Pretec BluetoothGPS set-up problems

LesCo · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 10, 2005 Posts: 2

I've just acquired a Pretec BluetoothGPS and I'm having trouble connecting it to my PC. I'm using a SMART USB bluetooth adaptor which seems to be working OK - when I do a search for devices it finds the BluetoothGPS and the serial port service is offered. The BluetoothGPS receiver gets a satellite fix OK but when I open the BluetoothGPS software and try to make a connection to the PC it fails. I've tried changing the COM port but that makes no diference.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong!?

lbendlin · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:55 am Post subject:

When the serial port service is offered, do you subscribe to it? Does the PC create two new COM ports? They should be visible under "Clients" Use the Outgoing serial port, and use NMEA 38400 as the setting.

Beware: Plugging the USB BT dongle into a different USB port on your PC will create another pair of COM ports with different numbers.
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Lutz

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LesCo · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 10, 2005 Posts: 2

Hi Lutz - Thanks for the reply! I think I'm a little out of my depth here- how do I go about 'subscribing' to a service?

The software that came with the Bluetooth dongle creates one new COM port - #6, a USB Transport driver and a Bluetooth PAN Driver.

I may be naiive here but do I have to have some mapping software up and running before the BluetoothGPS can make a connection? - I don't have any yet - I just wanted to see if the hardware was working before I spent any more money!!

Les Cockburn

lbendlin · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:39 am Post subject:

You don't need any GPS software - worst case you can even acess the receiver through Hyperterminal.

Your BT software sounds very limited, maybe it even does not have the functionality required for GPS (Outgoing Serial Port). What's the version?

If you are on Windows XP SP2 you can try to use the built in Bluetooth software instead - it does support the outgoing serial port.
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BBB · Regular Visitor Joined: Feb 24, 2004 Posts: 206

Hi LesCo

Do a google on GPSInfo - it is a freebie and tends to work quite well most of the time.

There is also something called GPSU (GPS Utilities?) which has a free version which doubles up as a registered version (with more functionality) for 25 of your earthling £s

GPS Info will let you observe sat fixes on a PPC and maybe even PC for all I know. GPSU works on a PC.

My Pretec GPS bluetooth (the one with datalogging) is fantastic - a great piece of kit.

And here is what I do to BT between 'pooter and GPS device:
1 - activate the GPS receiver

2 - activate the dongle

3 - right-click on the BT icon in system tray (color changed from Blue & Red to Blue & White)

4 - choose quicklink to the receiver (previously set up)

5 - observe the onscreen notice advising of associated com port

6 - start GPS software

7 - connect to device within the software (usually a pretty clear option) and make sure that the correct com port has been chosen

The above usually works most of the time

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