readme.txt

Visual C++ source code for adding GPS units to PC desktop and Notebook exchange data from Serial por

Welcome to MFC-NMEA0183. This is preliminary release 0.3!

This C++ class is based on Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC).
It is designed to help you (the developer) write applications that 
exploit NMEA0183 devices.

This release (version 0.1) of the class handles "approved" sentences.
This library is based upon the 01 Jan 92 version of the specification (V2.00).

In short, what this library does is parse *AND* construct NMEA0183 sentences.
This should make it very simple to create such applications as sentence
translators.

Want to use a GPS receiver to synchronize your computer's clock to the GPS 
time? No problem. Better yet, hardly any coding is required!

Rules of distribution:
Feel free to use this class in any of your projects, be they personal, 
professional or governmental. All I ask is that you drop me a line.
If I've saved you a lot of time on your project, please let me know.

The Future:
"Sentences Not Recommended for New Designs" are not included in this
library. Why? THERE'S A LOT OF THEM! I don't know which ones are important.
This leads me to another point. I've never spoken to a NMEA0183 device. I
imagine this will change in the future. Please don't assume I know what I'm
talking about when you ask me questions. All I know is what the NMEA 
specification document tells me. It's a decent protocol specification but I
have yet to come across one that is completely correct. There are bound to be 
errors in their documentation. For example, on page 23, APB sentence field 1, 
NMEA says this field will contain a "V" when there is a Loran-C Blink or SNR 
warning. It also says this field will contain a "V" when there is a general 
warning flag for other navigation systems when a reliable fix is not 
available. How are we to tell them apart? I don't know.

A Request:
This class is is dire need of testing. If you find errors in it please let
me know and provide sample sentences when possible. Any sentences I receive
will be added to the test program. Thanks in advance...

Please feel free to make suggestions.

Have Fun!

Sam Blackburn
CI$: 76300,326
Internet: [e-mail]


Updates from v0.1
A new member called Time (of type CTime) has been added to all responses that
contain UTCTime.

Added a few PlainEnglish functions here and there.

Updates from v0.2
Added the following sentences:
MHU, IMA and redesigned a couple of others to make them more incestuous.