Okay, I've figured out a way around it... The Pharos iGPS-500 GPS receiver is a TTL serial device and if you don't mind soldering wires to the edge connector its also easy to get the signals out of the device. Here is a web-page describing it. http://ubermodder.com/budget-usb-enabled-gps/

--- In p..., "demolitron" wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I've got a Pharos GPS-500 USB dongle on hand and I was wondering if it would be possible to hook this up to a PIC of some kind. When I plug it into my PC it is detected as a serial port by windows and the data just streams over as ASCII test.
>
> Anyone have a direction they can point me in? I've been looking at Microchip's website, but most of the stuff is on peripheral side devices. On the high end line I see some USB-Host stuff but it seems to be pointed at USB Flash drives. Overall, its all still clear as mud to me. A USB-Host DIY-PIC primer would be really cool...
>
> Thanks!
>

----- Original Message -----
From: "demolitron"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 7:08 PM
Subject: [piclist] USB GPS to PIC interfacing
this up to a PIC of some kind. When I plug it into my PC it is detected as
a serial port by windows and the data just streams over as ASCII test.
>
> Anyone have a direction they can point me in? I've been looking at
> Microchip's website, but most of

Take a look at the PIC18F2550/4550 series. They have everything required
for USB except the connector. Microchip has some sample code for serial.
The data sheet is kind of confusing, tho. That USB interface is incredibly
smart, and as a result, kinda hard to understand. But if you can rip off
some Microchip code you might just make it work,

A somewhat clumsier approach is to use a the 18F as a USB to serial
converter, essentially what Microship does on their Explorer 16, 28 pin
starter board, and probably others. That way you don't have to mess with
the USB code, just burn it into the 18F.

..

Hello,

I've got a Pharos GPS-500 USB dongle on hand and I was wondering if it would be possible to hook this up to a PIC of some kind. When I plug it into my PC it is detected as a serial port by windows and the data just streams over as ASCII test.

Anyone have a direction they can point me in? I've been looking at Microchip's website, but most of the stuff is on peripheral side devices. On the high end line I see some USB-Host stuff but it seems to be pointed at USB Flash drives. Overall, its all still clear as mud to me. A USB-Host DIY-PIC primer would be really cool...

Thanks!