Frequently Asked Questions: (FAQ)

Please find below quick answers to commonly asked questions to problems encountered using GPSy^®. The users manual which you will receive on registration provides more detailed information. For information about the Global Positioning System in general, please visit the GPS Resource Library.

Also check our new Tutorials Section for more in-depth guides to questions not answered in the manual or FAQs here. And make sure you always have the latest release version of GPSy or GPSy Pro.

General Questions:

• What are GPSy X^® and GPSy Pro X^TM?
• Now that GPSy Pro X is out, will you neglect GPSy X?
• Do you plan any Windows Ports?
• Where's my license key?
• Why don't you offer telephone technical support or ordering?
• Adobe Acrobat asks me for a password when opening the manual
• Can I order a printed/physical copy of the manual?
• I'd like to know more about GPS technology.
• Can GPSy handle conversions from LORAN TDs?
• Can GPSy calculate tides and moon phases?
• What's the point of an Internet Map Server with a mobile GPS unit?
• Misc: Copy protection, corrupt PDF files, global hegemony, and more.

• Which GPS units do you recommend?
  • LIST OF RECOMMENDED GPS UNITS
• Which PCMCIA/PC-Card GPS Units are compatible?

• I'm having serial problems, GPSy is reporting "No Data"
• What about Bluetooth GPS units ?
• Can I use my Palm Pilot serial adaptor as a generic GPS adaptor?
• I can get my position using NMEA-0183, but the Garmin/Magellan/Eagle/etc. protocol doesn't work.
• How do I hook up a GPS receiver to my USB Port?
• Why does the Keyspan USB PDA Adaptor occasionally "jam" when downloading waypoints in the Garmin protocol?
• Can I mount my GPS on my motorcycle?
• How do I mount my GPS on my boat/car?
• Can I unplug my GPS while my computer is on?
• What is a Framing Error or Buffer Overrun?

• Can I use a DGPS beacon receiver with my GPS unit and GPSy at the same time?
• How does DGPS-IP work?

• Where can I find digital topo maps?
• Do you have any nautical maps or international maps?
• How do I get GPSy to autocalibrate my TIFF DRG topo map using a TFW file?
• Why can't I open this humongous map file?
• Why is my large image forcibly cached at 4000 pixels?
• How does GPSy's map caching work?
• How can I speed up opening large maps on my older machine?
• How can I plot maps in Adobe Illustrator?
• PRO: Why does GPSy Pro reports an error -50 when opening my BSB chart file?

• Can I run StreetAtlas^® and GPSy at the same time?
• Can I fit the Street Atlas^® CD-ROM on a HD?
• Street Atlas^® doesn't seem to be responding to GPSyLink?

• Does GPSy support the new map upload CD-ROM of the Garmin III+?
• Why can't GPSy autoswitch my Garmin unit to NMEA-0183 or GRMN protocols for me?
• The Garmin "real time protocol" seems unstable and it makes my machine run very slowly.
• Why does the Keyspan USB PDA Adaptor occasionally "jam" when downloading waypoints in the Garmin protocol?
• Why can't I use download with the USER Configuration or ALL Data commands on my Garmin?
• When I upload data, my Garmin reports Data Transferred before all of the data has been transferred.
• How can I use VirtualPC / SoftWindows to upload MapSource maps or flash the firmware on my Garmin?

• Tutorial 1: Manually calibrate maps in GPSy
• Tutorial 2: Create routes using calibrated digital maps
• Tutorial 3: How do I use MapBlast to create routes and waypoints?

Copyright (C) 1997-2007 by Global Mapping Systems and Karen Nakamura. All rights reserved. GPSy^® and GPSy.COM^® are registered trademarks and GPSy Pro^TM and GPSyLink^TM are trademarks of Karen Nakamura. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Mention of a third-party's product does not represent endorsement of or by that product.

This page was last updated on November 12, 2001. We've had hits since we relocated on March 27th, 1997.