF utils but no-go. Also, I noticed that in my X50v, the input is com7 but the output seems to be com8. Is this normal? Thanks for any help.

After doing a little searching in this forum, I found that someone had preivously suggested a hard reset of the BT GPS unit. In order to do this, the internal battery had to be removed (or shorted ) I took a chance and shorted the battery, which reset the GPS module. (The BT module was still paired).
Now I have my NMEA strings back again.:approve:

One this I'll say about this GoPass technology SiRF-III unit - It's SENSITIVE!
I had it in my front pants pocket in the car and it still got a great signal on most of the visible sats. This is the GPT-600 (http://www.gopass.com.tw/products/bt3.htm) That Geeks.com was selling for $63 two weeks ago.

bigdave240

You shorted out a battery? That is pretty risky. Some of these batteries will explode with that kind of current flow. You can also cause permanent damage. Next time try to remove it if you can.

rcab

I have the GlobalSat BT-338 and it shows com port 7 as input and com port 8 as output. I am using Axim X50V with Iguidance.

bigbop

Originally Posted by bigdave240

You shorted out a battery? That is pretty risky. Some of these batteries will explode with that kind of current flow. You can also cause permanent damage. Next time try to remove it if you can.

Yeah, I know - been working in electronics for 40+ years.
What I shorted was the super capacitor inside the unit that keeps the memory on the gps data alive when the battery is removed for a short while. Very little current and the short is for about 1/2 second.
I located the reset pin on the GPS module and will be installing a small reset switch that I can access through a small hole in the case. I'm surprised that the unit didn't come with one already.

newOrder

Originally Posted by bigbop

Yeah, I know - been working in electronics for 40+ years. What I shorted was the super capacitor inside the unit that keeps the memory on the gps data alive when the battery is removed for a short while. Very little current and the short is for about 1/2 second. I located the reset pin on the GPS module and will be installing a small reset switch that I can access through a small hole in the case. I'm surprised that the unit didn't come with one already.

need some advice on how to hard reset the GPT-600, when I got the thing first few hour works great, now after a day, it drops signal , and lock up all the time, I want to do a hard reset, My battery is fully charged.


Edit: Ok, fix it, did the reset by shorten the capacitor now everything works, they shoulda put a reset on this thing, I almost going to return this unit to Geeks.