FAQs

Programming topics… 


 

Q: Where can you get latest news and updates about our upcoming product developments ?
A: Please connect with us on LinkedIn. All Latest product news will be published first on Twitter and LinkedIn. Please Follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn by clicking on the icons below.

Q: What navigation devices does the cable work with?
A: The GPS cable is designed to work navigation devices that use the NMEA 0183 (ver 3.01) protocol. We have tested this cable to work with various leading GPS device manufacturers without any customization or modifications to the GPS Device or the iOS device. Additional GPS units will also work fine as long as they use NMEA 0182 ver 3.01, but we have not had to test them yet.

Q: What iOS devices are supported by the cable?
A: GPS Cable is currently tested for use with iPhone 4s, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (fourth generation), iPad 2 and the new iPad.

Q: What apps can I use with the cable?
A: The GPS Cable provides data to an iOS app using the Core Location API. Since the Core Location API is the standard way that a location aware iOS app obtains positioning data, the cable is expected to work any location aware iOS app.

Q: Can I power the iOS device using this cable?
A: No. The GPS Cable does not allow you to charge the device while it is plugged in, however, it may be possible to power the iOS device using an accessory named DockStbz. Customers have reported to us that they are using DockStubz from CableJive for this purpose. DockStubz is compatible with our GPS Cable.

Q: Can I power the GPS device using this cable?
A: Power is not supplied through a RS232 connection. Some very low power devices make use of the RS232 signal lines to supply power. This usage of the RS232 connection is outside of the RS232 specification and may not work in every instance.

Q: Can I develop my own Apps for use with this cable on the iTunes App Store?
A:  Since the GPS Cable works with the core location API natively any location services based app will work with this cable as well. for specialty uses, If an app will only require data provided by the GPGGA and GPRMC sentences, then your app can make use of the Core Location API included in iOS to communicate with the external navigation device using our GPS Cable – NMEA Communicator. If your application will require you to use additional NMEA sentences, please contact us at Support@AmanEnterprises.com to discuss the SDK for GPS Cable – NMEA Communicator developers. The SDK is provided to you so that you may write your own apps.

Once I write my app, can I sell it on the App Store?
A: Yes. Your app will need to pass the standard App Store review process before it can appear on the App Store. You would also need to notify us in addition to apple prior to submitting your app for approvals. Without prior notification, your App will fail Apple Review. This notification is required only prior to first submitting your App for initial approval. App updates do not need any prior notification.

Q: Are there any Apps available on the App Store to help configure the cable settings?
A: GPS Cable works with the free configuration utility App – GPS Cable – NMEA Communicator available on the iTunes App Store. The GPS Cable App allows you to specify different serial port related configuration parameters and allows you to monitor the communication between the GPS device and the iOS Device. Over time this utility will be enhanced further to provide more feedback to the user.
NMEA Talker is also available on the iTunes App Store.

Q: How can I tell if my iOS device recognizes the cable?
A: Open the “Settings” app on your iOS device. Select “General”, then “About”. If the GPS Cable is connected properly, it will appear in the list shown.

Q: How can I tell when my iOS device is using the external GPS (instead of its internal GPS)?
A: It can be a challenge to determine this. iOS does not tell you which GPS it is using. You can use our GPS Cable App (available free in the App Store) to determine if iOS is getting data from an external navigation device. The “Data” screen in the GPS Cable App will showing data coming in from the external device. If there is no data in the monitor window, then iOS is still using the internal GPS.

Programming topics… 

Q: Where do I get the SDK?
A: Please send an email to Support@AmanEnterprises.com.

Q: What else do I need in order to develop apps for use with the cable?
A: You need to become a registered iOS developer and build an understanding of iOS programming.

Q: Once I write my app, can I sell it on the App Store?
A: Yes. Your app will need to pass the standard App Store review process before it can appear on the App Store..

Q: I am getting linker errors involving the EAAccessoryManager or EASession when I try to compile my project. What’s wrong?
A: Make sure the ExternalAccessory Framework has been added to your project dependencies.

Q: Can the driver software let me know when it is safe to write additional bytes?
A: Turn on the txAck setting in the port control structure. This will send a port status update every time the cable’s tx fifo is empty.

Q: Can you tell me the rate at which the SDK is polling/updating and calling the readBytesAvailable() method?
A: There is no polling, the code is event driven. When the iOS accessory manager receives data from the cable and we receive an event that data is available in the read stream, the readBytesAvailable call is made. Because these events are processed on the main run loop, you must be returned to your run loop before these are processed. For example, blocking locally inside your code will never allow these events to be processed.

Q: What is the unit for the value rxForwardingTimeout in serialPortConfig?
A: Milliseconds

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