Data Hacking

Which Connection Is Best?
So which connection is best? It depends!
Chapter 7 — Making Connections
Generally, the answer depends on whether you already have a GPS or not. If you already have a
GPS unit and nothing is wrong with it, you can stick with whatever connection your unit supports.
If you don’t have a serial port, use a USB-to-serial converter to obtain the necessary
serial port for connecting. If you have a GPS that can connect to a USB port, make use of that.
Be careful not to damage the connector, however, as I’ve found that they can be more delicate
than serial port connectors.
If you are buying a new GPS, the main connection-related question that should influence your
decision is whether to opt for a wired connection or a wireless connection. If you have a PC,
laptop, or PDA that is or can be made Bluetooth-compatible easily (it can be quite costly for
some PDAs), then a wireless connection might be your best bet.
However, remember that if you choose wireless, you will need both a GPS receiver and a
data processor (such as your laptop or PDA) with you at all times. That’s twice as many
devices to take care of and protect from the elements and twice as many devices needing a
power supply.
Generally, wireless devices make far better second GPS receivers for those already using GPS
than they do GPS receivers for the first-time GPS owner.
Troubleshooting Problems
This section examines the connection problems that you might encounter when connecting
your GPS receiver to another device. Fortunately, problems are few and far between, but some
can be especially annoying and hard to fix.
PC Connection Trouble
The main problem that users encounter when connecting their GPS to a PC or other device is
that they just can’t get the two devices to communicate.
Here are some things to check if you can’t get the GPS and device to communicate through a
cable connection:
1. Check the cable connectors for damage. In fact, check the whole cable for any visible
signs of damage. If it’s a cable that you made, ensure that the connectors are sound —
open them up if you suspect that there might be a problem. If you can, try the connection
with a different cable. This way, you can isolate whether it is a cable problem or a settings
issue on either the GPS or the PC/PDA.
2. Check the connections. If the cable seems okay, check the connections at both the GPS
and the device. Undo and redo the connections and retry the connection.
3. Check the batteries on the GPS receiver. Low batteries can cause problems. Replace the
batteries with known good batteries or newly recharged batteries. If possible, power the
device externally.
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