get 2 progs to use one com port

[jjpetrucelli]

I have a gps and i want to use two mapping programs to use the gps at once. I have heard talk of virtal port redirectors and what not but I cant find anything cheap enough! So the problem arises exactly when i start ms streets and trips and rand mcnally, i can connect only one of the programs at a time to the gps, how can i get the gps to send data to both of the programs at the same time?

 

[SDMguru]

You cant.

The port is locked by the program and it is not designed to share the physical hardware with another program. The best you might be able to swing is have one of the programs stream the data to a file and have the other read it.

 

[jjpetrucelli]

yes, yes you can. There are several programs out there that will create virtual ports, as i mentioned above. It takes the actual port that is being used (i.e. com x) and sends the data coming in on that port and sends it to 'virtual' ports that you specify. You can create as many virtual ports as you like on most of these programs and you can number them as you wish as long as the virtual port you are 'creating' isnt being used - i.e. if com2 is being used you cant create a virtual com2. Then when you set that up you tell your programs to go to one of the virtual ports. All data coming in from physical port -comx gets directed to the virtual ports.

As far as writing to a file, thats an option but thats a mess, especially if you want real time...

 

[franklin97355]

So, if you knew the answer why did you post?

 

[jjpetrucelli]

I seem to remember something in my original post saying something like;

"I have heard talk of virtal port redirectors and what not but I cant find anything cheap enough!"

And then i get a response that says;

"you cant"

So i go on to explain that;

"yes you can"

and also that;

"There are several programs out there that will create virtual ports, as i mentioned above. It takes the actual port that is being used (i.e. com x) and sends the data coming in on that port and sends it to 'virtual' ports that you specify. You can create as many virtual ports as you like on most of these programs and you can number them as you wish as long as the virtual port you are 'creating' isnt being used - i.e. if com2 is being used you cant create a virtual com2. Then when you set that up you tell your programs to go to one of the virtual ports. All data coming in from physical port -comx gets directed to the virtual ports."

-all of which i confirmed in the 4 days between the posts

I appreciated the original tip discussing writing to a file but;

"thats a mess, especially if you want real time"

Maybe I should of explained that if you are constantly writing and reading it will tie up a couple resources?

How does that sound?

So why did you post?

 

[SDMguru]

And are those serial re-directors fit for your purpose? If the GPS is sending data to your program and your program never sends data to the gps then it might work but both programs are expecting exclusive access so logic tells me it won't work as well as you think. The globalsat GPS I use takes direct control over the com port so from my own personal experience I said it wouldn't work. You don't have to get upset. I saw that nobody had replied to you in a few days and tried to help.

 

[jjpetrucelli]

haha, not upset at all sdm. Im using the navman gps and it appears that programs like MS S&T, Rand Mcnally and such all just get fed the data and they dont need to send data, but like i said 'appears'. I had investigated the writing to a file option but i was warned that the whole read write could very easily bind things up. As far as I see the virt port programs work just fine but i dont like the price range too much, im seeing from $50 - 3-4 digit $$$! I may have been being a little literal with coming back with 'yes you can' certainly no hard feelings though!?

I was a little erked by franklins response, i thought my question was fairly clear. Hopefully i answered his question. I eagerly await his response...hey maybe his answer is that hes from Mass ~ haha j/k