Usb to serial

lars_g_k · 02-15-2008, 08:40 AM

Hi all!
I am trying to get my usb gps receiver to work with a navigation program "SeaClear" to get my laptop to work as a chart plotter but my problem is that this program needs a gps connected to a serial port, my laptop don't have that,Are there any ways to "emulate" the usb port to a serial port? Running Kubuntu 7.10
Thanks in advance

Lars

michaelk · 02-15-2008, 09:05 AM

If the GPS receiver's USB interface is not a virtual serial device then probably not. What is the make/model of your receiver? Does it output NMEA 0183 data? If it does not then SeaClear will not work.

lars_g_k · 02-15-2008, 09:13 AM

The model is a Globalsat BU353 and the output is NMEA 0183.

Lars

michaelk · 02-15-2008, 09:49 AM

From a quick google it does appear that the receiver is a virtual serial device i.e. /dev/ttyUSB0. Check the output of dmesg command when you connect the receiver to the computer.
So you should be able to use any linux app like gpsd or gpsdrive too.

I assume you are running SeaClear via WINE? I believe you need to creat a sym link like
ln -s /dev/ttyUSB0 ~/.wine/dosdevices/com1

I have not played with WINE very much so can not help you much on that end.

lars_g_k · 02-15-2008, 10:17 AM

Oh yes, dmesg shows /dev/ttyUSB0, i run SeaClear under wine and i will test to create a symlink as you described.
Thanks
Lars

lars_g_k · 02-15-2008, 10:31 AM

It works!! Thanks a lot Michaelk!
Lars

michaelk · 02-15-2008, 10:55 AM

Excellent, thanks for posting back that it worked.

2damncommon · 02-15-2008, 10:34 PM

OOPS wrong thread.