Garmin USB GPS Plugin

The Garmin USB GPS Plugin can be used to connect various Garmin hand-held GPS models with Hydromagic. Most Garmin GPS models also support NMEA0183 output, but very often the data cable for this is sold separately.

Position data from the hand-held is also available via the USB port using Garmin's proprietary 'PVT protocol'. PVT stands for 'P'osition, 'V'elocity and 'T'ime. This Hydromagic plugin is able to connect to the USB device driver and decode the PVT sentences sent by the Garmin GPS.

Supported Garmin GPS models

Although the list may not be complete, as new models come out on a regular basis, it contains some of the models that can be connected using the Garmin USB plugin:

• GPS 18x, GPS 18x LVC, GPS18x-5Hz;
• eTrex series (old units such as the Legend H, Legend HCx, Summit Cx, Venture Cx or Vista HCx);
• GPSMap 60CSx, GPSMap 60CS or GPSMap 60;
• GPSMap 62stc, GPSMap 62st, GPSMap 62sc, GPSMap 62s or GPSMap 62 (firmware older than 3.40);
• GPSMap 64st, GPSMap 64s or GPSMap 64;
• GPSMap 76CSx, GPSMap 76CS or GPSMap 76C;
• GPSMap 78s, GPSMap 78sc or GPSMap 78 (firmware older than 3.40);
• Oregon series;
• Montana series;
• Rino 6xx series;

NOTE: By default the GPS18 series will sent NMEA 0183 sentences over the USB port. To switch to PVT mode, you will have to use the proprietary $PGRMC1 command. Please refer to the GPS18 users manual for more information.

Loading the Garmin USB GPS plugin

To load this plugin, open the preferences window by selecting "Preferences..." from the "Options" menu.
In the window that appears, select the 'Devices' tab. Next, click the 'Add...' button.

A list of available plugins will be displayed. In this list, select the "Garmin USB PVT plugin for Hydromagic" plugin and click "OK" to load the plugin. Since this device has its own device driver under Windows, no serial port or speed has to be selected, so the plugin loads without showing a configuration dialog first.

Unloading the Garmin USB GPS plugin

To unload the GPS heading plugin, open the preferences window by selecting "Preferences..." from the "Options" menu.
In the window that appears, select the "Devices" tab. Next select the 'Garmin USB PVT plugin for Hydromagic' and click 'Remove...'.