Thread: garmin gps 18 USB-to-Serial bridge driver

You can use Franson GpsGate to get your Garmin 18 USB working as a serial GPS device that outputs NMEA data. They have a free trial too, so you can see if it works for you before buying. It's quite a handy piece of software, with support written specifically for the Garmin 18 USB.

Actually, the Garmin GPS 18 doesn't output NMEA data, which is needed for iGuidance.
I think there's a software that will convert the WAAS data to NMEA. Google for it.

I know it doesn't. It outputs Garmin data. Franson GpsGate takes the Garmin 18 USB output data (in Garmin format) and converts it to NMEA data coming out of a virtual serial port.

Originally Posted by DylanBennett

I know it doesn't. It outputs Garmin data. Franson GpsGate takes the Garmin 18 USB output data (in Garmin format) and converts it to NMEA data coming out of a virtual serial port.

Does it really? Hmmmm. Interesting.
I have GPSGate that came with my BU353. The BU353 outputs NMEA, so I'm using GPSgate for the virtual COM ports. But that's really good to know.

As far as I know iGuidance will not work with Garmin 18 USB even if you use GPS Gate. Other software may work in such configuration, for example MS Streets & Trips does. IGuidance however requires an NMEA sentence [GGV(?) if memory serves] which at the moment the above mentioned setup does not provide.

If you're talking about the GPGSV sentence, then you are correct, GpsGate does not output GPGSV data from a Garmin 18 USB. (GPGSV is the satellite data.) Why would iGuidance need the satellite data in order to function, though? For navigation, the satellite data is pretty irrelevant. Location, speed, direction, etc. is more what you need for navigation, and all that is provided with the sentences that GpsGate does transmit from the Garmin 18 USB.

Either way, at least GPGSV will be supported in GpsGate 2.0, which supposedly is on its way soon.

Yes, that's the one, GSV ;-)

I recall, about a year ago when GPS Gate 1.1 was released with the Garmin support, an iGuidance user was unable to get it working properly and the makers of iGuidance confirmed GSV sentence was required.

Thanks for the good news about the upcoming GPS Gate 2.0!

yea i tried everything to make my iguidance work with my gamin 18. i get the time and altitude and coordnates but iguidance does not show me on the map. anyone want to buy a brand new gamin gps 18 usb???????

Didn't it come with nRoute? Mine did. Just curious, but what are the advantages of iGuidance over nRoute? (I really have no idea, as I'm never checked out iGuidance before.)