GPS time zone sync

rjoek · 01-31-2006, 09:25 PM

Has anyone tried software (preferably free and reliable) that will sync the Windows XP system clock with NMEA time output from GPS receiver?
I'd appreciate any comments. Looking for something very simple that runs in the background. Thanks!

DarquePervert · 01-31-2006, 10:11 PM

I didn't know such software exists.
Why would you even bother with this? Is your PC's clock not keeping accurate time? Is the on-by-default network time synchronization built into WindowsXP not accurate enough?

rjoek · 01-31-2006, 10:15 PM

When I change time zones I need to update the time as such. And I don't typically use NTP in my car computer. I don't care so much about the accuracy of the time (to the minute/second) as I do about the hour.
I should have been more clear: what I really want to do is change the time zone, not the hour.
Look at http://www.topshareware.com/GPS-Time...load-39576.htm (first result from a Google search)

DarquePervert · 01-31-2006, 10:29 PM

Ahhh. I misunderstood.
Again, I didn't know such software existed, but it certainly seems like a good idea if you drive cross-country a lot.

wi77iam · 02-01-2006, 12:29 PM

This should be fairly easy to do. Just grab the time from the nmea string and use it to set the system time. I'll give it a go if I find some free time (no pun intended).

Marvin Hlavac · 02-01-2006, 01:27 PM

Time can be synchronized with NMEA Time ( www.visualgps.net/NMEATime ), but I'm afraid they forgot to include the time zone synchronization (perhaps you could request a new feature ;-)

0l33l · 02-01-2006, 01:33 PM

IIRC dragonbtv created software like this.

Curiosity · 02-01-2006, 03:56 PM

Is there a list of coordinates for each timezone somewhere on the net that could be used to do this?

rjoek · 02-01-2006, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the comments. Did some looking, and the share(free)ware stuff out there can also use GPZDA, which allows time zone sync, but this string is not commonly output for consumer USB GPS devices, such as my Rayming TN-200. Looks like there are a few that do but I would need to buy a new one.
A database of timezone coordinates is therefore not needed, unless the more common output is used. Might be more complicated though? Is there an easy way to sync the time zone using just GPGGA?

Curiosity · 02-01-2006, 06:48 PM

GGA just has UTC (GMT) time, so it's the same everywhere. It's very easy to use since SetSystemTime() can take it without conversion. I do that in my compass app. I'm not even sure that you can set the timezone programatically. It would be nice though.

0l33l · 02-01-2006, 07:03 PM

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/dragonbtvs-carpc-plugins/35299-dragonbtvs-carpc-plugins-master-thread.html

rjoek · 02-01-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=35299

How does this adjust my time zone?

Curiosity, thanks for the comments -- yes, it is possible and there are a number of program that do it, using the GPZDA string. Unfortunately my GPS unit doesn't output that (see above).

0l33l · 02-01-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rjoek

How does this adjust my time zone?

Curiosity, thanks for the comments -- yes, it is possible and there are a number of program that do it, using the GPZDA string. Unfortunately my GPS unit doesn't output that (see above).

download it and see