gpsd
should work with any GPS using an RS232C or USB
interface that advertises NMEA-0183 compliance. Here are some notes
on hardware we have tested. Hyperlinks lead to technical information.
The "Works with" column is the last gpsd
version with
which this GPS is known to have been successfully tested.
Name | Compatibility | Chipset | Interface | Vendor | Works with | NMEA version | Sentences | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HI-204S | Excellent | SiRF-II + PL2303 | USB | Haicom | 2.24 | 2.2 | GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPVTG |
SiRF formware level 231ES. Haicom provided a test unit. Manual states incorrectly that VTG is off by default. | |
HI-204E | Excellent | Evermore BBP1202 | USB | Haicom | 2.6 | 2.2 | GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPVTG |
Probably uses PL2303 but we have not verified this. | |
Haicom HI-303S | Good | Haicom | RS232 | SiRFII XTrac | 2.25 | NMEA V2.2 | GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPVTG |
NMEA works, but (oddly) SiRF binary does not. (SiRF binary may be available on the auxiliary serisl port, but this is unconfirmed.) This device seems to ignore the $PSRF100 mode switch. Denis Perchine <dyp@perchine.com> | |
BU-303 | Excellent | SiRF-II + PL2303 | USB | GlobalSat; OEMed as NaviLock, Hyperdata | 2.24 | 2.2 | GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGLL, GPVTG |
GlobalSat provided three test units, SiRF firmware level 231ES. Older versions of the BU-303 had a design defect that made it likely to fail if subjected to vibration or mechanical shock, but this was fixed in September 2004. There is a CF version of this called the BU-307; we have a report that it works but no test hardware. | |
TripNav 200 | Excellent | SiRF-II + FTDI | USB | Rayming | 2.16 | 2.2 | GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGLL, GPVTG |
We tested a version with Sirf Firmare level 231ES. The FTDI USB-to-serial chip is supported only as alpha software not yet incorporated into the Linux kernel. Rayming says it's thinking of moving this product to the PL2303. | |
EarthMate | Good | Zodiac | RS-232 | DeLorme | 2.0 | 2.2? | PRWIZCH, GPGSA, GPRMC |
The old Zodiac version spoke Rockwell binary protocol. These models have been discontinued but are still common. | |
EarthMate USB | Good | SiRFII (GPS2e/LP-7451) + Cypress M8 (CY7C64013) | USB | DeLorme | 2.5 | 2.2 | GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGLL, GPVTG |
This is the replacement for the old Zodiac version that spoke Rockwell binary protocol. Some other sentences can be enabled. Requires a 2.6.10 or better kernel for the Cypress support. | |
FV-18 | Good | FV-18 | RS-232 (5V TTL) | San Jose Navigation | 2.0 | 2.3 | GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPVTG, GPZDA, GPDTM, GPGLL |
Special gpsd support uses 8N2 and requests sentences that gpsd requires. OEM module only, not a retail version. | |
RoyalTek Sapphire USB | Good | SiRF-II | USB | RoyalTek | 1.97 | 2.2 | GPGGA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGLL, GPVTG, GPGSA |
There's an RS232 variant as well, not yet tested. | |
TripMate | Good | Zodiac | RS-232 | DeLorme | 1.97 | ? | GPRMC, GPGSA, GPGGA, GPGSV, PRWIRID, PRWIZCH |
Discontinued sometime before November 1998. Takes optional latitude/longitude initialization. | |
Garmin 48 | Excellent | Garmin | RS-232 | Garmin | 2.3 | 2.0 |
PGRME, GPGLL, PGRMZ, PGRMM, GPBOD, GPRTE, GPWPL, GPRMC, GPRMB, GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV |
Garmin 12XL and 45 are nearly identical and should work as well. Details on Garmin's proprietary protocol can be found here. |
|
Garmin GPS-16 | Good | Garmin | RS-232 | Garmin | 2.7 | 2.0 |
PGRME, GPGLL, PGRMZ, PGRMM, GPBOD, GPRTE, GPWPL, GPRMC, GPRMB, GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV |
DGPS information in GPGGA sentence is not returned. Magnetic variation information is not available in binary mode. Garmin uses a nonstandard 16-bit SNR scale for signal quality in GSA. Can be switched to NMEA 3.0 with PGRMC1. Reported by Ron Marosko, Jr. <rmarosko@wirelessfrontier.net> and Amaury Jacquot <sxpert@esitcom.org>. | |
Garmin GPS-18 | Good | Garmin | USB & RS-232 | Garmin | 2.5 | ? |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGLL |
The USB version rquires -T g and the Linux kernel garmin_usb driver; the RS232 version emits NMEA and is found by normal autoconfiguration. DOP (Dilution of Precision) information is not available (Garmin protocol includes EPE only); thus the USB version can plug in EPE information, but the RS232 version omits the DOP fields entirely. DGPS information in GPGGA sentence is not returned. Speed and course over ground are calculated from the north/east velocity and may not be accurate. Magnetic variation information is not available. Garmin uses a nonstandard 16-bit SNR scale. | |
Garmin Geko 201 | Good | Garmin | RS-232 | Garmin | 2.13 | 3.0 |
PGRME, GPGLL , PGRMZ, GPBOD, GPRTE, GPRMC, GPRMB, GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV |
Submitted by Jose Luis Domingo Lopez <jdomingo&x40;24x7linux.com> | |
TechWay TP-051 | Good | SiRF-II? + PL2303 | USB | Techway | 2.3 | ? |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGGA, GPGSA |
Advertises that it's waterproof. | |
Billionton CF GPS | Good | SiRF-II | CF | Billionton | 2.16 | 2.2 |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGSA, GPGGA |
Uses SiRF firmware version 220.006.000ES. Accepts WAAS Mode Disable $PSRF108,00*02 and WAAS Mode Enable $PSRF108,01*03 controls. Reported by Oleg Gusev <oleg@crista.uni-wuppertal.de<. | |
GPS-6010 USB | Good | SiRF-II+PL2302 | USB | Rikaline | 2.20 | 2.2 |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGSA, GPGGA, GPGLL, |
Uses SiRF firmware version 2.3.2-GSW2-2.05.024-C1Prod1.1. Manufacturer claims it is waterproof (1 meter), WAAS and EGNOS are supported. Reported by Olli Salonen <olli(cabbala.net>. | |
BT-318 | Good | SiRF-II | Bluetooth | GlobalSat | 2.20 | 2.2 |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGSA, GPGGA, GPVTG, |
Reported by Frank Nicholas <frank(nicholasfamilycentral.com>. | |
Pharos GPS-360 | Good | Pharos | USB | SiRFII + PL2303 | 2.23 | 2.3 |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGLL, GPGSA, GPGGA, GPVTG. |
The Pharos comes with adaptors for SDIO, CF, USB and plain RS232. Microsoft Streets and Trips includes a Pharos with USB adaptor. Reported by Robert Pouliot <krynos@saturnus.com> | |
NSA U3 | Excellent | SiRF-StarIIe/LP + PL2303 | USB | NaviSky | 2.24 | ? | GPGGA, GPGLL, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPRMC, GPVTG |
Included with Rand McNally's horrible Windows navigation software. Reported by Jeff Francis &<jeff@gritch.org> | |
Magellan EC-10X | Good | Magellan | RS232 | Old Rockwell | 2.24 | ? | GPGRMB, GPRMC |
It was cool in its day, now it's a dinosaur mainly good for regression testing. NMEA time is accurate to about 500mS. Reported by Gary E. Miller <gem@rellim.com>. | |
Holux G320 | Poor | SiRF-II | Bluetooth | Holux | 2.19 | 2.2 |
GPGLL, GPRMC, GPGGA, GPGSA, GPGSV |
4 color LED showing: Bluetooth, Navigation Update and Battery and Charger Status Indication. FLASH based program memory. Firmware upgradeable through serial interface. Water resistant. | |
Oncore GT+ | Good | Motorola | RS232 or TTL | Motorola | 2.20 | 2.2 |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGSA, GPGGA, GPVTG, GPZDA. |
RTCM input, no WAAS. In binary mode can deliver differential correction for another Oncore GT+. Similar Motorola Oncore UT timing receiver has less functions but better timing accuracy. Reported by Wojciech Kazubski <wk(ire.pw.edu.pl>. | |
Trimble Lassen SK | Good | Trimble | 5V TTL | Colossus RF ASIC, Scorpion DSP | 2.26 | 2.1 | GPGGA, GPVTG | Rob Janssen | |
Magellan Meridian Platinum | Excellent | Magellan | RS232 | Motorola | 2.21 | v1.5 APA, v1.5 XTE, v2.1 GSA |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGLL, GPGSA, GPGGA, PMGNST. |
Reported by Chris S. Newell <chris@newellfamily.net>. | |
Holux GM-210 | Good | Holux | RS232 | Holux | 2.24 | ? |
GPGSV, GPRMC, GPGLL, GPGSA, GPGGA, GPVTG. |
Reported by Patrick L. McGillan <pmcgillan@pateri.com>. | |
GM-38/12V | Bad | San Jose Navigation | RS232 | 2.21 | ? | ? | Reports bad checksum when it doesn't have a fix. Reported by Angus Ainslie <angusa@deltatee.com>. |
We want to extend this table. To report on a GPS, please tell us the following:
You should be able to determine many of these things by running
gpsprof -f cycle
against the device and looking at the output.
For vendor protocol protocol manuals see our Programmer's References page.
PL2303: support is broken in late 2.4 Linux kernels (it broke after 2.4.18) but good in 2.6.8 and later.
TTL level RS-232 uses 0v and +5v, ordinary RS-232 uses -12v to -5v and +5v to +12 volts for the signal (IIRC). These are not compatible, and attempting to combine them can zorch your GPS. Converters do exist, see Google.
Here is a list of the vendors we don't yet have test hardware from. An annoyingly large percentage of these outfits do not advertise email contact addresses on their websites. If you have test results for any of this hardware, please tell us. Most are straight NMEA and will probably work fine.
Name | Contact address | Products | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
DeLorme | ? | Earthmate | Now SiRF-II-based |
Deluo | billing@deluo.com | Deluo GPS Pro | Looks like another SiRF-II unit. Advertises Linux 2.4 support. USB and RS232-DB9 adaptors sold separately. |
Garmin | sales@garmin.com | eTrex, foreTrex, GPS12, GPS72, GPS76 | All handhelds with consoles. These guys are focused on the aviation market. |
Laipac | ? | G-10 | Another SiRF unit. |
Leadtek | gps@leadtek.com | GPS9531, GPS9532, GPS9543 | SiRF-II, uses R232C via RJ11 jack. One illustration of the 9531 seems to show the RJ11 plugged into an adaptor that goes to USB and DB9 connectors. The 9534 is a CF card. |
Magellan | ? | Roadmate, eXplorist, Meridian, SportTrack, MLR | Handhelds with consoles. |
Rikaline | ? | GPS-6012, GPS-6010-X5 | The 6012 uses their own chipset; the others are SiRF-II. All ship with PS/2 connectors, presumably going to RS232 or USB adaptors. |
Royaltek | ? | Sapphire, Onyx | Sapphire is tested. There are two Onyx models: RFG-1000 and RFG-2000. The first one uses some 8-channel chipset, while the second - UNAV 12-channel (AFAIK without WAAS/EGNOS support), made of UNAV uN8021C RF frontend and uN8031B baseband processor (data sheets Ma href='http://www.unav-micro.com/data_sheets.htm'>here) and designed by Fastrax. Fastrax claims 1/4s message rate support like the ANTARIS from u-blox, although it is not clear if the "consumer" firmware is capable of that. |