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Solution Using GPS Gate: Getting started with GpsGate on Windows PC

Getting started with GpsGate on Windows PC

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The main purpose of GpsGate is to share one GPS between several GPS applications running at the same time. In its simplest form GpsGate is very easy to install and setup for a novice user.

For the more advanced user there are many other uses as well, like GPS simulator, Logger, protocol translation, sharing over ActiveSync and network sharing to just mention a few, the options for configuration and usage are endless.

Install GpsGate for Windows

GpsGate 2.0 can be installed on the same computer as GpsGate 1.1 For more information on how to upgrade from GpsGate 1.1 to GpsGate 2.0, please read this: How to upgrade from GpsGate 1.10

1. Download GpsGate. 2. Run GpsGate.exe and go through the installation steps.

If you get an error while running the installtion program you need to install "Microsoft Windows Installer" first (see below)

NOTE! To run the installation program you must have "Microsoft Windows Installer" installed on your computer. This is already installed on Windows XP and Windows ME. But for earlier versions of Windows you need to download and install this update separately.

Windows NT/2K Download More info Windows 9x Download More info

Run GpsGate You can launch GpsGate under "Start->Programs->Franson GpsGate 2.0".

The first time GpsGate is run a setup Wizard will start. The Wizard will help you to find your GPS and tell you how to connect your GPS applications to GpsGate. If you have had GpsGate 1.1 installed before the settings from 1.1 will be used in 2.0, and the Wizard will not run.

Running the setup Wizard

Make sure you turn your GPS on, and connect it to your computer, if it is a wireless Bluetooth GPS simply turn it on. To speed up the search you can uncheck the types of GPS receivers you do not want to search for. If you are unsure, keep all options checked. After this is done, click "Next" and the Wizard will scan your computer for a connected GPS.

If you are an advanced user, click "Advanced setup..." for a setup process where you have complete control. You can always run the Wizard again from the Settings Dialog.

Click Next. The Wizard will now start searching for a GPS. This can take some time.

When the Wizard finds a GPS, a message dialog is displayed. Click "Yes" to accept the found GPS as input. If you have several GPS receivers connected, click "No" until GpsGate finds the receiver you want to use.

If GpsGate won't find your GPS, you need to use "Advanced Setup..."

Select Output and click "Next". If you are unsure, simply click "Next".

The next screen displays a summary. It is importaint to save this summary. You can save it to a file and print it. You can also find the this information later in the Settings dialog (from the Tray menu).

You connect Garmin applications like nRoute to the first port in the list, and other NMEA applications to the remaining ports. You can only connect one application to one port at a time. If you need to create more ports you can do that from the Settings Dialog at any time.

Now you can start your GPS applications and connect them to the ports created by GpsGate in the last step above. You can run all the GPS applications at the same time!

When GpsGate is running it is displayed as a Tray Icon. By clicking on this icon you can access its functions.

You can re-run the Wizard at any time by selecting clicking "Setup Wizard.." in the Settings dialog.

Tray icon colors and shapes

The tray icon always indicates the status of GpsGate. Here is a list of the possible displayed tray icons:

No GPS or NMEA data is detected by GpsGate. Valid GPS data has been detected at the selected input, but the GPS data has no fix, that is it cannot determine its position (yet). A valid GPS position (fix) has been detected at the selected input.

If the tray icon is not green your GPS application will not display/use a correct position.

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