Seeking fellow G4 users solution to long standing issue (at least for me) with the built-in gps on com port 1 not initializing (or whatever the problem is called) when resuming from hibernation.
For my G4, if it's left to sleep long enough, G4 will shut down before the battery charge falls to an unsafe level. I will know it is a shut down because G4 will not power up automatically upon turning the ignition on and also XP boots up from scratch unlike when it does power up automatically when resuming from sleep and XP resume from where it left.
I can power up G4 from the power button just fine (just as I'd too if I've manually shutdown XP). Although, XP boots up without any disk check or error message to indicate improper shutdown like a power cut of some sort, it appears it is not a proper shutdown nevertheless because Garmin Mobile PC will not find any working GPS com port (both physical and virtual ports created by XPort).
Whenever Garmin cannot find any gps ports, I can confirm the abnormality by maximising XPort to see garbage characters on the status bar instead of proper GPS coordinates which explains why Garmin is having problem finding proper GPS ports. When Garmin can find the GPS port, XPort status bar will also show proper coordinates. I can bet my last dollar any simple GPS appz that allow reading of gps coordinates will also show similar abnormality when the issue occurs. I'm pretty sure I've also tested Garmin without starting XPort or XPort without starting Garmin to continue having the same issue so I can rule out Garmin or XPort being the culprit.
On my previous Hi-Info N5 Car PC with GlobalSat BU-353, I've switched from GPSGate to XPort to split the ports for multiple GPS appz after reading it also helps usb resume issues(just in case)and carried on using XPort on my G4 although I've no problem with any usb device (Huawei E270, Asus Wireless G, keyboard) resuming on my G4 even without selecting any device in XPort to stop/start. I've also checked selective devices with Infill name and still the GPS problem remains.
To get around this problem when it occur, restarting XP does not help. I've to do a proper shutdown of G4 from XP and power up from the power button which is a pain in the ass even though before I get out of my multi-storey carpark, CF and Garmin will be loaded. Still I would have prefer being able to click anything I need to do and set my destination in Garmin before I set off instead of while navigating the car park or on the road which is dangerous.
Knowing the battery level will not support sleep mode till the next day I start my car and to avoid the "improper shutdown", I end my day by chosing hibernate manually instead. However, surprise surprise! When I start my car the next day, GPS port still resume with the same problem!
I subsequently discovered a quicker way (have been doing this till now) to get around the problem (without a shutdown and fresh start) is to hit sleep in CF whenever Garmin's searching for GPS port which indicate to me the problem is there and then resume G4 again. Lo and behold! It's alive! The GPS port resume properly!
When I do a test by clicking hibernate and then resume once G4 power off into hibernation, the problem does not occurs. Only if I left it to next day do I see the problem. This makes it so hard to troubleshoot as it cannot be duplicated in a short time. It makes me suspects it may be some kind of old GPS data cache (if left too long without signals) that may be causing the problem 'cos resuming from sleep mode does not pose any problem. Could it be b'cos the GPS data cache has not expired within the short interval? This is the only difference I can think of between times when it resume perfectly from sleep and times when it resume with problem from hibernation or the "improper" shutdown.
I've the following qns on top of hoping someone can help:
- Does your G4 goes through a sleep then hiberate cycle when battery is low instead of straight shutdown? Max hibernate time out of 6hrs in XP power option is not practical i.e. not when I return to the car in say 8hrs after work? This has to do more with the having to wait for the booting time rather than the GPS problem. Anyway to set auto switch to hibernate upon detecting low battery charge ?
- Which device description is the G4 built-in GPS besides knowing it's assigned to com port 1? XPort, if it helps stop/start device does not list com port but usb devices instead. Could the GPS be actually a usb device that is running a usb to com port driver?
Sorry it's it hard to follow my lengthy post but I would think more details are better than missing bits that may be crucial to some who may be able to help me troubleshoot. Pls also do not think by posting such a long post, I would have known or covered everything and anyone should feel they have nothing to offer. Pls do not hesitate to offer any suggestion even if it's obvious or crazy as sometimes the most obvious could be missed out or craze works.
I'm at my wit's end but still bearable cos I love my G4 and CF.
Linear Mode
