# Need GPS PC-Laptop software for GPS receiver **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979 "2008-11-22T11:15:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979/1 "2008-11-22T11:15:37Z")
I have a [HAICOM HAI-303III GPS receiver](http://www.dantotec.de/products/Hardware/GPS-Artikel/Haicom/Haicom-HI-303III.html). 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: > [@](#): > > $GPRMC,093721.239,A,4026.2880,N,00341.7718,W,022.4,084.4,190108,A\*68 > > Where: > RMC Recommended Minimum sentence C > 093721.239 Fix taken at 09:37:21 UTC > A Status A=active or V=Void. > 3026.2880,N Latitude 30º 26.2880’ N > 09341.7718,W Longitude 093º 41.7718’ W > 022.4 Speed over the ground in knots > 084.4 Track angle in degrees True > 190108 Date - 19 Jan 2008 > 003.1,W (Empty fields) Magnetic Variation, W > _6A The checksum data, always begins with \* > $GPGGA,093722.238,4026.2426,N,00341.7677,W,1,05,24.7,715.4,M,51.7,M,0000_7 F > > Where: > GGA Global Positioning System Fix Data > 093722.238 Fix taken at 09:37:22.238 UTC > 3026.2426,N Latitude 30º 26.2426’ N > 09341.7677,W Longitude 93º 41.7677’ W > 1 Fix quality: 0 = invalid > 1 = GPS fix (SPS) > 2 = DGPS fix > 3 = PPS fix > 4 = Real Time Kinematic > 5 = Float RTK > 6 = estimated (dead reckoning) (2.3 feature) > 7 = Manual input mode > 8 = Simulation mode > 05 Number of satellites being tracked > 24.7 Horizontal dilution of position > 715.4,M Altitude, Meters, above mean sea level > 51.7,M Height of geoid (mean sea level) above WGS84 ellipsoid > (empty field) time in seconds since last DGPS update > (empty field) DGPS station ID number > \*47 the checksum data, always begins with \* 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](http://www.hillstone-software.com/hs_gpsdll_details.htm)) 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. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979/2 "2008-11-22T13:35:10Z")
possibly [http://www.easygps.com/gps\_receivers/?zoom\_highlight=serial](http://www.easygps.com/gps_receivers/?zoom_highlight=serial) [Another possibility](http://www.diginetlink.com/Haicom_HI_303III_GPS_Receiver_p/hi-303iii.htm) 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. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979/3 "2008-11-22T18:11:56Z")
Thanks **astro**. EasyGPS looks interesting and I will join their forums and ask there. I also found [SeaClear](http://www.sping.com/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](http://www.haicom.com.tw/hi_303III.aspx) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Stan\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979/4 "2008-11-22T23:52:04Z")
You might try this [NMEA compass application (zip file)](http://curioustech.home.insightbb.com/programs/Compass.zip) from the people who develop [Xport port splitter](http://curioustech.home.insightbb.com/xport.html). ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979/5 "2008-11-23T00:09:26Z")
Thanks. I looked at [Compass](http://curioustech.home.insightbb.com/compass.htm) 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](http://www.hillstone-software.com/hs_gpsdll_details.htm) display much clearer. ---
**Author:** ![Miscue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Miscue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miscue)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979/6 "2008-11-23T00:53:07Z")
I use GPS trackmaker from [http://www.gpstm.com/](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. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-gps-pc-laptop-software-for-gps-receiver/473979/7 "2008-11-23T03:37:26Z")
**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.