[aprssig] Kenwood <> Garmin adapter cable

[Stephen H. Smith]

Bob Bruninga wrote:
>> They're finally finished, tested, and ready to ship!
>>
>> www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=113
>>     
>
> Great news!  Does this mean that these GPS's do not have NMEA output and so this interface is required to make them work with APRS radios?
>
> Garmin nüvi 300 series, 
> StreetPilot c340, 
> StreetPilot 7000 series, 
> StreetPilot 2820 series, 
> StreetPilot 2720 series, 
> zumo 400 and 500 series 
>
> Thanks 
>
> Bob, Wb4aPR
>
> _______________________________________________
>   

Where have you been the last 9 months???   This has been an ongoing 
discussion on this list for at least that long.

These GPS units don't have SERIAL output.  Like most modern consumer 
products and computers, they only have a USB connectors.    However a 
limited range of Garmin devices feature Garmin's "Fleet Management 
Interface". These units have special internal firmware support for the 
USB port that can "automagically" transform it into a serial port when a 
mini-USB plug with a resistive pullup inside is inserted into their USB 
port.  

You then get serial data I/O but still in proprietary Garmin format.   
Scott's cables have a "goiter" in the middle of the cable that encloses 
an active microcontroller that translates Garmin <--> Generic NMEA. You 
then use the NMEA side with the Kenwood GPS-in and waypoint-out functions.


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Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
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