Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

5 Dec 2011 18:32:36

Peter Shepheard

I bought a USB Serial Converter from Maplin. The box says it works with Mac and there is a driver supplied.
Driver installed OK and if I look in About this Mac, More Info, Hardware USB Device Tree I find USB-Serial Controller D and it says the vendor is Prolific Technology. So far so good.

I wanted to use this to connect my elderly Garmin eTrex Vista to the Mac to download Tracklogs, Waypoints etc. The eTrex only has a serial connector. I downloaded GPSBabel to manage the file transfer and translation. Unfortunately it does not see the eTrex.

In system preferences, networks I thought I would find USB- Serial Controller D that I could add but it is NOT visible.

Can anyone offer any assistance please?

Yours hopefully! Peter

Re: Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

5 Dec 2011 22:42:05

Mick Burrell

I assume you have the Garmin to Serial cable? If so, I've used a Keyspan serial adapter with my (even older) eTrex. I don't know if they're still available but I'd be happy to loan it to you to see if you can get it to work.

Re: Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

6 Dec 2011 10:31:41

Peter Shepheard

That's a very generous offer Mick. Thanks very much

I found a Keyspan adaptor here:

http://www.expansys.com/keyspan-high-speed-usb-serial-adapter-121827/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=base&ito=1701

and a manual here:

http://www.tripplite.com/shared/techdoc/Owners-Manual/933022.pdf

It seems it should work. I do not have any Garmin software on the Mac but presumably GPSBabel should fill this role? I spoke to Garmin's technical people but they could not offer any useful advice!

As you know we don't have another meeting in Bournemouth until January so would it be possible to post it to me? I would be happy to pay postage.

Re: Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

6 Dec 2011 12:58:33

Peter Shepheard

What software did you use Mick? GPSBabel or something else?

Re: Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

6 Dec 2011 14:58:09

Derek Wright

I use GPSBabel to convert the out put from a data logging device called an Amod, it creates "log" files that I convert to gpx files so that I can run them into Garmin Basecamp (a free download)

I can also load the log files direct from the Amod into Places in Aperture - you might be able to do that if Places exist in iPhoto.

GPS Babel is 'bit unfriendly' and as it does not like putting pictures in specific folders but hides them away in the Application or home folder (cannot remember where ) which takes me a while to find.

Basecamp does use the map files in the satnav so it might pick up the map info from your GPS device.

It is also possible to load track files into Google Earth to see the route displayed.

Re: Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

6 Dec 2011 17:06:59

Steve Ryder

I have a USB Garmin, and have been using it successfully with Garmin Road Trip (free download) and also with the 'Where's the Path' website http://wtp2.appspot.com/

Both of these, I thoroughly recommend. The Garmin reads and writes to both of these successfully, but for Where's the Path, it had to load a browser plug-in first. I forget what this was called, but it came up with the required download automatically. I can delve a bit, and find the name if you need it.

If you succeed in getting your gps device to talk to Garmin Road Trip, I also suggest that you look at http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download

This website has links to different Open Street Map files which you can install on your Mac to replace the not very good Garmin map on Road Trip, and also on your gps if it will display maps, which in your case, I suspect it won't.

Re: Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

6 Dec 2011 21:42:08

Peter Shepheard

My problem is that my Garmin is NOT a USB version it is a serial port version and I cannot get the iMac to recognise the Garmin via the serial to USB Converter that I bought.

Mick is kindly sending his Keyspan converter for me to try and if that or anything else I can try does work in the end I will post details of what I had to do.

Thanks for the suggestions to date I will persevere.

Re: Connecting a USB Serial Converter and getting it to work!

4 Jan 2012 21:02:34

Peter Shepheard

I finally managed to get everything working so my Garmin eTRex can copy Tracklogs to Anquet mapping on my iMac and can receive planned routes (Tracklogs) from the mapping.

I have used GPSBable to do the translation from/to GPX to Garmin Protocol. Babel is very flexible covering many other formats so it would probably work well with other makes of GPS.

I would be happy to publish details if anyone is interested.

Many thanks to Mick for the loan of the Keyspan converter. One from Maplin did not work but Keyspan did and I now have bought my own but it was great to have one on loan to do the tests.