Setup

Main Contents :

 

Brief Description :

NMEA GPS Tether (Global Positioning Satellite Tether). This mobile application will quickly share GPS  with another device over WiFi. This is especially useful when you have a big-screen tablet without GPS feature and a small-screen phone with GPS hardware. With a few clicks, your tablet will have GPS feature (virtually), as it will receive the GPS info from your phone!

Location data (aka location info) can be obtained mainly through 3 methods below. This application is specially developed to support both types, and to keep things familiar, it will just be called GPS. See FAQ below on how to enable them on your device.

1) GPS (this requires GPS hardware/feature/functionality)

2) Mobile telco network/WiFi, better known as Network (this requires & uses the telco’s network or WiFi)

3) NMEA 0183 (this requires an NMEA Talker/Server device, to send GPS data to Bricatta’s GPS Tether Client. Currently only available as an experimental feature on Android & iOS)

 

Purpose :

To enable devices with GPS feature, to share GPS info with devices without GPS feature.

To send GPS info to a device which cannot receive GPS signal (e.g. indoors). See usage example below.

To be able to receive NMEA GPS data from a NMEA GPS Talker/Server device. This will only work on the NMEA GPS Tether Client for iOS only. Coming soon for Android!

 

How does it work :

It is very plain and straight-forward. This application solution will tether the GPS data (using WiFi) from a device with GPS feature, to another device. Both devices must be on the same WiFi network. No internet connection is required (free trial edition uses internet for advertisements only). There are 2 apps :

  1. Server-app (used on device with GPS feature)
  2. Client-app (the device which will receive GPS data from Server)

For better usage of the software, the running states are described below :

StatusDescription
Red Button (Off)Idle mode. GPS is not active. Client/server connections is being NOT initiated.
Orange Button (Running)GPS is trying to get a fix and lock-on your current device position. Client/server connections is being initiated.
Green Button (All OK)GPS has got a fix and lock-on your current device position (GPS coordinates will be shown on screen). Client/server connections is connected.

Features :

  • Able to receive and decode NMEA GPS data (currently only available on Apple iOS)
  • Smartly establish and send GPS info over WiFi
  • Encrypt the GPS data before sending For security. This will avoid eaves-dropping and ensure only your devices will be able to receive the GPS data.
  • Save and conserve battery by setting application’s run time to your preference, so it does not need to run longer than needed. (paid version only)
  • Additional features such as settings to save battery power, such as GPS update speed. (paid version only)
  • App can run in background without interference, and notifiy if there are errors. (Client-app only)
  • Able to run with 3rd part WiFi Tether app (e.g. Treve WiFi Tether)
  • Remembers previous server settings and automatically connect when started
  • Ability to disconnect clients on the server application.
  • User can specify server port to use
  • Manually add server for faster access or Scan server automatically
  • Touch text to copy GPS coordinates (paid version only, coming soon)

*Some features may be different or unavailable on the Apple iOS app.

How To Use (Apple iOS Client) :

  • The iOS version is currently available in the Apple Store. If you have downloaded the old version (pre version 4.x) from Apple store, please use it as it is.

How To Use (Android Server & Android Client) :

  • The quickly and best way to know how to use this solution is to view the YouTube video above. If you have problems understanding it, the detailed text is below.
  • After installing both apps on 2 different devices, you will need to ensure your device settings are correct.
  • For Client-app, ensure the ‘mock locations’ is enabled. It is under Settings (see screen shot)

  • For Server-app, ensure the GPS is enabled. It is under Settings (see screen shot)
  • Ensure both Server-app and Client-app are on the same WiFi network. We recommend using your Android device as a WiFi hotspot.
  • Start the Server-app by touching the red-button on the top-left.
  • On the Client-app, key in the ‘server ip’ that you see in the Server-app. It will be slow if you use the ScanServer button to scan for server.
  • Wait for server’s GPS to “Lock-On”, and the client will automatically get the GPS data. Now you can use apps which requires GPS on the client.
  • To secure the connection between the server and client, you can encrypt the data (under Settings). This will ensure that no other devices will obtain the GPS data.
  • If you have frequent disconnection problem between the server & client, try disabling the “Listener” feature in the server.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ANDROID 6+ :

  • Because of the extra security in Android 6 and above, you will need to ensure ‘Mock Locations’ are enabled under the ‘Developer Settings’ in your GPS-Tether-Client device.
  • Ensure the ‘GPS Tether Client’ app is selected under ‘Mock Locations’
  • See screen shots below.
Example 1
Using in the car, where you would like to use your tablet with bigger screen for driving navigation and maps. Phone has GPS feature, tablet does not have any GPS feature. Phone -> Tablet.

      1. Install the GPS Tether Server (Server-app) on your phone.
      2. Install the GPS Tether Client (Client-app) on your tablet.
      3. Enable the GPS and WiFi HotSpot on the phone. Load the GPS Tether Server app.
      4. Place the phone on the dashboard or near the car’s window, so it can easily lock on the GPS.
      5. Turn on your tablet’s WiFi, and connect it to the phone’s HotSpot. Load the GPS Tether Client app.
      6. Select “ScanServer” to automatically scan for a server, or manually add-in the server IP. Once connected, the status should be “ON”.
      7. Once the status is “Lock-ON”, just load Google Maps (or your preferred app) and you will see your location on the map (usually marked as a blue blinking dot). Use the app like normal.
      8. If the GPS connection is interrupted, a notification on the task bar will appear (or may vibrate, depending on your settings).
Example 2
You want to use your tablet at home indoors, but unable to get GPS signal connection. To easily solve this, put your Android phone at a window so the GPS signal can be obtained, use the tablet indoors.

      1. Install the GPS Tether Server (Server-app) on your phone.
      2. Install the GPS Tether Client (Client-app) on your tablet.
      3. Enable the GPS and connect to your home’s WiFi. Load the GPS Tether Server app.
      4. Place the phone near a window, so GPS signal can be obtained.
      5. Turn on your tablet’s WiFi, and connect it to your home’s WiFi. Do remember that the server and client must be on the same WiFi network. Load the GPS Tether Client app.
      6. Manually add-in the server IP. Once connected, the status should be “ON”.
      7. Once the status is “Lock-ON”, just load Google Maps (or your preferred app) and you will see your location on the map (usually marked as a blue blinking dot). Use the app like normal.
      8. If the GPS connection is interrupted, a notification on the task bar will appear (or may vibrate, depending on your settings).