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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on July 22, 2012 at 9:59am

Yes, the code should autorecognize the uBlox. No user configuration is required.

Sorry this has been so difficult--normally it all works right out of the box. (We're probably going to stop selling unassembled kits because of problems with user soldering; it's a little fiddly, and the cost of an error is high, as you've discovered. We also can't warranty soldering that wasn't done in the factory.)

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Permalink Reply by Will Snodgrass on July 22, 2012 at 5:22pm

Ive left it outside for 4 hours with the trace cut and the other removed... still nothing, and the CLI is still giving me a timeout.

Permalink Reply by Cala on July 22, 2012 at 4:22pm

Finally my problem was with the fpv camera, I disconnect it and the gps lock, I connect and lose sats, so I

move que camera and the cable far from the gps and solve the problem; Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Will Snodgrass on July 22, 2012 at 5:24pm

It's outside again right now on a fresh battery.... Also at this point Ive taken the camera and all the extra's out of the equation.

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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on July 22, 2012 at 5:28pm

I'm afraid it sounds like a damaged board. I'm sorry to see this, which must be frustrating for you, but the factory can't take a return of a user-soldered board. But if you'd like, I can offer you my dev team discount on a replacement (pre-soldered) and will pay for shipping myself. Just PM me...

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Jones on July 22, 2012 at 5:29pm

This is all really stunningly ridiculous.  There are literally billions of GPS systems in the world that work well in much less than lab-perfect conditions.  These things should WORK. 

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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on July 22, 2012 at 5:31pm

Bruce: I think you're reading his comments wrong. The GPS are working (their LEDs show that they're locked). It's just that he damaged a trace connecting it to APM when he soldered it, and APM can't read the data. 

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Jones on July 22, 2012 at 5:41pm

I guess I'm responding to more than just Will's comments and to a certain extent my own experiences.  I've had to remove EVERYTHING electrical more than 15cm away from my APM in order for the GPS to work.  I had to custom make cables to move the RC Rx, I had to  rewire and move the ESCs about 30cm away, I had to get a dedicated BEC for the APM2 (and make sure that main unit is a good distance away).  FORGET about having a GoPro or other camera on the craft, no GPS signal if they're within about a half meter.  It's just been very very hard.  Too hard for a device which in my opinion could and should be more robust.

I'd totally give up on it if using scripted waypoints wasn't so much fun or if there was competition in the same price range.  Reading in related posts that maybe we shouldn't expect our GPS systems to work because the satellites are getting old or there was a solar storm just makes me furious.

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Permalink Reply by Eddie Furey on July 22, 2012 at 5:45pm

Bruce does have a point. The antenna on this GPS is quite small. My Rembizi OSD came with a GPS antenna roughly twice this size and I never considered electrical interference when I was installing it. I just pit it somewhere convenient (right next to the camera) and it worked fine every time.

I'm tempted to buy the new $70 GPS that's in the store now, but that seems a lot for a GPS module.

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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on July 22, 2012 at 5:48pm

Bruce: I'm sorry and surprised to hear that. There are thousands of APM2s out there, and I've never heard of anyone else who had to take such measures to get the stock MTK GPS to work. (I fly a dozen of them every week with all the regular wiring and have never had an issue). Perhaps you have a flawed unit with some noise problems?

That said, technology does move on, so we're recommending that most people, especially those with copters, upgrade to the 3DR uBlox, which offers superior lock and accuracy. I'm upgrading most of mine, mostly for the improved loiter performance. It's not that there's anything wrong with the MTK, it's just the uBlox 6 is better. But it's also more expensive, so we'll still offer the MTK, especially for planes where 1m precision is less of an issue. 

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Permalink Reply by Will Snodgrass on July 22, 2012 at 5:44pm

Bruce: Believe me Im about as frustrated as it get's,  But both GPS boards are getting a lock, (that's why the light goes steady) the problem is communicating with them.

I chose to solder it so I could get it quicker....And they can't vouch for someone elses work, especially on something so complicated. I mean I don't think I burned a trace, but I can't say I didn't either. Everything Else works perfect...and at least he's going to help make it right. If I can accept that It's possible I did it, I can't blame them and neither can you. IF it was a pre-soldered board They would be replacing it.....Right Chris?

If under those circumstances they didn't then I would be the first one to speak out...But that's not what's happening here. When I get my new one Ill let you guys know it works out.

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Jones on July 22, 2012 at 5:47pm

Sorry for the venting.  I'm glad to hear they're making it right for you.  I've just found everything related my GPS frustrating and it seems like a lot of others have too.

I hope your new unit works great and you can experience the fun of automated flying like I have.  It's great stuff.

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