GL: ThinkPad VS GPS parallel port connection

[Rich Gano]

If you have a suggestion to solve this and still want to post to T&T, please
include my email as cc.

I have a T23 ThinkPad using a serial port connection to a Garmin GPS 128.
We left Panama City FL 525 miles ago, and everything worked fine until about
425 miles when the Coastal Explorer 6.1.1 I am using started displaying lost
GPS errors.  The GPS is fine, and the cable connection is fine as proven by
hooking up a Toshiba Tecra 8000 to it.  I have been running all day (90
miles) with the two computers side by side with one hooked to the GPS.

The T23 will run for varying lengths of time (10 min to 2 hours) before I
get the lost GPS error.  As soon as it does, I remove the serial plug from
it and plug it into the Tecra for a while.  The T23 picks up the fact that
GPS is there as soon as I re-plug the serial connector to it.

As a test, I shut down Coastal Explorer and started Capn First Mate on the
T23.  It too soon gives the lost GPS error.

A strange situation.

Rich Gano
CALYPSO (GB 42-295)
Southport, FL