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Having Problems with GPSS ?

Updated 0830 Sunday 2nd December 2007 UK time

Many people have no problem installing and running GPSS - but problems CAN happen.
Please read below before asking Robin for help via his email address on the CONTACT page.

Problems finding a page or EXE download on www.gpss.co.uk ?

ISP and Web space hosting may fail, so we have several copies of www.gpss.co.uk as "mirror sites".
Enom is used to forward www.gpss.co.uk to our primary hosting on gpss.tripoduk.com - shown on your browser.
if a www.gpss.co.uk page fails to respond, please go direct to gpss.tripoduk.com
If Robin emailed you a page or EXE that started www.gpss.co.uk and it does not respond, maybe Enom has failed,
so try changing the www.gpss.co.uk to gpss.tripoduk.com or gpss.npl.com or www.gpss.force9.co.uk

Please try a mirror site below if any link above gives a problem.
Home GPS Download Business Partners Contact Family AVL Links History AsOnTV hosted on gpss.tripoduk.com primary host - unlimited space & bandwidth.
Home GPS Download Business Partners Contact Family AVL Links History AsOnTV hosted on gpss.npl.com - unlimited. Jim's site is www.jimradford.com
Home GPS Download Business Partners Contact Family AVL Links History AsOnTV hosted on www.gpss.force9.co.uk Force9 mirror. 700MB.
Home GPS Download Business Partners Contact Family AVL Links History AsOnTV hosted on members.aol.com/gpssw AOL mirror 100MB.
Home GPS Download Business Partners Contact Family AVL Links History AsOnTV hosted on ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/gpss 5MB.
Home GPS Download Business Partners Contact Family AVL Links History AsOnTV you are now on This Site

Problems understanding how to download and instal GPSS ?

Maybe the picture on the right will help.
Please follow these instructions carefully:

create a directory/folder such as gpss (right-click, New, Folder).
download or copy GPSSA.EXE into c:\gpss
do NOT run these EXE until they are in the GPSS folder.
run GPSSA to self-extract the many files including GPSS.EXE
run GPSS.EXE from Windows.
If you do not understand the instructions above, please get help from someone who does.
Each download may be 15 minutes on a slow modem, 3 minutes on broadband, and your browser may not show progress.

Problems downloading GPSS Baseline ?
(GPSSA.EXE)

Alternative GPSS Baseline links are:
Download GPSSA.EXE from Tripoduk site
Download GPSSA.EXE from AOL site
Download GPSSA.EXE from F9 site
Download GPSSA.EXE from NPL site (this is usual first choice)
The EXE download links use http protocol, and have done so for years.
The GPSS Baseline link below use ftp protocol and may help:
Download GPSSA.EXE from NPL site (FTP protocol)

Lots of Icons over your desktop ?

Every so often, someone does not follow the instructions above carefully enough, and Robin sends an email reply similar to this:
Sorry to hear you've made the mistake that's easy to make.
You've not installed GPSS yet.
To install GPSS you just create a gpss folder of files.
To deinstall it you just delete the folder.
Your problem is that by running the EXE before it was put in the folder all those files have gone into the default Windows desktop folder.
I hesitate to give you advice that might make you dig a deeper hole, but suggest you could spend some time very carefully deleting icons that should not be on your desktop. When you think they have all gone, you will need to do a "re-arrange" icons to pull in the icons that were put outside your visible screen - so you can delete them too.
But be careful not to delete any icons that SHOULD be on your desktop.
If unsure about this, please get some local help.

Problems installing GPSS Baseline
(e.g. running GPSSA.EXE) ?

"cannot open COM1" then "bad file name" error messages ?

Maybe GPSS is trying to open a COM port that does not exist on your PC.
Use Windows Notepad to open file GPSS.CFG in the GPSS folder, and change COM1 to NULL.

"..system file is not suitable.." error message ?

Cannot run GPSSA.EXE under XP without an error message ?

e.g. "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application"
Robin is grateful to Eric Jeppersen for solving this rare problem created by installing other software:
"I was able to fix it by editing the AUTOEXEC.NT and CONFIG.NT files and restoring them back to their original "fresh install" condition. It seems they had been modified slightly by a bit of software I had installed previously... The files reside in the \Windows\System32 directory and if you can't fix them by commenting out the offending lines, simply retrieve them from your WindowsXP CD and presto! "
and "The following lines were installed by the Novell Netware Client 4.9 for Windows 2000/XP:
REM Install network redirector
lh %SystemRoot%\system32\nw16
lh %SystemRoot%\system32\vwipxspx
%SystemRoot%\system32\vipx.exe
%SystemRoot%\system32\vlmsup.exe
I simply REMmed them out and everything worked fine. These are not needed unless you specifically require IPX in DOS, which almost noone does anymore."

Problems running GPSS.EXE ?

Running GPSS.EXE results in GPSS stopping, saying a map is missing ?
Is the shortcut to GPSS.EXE is correct ? e.g. 2nd page properties, under right mouse click on GPSS icon. Under XP: may need to create the shortcut and then pin it to the Start Menu. Correct folder specified (e.g. c:\gpss) ?

GPS not detected... GPSS says "I'm not receiving GPS data" then gives a demonstration ?

This is the most common problem reported to Robin: the GPS not being detected by GPSS, which then gives a demonstration instead of showing your position - typically on the World map. GPSS v5.98 and later searches from COM1 to COM20, first at the standard NMEA 4800 baud rate, and then at 9600 baud. This is done after a minute of demonstration, or if you hit the = key *
* Bug in GPSS fixed in GPSS v6.2 3rd March 2007. The automatic search for GPS under the = hotkey or [FindGPS] button was not reliable. A work-around was to do manual attempts using the secondry COM port controls. There is a GPSS.EXE v6.2 on the oldnew page for those using an older version of GPSS.
The questions and answers below should help you diagnose and fix this problem.
using a handheld GPS such as a Garmin etrex or Magellan 315 ?

have you switched ON the NMEA Interface on your GPS ? e.g. on an Etrex use menu SETUP-INTERFACE.

using a GPS plugged into a USB port, or not plugged into COM1 9 pin D serial port ?

use = key to make GPSS (v5.98 or later) search for GPS on COM1 to COM20 at 4800 then 9600.
for earlier versions of GPSS, edit GPSS.CFG and change COM1 to correct port. e.g. COM4
you can also use experimental controls under Ctrl-C on keyboard.

using a bluetooth GPS operating NMEA but at 32400 baud?

Try GpsGate on franson.com/gpsgate
or try COMDOOR.EXE in the GPSS folder before running GPSS. You can download from www.gpss.co.uk/comdoor1.exe comdoor1.exe self-extracts into comdoor.exe and mscecomm.dll. This is new and experimental for those in contact with Robin.
or try old 32 bit version of GPSS.EXE on oldnew page - old and not supported.

still have problems ?

does your GPS support NMEA ? e.g. Garmin with USB may not. Try GpsGate on franson.com/gpsgate
GPS Speed at 4800 baud (the NMEA standard) ?
Testing outside the house ? (some GPS do not output unless they have good GPS signals).
Using an OLD serial Delorme EARTHMATE ? <- get the driver software.
Using a NEW Delorme USB Earthmate ? Have you switched it to NMEA output ?
This from John in Taylors,USA who solved this problem: Robin; I downloaded the Delorme Serial Emulator from their website listed under lt-20 downloads Its called the LT-20 Companion Disk it contains a serial emulator and a virtual serial driver, During install I chose to install Earthmate to work with Streets Atlas and Third-Party Software. Once installed and rebooted the serial emulator provides the device on com2, Come or Come at 9600,N,1 works great. The Earthmate now works with GPSS and Microsoft streets and maps as well as the Streets Atlas it came with.
Using a NAVMAN E Series ? - ask for the NMEA driver from support@navman-mobile.com
Using a Tom Tom bluetooth GPS under XP ? set it to standard 4800 baud ? on COM7 ?
BU303 Tip from Robert in Oz: The BU303 didn't work until I found the xp driver on tech.prolific.com.tw/visitor/v_welcome.asp under USB 1.1 to serial bridge controller.
GPS on COM11 or higher: use v5.6 of GPSS (or later), or these tips kindly supplied by Mark Viehman:
"I remapped COM11 to COM1 which also solved the problem:
To determine serial port number:
1. Start>Settings>Control Panel>System>Hardware (tab)>Device Manager
2. Select "Ports (Com & LPT)
3. Note number next to Communications Port (such as Com9)
Changing Port Number within Device Manager:
1. Start>Settings>Control Panel>System>Hardware (tab)>Device Manager
2. Select "Ports (Com & LPT)
3. Note number next to Communications Port (such as Com9)
4. Select Properties>Advance>
5. Reselect Com Port Number. If port shown as in use and you know that is not then select it anyway
6. Click OK

GPSS detects the GPS but shows wrong position

A few people contact Robin to say that GPSS has detected the GPS but the position is not where it should be. e.g. at the equator west of Africa or in the far east.
This is usually because they are testing inside the house, where the GPS signals are not strong enough to work. Some GPS output a lat/lon at zero/zero (the equator) or near the factory (often in the far east). Some output nothing.
The solution is to test outside the house, in a good position far from houses and trees, but here is a tip which may help you confirm that this IS the problem:
Hit ^ (shift 6) to display GPS Engineering information.
If you see garbage, then the GPS is not giving NMEA data at 4800 baud.
If you see a line with $GPRMC, look for ,A, or ,V,
,V, means that the GPS is not tracking. e.g. weak GPS signals.
,A, means the GPS is tracking - and you should see a good lat/lon.

Other Problems when GPSS runs ?

Getting a blank grey screen in North America ?
- hit Z key until you see a map. Problem will go if you are in USA when you add the free USA street mapping.
Sorry - this was a bug in the first v5.96 of GPSSA uploaded. Now fixed. Check startup date is 14th December.
on an IBM Thinkpad ? There are known problems with the IBM BIOS/software for COM port - see www.pcco.ibm.com where IBM will tell you how to fix it.
Strange symptoms ? - did you copy between PC using a CD Writer ? If so, you must clear the "read only attributes" with >ATTRIB -R *.*
Strange symptoms ? - Are you running a version of Windows with bugs (old NT or '98r2 from 1999) ? - try GPSS running on another PC under '95, later '98 or 2000. An unsupported 32-bit version of GPSS.EXE is on the OLD Page, which you can use to confirm that it is this bug in the (old) O.S. related to running 16-bit applications. It also explains the good reasons why GPSS.EXE is still 16-bit :-)
General Protection Faults or other strange symptoms on a Networked PC ? This is probably also a bug in the O.S. software, rather than GPSS. Try another PC.

problems with the Ctrl-R Registration Form ?

Robin needs GPSS Ctrl-R details to give you a free key code for full Windows GPSS

Few people have problems with this, but some do. To use the GPSS Control-R Form you run GPSS and press Control-R to get the registration form. Instructions are on the form, but here they are:

change "reg text" to your full name.
remember "reg text", "date ends", "PCID" and "reg code".
or press [COPY] button to record these details to file REGFORM.TXT
send these details to Robin as part of your step 2 Quiz.
Robin will send you a matching key code.
repeat above process to display same reg text, date, PCID and reg code.
enter key code in box provided and click on [OK].
If it is a new month, and the "date ends" has changed (e.g. from 200508 to 200509) then change it to the value you sent to Robin (e.g. 200508).
If you've already done the Quiz, but forgot to give Robin the Ctrl-R details just send Robin the Ctrl-R details with something like his reply to you, so he can see you've already done the Quiz.

registration with GPSSppc on the Pocket PC ...

Pocket PC registration is MUCH simpler: you do not need to do the Ctrl-R process :-)
Robin will give you a key code, matched to your registration text (your name):
Fred Bloggs
12345678
You simply find the maintenance buttons page under the "spanner" button, use the soft keyboard to set up these two lines in the controls provided, and tap on the [REGISTER] button. You should get a message to say it was accepted.

other problems ?

Have you tried contacting Robin, after step 1 and 2 (free registration) on DOWNLOAD page ?