Need help loading waypoints to gps

[carron55]

We have a Lowrance ifinder H2Oc GPS. with the data cable attached to a serial port on our Windows XP computer. I have been emailed a Pocket Query and have installed GSAK. How do I get the data from my computer to my GPS? 😕

[RSplash40]

I’ve recently lost the use of a pc so i’m going by memory but isnt there a gps heading on gsak?

You’ll need to find the settings and tell gsak what type of gps you have and how its connected. Then you’ll need to Send your waypoints to the gps. GSAK has some really cool variables that allow you to format what you send over.

For instance, I know there is a single character you put in that will put a 1 char feild that represents the size of the cache – some like R- REgular, M-Micro, etc.

[carron55]

@RSplash40 wrote:

I’ve recently lost the use of a pc so i’m going by memory but isnt there a gps heading on gsak?

You’ll need to find the settings and tell gsak what type of gps you have and how its connected. Then you’ll need to Send your waypoints to the gps. GSAK has some really cool variables that allow you to format what you send over.

For instance, I know there is a single character you put in that will put a 1 char feild that represents the size of the cache – some like R- REgular, M-Micro, etc.

Thanks for responding, there is a gps header on gsak, but we’ve tried that already. We’ve spent hours trying to get this to work and are very frustrated. We need to know how to unzip a file. Any ideas? We’ve already searched for a winzip in our program file, but couldn’t come up with anything. Help!

[Jeremy]

The Lowrance units have to be handled specially in GSAK, not through the normal “GPS->Send Waypoints” mechanism. You first need to create a Lowrance USR file in GSAK by doing the following:

– Click on the File menu
– Go to Export
– Click on Lowrance USR…
– Set the export options, enter a filename, and click Generate

The next step is to copy the USR file created to a memory card… which is easily done if you have a USB card reader for your PC like this. Once it is on the memory card, put the card in the GPS and there are some options for transferring data in a USR file into the unit’s internal memory.

Note that I’ve only ever moved waypoints to iFinders with memory cards. I’m not sure if you can somehow transfer the USR file to the unit directly via the cable using some Lowrance software? (We are still waiting for our backordered Lowrance cable for the Pineapple device so I’m clueless on how this would work…)

Bottom line… you may need to scrap the cable idea and instead buy a SD card (if you don’t have one already) and USB card reader. If you can return the cable, you may find that buying a reader ($10) and small SD card (<$10) is cheaper anyway… this reader/card package would definitely work if the iFinder can handle a 2GB card.

[GeoPink]

@Jeremy wrote:

The Lowrance units have to be handled specially in GSAK, not through the normal “GPS->Send Waypoints” mechanism. You first need to create a Lowrance USR file in GSAK by doing the following:

– Click on the File menu
– Go to Export
– Click on Lowrance USR…
– Set the export options, enter a filename, and click Generate

The next step is to copy the USR file created to a memory card… which is easily done if you have a USB card reader for your PC like this. Once it is on the memory card, put the card in the GPS and there are some options for transferring data in a USR file into the unit’s internal memory.

Note that I’ve only ever moved waypoints to iFinders with memory cards. I’m not sure if you can somehow transfer the USR file to the unit directly via the cable using some Lowrance software? (We are still waiting for our backordered Lowrance cable for the Pineapple device so I’m clueless on how this would work…)

Bottom line… you may need to scrap the cable idea and instead buy a SD card (if you don’t have one already) and USB card reader. If you can return the cable, you may find that buying a reader ($10) and small SD card (<$10) is cheaper anyway… this reader/card package would definitely work if the iFinder can handle a 2GB card.

With all the trouble that I’ve seen iFinder people going through just to get the card in and out (remove batteries, etc.); I wouldn’t scrap the cable just yet.

It may not be possible to send the .usr file to the unit via GSAK, but I would imagine that once the cable is plugged into your computer and the unit is turned on; it would show up as a removable drive and you could cut and paste the file that way. (I’m just guessing here, but that how the Magellans work.)

Keep trying, and worst case scenario, I’ll drive up to Green Bay and help you figure it out! 😀

[EnergySaver]

@GeoPink wrote:

… but I would imagine that once the cable is plugged into your computer and the unit is turned on; it would show up as a removable drive and you could cut and paste the file that way. (I’m just guessing here, but that how the Magellans work.)…

You could be right … but could also not be 😆
You’d only know by working with the specific device, in my confused opinion.

I have experience with devices that plug in via USB that contain storage but can NOT be accessed with anything except specific software. I’m not speaking from the GPS receiver world, but experience with $9000 in fared imaging cameras, the ones I have worked with only allow downloading of the stored images via the included software … they can not be made to show up as a drive giving you directly drag/drop access to the images.

[GeoPink]

Ah, yes now that you mention it my first digital camera could only download pictures through the software that came with it.

Only thing is, when talking with folks at the campout who had purchased the H20 iFinders, they mentioned that there was no software (CD) with it. (Some had just came from the store and had their manuals in hand!) Maybe check the Lowrance Website (though a brief there search got me nowhere 😕 )

[benny7210]

@carron55 wrote:

Thanks for responding, there is a gps header on gsak, but we’ve tried that already. We’ve spent hours trying to get this to work and are very frustrated. We need to know how to unzip a file. Any ideas? We’ve already searched for a winzip in our program file, but couldn’t come up with anything. Help!

One of the nice features that GSAK has is that it will “unzip” the PQ that you get from groundspeak.

[Jeremy]

Found this little nugget in the geocaching.com forums:

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=112236&hl=

Looks like the iFinders will take waypoint data sent over the cable via standard NMEA sentences. NMEA is a serial only protocol, which leads me to believe the USB version of this cable just incorporates a USB to serial adapter.

Hyperterminal or GPSBabel can be used to send these NMEA sentences.

I still think that the memory card / memory card reader combo would be easier, although the location of the SD memory card slot on these units makes removing and inserting the card more difficult than it needs to be.

[benny7210]

@Jeremy wrote:

Found this little nugget in the geocaching.com forums:

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=112236&hl=

Looks like the iFinders will take waypoint data sent over the cable via standard NMEA sentences. NMEA is a serial only protocol, which leads me to believe the USB version of this cable just incorporates a USB to serial adapter.

Hyperterminal or GPSBabel can be used to send these NMEA sentences.

I still think that the memory card / memory card reader combo would be easier, although the location of the SD memory card slot on these units makes removing and inserting the card more difficult than it needs to be.

Hey, Jeremy
Can you put that is plain English…Please

[Jeremy]

@benny7210 wrote:

Hey, Jeremy
Can you put that is plain English…Please

It means that you can download waypoints to the iFinder via the cable, but it is a pain in the a**.

To the original poster, you first need to find out what COM port your cable is hooked up to.

http://www.machinetoolhelp.com/Computerprocedures/COM-Port-setup.html

You then have to change the settings for this serial port on your PC to match the GPS serial settings… which I assume are still at the defaults. (Note this step may be unnecessary if GPSBabel reconfigures the serial port before it tries sending… I am unsure if it does.)

Default settings are:

Bits per second = 4800
Data bits = 8
Parity = None
Stop bits = 1
Flow control = None

Finally, in GSAK, to send the waypoints to the unit do the following:

– File menu, Export, Custom Export
– In the “Statement to run” box, enter the following EXACTLY:

"C:Program FilesGSAKGPSBabel.exe" -N -i gpx -f "C:Program FilesGSAKtempbabel.gpx" -o nmea,snlen=20,pause=0.1,baud=4800 -F com1

(GSAK will remember this string, so you should only have to enter it once.)

Replace com1 with the COM port your cable is hooked up to. And the download might be slow because of the .1 second pause between each waypoint. Some people in the geocaching.com forums reported success without a pause, so you might try removing the “pause 0.1” part in the line above.

Also, by downloading the waypoints via the cable you will not (and cannot) get custom waypoint symbols or waypoint descriptions. You will get the waypoint code (GCXXXX) and the coordinates and that is it. If you want more, you’ve got to go with creating the USR file and using a memory card to transfer the waypoints to the unit.

If this doesn’t work, shoot me a PM or email. I have a vested interest in figuring out how to do this because several Lowrance users walked away disappointed from the GPS download table at the campout. The WGA should be getting an iFinder cable for the Pineapple device any day now… and it would nice to know how to transfer waypoints using it before the next event.

[GeoPink]

Jeremy, I was reading that gc.com thread and it seemed to me that it was primariliy for the Go series iFinders.

I’m speculating, but I’d hope the H2O series would be much more simple. Then again, who knows…

[carron55]

Thanks to all who replied! We’ve been busy the last two days (I guess we have to work sometime!) We will sort through all that you’ve said and try to make a connection. If that fails – we may take you up on your offer Geopink! Thanks so much. Any other ideas keep ’em coming. Will let ya’ll know how we fare. 😀

[Jeremy]

@GeoPink wrote:

I’m speculating, but I’d hope the H2O series would be much more simple. Then again, who knows…

The gc.com thread was mostly about the GO series because these are the low end units that lack a memory card. So the only way to download waypoints with these units is to use the cable… hence the interest.

The H2O manual states that the communications port on this unit is also a serial port (not USB) and uses the NMEA protocol (like the GO).

One serial communications port, NMEA 0183 version 2.0 compatible. Allows exchange of position data with another device, such as an autopilot or personal computer. Optional combination serial/power cable available.

I think the simple way is still to use the memory card. Lowrance sells packages that include the GPS, MMC card, and MMC card reader so it would seem that they want you to go down that path.

[GeoPink]

Lowrance… Red-headed step-brother of the GPSr Community. 😀

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