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
are you talking about this file?
https://api.ning.com/files/IP6T9fK7m8qm3PR0B3N9atWo7rKrdPndUAyasRRiA...*6a5yX*x3t7V2CQRJF-up3zo/ublox5_helix_v11.txt
Coz when I used patrick's code alone, the GPS works perfectly, but when i load the default folder, the GPS doesn't work.
May i enquire which file is to enable/edit the GPS config or can we add patrick's code into the file? if so, which file and which line? TIA!
so the values appears immediately after start the serial monitor
gps: Lat:GPS UBLOX library test
gps: Lat:29.5844135284 Lon:-95.3655929565 Alt:16.0799999237 GSP:0.64 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196621250
GPS_UBLOX: checksum error
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:16.9300003051 GSP:0.39 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196622250
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:16.9300003051 GSP:0.39 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196622250
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:17.1399993896 GSP:0.17 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196622500
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:17.4699993133 GSP:0.17 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196622750
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:17.4699993133 GSP:0.42 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196622750
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:17.8299999237 GSP:0.42 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196623000
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:17.8299999237 GSP:0.15 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196623000
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:17.8299999237 GSP:0.15 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196623000
gps: Lat:29.5844154357 Lon:-95.3656005859 Alt:17.9899997711 GSP:0.39 COG:124.0000000000 SAT:0 FIX:1 TIM:196623250
....
this is normal? to not have number of sat and have the error : GPS_UBLOX: checksum error?
Thanks for that! I've added it to the manual..
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(38400); // FTDI
Serial1.begin(9600); // GPS; 9600 first time, 38400 second time
delay(10000);
}
void loop()
{
if (Serial.available())
Serial1.write(Serial.read());
if (Serial1.available())
Serial.write(Serial1.read());
}
Upload the sketch, connect the APM+shield to the pc, and connect u-center to the USB serial port at 38400 baud. The GPS should work Once the configuration is uploaded for the first time, you need to change the baud rate in the sketch and upload it again. Restart u-center, and proceed.
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