Customer Reviews

Garmin GPS 18 GPS Sensor with PC Cable

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The description of this item clearly showed that the unit came with a PC connector (9 pin) and software.

Well, the first one I was sent, was a sensor with bare wires at the end, no documentation and no software. I sent it back. Amazon cheerfully sent me a new one, but once again, bare wires and no software or documentation.

Getting desperate, I found someone who could rig the unit up with the advertised PC interface and power supply. This got the unit running. Then, a trip to the Garmin website found the software to configure the unit.

I've found some shareware to run so the GPS is useful, but come on guys? How about making sure the description matches the product actually sold!

Neither the description nor the other reviewer make this entirely clear. This product is the LVC version of the GPS 18. That is the low voltage version which requires a 5 VDC power supply. Unlike the PC and USB units, this also provides a 1 PPS (pulse per second) timing output. It appears that all three are available from Amazon - make sure you order the one your really want. See the Garmin web site for the differences.

Beware this is the Garmin 18 LVC OEM gps. It comes with 5 wires that you have to hook up to power and a serial port yourself. It has a PPS (Pulse Per Second) output on one of the wires for time synchronization applications.

If this is what you need then it's a great GPS at a good price. If you want something to easily hook up to your computer you should look for the USB or the Serial interface versions.

The cable on the GPS is about 3 meter long (9 feet).

Garmin also makes a version with a 5 meter (15 feet) cable.