question

miami337 avatar image
miami337 asked

Compatible GPS receiver added to Cerbo GX - not seeing any data

I added a GPS receiver to my Cerbo GX by simply plugging it into the Cerbo and rebooting. The manual simply says plug it in and it will work. I'm not seeing any location data rendering anywhere. Any suggestions?


Model purchased: Globalsat BU353S4 SiRF STAR IV 4800 baud

cerbo gx
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4 Answers
ejrossouw avatar image
ejrossouw answered ·

Hi @miami337 Have you tried a different port and is the Cerbo firmware up to date? The USB port next to the HDMI port is now power only.

https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/2020/07/13/venus-os-v2-57-cerbo-gx/

3 comments
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miami337 avatar image miami337 commented ·

Thanks ejrossouw - I tried your suggestion - confirmed I'm up to date and I have now tried all 3 USB ports. Still stumped...

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ejrossouw avatar image ejrossouw miami337 commented ·

Can you see actually see the gps under settings on Cerbo? What do you expect to see other than the position on the map on VRM?

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miami337 avatar image miami337 ejrossouw commented ·

Yes I can see GPS in the settings on the remote panel, Lat/Long etc. What I expected to see was my position on the map where you can set your position manually. I assume you'd use the geofence functionality with your position to trigger alerts, etc. otherwise the position info just stays buried in settings.

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Remy Habets avatar image
Remy Habets answered ·

I bought a Navilock NL-8022MU USB 2.0 Multi GNSS and connected it to the middle USB port on the CERBO GX. It seems to receive well as it shows the position of the RV correctly. Also the VRM software reports the detection of a GPS receiver.

While driving however it does not collect data with any proper resolution ever. My guess is only the coordinates of start and finish locations. Looking at the downloaded data from VRM the number of data lines per trip look like that. All routes are straight lines instead of broken lines.

Does anyone have similar experience and know how can I raise the resolution of data collected?

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s1277 avatar image
s1277 answered ·

1) One USB port is changed to be “power only”
There are three USB ports in the Cerbo GX, and one has proven to be unreliable for use with a VE.Direct to USB cable or other data connections. We spent a lot of effort to make it work reliably, but that proved impossible – unfortunately. The other two do work properly.

The USB port affected is the one closest to the HDMI port. This new firmware version changes its function to “power only”: to power the GX Touch. The Cerbo GX manual as well as the datasheet have been updated with this new specification. Newly produced units will have a different marking on the product, to make it clear that that USB port is different than the other two.

Installations in which this port is now used, with for example a VE.Direct to USB Cable, will lose connection to that VE.Direct device. I fully understand how this can be very inconvenient, especially for remote installations.

Temporary work around for installations using that USB port

In case you prefer to change the wiring later, and keep a working system until then, here is what to do:

  1. Revert to the previous installed firmware in the Settings -> Firmware -> Stored backup firmware menu. Now the USB port will work again.
  2. Logging the VRM Portal won’t work yet. Normally, reverting to a prior firmware version does not cause an issue, but unfortunately this time it does. Only for Cerbo GX devices. Our support engineers will need to make a change in the VRM Portal after reverting to a version prior to v2.57. Without the change, no data will appear on the VRM Portal. To have that done, please contact your Dealer. They will need to contact our repairs department.
  3. Finally, at a more convenient time, rewire the system and update to the new version. When required, the number of USB ports can be extended with a USB hub, refer to the manual for more information. As the issue causing an unreliable data connection is extremely rare, chances that you’ll have an issue while still using the port for a short while are very slim. There is no need to contact us again when doing the upgrade – only during the downgrade as explained in step 2.
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s1277 avatar image
s1277 answered ·
  • NMEA0183 command-set - almost all do. It can communicate at both 4800 and 38400 baud rates


  • Globalsat BU353-W SiRF STAR III 4800 baud

  • Globalsat ND100 SiRF STAR III 38400 baud

  • Globalsat BU353S4 SiRF STAR IV 4800 baud

  • Globalsat MR350 + BR305US SiRF STAR III 4800 baud



1) One USB port is changed to be “power only”
There are three USB ports in the Cerbo GX, and one has proven to be unreliable for use with a VE.Direct to USB cable or other data connections. We spent a lot of effort to make it work reliably, but that proved impossible – unfortunately. The other two do work properly.

The USB port affected is the one closest to the HDMI port. This new firmware version changes its function to “power only”: to power the GX Touch. The Cerbo GX manual as well as the datasheet have been updated with this new specification. Newly produced units will have a different marking on the product, to make it clear that that USB port is different than the other two.

Installations in which this port is now used, with for example a VE.Direct to USB Cable, will lose connection to that VE.Direct device. I fully understand how this can be very inconvenient, especially for remote installations.

Temporary work around for installations using that USB port

In case you prefer to change the wiring later, and keep a working system until then, here is what to do:

  1. Revert to the previous installed firmware in the Settings -> Firmware -> Stored backup firmware menu. Now the USB port will work again.
  2. Logging the VRM Portal won’t work yet. Normally, reverting to a prior firmware version does not cause an issue, but unfortunately this time it does. Only for Cerbo GX devices. Our support engineers will need to make a change in the VRM Portal after reverting to a version prior to v2.57. Without the change, no data will appear on the VRM Portal. To have that done, please contact your Dealer. They will need to contact our repairs department.
  3. Finally, at a more convenient time, rewire the system and update to the new version. When required, the number of USB ports can be extended with a USB hub, refer to the manual for more information. As the issue causing an unreliable data connection is extremely rare, chances that you’ll have an issue while still using the port for a short while are very slim. There is no need to contact us again when doing the upgrade – only during the downgrade as explained in step 2.


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