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Weather Station Hardware => Boltek/NexStorm Lightning Detectors => Topic started by: mmorris on July 20, 2009, 07:14:54 PM

Title: GPS
Post by: mmorris on July 20, 2009, 07:14:54 PM
Just got my GPS got the GlobalSat BU-353 USB receiver. Install the driver plug in the GPS ran the GPS Info software told me it was running on com 4  and was seeing 10 sat setting on the table. Went in to the device manger and changed the baud rate to 4800 like the instruction said to. Open up StrikeLink plug in the right com port click on Start GPS and was in. Checked on the StrikeStarUS site under stats and on the map and my block had change to green and an extra green dot was in the stats page under my station.
Info: I payed $41.94 with shipping for the GPS receiver. Just in case your shopping and wanted an Idea the cost yours might be better on the right day.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: tomcj2 on July 20, 2009, 09:04:05 PM
What is the advantage of the GPS?
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mackbig on July 21, 2009, 06:57:20 AM
The only advantage is for strike timing.  Unless of course you are hooked to a laptop and in motion.

Andrew

What is the advantage of the GPS?
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: jchen on July 21, 2009, 07:55:47 AM
So, instead of paying a list price of $1,500 for the Boltek unit, the GlobalSat is just as good, does the job, is easy to install and cost $1450 less?
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SLOweather on July 21, 2009, 10:59:59 AM
So, instead of paying a list price of $1,500 for the Boltek unit, the GlobalSat is just as good, does the job, is easy to install and cost $1450 less?

The Boltek GPS is if you want to join Boltek's new lightning network. The GlobalSat is if you want to join StrikeStar. Neither GPS is required for a stand-alone tracker not sending data to a network.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: racenet on July 21, 2009, 11:25:59 AM
So, instead of paying a list price of $1,500 for the Boltek unit, the GlobalSat is just as good, does the job, is easy to install and cost $1450 less?

The Boltek GPS is if you want to join Boltek's new lightning network. The GlobalSat is if you want to join StrikeStar. Neither GPS is required for a stand-alone tracker not sending data to a network.

In addition, the GPS isn't required if you wish to send data to StrikeStar. You can send in your data without it. Adding it though improves your strike timing within the network.



Bob
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: port1 on July 22, 2009, 04:46:19 AM
Does yours get a fix indoors or does it need an unobstructed view of the sky?
 :?:
I'm referring to the GlobalSat BU-353 USB.

Henry
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: jmcmurry on July 22, 2009, 06:42:21 AM
Mine is inside and works fine usually getting 9 sats and always at least 7.

- Jim
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: Cienega32 on July 23, 2009, 02:49:20 PM
What happens if you remove the GPS short term - do those networks just fall back but keep you active; returning you to GPS status when it's returned to lightning service?

In other words, if you use it for occasional road trips.

Why won't the GlobalSat or any other other similarly based format work with the Boltek network? Does the Boltek GPS use a proprietary format?

Would any standard format(s) using GPS unit work with the StrikeStar net?


Reason for asking is I used to use DeLorme's BlueTooth GPS logger for road trips and it was great - buggy but great. Just turn it on and it logged everywhere you went. Then you could d/load the data into your mapping software and "watch" your travels which was cool when used in Topo software. Of course, it was also a real time GPS as well. Looking at the GlobalSat units and others, it seems that loggers are available.

Then again, the GlobalSat is cheap enough but I am pretty curious about those issues I asked about.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mackbig on July 23, 2009, 03:17:04 PM
I dont use a GPS with mine, but the StrikeLink startup/login screen looks like it would just start normally if there was no GPS present.   So you should default back, to a non GPS connection.

Just an FYI, of the 191 stations on strikestar US, only 73 use a GPS, and currently 8 of those are showing yellow (there is no legend on the stats page, so not quite sure what yellow means, but probably means strikelink thinks there should be a GPS, but its not communicating..?)

http://www.strikestarus.com/StrikeStarUS_Stats.html

Andrew
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SLOweather on July 23, 2009, 03:50:03 PM
What happens if you remove the GPS short term - do those networks just fall back but keep you active; returning you to GPS status when it's returned to lightning service?

In other words, if you use it for occasional road trips.


Yup. You don't need to do anything.

Quote
Why won't the GlobalSat or any other other similarly based format work with the Boltek network? Does the Boltek GPS use a proprietary format?

No, it uses a high resolution GPS with nanosecond (?) accuracy.

Quote
Would any standard format(s) using GPS unit work with the StrikeStar net?

It depends. StrikeStar requires a timestamp sentence of some sort that's not available in all GPSes. You might want to search or ask on the Astrogenic forum at http://forum.astrogenic.com/.

Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SLOweather on July 23, 2009, 03:51:33 PM

Just an FYI, of the 191 stations on strikestar US, only 73 use a GPS, and currently 8 of those are showing yellow (there is no legend on the stats page, so not quite sure what yellow means, but probably means strikelink thinks there should be a GPS, but its not communicating..?)

http://www.strikestarus.com/StrikeStarUS_Stats.html

Andrew

I'm one of the yellows, and I think you're correct. I need to restart the GPS tonight when I get home.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: racenet on July 23, 2009, 03:57:19 PM
Green = Sending data, with GPS
Yellow = Sending data in sync mode (no gps)
Red = Fault (not sending data)

 
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mackbig on July 23, 2009, 05:00:18 PM
Cool, good guess, I guess.

Its pretty straight forward for the CON and IPC columns, green good, red bad...
I have never seen red in the GPS column. 

Andrew


Green = Sending data, with GPS
Yellow = Sending data in sync mode (no gps)
Red = Fault (not sending data)

 
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mackbig on July 23, 2009, 05:10:27 PM
Chris
Did you special request SLO as your strikestar ID, or is that just what relko gave you...  I guess it fits, most id's are first three letters from city, unless there are conflicts or multi part names.....

Its too bad I am just outside the Toronto city limit, TOR would be a pretty good ID for lightning/storms/etc....

Andrew


I'm one of the yellows, and I think you're correct. I need to restart the GPS tonight when I get home.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SLOweather on July 23, 2009, 06:11:44 PM
Relko or Rick assigned it. Also did CAM for the Cambria station I admin.

Chris
Did you special request SLO as your strikestar ID, or is that just what relko gave you...  I guess it fits, most id's are first three letters from city, unless there are conflicts or multi part names.....

Its too bad I am just outside the Toronto city limit, TOR would be a pretty good ID for lightning/storms/etc....

Andrew


I'm one of the yellows, and I think you're correct. I need to restart the GPS tonight when I get home.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SoMDWx on July 25, 2009, 04:01:20 AM
Just got my GPS got the GlobalSat BU-353 USB receiver. Install the driver plug in the GPS ran the GPS Info software told me it was running on com 4  and was seeing 10 sat setting on the table. Went in to the device manger and changed the baud rate to 4800 like the instruction said to. Open up StrikeLink plug in the right com port click on Start GPS and was in. Checked on the StrikeStarUS site under stats and on the map and my block had change to green and an extra green dot was in the stats page under my station.
Info: I payed $41.94 with shipping for the GPS receiver. Just in case your shopping and wanted an Idea the cost yours might be better on the right day.


Mine just came in the mail for the same price. Works great!
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SoMDWx on August 10, 2009, 01:41:49 PM
Spoke a little too soon..

Seems my BU-353 and StrikeLink work for awhile then it stops getting data. I have to do an uninstall of the driver and then re-install it to get it to work again.... Not sure if it is StrikeLink or the BU-353 driver doing it...
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: racenet on August 10, 2009, 03:41:08 PM
That happens to me every once in awhile. Just unplugging the GPS and plugging it back in and restarting Strikelink corrects the issue. I see no reason to be un-installing and re-installing the driver. Chances are good that causes more problems then not.



Bob
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mmorris on August 10, 2009, 06:50:58 PM
you might check and see if your computer doesn't put the usb into a sleep mode some where in the device manager just a thought.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SoMDWx on August 10, 2009, 10:36:26 PM
where do you check that?

EDIT: I found out where to turn off power management for the USB devices. Now testing............
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SoMDWx on August 14, 2009, 01:11:56 PM
Same problem.. Possibly a USB cable length issue. Now testing unit directly plugged into the rear of the PC. Ordered an active USB cable to boost line signals.

Jim
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: port1 on August 17, 2009, 09:02:28 AM
 :-(  After fiddling around with the driver for the BU-353 for several days, I called tech support.  Was walked through a driver installation twice, and it still stumped the tech.  "I'll have the engineers contact you, Henry..." was the reply.  They did get back to me, and said their device doesn't work with WinXP 64 bit, even though originally they said it would.   #-o
It works great on my Tablet PC which runs straight WinXP, though.
It's a fine sensor, just too bad it's not supported on my main PC.  The tech said the company would have to create a driver for WinXP 64 bit, and at this point I'm not going to hold my breath.  :roll:

Henry
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SoMDWx on August 17, 2009, 10:31:26 PM
UPDATE:

After testing several days with the unit plugged right into the back of the PC (worked fine), I just got my active hub cable and have it installed....

 [-o<

So far , so good. Have the GPS receiver right by the window, picking up ~ 5-7 Sats.....

Cable could be the answer.....

Jim
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: SoMDWx on August 18, 2009, 09:09:54 PM
Well it seems my intermittent conection with the BU-353 GPS receiver has been fixed by using an active USB cable....

 =D>  =D>  =D>

Jim
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: floodcaster on September 19, 2009, 01:34:01 PM
Well it seems my intermittent conection with the BU-353 GPS receiver has been fixed by using an active USB cable....
 =D>  =D>  =D>
Jim

I see supplied cable is about 4 feet long? I wonder if you can add an extension as my WX PC is in the basement and the GPS would likely not lock in.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: Mikla on September 20, 2009, 12:31:46 PM
It is dependent on how compliant the computers USB port is, but I have added up to 15' using a USB Extender Cable and had no problems.
I see supplied cable is about 4 feet long? I wonder if you can add an extension as my WX PC is in the basement and the GPS would likely not lock in.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: floodcaster on September 20, 2009, 09:38:24 PM
It is dependent on how compliant the computers USB port is, but I have added up to 15' using a USB Extender Cable and had no problems.
I see supplied cable is about 4 feet long? I wonder if you can add an extension as my WX PC is in the basement and the GPS would likely not lock in.

Thanks for that info Mikla. :-)
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: CNYWeather on September 28, 2009, 12:26:25 PM
I got mine, still havent gotten it working right.

Installed the driver, plugged it in, made sure the com port was set right,
saw 10 satellites and saw my GPS coordinates.

Did some software updating and have not been able to get it to connect since.
Uninstalled, reinstalled, etc etc.

In device mgr, it sets the com port (10) but going into GPS Info,
just cant get it to connect. The GPS itself red light flashes meaning it has a signal.

 :sad:
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mmorris on September 28, 2009, 03:58:59 PM
I got mine, still havent gotten it working right.

Installed the driver, plugged it in, made sure the com port was set right,
saw 10 satellites and saw my GPS coordinates.

Did some software updating and have not been able to get it to connect since.
Uninstalled, reinstalled, etc etc.

In device mgr, it sets the com port (10) but going into GPS Info,
just cant get it to connect. The GPS itself red light flashes meaning it has a signal.

 :sad:






So what software did you update so the rest of us know what not to update... That would be helpfull info.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: CNYWeather on September 28, 2009, 04:01:31 PM
Dont remember off the top of my head but a Windows Update.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mmorris on September 28, 2009, 06:29:12 PM
Dont remember off the top of my head but a Windows Update.

Well that is to bad hard to find a reason why a security update would mess with a usb port. I installed my gps back in July and this computer has done all of Microsoft update automatically since the begging of time and never had a problem with them messing with anything that I've added on. Course this is and old dinosaur of a computer that I'm using for the weather stuff.
 Hope you get her going GPS that is.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: CNYWeather on October 05, 2009, 12:05:09 PM
Still a no go. Windows device mrg. see's the thing on Com 11, baud rate of 4800, but
GPSinfo comes back Com Port Error  :-(
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: mmorris on October 05, 2009, 07:43:29 PM
Still a no go. Windows device mrg. see's the thing on Com 11, baud rate of 4800, but
GPSinfo comes back Com Port Error  :-(

Mine is running on com 4 can you change it in the device manager I just looked in the strikeLink utility and mine doesn't show a com 11 listed.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: dalecoy on October 05, 2009, 10:37:09 PM
Still a no go. Windows device mrg. see's the thing on Com 11, baud rate of 4800, but
GPSinfo comes back Com Port Error  :-(

ALL application programs have some limit on the maximum number of the Com port that they will handle.  If GPSinfo can't handle Com 11, that's an expected result.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: CNYWeather on October 06, 2009, 09:04:29 AM
Tried Com 2 (Com 1 3-9 used) same thing.
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: dalecoy on October 06, 2009, 11:39:22 AM
Tried Com 2 (Com 1 3-9 used) same thing.

One more diagnostic:

In the device manager, uninstall (or delete or whatever your terminology is) the port (2) and device.  Shut down the computer, and unplug the device.  [In other words, from a hardware viewpoint, start over].  Boot up the computer, and plug in the device. 

Note carefully what happens.  The question being answered here is whether the OS recognizes the make and model of the device (and asks for the driver, etc.).

That requires communication with the device (not just recognizing that a device is plugged in). 

After that, if it's still undiagnosed, the reasonable thing would be to communicate with the manufacturer and/or try it with another computer (get a friend to help)?
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: vcbmoore on June 14, 2010, 11:47:00 AM
Rather than starting a new thread, I figured I would post my recent experience here.

Last Friday the GlobalSat BU-353 Antenna arrived.  The installation was very easy.  I located the antenna on the threshold of the french doors in the study.  The antenna is attached with Velcro.  The study faces almost due south.  But the doors are on a covered patio with a 10' wide and 12' high ceiling.  I was dubious about the reception and the length of USB cable (16' total).

I could never get GPSinfo to work.  It kept giving me a com port error.  I gave up and went straight into StrikStar.  After configuring the com port it fired right up.  The antenna sees 8 satellites. It's neat, clean and protected from the weather.

Title: Re: GPS
Post by: dalecoy on June 14, 2010, 12:11:54 PM
Thanks for the info.  And keeping it in the same thread is great, as far as I'm concerned.

People supplying information to help other people is what this forum is about.

[I noticed that 8 months ago I tried to help CNYWeather, and never heard back.  Oh, well.]
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: floodcaster on June 14, 2010, 04:54:09 PM
Thanks for the info. Just ordered my GPS today. :-)
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: vcbmoore on June 15, 2010, 09:13:40 AM
Dale - I appreciate all the help I can get.  In the case of the antenna, you pointed me in the right direction.  Thank you!
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: floodcaster on July 03, 2010, 11:57:02 AM
Well it seems my intermittent conection with the BU-353 GPS receiver has been fixed by using an active USB cable....

 =D>  =D>  =D>

Jim

Jim, did you have any trouble with either gpsinfo or strikestar recognizing the com port with the active usb cable? I can get the gps comport recognized with the gps plugged in and with a normal non-active usb extension plugged in but not with the active usb. I have to have an extension as my weather pc is in the basement.
Bill
Title: Re: GPS
Post by: floodcaster on July 10, 2010, 02:43:20 PM
Finally got the GPS working with my active USB extension cable.  :-) I had to uninstall and then reinstall the supplied drivers. :???: