This is more of an info thing. It appears that Garmin, new Garmin, equipment speaks a proprietary language (not NMEA) in some cases. I just recieved my Garmin GPS 18 reciever and could not get it to work with SeaClear. It doesnt recognize the language. I found this program on the Garmin website. It may have applications for others. SeaClear works great now. The program is called Spanner. Just launch it before you open Seaclear. It converts Garmin speak to NMEA. Cheers
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Garmin GPS18
What is the Garmin 18 (on the water, on the trail, etc.)? I can't seem to locate it on the Garmin site. I see that your link is for "Spanner" for the 18. All Garmins have a proprietary language, and need to be set to NMEA. Maybe the model 18 is not designed with water sports in mind.
What is the Garmin 18 (on the water, on the trail, etc.)? I can't seem to locate it on the Garmin site. I see that your link is for "Spanner" for the 18. All Garmins have a proprietary language, and need to be set to NMEA. Maybe the model 18 is not designed with water sports in mind.
It doesn't matter...
What the GPS is used for, if it has an interface setting in the menu, then NMEA should be selected. I use the older Garmin GPS12 to do my interfacing with Seaclear II. The only issue I have is having to start SeaClear first before hooking up the GPS. Else the PC thinks the GPS is a pointing device. There is a software fix from MS for just that, but as long as Seaclear is started I have no problems. I use Seaclear on a Dell Latitude D600 with XP Pro I got off of Ebay for $300. Works like a charm.
What the GPS is used for, if it has an interface setting in the menu, then NMEA should be selected. I use the older Garmin GPS12 to do my interfacing with Seaclear II. The only issue I have is having to start SeaClear first before hooking up the GPS. Else the PC thinks the GPS is a pointing device. There is a software fix from MS for just that, but as long as Seaclear is started I have no problems. I use Seaclear on a Dell Latitude D600 with XP Pro I got off of Ebay for $300. Works like a charm.
GPS and Seaclear
The GPS 18 USB is just a reciever/antenna. Not a handheld or anything like that. It has to work with a compatable program on a laptop which we use as a backup to ondeck chartplotter. The software that it came with is called "nroute", which when loaded works fine. I believe Garmin just wants you to have to use its maps (bluewater charts)etc. However since it is USB and not serial, I couldnt get Seaclear to recognize it because,I believe, it looks for serial ports (Comm 1,2, etc). My old Garmin handheld with a serial to USB conversion also worked fine with seaclear less the mouse problems. Also, I could get "go7towin" to see the reciever..and ID it. I even set the configuration for USB. BUT I couldnt find any settings in seaclear OR the software it came with to select NMEA. What this program does is create a virtual port that Seaclear recognizes and as far as I can tell, converts Garmin to NMEA. Just food for thought, and I am not a computer geek. It just might save others a headache like I got. Cheers
The GPS 18 USB is just a reciever/antenna. Not a handheld or anything like that. It has to work with a compatable program on a laptop which we use as a backup to ondeck chartplotter. The software that it came with is called "nroute", which when loaded works fine. I believe Garmin just wants you to have to use its maps (bluewater charts)etc. However since it is USB and not serial, I couldnt get Seaclear to recognize it because,I believe, it looks for serial ports (Comm 1,2, etc). My old Garmin handheld with a serial to USB conversion also worked fine with seaclear less the mouse problems. Also, I could get "go7towin" to see the reciever..and ID it. I even set the configuration for USB. BUT I couldnt find any settings in seaclear OR the software it came with to select NMEA. What this program does is create a virtual port that Seaclear recognizes and as far as I can tell, converts Garmin to NMEA. Just food for thought, and I am not a computer geek. It just might save others a headache like I got. Cheers
seaclear II
Off topic a bit, but I'm a seaclear fan. Been using for a coupla years with laptop on board. Charts are free, as are updates. Use an old handheld gps; no probs. It tracks where I go aground with such precision.
Off topic a bit, but I'm a seaclear fan. Been using for a coupla years with laptop on board. Charts are free, as are updates. Use an old handheld gps; no probs. It tracks where I go aground with such precision.
Rick... understood...
I didn't know the GPS18 was a USB device. The Seaclear site, or manual, I don't remember which, states it will work with USB virtual ports. I planned on getting a USB GPS just for that purpose. My GPS12 is used with my autopilot sending NMEA data to it. I was thinking of hooking up Seaclear to the autopilot, but thought that was a little too much. Thanks for the info on the USB GPS device and Seaclear. Barometer, agree, LOL, it would accurately point out where one went aground. However, I have yet to go aground (knocks on wood). But I also agree it is a wonderful program and the free charts... One cannot go wrong. Free chart plotter and free charts.
I didn't know the GPS18 was a USB device. The Seaclear site, or manual, I don't remember which, states it will work with USB virtual ports. I planned on getting a USB GPS just for that purpose. My GPS12 is used with my autopilot sending NMEA data to it. I was thinking of hooking up Seaclear to the autopilot, but thought that was a little too much. Thanks for the info on the USB GPS device and Seaclear. Barometer, agree, LOL, it would accurately point out where one went aground. However, I have yet to go aground (knocks on wood). But I also agree it is a wonderful program and the free charts... One cannot go wrong. Free chart plotter and free charts.
I've got a 76cx
And when plugged in on the serial port, i can shoose between NMEA or garmin, but on the USB port it's garmin only. I acutally purchased a program to do the converting, which is a shame, then again it was only a couple dollars (I think $9).
And when plugged in on the serial port, i can shoose between NMEA or garmin, but on the USB port it's garmin only. I acutally purchased a program to do the converting, which is a shame, then again it was only a couple dollars (I think $9).
Brian D
Its all good and the reason I bought the USB reciever is because it saves batteries obviously. It does need the virtual port but that was easy enough and it saw it right away. It also eliminates the mouse jump problem! Now I can just stow the Garmin V I have in the grab and go kit. And it cleans up the nav station considerably. We are heading over your way on Sunday. Gonna hang out for a week. Look for the Whiskey Chaser. We will be up on 16. Cheers
Its all good and the reason I bought the USB reciever is because it saves batteries obviously. It does need the virtual port but that was easy enough and it saw it right away. It also eliminates the mouse jump problem! Now I can just stow the Garmin V I have in the grab and go kit. And it cleans up the nav station considerably. We are heading over your way on Sunday. Gonna hang out for a week. Look for the Whiskey Chaser. We will be up on 16. Cheers
NMEA and the GPS
Thanks Rick, that explains why it is only Garmin. I'm not sure about my Map 76CS when I plug it in using USB. I have never tried changing the language. I connect to the computer using a USB that configs as a com port (just like a USB-Com converter) from a multiplexer that takes all of the NMEA data to input to the computer. It converts SeaTalk to NMEA so my computer program receives all of the available information, speed, depth, wind, position, heading, course, etc.
Thanks Rick, that explains why it is only Garmin. I'm not sure about my Map 76CS when I plug it in using USB. I have never tried changing the language. I connect to the computer using a USB that configs as a com port (just like a USB-Com converter) from a multiplexer that takes all of the NMEA data to input to the computer. It converts SeaTalk to NMEA so my computer program receives all of the available information, speed, depth, wind, position, heading, course, etc.
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