Seaclear assistance needed

bhcva · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007

I have loaded Seaclear and it's associated GPS interface on my W98 laptop. Everything seems to work ok including the interface to the GPS (Garmin 76), but I have been unable to get it out of DR mode. It shows a chart where the boat had been manually placed earlier, not where the GPS indicates it is now. This has all been done at the dock so there has been not actual movement of the boat, but surely the current location would be shown and Seaclear would go out of DR mode?? I know there are some restrictions in Win98, but I wouldn't think this would be one of them.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thx, Bruce

GySgt · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007

That usually indicates no GPS data, anyway to test your GPs outside of the program?

After thought: How does your GPS connect USB? or serial, if serial, null modem or straight thru?

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007

Did you set the Garmin up using a NMEA 0183 serial cable? If you tried to use the USB port and cable, it won't work. The USB port on the Garmin only outputs Garmin proprietary code—you have to use the serial NMEA 0183 port. BTW, you also have to set the port on the Garmin to output NMEA 0183, since it defaults to Garmin's own proprietary code. Set the serial port to NMEA 0183, 4800 baud, 8 bits, 1 Stop bit, No parity.

Then the laptop should be seeing it. To check, run Hyperterminal and see if you can read the serial port and see the incoming NMEA 0183 sentences from the GPS.

BarryL · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007

Hello,

To see what (if anything) your laptop is receiving, in Seaclear go to

Tools

then

System

then select NMEA Input Monitor

If your are receiving data it will show up.

Did you set up seaclear for the GPS info?
Move the mouse onto the chart and right click. Then select tools and comm. Verify you have the correct com port and baud rate.

Good luck,
Barry

bhcva · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

The connection is serial via a garmin cable.

The g7 program and Seaclear both communicate successfully with the gps...would that not imply that the location data would be transferred as well as route and other textual info?

The gear is on the boat so I will check your suggestions when I get back there.

What is the hyperterminal?....g7??

Thx, Bruce

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

Hyperterminal is a standard windows terminal program. It can be used to see what data traffic is coming in over the various serial ports.

Boasun · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

My Nobeltec chart program and Garmin required a serial port. So you have to get a program that emulates a serial port before you can use the USB ports. Now every thing works great.

bhcva · #8 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007

Setting the Garmin to NMEA solved the gps data problem...thanks.

It seems that the g7xxx program and the seaclear program will only communicate with the garmin to get routes, positions, etc if the garmin is set to Garmin.

Bruce

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 08-21-2007

Bhcva-

Glad to help... Don't know why Garmin sets their units to default to Garmin protocol....very annoying.