ML900 GPS and battery questions

[chuckie321]

Hi all,

I installed a GPS board and antenna on my ML900 (which was quite an interesting task...) - COM3 could not be initialized before the install, now it is still giving me errors. GPS is enabled in BIOS. Any tips? I did try other COM ports as well in case it wasn't COM3.

Also, I'm finding that Windows isn't accurately calculating my battery capacity (or there's a REALLY steep discharge curve once it hits 50%). Is this par-for-the-course for ML900s? I've heard that battery life isn't GREAT on these but I am getting 40-60 minutes out of a charge.

Thanks in advance!

[chuckie321]

It appears that I am getting some "jibberish" on COM5 @ 4800,8,N,1 - FN-F12 will start and stop it but the Trimble Lassen iQ software isn't showing anything.

Here's said jibberish (sorry, it uploaded small for some reason)

[jmr061]

Do you have any manuals for the unit? Was this a clean install of XP, proper drivers loaded, etc?

Jason

[chuckie321]

Only the online manuals. This was a fresh intsall of XP and I did have all the drivers from Motorola's site.

[jmr061]

Did you ever get a chance to verify the gps module was installed correctly?

Jason

[Pj]

Is this the actual oem gps..the Trimbe iQ?

If so, what you need to do is download Trimble software (free from trimble).

By default the GPS outputs data in the Trimble TISP format. In the trimble studio software, it should find it automatically. Choose all your GPS settings (enable all the NMEA formats, gps dynamics automobile, etc). After each selection click on save and then set. The last thing you want to do is go into the port settings. Choose port A, 9600bps, input TISP, output NMEA. Click save then set (or the other way). The monitor will lose most of the streaming data but thats normal.

Close out studio, then turn on your GPS software. It should be outputting NMEA. Might take a few times/tricks to get it to set, but when you do your all good.

http://trl.trimble.com/dscgi/ds.py/Get/ ... -01-07.zip
http://trl.trimble.com/dscgi/ds.py/Get/ ... 202005.pdf

[Timeport]

First question:

Which kind of ML900 do you have? 1.8GHz or 1.7 GHz CPU?

Second:

From which version of ML900 your GPS came from? (with 1.7GHz or 1.8GHz CPU?

Default port for GPS is COM port 5, not 3 (usually touchscreen)

[Timeport]

Don´t use any unbranded batteries from China with red or white tester on the battery. They are not working correctly with ML900 and also they are new, they are not fresh. It will die or loose capacity extremely soon.

Use Duracell batteries or some branded batteries.

Your problem seems to be related with using batteries from China (verify the testers) or your battery is old and need to replaced. Battery in ML900 will not last long. Not more than 2 years if you are using P4-1.7GHz version. If using 1.8GHz it could last longer depending on your usage. High temperatures = sooner death for your battery.

[chuckie321]

It's the P4 model, the first GPS I used also came out of a P4. I bought a new Trimble SQ and also picked up another P4 ML900 that didn't have a GPS... I put the new GPS (and antenna) in the ML900 that I hadn't messed with yet, same issue (it's only outputting the same jibberish). Is there something you're supposed to change when putting a GPS in a ML900 that didn't originally have one?

Thanks!

[Pj]

Are you using COM5? Are you using the trimble studio software to set it to NMEA?

When you fire up studio, select COM5, but check off auto detect and let it find it. Might take a min or two as it will check all the trimble formats and baud rates. My guess is that its outputting TISP or TAIP.

[Timeport]

It's the P4 model, the first GPS I used also came out of a P4. I bought a new Trimble SQ and also picked up another P4 ML900 that didn't have a GPS... I put the new GPS (and antenna) in the ML900 that I hadn't messed with yet, same issue (it's only outputting the same jibberish). Is there something you're supposed to change when putting a GPS in a ML900 that didn't originally have one?

Thanks!

Well, probably you should try to set another port speed. Please note, that not all trimble modules have the port speed 9600. Try 4800 or even 2400 baud speed with different parity settings. Use COM port 5 as default. Then it must work.