iGUidance, GPS EMEA stream stalling every few seconds? HELP please!

justintime · 07-02-2005, 06:15 PM

I am having a problem with my GPS setup, and it is driving me crazy. Every few seonds, it appears that the satellite data stream stalls for a while, and then continues. If I open the GPS Info window of my navigation software (iGuidance) I can see it receiving the data stream and updating it every ~ 1 second, but after a few seconds it just stalls (no update on data stream, and also the 'local time' reading stays static) for about 15-20 seconds, and then the whole cycle repeats itself.

Mind you, all the time it is reading 6/8 satellites, so it is by no means losing GPS signal.

I am using a Rikaline 6010 USB recevier, but this unit works perfectly on my laptop. So I discarded that as the source of the problem. Must be something with my CarPC... I am using the popular Biostar motherboard with Athlon XP-M 2400+ underclocked by 20%.

I think the issue is at the USB port (or the virtual commport) level... seems like the port stalls every now and then (not the GPS itself). Any ideas what the issue could be?

Oh, I also just realized that I am using iGuidance 2.0 on my laptop, and 2.1 on my CarPC. hrmm... could there be an issue with 2.1?

justintime · 07-02-2005, 11:56 PM

UPDATE.

Well, I now know the problem is not iGuidance either, because I ran a test with another GPS utility (Winfast Navigator) and the data stream stalls there too.

Running this same app on my home PC with the same GPS produces no stalls whatsoever.

OK, so clearly the issue is with the carputer: either the software, or the PC hardware. Does anybody have any ideas how to determine if it is a software or a hardware issue given the circumstances?

Any help is appreciated. Very disappointed about this!!!

xBrady · 07-03-2005, 02:19 AM

Is it just the GPS that is stalling? If you have music playing does that stall too?
First thing to try would be reinstalling your drivers.

Peoples · 07-03-2005, 02:19 AM

sounds like possibly a faulty usb port or bad drivers

justintime · 07-03-2005, 08:32 AM

Everything continues to operate normally. I can continue using the PC while the GPS stream is 'stalled', music continues playing in the background, etc etc. It doesn't skip a beat in any other area.

Faulty USB port? Hrmm... I tried both USB ports and get the same result. I also have the USB touchscreen cable connected in these ports, and it operates normally.

Do you guys think that maybe underclocking the CPU is affecting the timings?

Any other ideas?

Peoples · 07-03-2005, 08:33 AM

couldnt image that, try updating the gps drivers on there......or comport drivers.....or reinstall windows....or get some windows updatest (are you running sp1?)

justintime · 07-03-2005, 08:37 AM

Running SP2 with all the latest updates (updated again yesterday to be sure, and it brought back one update)

I also uninstalled and re-installed the driver (the one that assigns a virtual COM port through USB, whatever it is called). My next step will be to re-install windows, but that would be catastrophic at this point, as I have everything else working the way I want it to, including some neat hacks for startup screens, etc. agh!!!

KB5WID · 07-03-2005, 10:07 PM

could it be heat? When I have my GPS on the dash it will fail after about 30 minutes. If you have it mounted on the roof of the car is it failing when you are standing still or driving slow and works when you are moving faster.

Just a thought.

justintime · 07-03-2005, 10:13 PM

No, it can't be heat... I have been testing this on my desk (at home), everything running very cool, same issue.

I am going to re-install windows and see if the problem is there. If this is the case, I am going to have to RMA this mobo!

Quote: Originally Posted by KB5WID

could it be heat? When I have my GPS on the dash it will fail after about 30 minutes. If you have it mounted on the roof of the car is it failing when you are standing still or driving slow and works when you are moving faster.

Just a thought.

justintime · 07-03-2005, 10:57 PM

Well crap... I just re-installed windows from scratch, and the problem persists.

I can only conclude that that one of the two is true:

a) This is a faulty motherboard, or
b) There is a compatibility issue with this motherboard and the serial/usb driver of the rikaline 6010

Can anyone out there confirm success with this combination?
-Motherboard: Biostar M7NCG400
-Rikaline 6010 USB GPS mouse

Thanks

justintime · 07-03-2005, 11:33 PM

UPDATE!!! I think I am close to figuring this out.

I originally had the CPU Voltage set to 1.45V in the BIOS. I brought it down to 1.35V (I found out this is the normal operating voltage for my 2400+ Athlon XP-M) and I had it running for 10 minutes without stalling, but then it stalled. It is certainly not occurring as often now.

Does this make sense to anyone?

Peoples · 07-03-2005, 11:34 PM

hey, do you think your baud rate setting is off? should be 4800

justintime · 07-03-2005, 11:39 PM

It is set to 4800.

Quote: Originally Posted by Peoples

hey, do you think your baud rate setting is off? should be 4800

justintime · 07-04-2005, 12:41 AM

I lowered the voltage even further to 1.325V and now it does not stall!

SOLUTION: LOWER CPU VOLTAGE IN BIOS <- WRONG!!!!

UPDATE: Seems like I talked to soon. It does continue to stall even at the lower voiltage setting. It does not seem to occur as often though, so there must be some correlation. Will continue to investigate.

justintime · 07-06-2005, 10:51 PM

THought I'd post an update here in case anyone stumbled acorss this post, looking for help with similar issue.

I have found the problem (altough no solution), and updated information is found on this thread
(http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=53942)