Deliverable GPS data logger

I want time and position at least every 30 seconds.
I want ~15 hours of data.
I prefer USB to dump data to PC.
I will accept RS232. reluctantly ;[
I assume unit will normally be plugged into cigarette lighter.
I *do not* want wireless connection to PC.

Delorme can only deliver in some future unspecified month/year.

Suggestions &/or comments anyone.

try these


or in Oz
appeared to be down at the time I checked, but IIRC this is the
manufacturer for the loggers sold by the top link

Ian M

Ian_M wrote:

Quick look says this may be what I'm looking for.
Have go to work now ;{
Thanks.

Ian_M wrote:



I've gone to site.
Is this a gpslogger or serial data logger?
Don't see any USB dump capability.

Have sent inquiry to sales dept.

Based on last night's first impression I had even transferred
appropriate amount from savings to checking. It's about to return :{

Richard Owlett wrote:


It could be called a GPS NMEA 0183 serial data logger.

Read the description, http://www.prairie.mb.ca/gpsdatalogger.htm , it
"records NMEA position data from a GPS". You connect a NMEA 0183 output
from a GPS to it and it stores (logs) the data.


It does not have one. In fact, there may not be such a thing anywhere.

NMEA 0183 serial and USB serial communications are two different kinds
of serial communications. But they can talk to each other through
intermediate hardware (a converter or multiplexer for example).

If you cannot find a logger with a USB port, you will have to either use
RS-232 or a RS-232 to USB converter.

There is always some sort of learning curve on newly encountered
technology. Things I think I have learned are that:

1 - NMEA 0183 communications are serial communications by definition.
Any device that says it will output NMEA 0183 data is, in effect, saying
that it has a serial communications port.

2 - NMEA 0183 serial communications are defined as being RS-422. But a
great many (especially common consumer level) GPS devices output their
NMEA 0183 data using RS-232 instead. The hardware manufacturers made
them that way to save money and make the devices work with the more
commonly found RS-232 serial ports (on PCs for example).

3 - It is fair to assume that a consumer level GPS device describing
itself as having a "NMEA output" is saying that it has a RS-232 serial
output. Unfortunately, studying the specs may or may not verify the
specifics.

4 - USB is a different kind of serial communications than RS-232 or
RS-422. USB, RS-232, and RS-422 can can only communicate directly with
like ports.

5 - You can buy (they are widely available and can be pretty cheap)
RS-232 serial to USB converters. These have a DB-9P serial plug on one
end and a USB plug on the other. In between the plugs are some
electronics (powered by the USB bus) to do the conversion.

6 - Ports (USB or serial) don't do "dumps" in the sense that they will
store data and initiate a transfer. Think of the NMEA 0183 data stream
out of the GPS as being continuous, the data needs to be used (or stored
for later use) as it is generated. The data logger is a means of
storing the data for later use.


Why? I think one of the data loggers at the site above, a GPS receiver
to feed it data, and a serial to USB converter (for when you do the
downloads) will do all the things you say you want to do.

I'm not an expert. What I am saying are things I learned here and other
places and present for discussion. If nothing else, anything that is
not right will be quickly corrected by the experts here and I'll be
smarter than I was before.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)