How to connect laptop with GPS to auto pilot

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Seattle Scott

Seattle Scott

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May 6, 2004
916
Hunter 37C Seattle
So I have a Simrad wheel pilot with instructions on how to connect to chartplotter and I have my laptop charting software that tells me how to connect the laptop NEMA stuff to the AP, but I am using a "hockey puck" GPS that goes into the laptop via a USB connection. Is there a way to connect the laptop to the wheelpilot, without having to rewire the USB port connected GPS?
 
K

Kevin3447

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Oct 26, 2005
116
Oday 28 Detroit/Grosse Pointe Park (O'Day 192, O'Day 28)
What software?

What software are you using? SeaClear has output settings and an NMEA passthrough - maybe whatever you're using has the same? Otherwise, I'm guessing you'll need a port multiplexer (hardware or virtual). Kevin
 
Dan

Dan

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Jul 26, 2006
190
Hunter 420 Stamford
USB-RS232

If you have another USB port, you can get a USB to RS-232 converter. Then, depending on the software (I know SeaClear has this capability) you can set the NMEA-0183 information to be sent out that port to the autopilot. I would think you could do the same with a USB port multiplier if you only have one USB port. I don't think you need any sort of multiplexer.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Check you interface

If it is USB or RS232 and NMEA you should be able to splice the GPS to computer line with the AP feed. If the GPS takes "special software" all bets are off as the NMEA format may or may not be being used. I don't know of any MS program that will daemon your GPS input out to a serial port. If you are running Linux/Unix it is pretty simple as it is just a pipe "|" from one to the other in the /dev files. Alas you would loose all that nifty stuff like registries and bloated code when you abandon MS for Linux. I guess my observation is that computers are here to stay and are having to be dealt with on a personal level more and more every day. MS locks you out of taping the full potential while Linux does not. Writing this kind of code is kids stuff and should be something you learn to do if you are going to continue to embrace all the technology. I use "/dev/usb0 | /dev/tty0" to take the usb input and port it raw to the tty (read serial) port.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Never went to MIT but

I did do an extensive tour of duty on a farm while a young boy. In linux it is kid stuff because you have access to the system. In MS the system code is an industry secret so even if you somehow knew how to do it, it would be illegal to. Plus there are tons of how-to and help files and most everything easy has already been figured out by somebody so just google "xxxx linux" and you can get an answer in short order.
 
B

Benny

Why invent the wheel, get a chartplotter

that you can install in your pedestal and just push a button when you get on the boat.
 
CalebD

CalebD

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Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
Hey Bill Roosa, I agree with you about unix/linux

Which is why it is such a PITA to deal with any MS operating system/application. I got to know some unix and really kind of enjoyed the power after dealing only with IBM/Wintel stuff. That is probably why Appple finally adopted a unix based operating system which is much more stable. I am tempted to get back into the corporate fridge system for the IT boatbucks but I have been out of it for a while. We shall see as the winter lockup continues.
 
Chuck Creel

Chuck Creel

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Nov 26, 2006
381
Hunter 31 1987 Fly Creek Marina Fairhope,AL.
laptop

HMM i'm not sure i want to use my $1000.00 laptop in a salt water or even humid inviroment. Sounds like your spending a dollar to save a dime. :" like some of us do ". I am familiar with the GPS units you speak of and it is not practical to cut the usb cable and figure out which wire.plus you,ll have to power the laptop from an inverter or something. This will eat up your batteries faster as well as the AP. I agree with Benny, just get a chart plotter and be done with it. or get a real GPS that has NEMA outputs. The Garmin 72 has external power and NEMA pins and doesnt cost much more than your hockey puck gps simulator. Then you will need a serial port adapter from RS-232 to USB. " $39.95 @ rAdio Shack ". Then you will need something to go from the DB-( connector to the AP. This is a RS-232 and it uses pin 2 and pin 5, Pin 5 being the grnd and pin 2 the signal.
 
Ralph18414

Ralph18414

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Dec 11, 2005
74
Pearson 30 Wanderer NA
DB9 pins 2, 3, and 5

I believe you want pins 3 and 5 on the DB9 end of the usb-to-RS2 connector. I believe pin 2 is the listening pin and pin 3 is the talking pin whereas pin 5 is negative. This would only be correct for the case of taking the output signal generated from the laptop and splicing it into a listening device like an autopilot.
 
Seattle Scott

Seattle Scott

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May 6, 2004
916
Hunter 37C Seattle
OK more back ground and some questions

I have been using the lap top with the CAPN charting software for 4 years without failure of the computer.I use a transformer rather than an inverter to power the lap top. Initially I had a real gps plugged into the computer with the pin connector serial port thing. But the gps used battaries and someone suggeted just getting a usb powered "puck" gps, so I did and it works great for plotting. So now I thought I would connect the AP to the lap top/gps so the AP would steer to waypoints. Here is what I understand from you guys. I could go get a power/data cord with raw wires at the end for the handheld gps and wire this into the terminal strip with the computer and AP NMEA wires and not use the puck gps. Or I could keep the puck and get a serial port adapter from RS-232 to USB, then ???? DB9 end of the usb to RS2 to what? Is the RS-232 the same thing as the 9 pin serial port? The software came with the 9 pin connector with the NMEA wires labled so I know what pins do what. sounds like I should just go with the stand alone GPS connected to the NMEA system rather than directly to the computer.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Chartplotter

I use a laptop and a GPS on board. Laptop is now three years old, and no problems associated with moisture etc. I also use a Garmin chartplotter. Each is stand alone, as is the auto pilot. I have the feeling/fear that when tied together, a failure in one unit, will knock out the others on the system. Have a friend with all Raymarine stuff, all tied together, and he has had this exact problem. Not only does one instrument failing, possibly disable the others, diagnosis and repair is much more complicated. READ EXPENSIVE, unless you are an electronics whiz, which I am certainly not. So, why don't you get yourself a chartplotter, with the NEMA output, hook it up to your auto pilot. This way you have two, stand alone GPS systems, either one able to function as a back up in case the other one takes a dump. I do this, plus carry an older handheld, which I use as a emergency backup, and navigation for the dinghy should I need it. ( Never have, but you never know)
 
S

Steve Zito

Been there, done that

I had my laptop able to steer my boat with my mouse. Yeah, I have over $500 invested in Visual Navigation Suite. Now its a toy. With the laptopo in the cabin, it was really not useful for quick reference navigation. I much prefer my new Garmin 492 with preloaded coastal charts. Laptop can be used as second means, like suggested by another reply. Steve
 
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