Earthmate only locks when GPS Software is running

nodeel · 12-26-2003, 10:10 PM

I have noticed that my new Delorme Earthmate GPS only runs/acquires/locks onto satellites when there is GPS Software running. The problem is this. My car pc uses MediaEngine which requires shutting down destinator to return to the media capabilities of the tool

Is there a way to power on the Earthmate on boot or resume from hibernate, have it lock onto satellites in background as the pc boots...then KEEP that lock until the pc is put to sleep. THe issue is that whenever I load Destinator as an external app in Media Engine, I have to wait for several minutes for the Earthmate to establish a lock before I can use GPS!

This is a MAJOR flaw to me

robiewp · 12-26-2003, 11:41 PM

Load the serial driver and write a small app that keeps it pump'n? this is something that hasn't affected me as i don't use media engine (yet, i need f*n portrait help), but i have a similar setup. I'll let you know if I have any luck with a solution. my guess is that enough information about the IO of the GPS is publicly available to write such an app, as programs like netstumbler utlize it.

Chairboy · 01-04-2004, 12:03 PM

The problem is that he's using the Earthmate, which communicates using the Rockwell protocol, a binary interface (very different from NMEA). Keeping the serial port open may not be enough, the Earthmate may actually want instructions. I have a bunch of GPSs for different project, but I prefer using an old Tripmate to the Earthmate any day because of this.

(Note, my experience is with the serial Earthmate, not the new USB one, it may be different)

stevedg35 · 01-04-2004, 07:03 PM

I have just got my car computer working.. its a laptop to a xenarc 7" and i have the delmore earthmate usb as well.. I have found that if I simply do standby on my computer with the gps software running, then come back from standy it seems like the gps still has the signal going.. I can't confirm or deny that as I haven't really tested it much but it seems like it over the past few times I've been in my car.. seems good nuff for me.. now if I can just get my stupid laptop to wake up from standby with a simple touch of my xenarc ill be happy..

robiewp · 01-04-2004, 07:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by stevedg35

now if I can just get my stupid laptop to wake up from standby with a simple touch of my xenarc ill be happy..

Such things are supported by the BIOS with the ITX systems, but probably not a laptop... and in either case only if the xenarc is powered.

wi77iam · 01-04-2004, 09:43 PM

I believe the earthmate is working whenever it has power - no software needs to be running - if you are using the usb-serial drivers. Don't know about using just the usb connection. It should begin searching for satellites and send position info when it can. To confirm I booted my PC, started HyperTerminal and connected to the comm port. I could see proper NMEA strings being written out.