L&B's USB <-> Alti-Track device (aka USB-Track) can be used with GNU/linux systems (2.6 kernels) via the built in ftdi_sdi driver. These rule files gives it a consistent name, making it easy to find the right device in programs and helps with the mapping between the devices id and the driver for older kernels.
Download the 50-altitrack.rules file and copy it to the /etc/udev/rules.d directory (you will need root permission to be able to do that).
A file called /dev/tty.altitrack should appear in /dev when you connect the USB-Track. If not, remove the device and plug it back in. If it is still not working, try with this file instead. If it is still not working, see here.
Commands are sent as plain text via the serial tty at 115200 8N1, no flow control. Each line is terminated with a single CR. Data will be received from the Alti-Track with CR LF as line ending and "EOF" CR LF as end of a response.
Get a serial communication program.
Send "Help" to the device to get a list of commands. The description
covers every command and a few of the command's responses are also
described.
(This section is untested and needs to be verified)
One way to communicate with serial ttys is to start a terminal program and write:
screen /dev/tty.altitrack 115200
The Alti-Track is a product of L&B.
The new rule file was developed by Luke Hutchinson.
The alternative new rule file was developed by Renout Gerrits and Sebastian Andersson.
The old rule file was developed by Sebastian Andersson, Sebactory.
The driver that does all the real work was made by Bill Ryder.