Finally I made it work by using a MAX232 between the GPS module and the PIC.

My conclusion is that the use of USART (HSERIN/HSEROUT) will set higher and lower voltage thresholds on the PIC's pins as it does when using "simple" serial communication via SERIN/SEROUT commands. Couldn't find anything about that in the DS...or am I blind?

I go back to SERIN2 and its reduced number of components application


The "working" code is:
Code:
'Config Directive settings for MPASM (fuses) for 18F2420
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG1H, _OSC_HS_1H & _FCMEN_OFF_1H & _IESO_OFF_1H ;_OSC_INTIO7_1H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG2L, _PWRT_ON_2L & _BOREN_OFF_2L & _BORV_0_2L
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG2H, _WDT_OFF_2H & _WDTPS_1_2H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG3H, _MCLRE_OFF_3H & _LPT1OSC_OFF_3H & _PBADEN_OFF_3H & _CCP2MX_PORTBE_3H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG4L, _STVREN_OFF_4L & _LVP_OFF_4L & _XINST_OFF_4L & _DEBUG_OFF_4L
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG5L, _CP0_OFF_5L & _CP1_OFF_5L
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG5H, _CPB_OFF_5H & _CPD_OFF_5H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG6L, _WRT0_OFF_6L & _WRT1_OFF_6L
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG6H, _WRTB_OFF_6H & _WRTC_OFF_6H & _WRTD_OFF_6H
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG7L, _EBTR0_OFF_7L & _EBTR1_OFF_7L
@ __CONFIG _CONFIG7H, _EBTRB_OFF_7H & _DEVID1 & _IDLOC0
 
'Registers
ADCON1  = %00001111     'Turn off all AD's (= "_PBADEN_OFF_3H")        
TRISC   = %11000000     'stated by DS(!)
RCSTA   = %10010010     'enable serial port, enable continuous receive, automatic clear overrun error
TXSTA   = %00000000     'disable transmit, BRGH=0
BAUDCON = %01101000
SPBRG   = 51            '9600 Baud @ 8MHz, 0.16%
SPBRGH  = 0
 
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' DEFINEs
DEFINE OSC 8
 
DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTB   'LCD data port 
DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0       'LCD data starting PORT.bit (0 or 4)
DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTC  'LCD register select port 
DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 4      'LCD register select bit 
DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTC   'LCD enable port 
DEFINE LCD_EBIT 5       'LCD enable bit 
DEFINE LCD_BITS 4       'LCD bus size 4 or 8 
DEFINE LCD_LINES 2      'Number lines on LCD 
 
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INIT:
GPS_D   VAR BYTE(80)    'Incomming data bit array
LED0    VAR PORTA.5     'alive LED
 
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' DOGM LCD display specific settings
PAUSE 1000              'Time to settle Vdd
LCDOUT $FE, $29         'Function Set: 4 bits bus mode
LCDOUT $FE, $1C         'Bias set
LCDOUT $FE, $52         'Power control + Contrast (HiByte)(for 5V=$52/3,3V=55)
LCDOUT $FE, $69         'Follower control  (5V=$69/3,3V=6D)
LCDOUT $FE, $78         'Contrast (LowByte)
 
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Main loop
 
LCDOUT $FE,2,"HSERIN"
  
MAIN:
  
  HSERIN [WAIT("$GPGGA,"),STR GPS_D\6]
 
  LCDOUT $FE,2,GPS_D(0),GPS_D(1),":",GPS_D(2),GPS_D(3),":",GPS_D(4),GPS_D(5)
  
  TOGGLE LED0
 
  GOTO MAIN: