C600, Route 66, and GPS receiver problems

[Guest Griff_FFOC]

Not wanting to hijack a similar post, i thought i'd create a new one as some details are different.

I'm just trying to get Route66 on my C600 to connect to a Holux 236Slim and having no luck.

My bluetooth finds the GPS Receiver, and appears to pair ok, but when running Route 66 it doesn't find the GPS receiver, and just prompts me to start it wthout it.

I'm not sure if I need to, but I've tried adding both incoming and outgoing bluetooth ports and re-tred and still no joy.

I do seem to be able to get it to connect to my PC and run the software downloaded from the holux website.

Anyone got one of these receivers, or Route66 that could offer any ideas guys.

Cheers

Griff

[Guest Griff_FFOC]

Problem seems solved, in case anyone else comes accross this, I solved it by:

I downloded a program called SiRFDemo (from Holux website I think it was), connected my PC to the receiver using a bluetooth dongle and changed the protocol to NMEA protocol and it seemed to work.

I was thinking I had problems with it not working on NMEA too, because when it was set on SiRF I was picking up a reception indoors (orange light flashing), but after changing it to NMEA the light remained was solid. It was just the fact on NMEA it wouldn't pick up a signal until I went outdoors.

SiRF is the better protocol, but it seems that Route66 doesn't like that for some reason.

Taken from the Symbian FAQ, but no doubt the same for Windows Mobile version.

Which GPS devices are supported?

All Bluetooth GPS receivers that meet the following requirements can be used with "ROUTE 66

Mobile 7":

- Protocol (minimum): NMEA-0183 v2.0 (RMC)

- Protocol (recommended): NMEA-0183 v2.0 or higher (RMC, GSA, GSV)

- Map datum: WGS84

Edited February 6, 2007 by Griff_FFOC

[Guest chucky.egg]

I'm no expert, but I thought NMEA was the format in which data was sent from the GPS to the paired device, and Sirf is a brand name for the producer of the newer, more accurate GPS receivers.

I would have thought that the problem was more likely to be that you hadn't assigned a COM port to the GPS, and so the SatNav couldn't receive the information.

Signal reception from the satellites, and communication between the GPS and your phone are (obviously) two different things.

[Guest Griff_FFOC]

Maybe, but in the software I downloaded it had the option to use "NMEA protocol" or "SiRF protocol. Maybe that was just for communications between the PC program and the receiver, i'm not too sure now you've doubted me :D but it seemed to work afterwards (spent an hour or so trying before hand). Also before I changed it I got a reception on the receiver while on the desk in the office, but afterwards, it would only get a signal outside. I'm no expert, just saying what I did. :)

Maybe i'm talking nonsense, and it was all coincidence. :D

Edit:

Just found this, which although for a different model, seams to backup my theory of different protocols.

HOLUX UK have come under increasing pressure regarding the GR-230 and the perceived "fault" that early releases of the model had.

The fault manifested itself as a loss of communication if the baud rate was changed from the factory setting of 9600 to anything else. Early GR-230's shipped by HOLUX UK, that potentially exhibited this condition, were shipped with instructions that the receiver was to be used as an NMEA GPS receiver at 9600 baud only and any customer alterations could potentially invalidate the warranty!

HOLUX UK is now, and has been since late December, only shipping units that are fully compliant with any baud rate and either NMEA or SiRF protocol over both the Bluetooth link and the Data Port (via a suitable cable).

SiRF-III chipset is the hardware within the GPS device, the SiRF or NMEA protocol is the data transfer mode the device is using - easy to confuse the two.

Edited February 7, 2007 by Griff_FFOC