Ubuntu & GPS

Is it just me or does Ubunto really suck when it comes to GPS support and mapping applications? I have an OEM GPS unit in my Panasonic Toughbook. I am dual booting Win7 Pro and Ubuntu 13.10. I choose to boot up on the Ubuntu side the machine the great majority of the time, EXCEPT when I need mapping or GPS support. I have never been either of those to work well with Ubuntu. Half of the time the GPSdemond does not find the GPS. I am impressed with Open Street Maps, but Viking and GPSdrive don't work worth a flip! Frankly I have only gotten Viking to work once and it had terrible accuracy, and if not for Google Maps on Firefox would not believe that the GPS worked at all under Linux! Ideas?

 

Wow, I guess that no one else here has needed Linux to work with GPS/Mapping.

 

Try to provide more details. Simply saying "it doesn't work" won't help much.

 

I have had no problems using a serial GPS unit in Ubuntu. I have it connected using a serial->USB adapter. I don't like having gpsd started at startup because I don't use the GPS all that often.

Have you tried restarting gpsd when it doesn't find the GPS unit?

Do you have any spec's on the GPS unit?

 

Please simply try and read my post more thoroughly Mr. Koala.

There is no problem with the OEM GPS under Windows. Most programs do not even see the GPS, even though when I tested in the test modes of GPSD I could see a stream of numbers. The GPS works, based on its performance with Firefox under Ubuntu and of course under Windows 7. So, the GPS itself is good.

Viking baffles me as it has options for many forms of GPS output (Garmin, etc) but not the standard NEMA! It also does not seem to want to load more then one panel of the maps, after my first try with it.

 

Azrial, try this link: GPSd — Put your GPS on the net!
The toolbar on that site should point you in the right direction.
It looks like gpsd: GpsDrive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
would also be a path to research. It is possible that many of the programs you have tried such as Viking: Viking GPS data editor and analyzer | Free Science & Engineering software downloads at SourceForge.net
Possibly you could turn on the "tracks" mode and go on a short trip, and then load that track into the program.
This Linux program, http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/JOSM/Plugins/LiveGPS,
looks like a great little program to run, once you know your gpsr has locked in.
I'm just starting to explore these programs you've mentioned on the CF-30 MK2
Best regards, Cleve

 

Azrial, going to load Ubuntu on a CF-30 MK2 with a working Panasonic GPS. I will use the windows installer and try the 12.04 LTS install. Once things are running I'll report back here on your posting. Best regards, Cleve

 

Just loaded a fresh Mint 13 LTS MATE on the CF-30 MK2, and after updates read this article about GPS and Linux:
Running OziExplorer under LINUX
I don't have oziexplorer, but I do have MS Streets & Maps 2008 and Garmin Topo US 2008, so decided to try Wine and see if they would load:
How To Run Windows Software on Ubuntu with Wine
I installed Wine via the Package Manager on my newly updated Mint Box 13 TouchBook, and then went to my Menu.
I chose the Wine menu item, and then "Uninstall Wine Software"...this took me to a page that was actually a "add / remove" programs tab.
I chose "install" and loaded my DVD/ROM with the two windows programs listed above. They loaded to my C: drive under Wine.
I'm thinking this might be the way to go using a GPSr built into the Panasonic CF-19/30's. Hope this helps you Az,
Best Regards, Cleve

 

Update...Garmin Mapsource loads nicely in Mint 13 via Wine, however MS streets&trips does NOT. Still trying to verify that my gps is working in linux...as AZ above, have not been able to verify. Works well on the MS Vista and Win7 alternate hard drive & caddy. This has me tweaked, and must look for a dummies guide to Linux and the gpsr user guide...more to follow. Best regards, Cleve

 

I finally found that by installing Wine via the Software Manager, and then downloading an executable program called u-center 8.0 found here:
u-center GNSS evaluation software for Windows
This program, The u-center GNSS evaluation software, provides a powerful tool for evaluation, performance analysis and configuration of u-blox GNSS receivers. It found my internal GPSr on my Panasonic CF-30 to be on COM 4, BAUD4800. This is funny because in Win7 it is on COM 3, BAUD4800. At any rate, now I know the gps is working on the Linux Mint Box. More reading to do on a map overlay to work with the system.
Take care and keep on learning...

 

This is interesting stuff. I am sorry, I have been super busy at work and have not checked back on this thread in a while. My OEM GPS is on COM3 as well under Win7, I just kind of assumed that it would be on the Linux equivalent, which I have forgotten what is at the moment. I will go back to the drawing board and take a look as to where it really is on my Mk1. I have a Mk2 chassis that I am going to upgrade to, but do not have not had the fine motor skills yet in my left hand to give it a try.

Thanks Again!

 

I did some more checking and followed notes from this posting here:
~Toughbook Talk~ Toughbook Discussion • View topic - Tip for the day: Starting Gobi 2000 GPS from Mint 16 (Linux)
Which allowed me to manually type this script inside Terminal On a Linux program on a CF-30
1. sudo killall gpsd #just to make sure
2. sudo gpsd -D5 -N -n /dev/ttyS2
3. start foxtrot

This worked great!, and allows me to track a route while driving also using opensource maps.
Hope this helps someone using a laptop with gps

Now, if someone with script/shell experience could write up a simple way to run these three steps with a click of an icon, we'd all be golden on the Panasonic Toughbook forums.

 

I found the final key to solving gps issues in a thread found here: Navigatrix.net • A Voyager's Companion • View topic - GPS give me no data on XGPS or Open CPN
It was a guy having a problem with a BT gps, BUT...the directions to solve his problem helpted me out.
I typed this command in Terminal: "sudo dpkg-reconfigure gpsd"
author had a typo but that's okay. Typing in that command takes you to the gpsd configuration script page. I followed the directions on the above posting, and put in my usb details that Sadlmkr discovered:
"dev/ttyS2" is the setting for the Panasonic Factory gps configured on Com 3, Baud 4800 in Windows. I entered this and tabbed through the script and saved/exited and then ran this script:
"sudo service gpsd restart"
Now when I boot up my Linux Box and click on FoxtrotGPS program icon, gps starts working/tracking and the map shows my current position. All is now well in my world.