GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

Chapter 9: Interfacing a GPS Receiver to a Computer167Usually firmware installation files come in two forms: A standalone program that runs on your computer, connects to the GPSreceiver, and sends the upgraded firmware to the receiver. You need tohave a PC interface cable attached to both the computer and the GPSreceiver. A special file that you copy to a memory card. When the GPS receiverstarts, it searches the card to see whether a firmware upgrade is present.If it is, the receiver uploads the upgrade. After the upgrade is successful,you can erase the firmware upgrade file from the memory card.Upgrading a GPS receiver’s firmware is pretty easy; not too much can go wrong.About the only thing that can get you in trouble is if the GPS receiver’s batteriesdie midway through a firmware upload. A firmware upgrade usually onlytakes a few minutes to complete, but make sure that your batteries aren’t runningon empty before you start.Some firmware update software works only on COM ports 1 through 4. Ifyou’re using a USB adapter, (which is usually set to COM port 5 or higher) andare having problems connecting to the GPS receiver, try reassigning the existingCOM ports to numbers higher than the USB adapter’s port; then set theadapter’s port number to 1. Refer to online Windows help (choose Start➪Help) and perform a search for device manager to get more information onchanging device settings.