FliteStar supports the transfer of routes, waypoints, and track files between most GPS units and your computer.
To run the "GPS Upload/Download" multimedia Flash tutorial, go to the FliteStar Technical Support page at Jeppesen.com.
When using the Upload/Download feature, the GPS should be set for Data Transfer. NMEA and other sentences should be turned off for most GPS units.
Click Connections > GPS Upload/Download to display the GPS Upload/Download dialog box.
The dialog box title displays the protocol (communication language that FliteStar will use to talk to your GPS) and the communication port that has been selected. (FliteMap users - this is the same port as in the External Device Setup dialog box.) You can change the selections by clicking Setup.
To select the communication protocol that matches your GPS manufacturer and change the serial communication port if necessary:
Click Setup.
Select the Communication Protocol that matches your GPS manufacturer.
Use the Port drop-down menu to select USB (available only for Garmin units) or the serial communication port to which your GPS is connected.
Select Simulated GPS in the Communication Protocol menu if you want to see how the uploading and downloading operations act. Select this (simulated) protocol and then go back to the main Upload/Download dialog box and "connect" using the tabs and buttons.
Click Press here to Connect to GPS to start the communication process with your GPS. This button turns into a Status Information Area (as shown below) when you have successfully connected to the GPS. The area displays an error message if you have not successfully connected.
After you have connected to a GPS, click the Routes tab to view the routes loaded in the GPS and the waypoints that make up these routes. Click on a route in the GPS to display the waypoints for that route.
To load a GPS route into FliteStar:
Select a route in the Routes in GPS section.
Click Store to APP.
To load the route into your GPS:
Select a route in the Routes in FliteStar section.
Click Store to GPS.
The Status Information Area shows the progress of your route upload.
Click the Waypoints tab to see all user-defined waypoints in your GPS. These waypoints are the waypoints you have added to supplement your GPS database. The waypoint name, latitude, and longitude are displayed.
The Track History tab allows you to load the track information from your GPS into FliteStar. Specify a file on your computer into which to load the track, then load the track file into FliteStar. The track can be stored as a text file, allowing other programs access to the track file as well.
Try the following actions to troubleshoot the upload/download function:
Route transfers to the Garmin 396 when "Use GPS database when possible" is checked sometimes drop the last two or three waypoints. Store the route again from FliteStar to the 396 to add the missing waypoints.
When transferring routes to and from your GPS, make certain that you do not try to load more waypoints into your GPS than it has room for. Most GPS units will support 50 to 250 waypoints, but FliteStar can contain thousands.
Make sure the GPS unit is in the correct input/output mode to accept commands. GPS input settings allow the GPS to accept input from a computer.
GPS output settings specify what type of output (NMEA, and so on) the GPS uses. Typically, you want GPS output turned off for uploading and downloading.
Make sure baud rate on the GPS unit is set correctly (FliteMap).
The GPS does not have to be picking up satellite signals for uploading and downloading to work. Uploads and downloads can be done inside your house or office without any antenna hooked up.
Even when the GPS supports the upload feature, the cable may not be correctly configured. Simply being able to read a position from the GPS does not mean that the computer can communicate with the GPS in both directions (Computer -> GPS and GPS -> computer). If you suspect you are having a cable problem, contact your GPS manufacturer or Jeppesen Technical Support.
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