Need GPS PC-Laptop software for GPS receiver

Factual Questions
1

I have a HAICOM HAI-303III GPS receiver. It is only a receiver, with no display. It sends serial data through the serial port in NMEA-0183 format to a PC, PDA, or other display. (It can also be connected to a CompactFlash memory card slot but that is not what I am using.)

I have connected it to the serial port of my laptop and with Hyperterminal configured at 4800 baud it receives and displays correctly NMEA-0183 data sentences like $GPRMC, $GPGGA, $GPGSA, GPGSV and others which contain information regarding position, speed, course, etc.

Examples:

Rather than display a continuous stream of unreadable gibberish I would like to have a window with a display of the different magnitudes.

There is a program for sale (Hillstone) which does what I want but it is too expensive and has map capability which I don’t want or need. I just want the basic capability to display time, speed, course and other variables directly as they are being received. That display is quite close to what I could use.

This requires acquiring the NMEA-0183 text sentences from the serial port, interpreting them and displaying the info on the screen.

There is probably some free software which can do this. If not I think it should be fairly easy to import the raw data using Visual Basic (VB) and then display it. I do not know VB but I think if someone could tell me how to acquire the data I could then do the display part.

2

possibly

http://www.easygps.com/gps_receivers/?zoom_highlight=serial

Another possibility

On this page it provides a drop down list of (presumably) compatible mapping software for your unit as low as $45. If any of these packages will do what you want you can likely get them for a fraction of the listed cost on eBay.

I know you indicated mapping software was overkill for your use but the mapping software might have a sub-module that yields the data display you want much the same way as better GPS car and hand held units often have a display option that lists the satellites and the magnitudes as a subset of the mapping features.

3

Thanks astro. EasyGPS looks interesting and I will join their forums and ask there. I also found SeaClear which is free but it seems like it has little or no support. It is just one guy’s effort.

The truth is that the Haicom HAI-303III was given to me and I am just trying to get some use out of it but it may not be worth the effort and I may be better off just selling it on ebay or letting it sit in a drawer.

It also occurs to me now that I am planning on replacing all the electrnics in my boat and I may be able to fit it as part of the new system.

I have tinkered with Visual Basic and I am confident I could do the display part to suit my taste but I do not know how to do the data acquisition part. I am sure it must be quite simple for someone who knows how to do it but I have no idea. If someone would tell me how to do it I may give that a try.

4

You might try this NMEA compass application (zip file) from the people who develop Xport port splitter.

5

Thanks. I looked at Compass but the display window seems unclear to me and I am not sure if that works with Win98se. I might still give it a try. I find the Hillstone display much clearer.

6

I use GPS trackmaker from http://www.gpstm.com/

It’s free and it’s easy to find maps people have created for importation, should you ever want to down the road. Got me all over New Zealand with a laptop, no cost.

7

Miscue, that looks interesting. I only had a quick look but I like the general approach and it seems I could scan my paper charts and use them with that program.

I do not particularly like the analog display in Real Time Navigation but I don’t know how much it can be adapted to my needs. Also it does not seem to have nautical units. I will have a closer look. Thanks.