Garmin GPS 18x Series Technical Specifications

Also see for GPS 18x LVC: Declaration of conformity

Contents

Garmin GPS 18x Series Technical Specifications Manual pdf 33 page image

APPENDIX D: GPS 18x PC/ LVC/18x-5HZ & WINDOWS SERIAL MOUSE ISSUEProblem: It is possible for Windows to incorrectly interpret the NMEA 0183 output of the GPS 18x PC as theoutput of a Microsoft Serial BallPoint Mouse. When that happens, Windows loads drivers for the Serial BallPointMouse. This causes the cursor to move erratically about the display, clicking, right clicking, double clicking,dragging and dropping displayed items as it goes. On Windows 2000 and Windows XP, you may not experience theproblem if you wait until after the computer is booted before connecting the GPS 18x PC to the serialcommunications port. This problem is not specific to the GPS 18x PC. Any NMEA 0183 device connected to aWindows computer’s serial port is likely to cause this problem. Below are several possible solutions to this problem.Note: If your GPS 18x PC came with Garmin nRoute™ Navigation Software, you will not have this problem; theunit is programmed to produce data according to the binary format that is described in Appendix B: Garmin BinaryOutput Format.If you wish to use a different navigation software application with your GPS 18x PC, you will need to de-select the“Binary Output Data” option that is discussed in Solution 3 below.Solution 1: The easiest solution is to disable the Serial BallPoint mouse in the Device Manager. This solutionassumes that you do not need to use a Serial BallPoint mouse with your computer. When erratic mouse movementsoccur, follow the steps below.1. Unplug the DB9 connector.2. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties to open Device Manager.3. Go to the hardware tab of the resulting pop-up window and click on the Device Manager button.4. Right-click on Serial BallPoint Mouse and choose the option to Disable (NOT uninstall) this device.Solution 2: Do not plug the DB9 connector into the computer until the computer is turned on and the operatingsystem is completely booted up and running. Every time you use the GPS 18x PC/LVC, you will need to start thecomputer and operating system before making the connection between the GPS 18x PC and the computer. Thissolution usually works on Windows 2000 and Windows XP computers.Solution 3: Change the default output of the GPS 18x PC/LVC so that it does not automatically send NMEA 0183data to the computer (change the default configuration to enable “Binary Output Data”). Use the Garmin SensorConfiguration Software, named SNSRCFG.EXE, provided on the Web site to enable “Binary Output Data.” Todownload the software, start at www.garmin.com/oem, select the GPS 18x, and then select Updates andDownloads.Please note that by enabling “Binary Output Data,” the device will no longer appear as a NMEA 0183 device to yourcomputer. As a result, mapping applications that expect to hear NMEA 0183 data will not recognize your GPS 18xP/LVC until you re-enable the NMEA 0183 output, disabling the “Binary Output Data” in the process.Refer to Appendix E: Sensor Configuration Software for complete information about downloading the SensorConfiguration Software application.After the Sensor Configuration Software is installed and running on your computer, follow the steps below tochange the default data output of the GPS 18x PC, LVC, or GPS 18x-5Hz.1. Select the GPS 18x PC / LVC or the GPS 18x-5Hz from the listof sensors and click OK. The Sensor Configuration Softwareopens with the default configuration file for the GPS 18x, asshown on the next page.2. Select Config > Switch to NMEA Mode (or press the F10 key).3. Select Comm > Setup to open the Comm Setup Window.190-00879-08 GPS 18x Technical Specifications Rev. BPage 29