Quest for GPS

Phishfry

Phishfry

I am wondering if anyone here has used Ublox LEA-6N module before?
It has the attributes of a timekeeping GPS module with PPS.
This version uses a USB-MiniPCIe interface.
Paid $40 for a Ublox LEA-6N:
www.ebay.com

ublox LEA-6N-0-000 mPCIE GPS Module Mini PCIe LEA-6N | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ublox LEA-6N-0-000 mPCIE GPS Module Mini PCIe LEA-6N at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

So my quest continues for a GPS-only USB-MiniPCIe module.
Hopefully this works. I don't like using a cellular modem for just GPS.
Seems a waste.

Supposedly Ublox uses UBX. gpsd has a new software tool for it.
Ublox has custom software for their modules that works on Windows and Wine.
Need to get some custom binary code from it to use with gpsd.
Sounds like a real pain too. Ublox is an established name though.
 
Last edited:
Well right off the bat I see this module is different.
Code: 
ugen1.3: <u-blox AG - www.u-blox.com u-blox 6  -  GNSS Receiver> at usbus1
umodem0 on uhub2
umodem0: <u-blox AG - www.u-blox.com u-blox 6  -  GNSS Receiver, class 2/0, rev 1.10/1.00, addr 3> on usbus1
umodem0: data interface 1, has CM over data, has no break
 
Well this module works like I had hoped. Even without gpsd I have a raw stream.
Code: 
cu -l /dev/cuaU0
Connected
$GPTXT,01,01,02,u-blox ag - www.u-blox.com*50
$GPTXT,01,01,02,HW  UBX-G60xx   00040007 *72
$GPTXT,01,01,02,EXT CORE 1.00 (59843) Jun 27 2012 18:25:00*49
$GPTXT,01,01,02,ROM BASE 7.03 (45969) Mar 17 2011 16:18:34*57
$GPTXT,01,01,02,MOD LEA-6N-0*2B
$GPTXT,01,01,02,PROTVER 14.00*1E
$GPTXT,01,01,02,ANTSUPERV=AC SD PDoS SR*20
$GPTXT,01,01,02,ANTSTATUS=OK*3B
 
Here is gpsd's graphical application xgps over ssh-forwarding from my APU2.
screenshot-gpsd.png
 
Phishfry said:
I am wondering if anyone here has used Ublox LEA-6N module before?
It has the attributes of a timekeeping GPS module with PPS.
This version uses a USB-MiniPCIe interface.
Paid $40 for a Ublox LEA-6N:
www.ebay.com

ublox LEA-6N-0-000 mPCIE GPS Module Mini PCIe LEA-6N | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ublox LEA-6N-0-000 mPCIE GPS Module Mini PCIe LEA-6N at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

So my quest continues for a GPS-only USB-MiniPCIe module.
Hopefully this works. I don't like using a cellular modem for just GPS.
Seems a waste.

Supposedly Ublox uses UBX. gpsd has a new software tool for it.
Ublox has custom software for their modules that works on Windows and Wine.
Need to get some custom binary code from it to use with gpsd.
Sounds like a real pain too. Ublox is an established name though.
Click to expand...
A little question: why You use USB? As I know USB connection of GPS-receiver make as a result unpredictable time for PPS signal received (I mean small fluctuations)...
Am I wrong?

Recently we bought for one of projects new Garmin GPS 16x-HVS (more robust and stable working, and same or better receiver sensitivity rather 19x-HVS, especially for non-moving objects like rack server).

P.S. May be this thread would be interesting for You ;)
And this one
 
Last edited:
Sergei_Shablovsky said:
A little question: why You use USB? As I know USB connection of GPS-receiver make as a result unpredictable time for PPS signal received (I mean small fluctuations)...
Am I wrong?
Click to expand...
I don't doubt that one bit.

For me I wanted a GPS module on PicoITX board. So I needed MiniPCIe slot with USB signaling.
That is the common wiring scheme for Mini-PCIe GPS modules.
Just like cellular modems use.

My Jetway small boards have one full-size MiniPCIe slot(USB signaling) and one half-sized MiniPCIe
(usually wired for PCIe/Wireless).

My project is for a remote rig. I am using GPSd and logging.
So location services without a cellular modem.
I am working on my RC boat project and remote telemetry via wifi.

PPS is not needed.
I am glad you brought this subject up. I bought some new Ublox modules from the Advantech store.
Leadtime was 20 weeks. They met the delivery date. 2 modules for ~27$ each with high shipping of $25.
Still nice to have an new option that is not ebay. I am getting tired of that place.
 
I marked this thread unsolved and would like to continue GPS hardware modules here. Particularly Mini-PCIe modules.

I found a brand that is much more a specialty product with CAN bus on board too.

Swift MS-B190D
No product page only specs:

So short and dry this module provides two streams one that is custom protocol and second stream that is NEMA,
Custom stream works but GPSD doesn't understand it. NEMA stream does not seem to be streaming from second com port.



GPS Boards internal USB:
I have bought a lot of used internal GPS Modules that use only a GPS 5 Pin header. I have had mixed results.
Modules using CP2xxx UART fail to produce any output over serial/USB port. uslcom driver.
Modules using FDTI UART chipset produce usable output over serial/USB port.
Code: 
ftdi0 on uhub4
uftdi0: <FTDI FT232R USB UART, class 0/0, rev 2.00/6.00, addr 3> on usbus1
www.ebay.com

NEW Dell Latitude E6400-XFR Internal GPS Module Circuit Board with Antenna M847N | eBay

DPN: M847N, 0M847N. -Latitude E6400 XFR. Antenna module. Compatibility : It's your responsibility to make sure that the item is compatible with your computer/laptop.
www.ebay.com
The only drawback you must create your own cable. I took internal cable and cut in half. Spliced with 4 pin Header cable for motherboard.
I don't know what the third antenna jack on the module is. The other two are marked internal and external.

It seems UBlox v8 modules have built in UART and do not need a UART chip. These seem to be the best solution for lowest power devices.
They are available in MiniPCIe format but hard to find. Easier to find the internal laptop GPS modules with 5 Pin USB. (4 pin USB plus PPS).

Ebay is littered with cheap no name modules.
 
I found another user who also has problems with uslcom(4) and CP2xxx UART Bridge.
They found that it works under Arm64. I need to try this. I have a bunch of GPS modules using uslcom that should work but nothing happens.
In fact Dell GPS module DW700 is listed on uslcom as working. Uses CP2xxx UART bridge. Does not work for me.

D

Post in thread 'USB: uslcom/CP2102 UART and serial communications problem'

Update: while it is impossible to get this device straight to work on ANY FreeBSD amd64 arch I used (13.2-RELENG, 14-STABLE, 14.0-RELEASE, CURRENT)), the device works with uslcom() as expected when attached to a PINE64 running FreeBSD 13-STABLE (FreeBSD 13.2-STABLE stable/13-n256698-35372e305863 GENERIC arm64 - and for 12 hours this communications line was stable and provided data from the I2C bridge device.
 
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