Here's a simple tutorial on how to program your module (it replaces this older tutorial):
First, you'll need the DIY Drones adapter if you don't already have it.
You can use our GPS-to-FTDI cable to connect this directly to your PC, or make your own.
If you're going make your own, solder a four pin header on the pins below the GPS connector on the adapter, as shown above. Now connect it to your FTDI cable, with the pin mappings shown above. I use jumper cables and a six-pin breakaway header for this, as shown below, but you can use any method you want, including making a custom cable, which is the neatest method if you plan to do this more than once:
Jumper wires connected to six-pin header:
Header plugged into FTDI cable:
Once you've made the physical connections, download and install the U-center software from uBlox. (It doesn't work on Windows 7, so if that's what you're using, open a virtual Windows XP mode window to run the software in. You'll also need to "attach" the FTDI USB serial ports, which you should be pretty familiar with if you use virtual XP mode).
Now run the U-center software, selecting the Com port that your FTDI cable is attached to. You also need to tell it what baud rate the GPS module is running at. If you got it from the DIY Drones store, it's 38,400. If you got it from Sparkfun, it's probably 9,600:
You can tell if it's working by going to View/Binary Console. You should see the data flowing through. Also, the icons circled below should be green or flashing green (it's not showing a sat lock because I'm indoors):
If it's not working, check these things:
1) Did you wire it up right?
2) Did you select the right Com port?
3) Did you select the right baud speed?
If you want to update the firmware, you can get the latest uBlox firmware here. Use the one for the "LEA-5H" modules.
To flash the new firmware go to Tools/Firmware update. Make sure the firmware image points to the file you downloaded and unzipped.
To configure a module to use with ArduPilot, download this file.
Go to Tools/GPS configuration, and select the file you just downloaded. Check the "Store configuration..." box and click on "File >>> GPS".
If you were communicating with the module at any speed other than 38,400, you'll find that the configuration process will fail midway through. That's because it's just gotten to the bit that changes the communications speed to 38,400. Set your u-center com speed to 38,400 and run it again. It should work this time.
Jumper wires connected to six-pin header:
Header plugged into FTDI cable:
Once you've made the physical connections, download and install the U-center software from uBlox. (It doesn't work on Windows 7, so if that's what you're using, open a virtual Windows XP mode window to run the software in. You'll also need to "attach" the FTDI USB serial ports, which you should be pretty familiar with if you use virtual XP mode).
Now run the U-center software, selecting the Com port that your FTDI cable is attached to. You also need to tell it what baud rate the GPS module is running at. If you got it from the DIY Drones store, it's 38,400. If you got it from Sparkfun, it's probably 9,600:
You can tell if it's working by going to View/Binary Console. You should see the data flowing through. Also, the icons circled below should be green or flashing green (it's not showing a sat lock because I'm indoors):
If it's not working, check these things:
1) Did you wire it up right?
2) Did you select the right Com port?
3) Did you select the right baud speed?
If you want to update the firmware, you can get the latest uBlox firmware here. Use the one for the "LEA-5H" modules.
To flash the new firmware go to Tools/Firmware update. Make sure the firmware image points to the file you downloaded and unzipped.
To configure a module to use with ArduPilot, download this file.
Go to Tools/GPS configuration, and select the file you just downloaded. Check the "Store configuration..." box and click on "File >>> GPS".
If you were communicating with the module at any speed other than 38,400, you'll find that the configuration process will fail midway through. That's because it's just gotten to the bit that changes the communications speed to 38,400. Set your u-center com speed to 38,400 and run it again. It should work this time.
When you're done, go to Receiver>> Action>> then click Save Config. Otherwise, every time you unplug your gps, it will revert back to the original configuration.
Comments
I have been told that GPS config is automatically done in pixhawk now, is this true?
+1, looks like the config file on the 1st page is 8 years old and for 5 series gps, what about M8N gps configuration and pixhawk? tia
Hello,
Lots of people are looking for the FLASH DEFINITION FILE. Is is not mentioned where to find it in the tutorial.
You will find this file in the directory where you installed u-Center : directory/\u-blox\u-center\contents\flash.txt
(I have been looking myself for it for a few hours...)
I could not find Flash Definition file location, but thanks to Jack Crossfire, It was solved.
If U screw this up, your blox won't boot anymore until its RAM is reset. You'll have to either short circuit the coin cell or wait a day for it to die on its own, not that the coin cell serves any purpose other than ballast."
Hello
I have ublox6m, i can successfully change the baud rate to 38400, but still have error when upload the configuration file. Any guys can success to config Ublox6m used with apm2?
Hi Chris,
I can't get a Lock no matter how long I wait. I've checked with the U-center, and everything seems ok, I get connection at 38400, green lights blink, data flows in the binary window, but no lock.
So I reloaded the FW following the tuto, everything went smoothly, but nothing new, connection ok, green lights, data flows, but no GPS lock.
Is there anything else I can do, any test to see if the unit is broken, anything I could log or post here for someone to check....
Please anyone???
thanks,
Dani
Good afternoon,
I've got a Ublox LEA-5H-0-009. I've tried many times, but I'm not able to fix the satellites.
I updated the firmware and tried all the solution mentioned in the forum, but nothing…seems that it works, but the antenna does not catch the satellites.
In attached you can find the ublox center snapshots.
Have you got any other solution?
Thanks, Giuseppe.
No worries about my post abouve I Found it.
Thanks
John
Hi Chris
I am looking for the flash definition file that needs to be loaded with the firmware update. I try to update the firmware to v6.00 in order to load your config file. My upload screen all goes well until it looks for the flash definition file and then the screen goes red and the firmware is not flashed. I have used Jordi's older post on setting up with v5.0 as i dont need to update my firmware, and loaded the config file he recommended, changed the setting that he recommended and the ublox get satelite signal but no sat lock. What is, or what does the flash definition file do when updating the firmware of the Ublox LEA 5H? Also, do I need to set the GPS to work with satellites for Africa, Specifically Cape Town where I stay.
Thanks John
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