GPS drivers: How to install

I bought a GT-730F GPS dongle. I have no idea how to install the drivers. "Makefile", "make install" ... I'm starting to think Linux is good for those that do almost nothing, or those who can remember endless commands. I'm trying to learn while I go ... frustrating!

UPDATE: sudo yum install make

Now when I try: sudo make inst
gcc -D__KERNEL__ -I/usr/src/linux-2.4/include -I/usr/src/linux-2.4/drivers/usb/serial -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -Wno-trigraphs -O2 -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -Wno-unused -DMODULE -c pl2303.c
make: gcc: Command not found
make: *** [pl2303.o] Error 127

 

Searching this site for pl2303 gives this nice post:
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=11479&p=73074&hilit=pl2303#p73074

This leads you to a method to just put a missing module in place and avoid the whole business of compiling-from-source.
Although it must be said that compiling might avoid problems like this one:
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11587
I don't know what went wrong there, but be warned.

--Japser.

 

Jasper, thank you for the reply.

I got the file "cp2101.ko" (EDIT: this is the incorrect file, got the right one as Jasper pointed out) in the right place. The commands talked about in the thread you posted come up as:
bash: insmod: command not found
bash: modprobe: command not found

I'm lost here.

 

Try with "sudo" in front of it:

sudo insmod

Typically commands that affect the whole system cannot be done as a normal user.

--J.

 

Are you sure you don't need the pl2303 module ?

 

EDIT: /sbin/modprob & /sbin/depmod ended up working

Thanks again... unfortunately:

sudo: insmod: command not found
audit_log_user_command(): Connection refused

sudo: modprobe: command not found
audit_log_user_command(): Connection refused

sudo: depmod: command not found
audit_log_user_command(): Connection refused

 

sudo:

why de colon ????

sudo

!

??

 

[root@localhost serial]# sudo depmod
sudo: depmod: command not found
audit_log_user_command(): Connection refused

 

When you are root then 'sudo' is not needed.
Still strange that 'depmod' is not found.
Does an

/sbin/depmod

work ?

It seems that the last message can be ignored.

 

As root "/sbin/depmod" doesn't seem to do anything.

 

It does not have any output, so I think it ran correctly, no 'command not found' anymore.

Next step is to look at the output of the command

dmesg

after plugging the device in.

( I still think you need pl2303, not cp2101. ( just guessing ) )

 

I'm lost again, but here are the results: EDIT: results snipped as they did not help

 

( Basic way to use dmesg is to give that command, then connect the device, do dmesg again and look at the new lines at the end. )
The last lines in your dmesg suggest to me that not much is happening.
I think you are still confused about the module: not cp2101 but pl2303 is what you need ( AFAIK ).
Look at this thread:
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11952

--Japser.

 

I can't offer any suggestions re the driver installation, but my curiosity is piqued by the idea of using a small GPS dongle to turn my AA1 into a mapping computer. I do a lot of long distance motorcycle riding, and the AA1 is attractive for its size, long battery life, and SSD. Being able to use it for navigation would be very attractive. It would be great to stop in the middle of nowhere, pull out the AA1, and see a graphical representation of my location.

Has anybody actually done this with an AA1? I've been avoiding GPS for years, but am about ready to bite the bullet. While I understand the basic principles of GPS, I have no idea what software would be used on a Linux box.

 

As root, depmod will SEEM to do nothing.

But, it works

depmod -v

will give "verbose" output. depmod "reindexes" the kernel modules, and ensures that everything can fit together. You do it once, after putting a new module in. If everything is ok, depmod returns quietly. If anything goes wrong, it displays a message.

After the depmod is complete (you only need to do it once, the results are stored), you simply need to plug in the device. It will be automatically associated with its driver, and will become available.

Now, you will need some GPS software -- try "GpsDrive" (available through yum). This application does have an issue in that it really wants a screen a bit taller than 600, but it does work. Make sure you are on-line when FIRST using it, so it can download maps (and squirrel around a bit to make sure you have the maps you need).

yum install gpsd gpsd-clients gpsdrive

Yes, I would like something a bit better than GpsDrive, but it does work... (sorry, I have no time or desire to improve it).

 

Jasper, everyone else:
usb 2-2: USB disconnect, address 2
usb 2-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
usb 2-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
usb 2-2: USB disconnect, address 3
usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial
drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial support registered for generic
usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial Driver core
drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial support registered for pl2303
usbcore: registered new interface driver pl2303
drivers/usb/serial/pl2303.c: Prolific PL2303 USB to serial adaptor driver
usb 2-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
usb 2-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
pl2303 2-2:1.0: pl2303 converter detected
usb 2-2: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0

1st attempts with software haven't worked, but I'm MAKING PROGRESS. THANK YOU all.

 

libssd, all -- I ride a motorcycle too & have the same interested in GPS as you do. This is my 1st time finally getting into it.

 

Both GPSDrive & TangoGPS are unaware of my GPS dongle.

 

After reading about /sbin/depmod -a I find I now have
usb 2-2: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0
in my dmesg. can someone tell me how to direct a terminal to open and use that port?
All I need it for is 9600 N 8. Might that be a default, or is there more?

Thanks to all who have contributed on these boards, I have gotten this far and it looks like I'm almost there.

In my excitement, I didn't realize where I posted this - since it has little to do with GPS and is primarily about the pl2303. I will attempt to find a more appropriate place for this question.

Tony