Thread: Gps

**langer421** · 08-23-2005, 03:09 PM

Anyone know any good mapping software for mac that's compatible with the garmin sportrak color? I'm trying to set it up in my car and having no luck..

**laimk** · 08-23-2005, 09:56 PM

i have been working on it and is still working on it....i have problem with my bluetooth gps receiver. Mac is notorious for not supporting GPS so far.
the reason i need mac is to put my macmini in my bMW

**Bugbyte** · 08-23-2005, 10:04 PM

Well, GPS does work on the Mac but it's a little bit of a black art. I have a Royaltek Sapphire, which is a generic USB NMEA compatible GPS.

I plugged it into my home Mac and then downloaded an app called GPS utility to see if it would detect the GPS. I was able to locate it on the USB bus and the data started streaming in. When I held it close to the window, I think it picked up one satellite. Not surprising, since I'm in my basement.

**ecosse** · 09-04-2005, 02:06 AM

oh yes, it is black magic but with a little bit of tweaking you can get it to work even with a bluetooth gps (got the "Delorme Earthmate Blue Logger") and as Bugbyte already pointed out the little app GPSutility (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/24559) can do wonders as I found out today.

laimk:
some useful hints as to get the bluetooth working, in the system preferences go to the bluetooth settings and add your BTgps. Make sure the serial settings are for RS-232 NOT modem. As well as all other serial ports deactivated, I at least had to do that, it is the last tab (I am not at my machine to check the tab name).

GPSutility came in handy when I was trying out the latest version of Roadnav (http://roadnav.sourceforge.net/index.php) as I couldn't figure out what port my BTgps was on and it seems Roadnav didn't have an automatic detection for it. So I started GPSutilitys and it showed my gps as
"/dev/cu.<vendor_name>". That being put in the preferences in Roadnav and viola it worked. Although I have to admit it is not the most stable app if you have the gps active, at least on my machine, otherwise it worked fine and it does seem to be a better alternative then running VirtualPC and some win software (which I used for my 1200mile trip on a mac mini 1.25 with 256MB). I yet have to play around with the verbal turn by turn directions Roadnav offers.

**laimk** · 09-06-2005, 02:08 AM

thanks for the advise and info.
i have done up my car, my macmini is in my E60 now.
my GPS is working on my VPC, i reserved 512mb ram to run it. the software runs very smoothly and turn by turn info does not show any delay.
i love it!

thanks guys!

**john251282** · 09-12-2005, 01:48 PM

Has anyone managed to get gps working without using VPC, is music and video control still available when using it? a screen pic would be cool.

Just trying to workout how i want to do mine but have heard VPC can be unstable

**SanRemoRex** · 11-02-2005, 11:44 PM

laimk, could you post a bit more about your setup? I've been trying to plan mine lately, and am debating between RoadNav or one of the various XP program on VPC. I have a 1.42GHz 1GB mini, so allotting 512 for VPC is not an issue (in fact, it's already done). I will need to use VPC for OBD-II anyway, so it won't kill me if I have to use it for nav, as long as the program is user-friendly and offers good features (turn by turn, voice out/(in?), reroute after missed turn, etc).

**fastmatt** · 11-18-2005, 08:32 AM

ecosse, how long are you able to keep RoadNav running w/GPS before it crashes? So far I can only get 3-10 mins when in motion with GPS tracking. I'm running a Mac Mini with Panther (10.3.9).

**viper24** · 11-18-2005, 10:52 PM

will route 66 work with a BU-353?

**MacMobile** · 11-18-2005, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by viper24

will route 66 work with a BU-353?

Mine is working ! but I would no go higher than 10.4.0.
GlobalSat report that Route66 has problem with Tiger.
I started to have problem with Route66 when I installed 10.4.1
I had those problem with Bluetooth (BT-308) and USB (BU-353).
Both worked fine in 10.3.9 and 10.4.0

If your problem is related with the position getting behind actual position, you might want to try
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...5&postcount=24