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GPS and power supply
Made serial port from MAX205 chip, it detects gps, but says locating all the time. Has anyone made a power supply that works? How?

New MessageGPS and power supply (modified 0 times) vadim
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I finally got my hands on it and made a serial (RS-232) port with MAX205 chip and 1.0mF capacitor. It was a bunch of soldering but it works and quite well at that. You can hook up a serial mouse right away, and then detect it with your os (I got win98 se). I want to thank K-Ray and Kouloty for all the help from your posts and websites.

My webplayer is currently in my basement, untill I make power-supply to put it in the car. GPS (RandMcNally, external $99) does not seem to locate the sattelites. Is it because its in the basement? Has anyone with gps had same problem yet?

Last question -- has anyone been able to build a power supply for the in-car usage? How do you get 5V - 5amps?

Thanks in advance for all your responses.

Regards,
Vadim

09-04-2001 09:09:50

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) Lucubrate
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GPS antenna must have clear view of sky. The building will severly attenuate the GPS signal.
09-04-2001 10:08:01

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) kray
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Nice to see that the serial interface works.

About the GPS:
As been posted, GPS needs visual contact.
Our shop has very big windows but even then I have to go across the street to the open space of a small park
to get any contact with a GPS.

About Car PS:
The issue has been discussed a couple of times before.
Try the search to find it. If I remember right it must have been around the end of last year.

Well, I have done a quick search myself and found one thread already.
As I can recall there must be at least another one, but I think this one is the most interesting:
http://www.linux-hacker.net/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.pl?Action=ShowPost&Board=vwgeneral&Post=248

K-Ray -- The Journals
09-04-2001 12:07:27

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) BigDog
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Hey Vadim:

regarding 5v for the GPS, I made a converter for my Rand McNally GPS using a PS/2 connecter to the USB port. The USB will give you 5v, two of the four connecters are +5 and ground. I used a USB to serial converter to run the serial and my USB to PS/2 adapter for the power and it worked great. I forgot what the pinouts were for the USB, but if you look around here (actually in this section, you should be able to find my post were I listed the USB power line).

FYI - what were your chip pinouts you used for your MAX chip converter? I tried some time ago to make a converter and couldn't get it to work now I am interested in getting it going again for a DSS~EMU.

09-04-2001 19:48:04

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) vadim
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BigDog.... ;) I am so happy you asked since, thats exactly what I will be using my second webplayer for (emulation via serial ports).

Ok, you know the url for perfect mod, right -- its here:
"Prefect Hack" @ the bottom of this Page Find RS232 Serial Ports. http://www.geocities.com/iopener_hack/prefect/index.html

Now, K-Ray (you ROCK man!!!!) has picture of CN15 and if you look at his pin-outs (Tx, Rx, etc) they are 100% correct, I checked ;) His page is with serial ports is here (I hope its ok I posted it) http://k-ray.netbox.be/?&jq=04010

All you really need is to map the CN12 (i-opener) pin-outs from picture on "PERFECT HACK" to pin-outs on the picture for CN15 (webplayer). The first pin of CN15 is marked on your webplayer with little tiny "1" and then it will look like that

15 16
13 14
11 12
9 10
7 8
5 6
3 4
1 2

Just map these to k-rays pin definitions and follow the "perfect hack". You will learn that you can use 5V and Ground (power for gps)from the CN15 as well, thats what I am using for my GPS.

Lastly, MAX787 is the perfect thinf for car step down power converter. I ordered the parts already and am waiting impatiently for them to arrive. I will keep you updated of the progress.

09-05-2001 07:49:47

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) BigDog
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Cool, that's what I thought. Were did you get the 1.0mF capacitors ??
09-05-2001 11:43:05

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) vadim
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1.0uF cap -- radioshack.com
09-05-2001 12:39:25

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) BigDog
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Ok, I will have to check that out... Thanks
09-06-2001 18:22:22

New MessageRE:GPS and power supply (modified 0 times) vadim
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Well, I have been messing with this for a week now.
I got the max787 from http://dbserv.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm?qv_pk=1271

I am trying to get the power adapter working, according to the maxim-ic site.

I have had no success as the whole device (step down power converter) overheats like hell. But then again, I do not have one part (MBR745 - shottky, I believe. I substituted with a similar diode from RadioShck.com

Could someone help, with finding a substitute for this MBR745. I would appreciate alot if you could point out exact spec for a subsctitue.

Best Regards,
Vadim

PS Ray, I sent you this via email, I am desperate at this point.

11-05-2001 07:22:29

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