AWK scripts for working with a Magellan GPS receiver from a (linux) PC. - download tracks, calculate string checksums

After much trial and tribulation and searching to and fro on
the web, I managed to assemble a couple of useful awk scripts for
interfacing a (linux) PC with a Magellan GPS receiver (I have a 315).
   The script "gettracks.awk " is written to download the track points
off of a Magellan.  It could be easily modified to do anything else
with the Magellan one wanted, e.g., upload or download waypoints. 
   The utility script "getchecksum.awk " will allow you to enter a
Magellan string at a terminal, and get back its checksum value in
hexadecimal.  
   <Shift><Left click> on the links to download either of these scripts.

   I make these available since there seems to be a dearth of help for
the Magellans out there in webland, and less help for interfacing a
linux PC with any GPS device.   I paid dearly for these scripts with
sweat from my brow in many hours of trial and error; I started with
general awk ignorance...still it was a nice learning exercise.
   The scripts are not perfect but they can be easily modified and/or
enhanced to make them send or receive data or commands to the
GPS receiver.  The scripts were in fact, hacked.

   The manual for the Magellan commands can be found here.
   A general site for GPS information is here .

B.D.D.  15 January 2002