GPS in Linux? no.

I tried to get my GPS working in Linux (Simply MEPIS on a Dell D600), using GPSBabel software, but to no avail. I guess, for now, I'll just switch into windows when I want to use the GPS, and maybe figure out the Linux thing when I switch to Ubuntu, which seems to have more support.

Details of my adventures...

1. http://www.gpsbabel.org/htmldoc-development/fmt_garmin.html


gjemmott@8pjv331:/usr/bin$ sudo gpsbabel -i garmin -f usb:-1
usb_set_configuration failed, probably because kernel driver ''
is blocking our access to the USB device.
For more information see http://www.gpsbabel.org/os/Linux_Hotplug.html


2. http://www.gpsbabel.org/os/Linux_Hotplug.html

Dapper Drake
To keep the OS from loading the (frequently dysfunctional) kernel garmin_gps module, edit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist and add the lines

# stop garmin_gps serial from loading for USB garmin devices

blacklist garmin_gps


3. still no good. (this step not done, as I don't know enough to recompile a kernel)

The instructions above for Dapper Drake seem to apply, but another peril awaits users of Ubuntu 7.04 with kernel 2.6.20-15. This product ships with a kernel built with CONFIG_USB_SUSPEND which apparently breaks the libusb support that we need. Recompile your kernel without this options and/or contact your support provider for current status or help.

4. try modprobe -r instead

About the middle of 2005, most distributions started shipping with a driver called 'garmin_gps' that claims a USB Garmin device and makes it accessible via a serial port. If you want to use that driver and it actually works for you (a depressingly uncommon situation) this is OK and you can access the device as 'ttyUSB0' or whatever that driver names your dev node. If you want to use GPSBabel's own very well supported USB code and access it as 'usb:', you must remove that driver via rmmod and probably prevent it from loading again.

man rmmod says it acts just like modprobe -r

couldn't find modprobe, so I did

$ find / -name modprobe
/sbin/modprobe

/sbin$ modprobe
bash: modprobe: command not found

/sbin$ ./modprobe
Usage: ./modprobe [-v] [-V] [-C config-file]...

./modprobe -r garmin_gps
FATAL: Module garmin_gps is in use.

# unplug garmin device, same result. blacklist driver and restart mepis...
# it worked!

sudo gpsbabel -i garmin -f usb:-1
0 3558842079 0 (null)

So now I can see the device from linux, but if I try to write to it or read from it, for example using

sudo gpsbabel -i gpx -o garmin -f ~/Documents/example.gpx -F usb:
or
sudo gpsbabel -i garmin -o gpx -f usb: -F ~/Documents/example.gpx
(or substituting usb:0 in for usb:)

all it does is sit there for 10+ minutes, at which point I have to kill the process to get the "sudo gpsbabel -i garmin -f usb:-1" identification line working again.

Oh well.

At the Boston airport, there was a sign that said, "Watch your step," and just as I started to crack a smile at remembering "wash your head," I saw a sign for Bremen St.