Greetings from Canada! This is the first time that I have ever posted anything in this forum. The purpose of this post is not to ask a question but to thank all of you who helped me learn (and didn't even know it!):

a) what an 8051 derivative chip is and it's benefits
b) how to program it (i.e. get started)
c) the tricks used to parse NMEA strings
d) many many more things

Using only the TUTORIAL on this website and reading the FORUMS I was able to go from a 'nervous boy with a Philips chip and a boss telling me to learn how to use it for a project', to a 'MAN with a fully functional GPS project who now gets to get Paid $$$$$$'!! :) -- all in under a month. Ha!

I have never been to a forum which yeilds such amazing advice. There are some of you who obviously spend a lot of time on this site and truly care about the spread of knowledge. To those people I salute you!!! I won't try and list names because I will undoubtedly forget someone -- you know who you are. Some of you are much more patient than I could ever be (i.e. with a friendly soul named Waqar and others ...).

I plan on continuing to use 8051 derivative chips for for my projects and will hopefully one day be able to help others in this very forum.

Thanks again,

Jon Aoki