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Dropped a U-Blox GPS Unit on the ground!!!!!!

Posted by Srikanth on August 5, 2010 at 11:53am
Hi All,
I just got everything I needed to test the U-Blox GPS unit, I was out testing it with the u-center. Everything was going well, I had data and then I thought I would move indoors to test it, then I dropped the GPS on the ground, about 2 ft. Now, it is not working and I am getting messages such as

Polling: CFG-MSG -  B5 62 06 01 02 00 0A 03 16 48 ...
... message rejected!
Removing this message now, because GPS receiver did not accept it.

Did I break the GPS unit?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks,
Gikks.

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Replies

  • Greg Fletcher August 6, 2010 at 9:32pm
    Fixing the antenna connection is possible, I've done it. I dropped mine and broke it right off. It wasn't soldered very good to begin with. It was kind of loose and wobbly before I broke it off. It wasn't fully engaged on the circuit board before it was soldered. To do it your soldering tip must be small enough to fit in the small space between the ant base and the RF shield box. The plastic that the base is made from did not melt when I soldered it and I'm sure I touched it. There is the central pin and a ground on either side. You will need a magnifier and a steady hand, but it can be done. Some one did it the first time. You may just need to re-flow the solder, probably on the center pin as the the grounds are redundant. I know because one of mine is not connected and it works fine.
  • Srikanth August 6, 2010 at 7:37am
    Another Update:
    I tried to do the test this morning and I still did not get satellite fix! I let the GPS unit sit for more than 30 minutes, but still it did not get a fix.
  • Jack Crossfire August 5, 2010 at 8:22pm
    Ours routinely gets "dropped on the ground" from 400ft.
  • Developer
    Mark Colwell August 5, 2010 at 12:24pm
    Helix antenna is fragile, but it can be fixed, with careful testing and a little solder.
    Connect uBlox to uCenter, while it is connected press antenna in to top and watch uCenter
    If a contact is broken it start to work when you press antenna,
    If you start to get Lat & Lon you can re-solder the antenna to board, you may need a good technician to do this for you.
    Can you post close up pictures that show any damage to circuit board or antenna?
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