StarPal MiniTester

HOW TO CONNECT GPS 9-PIN SERIAL HARDWARE

Problems with GPS and Computer Serial Ports may be very frustrating and difficult to diagnose. Is the problem with the GPS, your Cables, Power, or with the Computer Hardware? This MiniTester can help diagnose your Hardware Problems. The StarPal MiniTester may be left in-line to continuously monitor your GPS data transfer and solve problems as they occur in the field (such as intermittent connectors, or power, or cables). The MiniTester works with built-in Serial Ports on Windows Mobile Handhelds and Laptops, as well as with StarPal's USB-Serial Adaptor on Windows XP and Vista.

If you don't have a MiniTester handy, go down the check list and verify the fixes listed in each column, or use a voltmeter to measure the voltage on each pin shown in the left column.

                                                     Lighting for correct GPS operation shown.
                            (Check any lights different from this picture in the table below to find your problem.)

Pin
Number:

Purpose:

Fixing 9-pin Serial Port Problems
Color of each light on the StarPal MiniTester:

RD (2)

GPS
Data

OFF	RED	FLICKERS	GREEN
GPS turned On?	GPS Navigating?	GOOD	GPS Frozen
GPS Power?	GPS Output Enabled?	(if different	Reset GPS
GPS Data Cable?	Check Setup on GPS?	from TD)

TD (3)

Computer
Data

OFF	RED	FLICKERS	GREEN
HGIS running?	GOOD	Ports Switched	Computer Frozen
COM Port Open?		See text below.	Reset Computer
Computer Data Cable Bad?		Add NULL MODEM

RTS (7)
and
DTR (4)

Computer
Ready

OFF	RED	FLICKERS	GREEN
If TD = RED	Old Version of HGIS	Bad cable	GOOD
then bad cable,	(v7.33 or earlier)	wiggle cable
or bad port.	use NMEA Generic	get worse?

CD (1)

Switchbox
(Red Switch)

OFF	RED	FLICKERS	GREEN
GOOD	Non-standard,	Bad Cable	GOOD
Switch is OFF		wiggle cable	Switch is ON

CTS (8)

Switchbox
(Black Switch)

OFF	RED	FLICKERS	GREEN
GOOD	Non-standard.	Bad Cable	GOOD
Switch is OFF		wiggle cable	Switch is ON

DSR (6)

Not
Used

OFF	RED	FLICKERS	GREEN
GOOD	Non-standard	Bad Cable	Non-standard

Ground
(5)

Signal
Common

Red Light = Negative Voltage with respect to Ground

Green Light = Positive Voltage with respect to Ground

First, if the GPS is sending any data( not necessarily valid Navigation Data), RD should be YELLOW, or flickering Red/Yellow (different GPS Receivers will display different patterns of flicker, but any difference from the color of TD indicates GPS data.) Check the above chart for the location of your hardware problem.

If RD lights instead of TD without the computer connected, this means you have a non-standard GPS Data Cable. Add a NULL MODEM available from your local computer store in between your tester and the GPS. A NULL MODEM will switch RD with TD. Like the MiniTester, a NULL MODEM has a male connector on one end and a female on the other end.

Next, plug the computer into the MiniTester. To confirm the computer is working correctly, and the computer cable is good, TD should be SOLID RED and RTS and DTR SOLID GREEN.

Note: HP iPaqs require a NULL MODEM and a GENDER CHANGER to connect to the MiniTester. If the computer Serial Connector is female, then it requires a NULL MODEM and GENDER CHANGER. All of the ruggedized computers in our approved list below have male Serial Connectors and do not requre additional adaptors to connect to the MiniTester.

To test a StarPal Switchbox, connect the switchbox between the MiniTester and GPS and check the above chart while turning switches ON and OFF. (If you connect the Switchbox between the Computer and MiniTester, it will work, but the pin numbers will change.)

Buy a StarPal MiniTester today, before you have hardware problems. Save your valuable time in the field.
How to order at the bottom of this page.

How to install the StarPal USB - Serial Adaptor (XP/Vista)

The StarPal USB - Serial Adaptor may be used with Laptops running Windows Vista or XP, as well as handhelds supporting a Master USB port(a master port is flat like on your laptop). Higher accuracy GPS receivers usually support Serial ports. The Adaptor uses 1 USB Master Port. If your handheld has this flat connector (example: TDS Nomad), then this adaptor will work. Does not work on Handhelds with a Square USB (Slave) connector.

Also available with 2, 4, or 8 Serial Ports for use with HGIS SensorTrack.

Installation of the StarPal USB - Serial Adaptor
1) Connect the Adaptor to any spare flat USB port on your computer. Install the driver that came on the CD with your adaptor (there are different drivers for Windows Mobile, Windows XP, and Windows Vista). You may download the latest driver from www.digi.com/support
2) Turn on and configure the GPS (NMEA, SIRF, or TSIP. Choose any baud rate between 4800 and 57600 (4.8k - 57.6k) 38400/38.4k is recommended. Set parity to none if an option.
3) Connect the GPS Serial cable to the Mini-Tester. Light RD should flicker. If RD is not flickering, check the table above and correct the GPS problem.
4) Connect the USB-Serial Adaptor to the computer. The computer will beep when it first finds the adaptor and windows will assign your adaptor to a random port Later when you connect the adaptor to the same computer, Windows finds the adaptor, and will always assign the adaptor to the same port as the first time(If you install on a different computer, Windows may choose a different port for each computer.)
5) Press "Find Ports" and look for "USB-Serial COM Port" Choose this port and OK/Next. Choose "Standard GPS" and the baud rate you set for the GPS.
6) When you open the port in HGIS, Lights RTS and DTR will turn GREEN, and TD will turn RED.

Ruggedized computers with built-in Serial Ports we have tested and approve.
(Sorry, we don't sell computers, check our dealer page.)

Trimble TDS Nomad Windows Mobile 6 and later	1 Serial Port Master USB Port
Trimble TDS Recon Windows Mobile 5 and later	1 Serial Port
Juniper Systems Archer Windows Mobile 5 and later	1 Serial Port
Juniper Systems Allegro CX Windows Mobile 6 and later	2 Serial Ports

Serial GPS Receivers we have tested and approve.
(Sorry, we don't sell GPS either, check our dealer page.)

Trimble AgGPS 332	Sub-meter DGPS
Trimble AgGPS 132 (may be available used)	Sub-meter DGPS (still one of the best we have tested)
Garmin 18 - 5 Hz (5 Hz nice for navigation)	3 meter WAAS DGPS (needs Serial Connector installed)
Garmin 18 PC	3 meter WAAS DGPS (comes complete with Serial Connector.)

We do sell these handy Adaptors and Testers.

StarPal's USB - Serial Adaptor (with MiniTester FREE) Powered by Computer and GPS. No power cables or batteries. Not waterproof. US$195 (USA only)	StarPal's MiniTester (only) Powered by Computer and GPS. No power cables or batteries. Not waterproof. US$89 (USA only)

First, pay with credit card or PayPal account. then email orders@starpal.com (or call 970-229-0560) with shipping address information (2-3 day shipping is free).