Data Hacking

156 Part II — Software Hacks
4. Try different software. If you are having problems communicating with a particular software
package, try a different software package if you have one installed. When trying
different software, follow these steps carefully:
a. Close the software involved.
b. Switch off the GPS.
c. Shut down the PC.
d. After the PC is shut down, switch the GPS on and allow it to fully power on
before switching on the PC.
e. Switch the PC on and allow it to fully load.
f. Start the software (or another GPS-capable software application) again.
5. Check connection type and speed. Many software packages can be set to a variety of
communication protocols and speeds (see Figure 7-9). If you have any doubts as to how to
do this, consult the software manufacturer’s website. The same goes for GPS units themselves
(see Figure 7-10). Garmin units can be set to either the Garmin proprietary format
or the more generic NMEA protocol. Make sure that both the GPS and software are set
to the same protocol and data transfer speed. For NMEA, try speeds of 4800 or 9600 bps.
FIGURE 7-9: Port speed settings on software
6. Check the serial port with another device. This can be handy when you are having
problems.
7. Try a different serial port. Another option available is to try it on a different PC if you
can. This helps you isolate hardware issues.