Using the Wintec WBT-200 with Mac, Linux
The Wintec WBT-200 is a cute GPS receiver in a tiny package that streams NMEA data over Bluetooth and USB. It can also log GPS data for subsequent download. I’ve been using it to capture tracklogs for upload to Open Streetmap and I’ve been hugely impressed by the fast startup time and accuracy of the logged data.
The supplied software is Windows only but with a little fiddling you can get it working with your Mac or Linux box. Here’s how.
2006/08/06 Update: There’s a new firmware version for the WBT-200 (R4) that changes the data format used by the device (thanks G. Francisco for the tip-off). I’ve just submitted a patch to support the new format to Robert Lipe (gpsbabel). It should make it into the gpsbabel CVS within the next few hours. If you need a binary built with this patch for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD or Mac OS let me know.
August 4th, 2006 at 6:42 am
Andy,
Did you or someone else test the windows version of gpsbabel (1.3) with the Wintec WBT-200? I’ve tried it and am getting the message “Bad Response from unit”
I’m using Windows XP and have the WBT-200 connected via a USB cable. Yes, I’ve installed the USB/Serial bridge and am able to use the Wintec G-Tool softwre.
I am using the follwoing invocation when I get the error message.
gpsbabel -i wbt -f com9 -o gps -F out.gpx
By the way, the -i wbt option is also not in the gui of gpsbabel.
Appreciate any help or comments.
Thanks,
August 4th, 2006 at 9:03 am
Yes, I test pretty continuously against Windows. Could you please send me the output from the command with the flag -D9 added like this
> gpsbabel -D9 -i wbt <etc etc>
August 5th, 2006 at 6:13 am
By the way, I’m using the latest firmware — which may have changed formats.
Here is the output:
E:\Program Files\gpsbabel-1.3.0>gpsbabel -D9 -i wbt -f com9 -o gps -F out.gpx
GPSBabel Version: 1.3.0
options: module/option=value: wbt/erase=”0″ (=default)
Opening port…
Cmd: $PFST,FIRMWAREVERSION
Got: $PFST,FIRMWAREVERSION,WBT200,3,31,6090,R4*71
Cmd: $PFST,NORMAL
Got: $PFST,NORMAL,*02
Cmd: $PFST,READLOGGER
Got: $PFST,READLOGGER,*17
Reading 1184 data
New Track
Cmd: $PFST,NORMAL
Skip 0: U,
Skip 1: →p╤A↓▒y∞╩╛
Skip 2: →ƒ─A↓♣j∞╩─
Skip 3: `,
Skip 4: →^╡A↓°T∞╩╔
Skip 5: → «A↓εP∞╩╠
Skip 6: →∩áA↓≡K∞╩╞
Skip 7: →╪kA↓rN∞╩╔
Skip 8: →╕^A↓╗R∞╩┬
Skip 9: →▐VA↓ΘX∞╩─
Skip 10: → TA↓┐[∞╩╦
Skip 11:SA↓├[∞╩┬
Skip 12: →3RA↓▀Z∞╩╛
Skip 13:QA↓]Y∞╩┬
Skip 14: →)MA↓!V∞╩╬
Skip 15: →z:↓º╘Ω╩≥
Skip 39: →╙±8↓>╫Ω╩7
Skip 40: →`∞8↓┘Ω╩&
Skip 41: →-δ8↓ç█Ω╩%
Skip 42: →bΩ8↓ ▀Ω╩$
Skip 43: →£Ω8↓Ö δ╩
Skip 44: →Σ÷8↓┘Σ∞╩,
Skip 45: →]ⁿ8↓o°∞╩G
Skip 46: →║♣9↓”
Skip 47: φ╩c
Skip 48: →f+9↓♂Dφ╩b
Skip 49: →U69↓‼cφ╩n
WBT-100/200: Bad response from unit
August 6th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Update: new format supported, patch submitted to gpsbabel CVS. Thanks :)
August 11th, 2006 at 5:51 am
Hi Andy,
Just got a WBT-200 and it’s working great on my Mac with gpsbabel - v 1.3 that includes the previous version of your patch. I had a surprisingly easy time getting my first log into google earth. I have read that the new R4 firmware for the WBT-200 adds another autolog mode, so I’d like to upgrade. I’m not confident that I could build from the CVS without a lot of frustration…can you provide an OS X binary? It would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
August 11th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Binary mailed to Spencer. Anyone else?
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:59 pm
I’d like a binary, as the (at the time of this post) latest version of gpsbabel doesn’t seem to work with v4.
August 28th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
I didn’t have javascript enabled before so I don’t think my post got put up. Anyway everything was going great with my WBT-100 but I upgraded the firmware before I came across these comments. If you could send me that new build that would be awesome.
August 28th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Sure Ryan - which platform? Mail me at andy AT [insert domain name of this site here] and I’ll fix you up.
September 8th, 2006 at 1:16 am
[…] Leaving for Chicago in a few minutes so not gonna have time to test if it still works under my Mac with GPSBabel. Last firmware upgrade broke it but thankfully Andy over at Hexten has one too and keeps submitting patches and support into GPSBabel (for the previous firmware you have to compile from CVS as the patch isn’t in the SF build yet). If it does break support maybe I’ll have something to do at the airport. So long as GPSDX still works for the ride back I should be fine. […]
December 13th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
I’m thinking about picking up this to help me track my up coming trip, and geotag my photos. I was wondering if you could provide some insight into two things: a) is their a hook or similar on the unit so I can hook it to a bag, thus it will have sight to the sky, and b) have you tried placing the unit in your pocket or top pouch of a backpack. Did you get a signal?
Thanks.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:30 pm
There’s a little hole in one corner that accepts a lanyard. I’ve tried it both in the top of a bag and hanging from my belt and in both cases it got a signal - although it was better in the bag. Hanging from my belt it fell into my ’shadow’ I guess.
I haven’t done back to back tests to see if the performance is worse in a thin bag than out in the open - but I wouldn’t expect a layer of nylon to have much of an adverse effect.
December 13th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Thanks, that’s is great news. Looks like I’m on my way to buy a unit. This looks like the best solution for logging routes and tagging photos on the Mac.
February 12th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
I have a WBT-300 model which doesnt obey with GPSBabel 1.3.2.
It simply skips the conversation commented in wbt-200.c for $PFST, FIRMWAREVERSION, just spits the 50 datalines.
What next to get GPSBabel to read the data stored in?
Thanx
February 12th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
WBT-300? I don’t think I’ve seen one of them. Where did you get it from?
February 12th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
There’s a lot of sources, eg. wcom-gps.de (my one)
Spec: ftp://mail1.wintec.com.tw/upload/support_manual/WBT300SPEC.pdf
Any idea?
February 12th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I guess I need to get one and try it…
April 4th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I just picked up the brand new WBT-201. You have any plans on adding support for this to GPSBabel? Here is a link: http://www.semsons.com/wiwbmu3gpsre2.html
April 5th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Have you tried it with the current version of gpsbabel and found it doesn’t work?
In any event I’ll try to get hold of one and make sure it’s properly supported.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
WBT-201 log download is completely different. This is what I found out with serial sniffer and a little Python script:
send: @AL,15555 # sets password 5555
rec: @AL,LoginOK # pw was OK
send: @AL,5,2 # get log size
rec: @AL,5,2,11111 # there are 11111 bytes logged
send: @AL,5,3,0 # get the first 4096 bytes
rec:
send: @AL,5,3,4096 # get the second block of 4096 bytes
rec:
…..
send: @AL,2,1 # switch on NMEA after transfer
rec: @AL,2,1
I have not idea how to parse the binary data.
April 11th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Aha. Sounds like a challenge :)
I haven’t had a chance to order one yet. I’ll try to do that in the next few days.
April 12th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I can send the python-script if You like. It’s very simple, 45 lines.
April 12th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
That’d be cool thanks Joerg. Could you send it to andy [at] hexten [dot] net?
April 29th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I’ve created a patch against gpsbabel 1.3.4beta that supports the WBT-201. You can find it here:
http://hexten.net/wiki/index.php/WBT201_Release_Notes
May 9th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I’d also love a copy of that Python script if possible. wrybread [at] gmail dot you know what.