T&T: Splitting the Signal of a USB GPS

[Peter Bennett]

I don't believe you can split a USB signal the way you want - USB is a
master/slave system, and a slave (the GPS) can only talk to one master
(or rather, be controlled by one master).

If one of the nav programs can output nmea data to a serial port, you
could use a couple of USB<->Serial adaptors to pass the data from one
computer to the other.

The better way (not having either computer rely on the other) would be
to get a GPS that has a serial NMEA-0183 output rather than a USB
interface.  You can usually feed up to four "listeners" with one NMEA
talker.  This would still require two USB<->Serial adaptors, assuming
your computers don't have real serial ports. (and you can feed the
same data to your DSC-equipped VHF radio).


Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 7:35:43 PM, Garrett wrote:

GL> Hi Arild

GL> I have a couple of hubs, one powered, one not. Can any of the sockets
GL> be used as input? The one dedicated for the USB cord from the computer
GL> is sized differently.

GL> Cheers, Garrett

GL> On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 7:26 PM,  <2elnav at netbistro.com> wrote:
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Garrett Lambert"
>> <garrett.lambert at gmail.com>
>>>
>>> I want to use two navigation laptops. I have a Holux USB GPS. Can I
>>> split the signal to feed both laptops and if so, how?
>>
>> REPLY
>> Yes. install a  USB hub and split the signal.  Most senders can drive a
>> couple of receivers befoer you need a powered hub.
>> Peter Bennett will likely ad his two Cents (Cdn )  to this since that is
GL> his
>> specialty.
>> Cheers
>>
>> Arild


-- 
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI    Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Ennos 31 "Honeycomb"
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter 
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca