Compatible GPSes
Author: Eric Raymond
Description: Hardware known to work with GPSD.
Keywords: GPS, translator, mxmap, GIS

Compatible Hardware
Search for hardware information here:

Web | gpsd.berlios.de

`gpsd` should work with any GPS or AIS receiver using an RS232C or USB interface that advertises NMEA-0183 compliance. Here are some notes on hardware we have tested. Hyperlinks lead to technical information. The "Works with" column is the last `gpsd` version with which this receiver is known to have been successfully tested; A in this column means we have a regression test load for the device that is checked before each release. Vendors are listed in alphabetical order.

There is also a table of PPS-capable receivers which may be appropriate for timing use.

Warning: the baudrate-hunting code in `gpsd` tickles serious firmware bugs on some Bluetooth and USB devices. These bugs may send affected GPSes catatonic. See this bug warning for a description of the problem. Where possible, we indicate this in the device table.

Icons used in the table:

- marks devices with Excellent performance: gpsd recognizes the receiver rapidly and reliably, reports are complete and correct.
- marks devices with Good performance: `gpsd` has minor problems or lag recognizing the device, but reports are complete and correct.
- marks devices with Fair performance: reports have minor dropouts or problems, including occasional transient nonsense values.
- marks devices with Poor performance: reports frequently have values that are wrong or nonsense.
- marks devices which are Broken; gpsd frequently fails to recognize the device at all.
- marks devices that needed the `gpsd -b` option when tested. Usually these are Bluetooth devices with defective firmware that does not handle baud-rate changes properly. Some poorly-designed USB devices choke if they are fed too many probe strings; these may work better with recent versions of `gpsd`, which interleaves probe writes with the first few packet reads.
- marks devices for which we have a regression-test load. These are checked on every release.
- marks devices that have been discontinued by their manufacturers.
- marks devices which will be recognized by the Linux hotplug system when they are plugged in. If you installed `gpsd` from a binary package,or did "make udev-install" from the source distribution, this should mean you never have to launch `gpsd` manually; the udev syatem will launch it for you when it sees a device of this kind go active.

Note that in most cases (including the bug), poor ratings reflect problems not in `gpsd` but rather in device design and firmware so badly botched that `gpsd` cannot compensate.

This table is generated from a capability database in the `gpsd` source tree. Please help us enrich the database with new devices by filling out this form.