Frequently Asked Questions

Table of contents:

1. What does "Initializing" status mean?
2. What does "Access denied" status mean?
3. What does "No data" status mean?
4. When I'm starting application, I can see status "Initializing" and nothing happens ...
5. Anyway, always the same, I can see only status "Initializing"...
6. GNSS sensor Broadcom BCM4752 can't find satellites (constantly "Initializing" status)
7. What does NMEA emulation mean?
8. "Access denied" state in Windows 10 versions 1909 and 2004

If you see the status "Initialization", this means that device in satellite search mode.

"Access denied" status means that Windows settings do not allow applications to access GNSS devices.

Depending on Windows version, these settings are in different places:

  Windows 7 -> "Control Panel", then "Location and Other Sensors" and here enable "Turn on the Windows Location platform"
  Windows 10 -> "Settings", then "Privacy", then "Location"

Pay attention about bug in privacy settings in Windows 10 version 1909 and 2004, detailed information you can find below in this FAQ.

"No data" status means that, GNSS receiver right now in "Off" mode (not activated to receive satellite signal).

In most of cases, in the set of proprietary software from the PC supplier or manufacturer of receiver has some kind of proprietary utility for turning On the GNSS receiver.

For instance, in case of Lenovo - application called "GPS Enabler".

For the first time ("cold start") search for satellites can take a long time, up to 30-40 minutes.
You must definitely go for a walk under open sky with your device.

Allocation device on a windowsill, balcony, or other similar places will not help to find satellites, especially if is it a new "just out of the box" device or the satellite navigation was not used on this device for a long time.
Only a long walk in the fresh air (more than half an hour) will allow the device to find satellites for the first time.

In the properties of BCM4752 driver, under "Power management" tab, option "Power off to save power" should mandatory has a daw.
Definitely here is bug from driver developers, by logic here should be opposite settings :-)

In case, if driver of GNSS receiver can produce "native" NMEA data, then application just simply passs them directly to the COM port.
But, if driver of GNSS receiver does not produce "native" NMEA data (which is true for many receivers / drivers), then application will read all necessary data (coordinates, speed, etc.) from the GNSS receiver, will generate data in NMEA format and will send them to the COM port. (i.e. emulates data in NMEA format).

Enabling option "Always Emulate NMEA" wil tell to applictiaon the to ignore the "native" NMEA data and always emulate the data in NMEA format. Most often this is necessary when the "native" data contains information about GPS satellites and satellites of other navigation systems (GLONASS, BeiDou), but your navigation program does not accept the corresponding specific NMEA commands like $GLRMC, $GNRMC and etc.

Windows 10 versions 1909 and 2004 has a bug, due of this desktop applications are not granted permission to access to GNSS sensor, regardless of the current privacy settings in the Location settings.

As result, in application we can see "Access denied" in sensor state field.

Fortunately, solution is very simple - will need to add one parameter to system registry by applying following reg file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Sensor\Overrides\{BFA794E4-F964-4FDB-90F6-51056BFE4B44}]
"SensorPermissionState"=dword:00000001

As well you can download ready reg file from here:
Windows 10 - 1909 - Location Sensor - Security - Allow Access.reg