Interfacing a real GPS with FSX?

[Shawn]

I understand that FSUIPC 4.4 for FSX allows the user to interface a real GPS unit with FSX. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has made this work and what limitations this might have? Could you input a Lat and Long and fly a track to a location other than an airport?

[TasKiNG]

I've not tried this feature in FSUIPC but I have it working using my HP iPAQ plugged in via the USB and running a program called Xmapsy.

http://www.xmapsy.com/

Heres a pic of it running PocketFMS

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.ault/lj45c_graphics/xmapsy.jpg

Works really well. I only use it to display my locaton.

Cheers

[airbus319]

Ive had my garmin gps working ok by using the module GPSout from peter dowson's website.

From memory I just copied the files into my FS\modules directory, edited the .ini file to the com prot the gps was attached to and then setup the gpsin option on my gps, hey presto live gps readings from fs.

hope this helps

Dave

[Shawn]

Thanks for the replies gents :) I was just looking at the Xmapsy software, if I had a Pocket PC I would definately give it a try. Dave, when the GPS is setup does is only act as a moving map display? or can you actually enter data, get distance and bearings, follow a track etc? I'm trying to decide between a real GPS unit and a touchscreen running a FSX GPS. The only problem is I'm out of GPU ports and would have to network my laptop or buy a third GPU for the touchscreen.

[airbus319]

Hi Shawn,

The gps functions just like it would in the real aircraft so you get full functionality.

I'm using a garmin 196 for real world navigation but it works just as well when connected using gpsout

regards,

Dave

[Peter Dowson]

when the GPS is setup does is only act as a moving map display? or can you actually enter data, get distance and bearings, follow a track etc?

The GSPout facility from FSUIPC is only an output facility, so your GPS display becomes a moving map (but with altitude and heading information as well, of course). There's no input from the GPS back to FS.

With real GPS's it will only connect to those which provide the facilities to bypass the GPS's own receiver and feed it positions etcetera via NMEA or "Aviation" protocol. The facility was really designed spcifically for moving maps, the name "GPSout" referring to the use as the whole Flight sim system emulating a GPS outputting data to a map program on a PC.

I've had it working with an iPaq, but not with any Palm-based PDA. I have three GPS's, none of them with input facilities for positions. In the end I prefer a decent moving map on a decent sized screen, so I use either Jeppesen FliteMap (for airliner flights) or Memory Map's 1:50000 Ordnance Survey maps of the UK for my VFR tours.

Regards

Pete

[Shawn]

Thank you for the replies. I'm not concerned about the GPS feeding data back to FSX so it sounds like this will be a good option for me. If I can enter a GPS coordinate and fly to it I'm happy. :D