GPS cable
Sooner or later, someone is going to ask about a longer cable to connect their GPS to the UAV DevBoard.
I am hoping that, sooner or later, someone will offer a longer cable with the correct connectors, maybe they do already, and I just don't about it. If anyone knows of one, please let me know. I have asked SparkFun to offer one, but right not they don't have one.
In the meantime, there is another GPS connection option with the DevBoard. There is a spare USART connected to the spare pins. You could connect your GPS to 5V, ground, TX and RX on the "debug" port and revise the firwmare to use the spare USART. However, please be aware that the dsPIC30F4011 pins are 5 volt Schmidt triggers. This means that you cannot connect most GPS receivers directly to the spare TX and RX pins and expect them to work, particularly if they are 3.3 volt receivers. You may have to provide signal level shifting in both directions. Even the EM406 requires a "boost" to 5 volts on the signal going from the GPS to the dsPIC. This is because although the EM406 uses a 5 volt power supply, its TX pin only goes up to 3.8 volts, which is not high enough for a 5 volt Schmidt trigger. So, if you decide to connect an EM406 GPS to the spare port, you will need provide a signal level shifter similar to the one shown on the DevBoard schematic.
I am hoping that, sooner or later, someone will offer a longer cable with the correct connectors, maybe they do already, and I just don't about it. If anyone knows of one, please let me know. I have asked SparkFun to offer one, but right not they don't have one.
In the meantime, there is another GPS connection option with the DevBoard. There is a spare USART connected to the spare pins. You could connect your GPS to 5V, ground, TX and RX on the "debug" port and revise the firwmare to use the spare USART. However, please be aware that the dsPIC30F4011 pins are 5 volt Schmidt triggers. This means that you cannot connect most GPS receivers directly to the spare TX and RX pins and expect them to work, particularly if they are 3.3 volt receivers. You may have to provide signal level shifting in both directions. Even the EM406 requires a "boost" to 5 volts on the signal going from the GPS to the dsPIC. This is because although the EM406 uses a 5 volt power supply, its TX pin only goes up to 3.8 volts, which is not high enough for a 5 volt Schmidt trigger. So, if you decide to connect an EM406 GPS to the spare port, you will need provide a signal level shifter similar to the one shown on the DevBoard schematic.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by William Premerlani on -
Michal B,
Thanks. It was your discussion about a longer GPS cable for Chris's board that prompted my comment on my board. Chris's board and my board (the "UAV Dev" board) are a little different. On mine, it would not be possible to use the method that you suggest. However, there is a spare USART on the board that could be used for an alternate connection without disturbing the first connection.
In any case, I was hoping that there might simply be a longer, direct replacement, for the cable without doing any splicing. I didn't see mention of one in your discussion, perhaps I missed it, I will take a closer look.
Bill Premerlani
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Permalink Reply by Julian on -
What about this one, im not sure if those are the exact connectors, but they sure look similiar
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Permalink Reply by William Premerlani on
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Julian,
Thank you very much. The connectors look like they might be the right ones. The only way to know for sure is to try. I will buy one and see if it works.
Bill Premerlani
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Permalink Reply by William Premerlani on
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Julian,
I tried to order the cable you mentioned, but the website wouldn't let me do it for some reason. Plus there was an announcement on the site that the owner was going to be on vacation for a few weeks, so that shipments would be delayed. I would like to find something soon if I could.
Did you find any cables when you looked? What key words did you use for your search?
Bill Premerlani
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