Wintec GPSBabel Usage
From Hexten
This page is not a substitute for the complete documentation for gpsbabel which can be found here.
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[edit] Simple Usage
The options -t and -w tell gpsbabel to download tracks (points that are logged automatically depending on you settings) and waypoints (points that are collected whenever you push the track button). You also specify both option together. trackpoints are named starting from TP001, waypoints are named starting from WP0001.
[edit] Linux
On Linux using USB the command to download tracks and waypoints and convert them to a GPX file looks like this:
$ gpsbabel -t -w -i wbt -f /dev/ttyUSB0 -o gpx -F out.gpx
The USB device might have a different number - /dev/ttyUSB1 for example.
For Bluetooth, which works out perfectly under Linux, it would look like this:
$ gpsbabel -t -w -i wbt -f /dev/rfcomm0 -o gpx -F out.gpx
Just like the USB device, the Bluetooth might be /dev/rfcomm1 or similar. It is possible to bind the device to a specific device name by editing /etc/bluetooth/rfcomm.conf. More help on this subject can be found at gpsd.berlios.de.
To just list all waypoints with lat, long, and name use
$ gpsbabel -w -i wbt -f /dev/rfcomm0 -o csv -F -
The erase option lets you revome the points from the device. For instance you can dowload and remove all points via bluetooth and store them in GPX format in file out.gpx with:
$ gpsbabel -t -i wbt,erase -o gpx /dev/rfcomm0 out.gpx
Julien Narboux has written a page of instructions for Linux users.
[edit] Mac OS
If you have Bluetooth there is no need to install any drivers. Pair the WBT-200 with your Mac using passcode 0000 and you should find that you can download data from the WBT-200 like this:
$ gpsbabel -t -w -i wbt -f /dev/cu.G-Rays2-SPPslave-1 -o gpx -F out.gpx
Getting the USB port working is slightly more complex. Wintec GPS units have a built in CP2102 USB to serial bridge for which you'll need to install a driver on your Mac. It turns out that the Micro-USB at Dontronics is also based on the CP2102 chip and the Mac driver that's available for the Micro-USB also works just fine with the a Wintec GPS. Currently that driver only works with PPC Macs but we're told that an Intel version will shortly be available.
Download the driver from the Dontronics site and install it (you'll need to reboot). Now when you connect the GPS USB lead you should have a device called /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART and will be able to download the log like this:
$ gpsbabel -t -w -i wbt -f /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART -o gpx -F out.gpx
You will also have a device called /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART. Do not use the tty device. If you do so the connection will hang forever.
If you want to erase the tracklog and/or waypoints after you've downloaded the log, add the 'erase' sub-parameter to the 'wbt' parameter, so that the command line looks like this (for Bluetooth):
$ gpsbabel -t -w -i wbt,erase -f /dev/cu.G-Rays2-SPPslave-1 -o gpx -F out.gpx
If you have an important tracklog that you don't want to lose, you might want to try the download *without* the 'erase' and then confirm your downloaded file contains what you expected.
[edit] Troubleshooting
- I get the error "WBT-100/200 - Bad response from unit".
- The error may be caused by a password set to the WBT. You can remove the password using the Timemachine X software that comes with the WBT.
- The list of waypoints/trackpoints is always empty
- If you use WBT for the first time, you may need to exposure it on at a place where it can find enough satellites and wait around 13 minutes to initialize.
[edit] Windows
On Windows the device will show up as a normal COM port. So if it was COM3 the command would look like this:
C:\> gpsbabel -t -w -i wbt -f com3: -o gpx -F out.gpx
[edit] Credits
Thanks are due to Semsons for providing three different Wintec units for testing. In my experience they're a great company to deal with. If you're buying a WBT-200 or 201 I would recommend checking them out.
[edit] Donate!
Not to me - to the gpsbabel project. Robert tells me that although there are thousands of Mac users downloading gpsbabel he's had very little support from the Mac community. So if you find gpsbabel useful please donate a small amount of money to help support the project.
