Q: What navigation devices does the cable work with?
A: The cable is designed to work navigation devices that use the NMEA 0183 (ver 3.01) protocol.
Q: What apps can I use with the cable?
A: The GPS Cable provides data to an iOS app using the Core Location API. Since the Core Location API is the standard way that a location aware iOS app obtains positioning data,
the cable is expected to work any location aware iOS app.
Q: I've connected an external GPS that is providing course and speed data using a GPRMC sentence, but my iOS app is not showing this data. What is wrong?
A: Check to make sure your GPS is configured to use NMEA version 3.01. Apple's Core Location API will not provide course and speed to an iOS app if older versions of the NMEA spec are being used.
Q: My iOS device has an internal GPS. Why would I need to connect to an external GPS?
A: Some applications require a GPS that provides higher precision than the iPhone's internal GPS. Or an iOS app may need to communicate with a specialty
navigation device used in a truck, boat, tractor or plane.
Q: What about the iPhone 5 and its new Lightning connector?
A: Our existing cables work with the Lightning to 30-pin adapters that Apple provides. We will also develop a new GPS Cable with Lightning connector -- probably in early 2013. Moving new products through Apple's approval processes takes some time.
Q: Can I power the iOS device using this cable?
A: No. However customers have reported to us that they are using DockStubz from CableJive for this purpose.
Q: Can I power the navigation device using this cable?
A: Power is not supplied through a RS232 connection. Some very low power devices make use of the RS232 signal lines to supply power. This usage of the RS232 connection is outside of the RS232 specification and may not work in every instance.
For the C2-GPS cable, it is left up to the user to determine if the RS232 output signals will supply enough power for a particular application. Currently, the C2-GPS uses a MAX3243 or similar driver to convert logic level signals to RS232 level signals. The specifications for the MAX3243 may be used as a rough guide to determine if the signal levels are appropriate for your application.
Redpark reserves the right to change the RS232 driver circuitry at any time.
Q: Can I develop an iOS app for use with this cable?
A: Yes. If your app will only require data provided by the GPGGA and GPRMC sentences, then your app can make use of the Core Location API included in iOS to communicate
with the external navigation device using our GPS cable. If your application will require you to use additional NMEA sentences, please contact us to discuss our SDK for GPS Cable developers.
Q: Once I write my app, can I sell it on the App Store?
A: Yes. Your app will need to pass the standard App Store review process before it can appear on the App Store.
Q: How can I tell if my iOS device recognizes the cable?
A: Open the "Settings" app on your iOS device. Select "General", then "About". If the GPS Cable is connected properly, it will appear in the list shown.
Q: How do I know what version of firmware the cable is using?
A: Once you have located the GPS Cable in the "Settings" App, select the GPS Cable to view its parameters.
Q: I've connected the cable to an external navigation device but the iOS app is not getting data. What's wrong?
A: If you are not receieving data from the external GPS this means that either: (1) the cable is not fully attached or is defective; or (2) the external device is not providing
NMEA sentences in the manner that iOS requires. Check the configuration of your navigation device to make certain it is using NMEA 0183 ver 3.01. Using other versions of the NMEA
protocol will cause incompatibilities with iOS. Check to confirm the navigation device and the cable are using the same baud rate (typically 4800 kbps).
Once iOS receives GPGGA sentences from the external navigation device it will switch over from its internal GPS to the external GPS.
You may need to adjust parameters such as NMEA interval in order to configure your device to supply NMEA sentences in a manner that iOS accepts. You can use our GPS Cable App,
available in the App Store, as a troubleshooting tool.
Q: How can I tell when my iOS device is using the external GPS (instead of its internal GPS)?
A: It can be a challenge to determine this. iOS does not tell you which GPS it is using. You can use our GPS Cable App (available in the App Store)
to determine if iOS is getting data from an external navigation device. The "Data" screen in the GPS Cable App will showing data coming in from the
external device. If there is no data in the monitor window, then iOS is still using the internal GPS.