This article explains how to connect a USB GPS device to a Windows Player, enabling location-based content and more precise geotargeting for your Player.
Connect the GPS device
- Connect the USB GPS device to the computer.
- Open the Device Manager via Windows Search bar (Windows + S) or by running
devmgmt.msc from the Run dialog (Windows + R).
- Expand the item Ports (COM & LPT).
- Identify the COM port automatically assigned to the USB GPS (e.g., COM8).
- Right-click the device and select Properties.
- Navigate to the Port Settings tab and click Advanced…
- Under COM Port Number, reassign the device to a port number above COM10.
Assigning a high port number reduces the risk of port conflicts caused by Windows dynamically reallocating lower COM ports to subsequently connected devices. Click OK. The device will re-enumerate and be assigned to the specific port.
Configure the GPS in OnSign
- Navigate to Player Settings in the OnSign platform.
- Scroll down to the Serial Port Settings (RS-232) section.
- Configure the serial port parameters as shown in the reference image.
- Select the COM port corresponding to the GPS device (for example: COM10) from the port dropdown.
If no port is detected:
- Verify that the USB GPS device was connected prior to powering on the Player, as the serial port enumeration occurs at startup
- Restart the Player process.
- Refresh the settings page to force re-detection of available ports.
.
Set the following parameters:
- Type: GPS (NMEA 0183)
- Port: detected COM port
- Alias: gps
Save the configuration.
Always use the same physical USB port for the GPS device. USB-to-serial adapters are assigned COM port numbers per physical port by Windows; changing ports will cause the device to be enumerated under a different COM identifier, requiring reconfiguration.
Validate GPS data
- Navigate to Apps and search for GPS.
-
Open Player GPS Debug application.
- Deploy and run the app on the target player.
- Open Player Screen Viewer to inspect the live output.
- Confirm the following convictions:
- Latitude and Longitude are displayed.
-
Source is
gps - The timestamp is updating.
Troubleshooting
- No COM ports listed: the device may not have been enumerated at Players startup. Reconnect the USB GPS device, then restart the Player to trigger port re-detection.
- No data output: Verify that the COM port number selected in Player Settings matches the port currently assigned in Device Manager. A mismatch will prevent the Player from reading the serial data stream.
- No GPS signal: Ensure the GPS receiver has an unobstructed view of the sky. Indoor environments or areas with significant overhead cover will typically prevent satellite acquisition and result in no valid NMEA output.