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uBlox GS-407 Antenna Problems.. (Solution)

Posted by Jordi Muñoz on May 6, 2010 at 12:30pm

A few batches of the GS407 (uBlox) modules came defective. This problem includes units sold by SparkFun and DIYDrones Store ... The problem seems to be around the antenna solder joins, they are weak and break easily, so any little crash may break it. You can try to solder them by removing the hard glue, but is not recommended because you will void the warranty.

If you carefully check the picture you will see three tiny gold pins, those pins support all the stress and weight of the whole antenna. The big solder balls you see are mine, not from factory...

The uBlox chipsets are intact and fully functional but they are unable to catch satellites.

If you are a victim of this situation, please send it back to me and i will chip them out to the factory for a FREE repair!

Don't send me the remains of your module if you hard crash it, your burn it or something else is not related to this issue. Only units ordered from DIYDrones Store in good conditions will be accepted.
Tags: ublox
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Comments

  • Developer
    Jordi Muñoz May 12, 2010 at 9:35am
    Cholo,

    Honestly. I don't know... But if that happens after the firmware update.. well is mostly likely the new firmware...
  • Khalid Saeed May 9, 2010 at 11:19am
    No problem Jordi. Just thought I would ask. Maybe I'll try an external antenna. :)
  • Developer
    Jordi Muñoz May 8, 2010 at 12:48pm
    Khalid Saeed, Uhh i need the antenna... How i going to explain that to the manufacturer? (We don't suppose to use them like we are doing).

    What i can do is ask for complete saratel modules... The saratel modules is the big metal square (with the code bar sticker) attached to the bottom PCB that has uBlox chip mounted... Let me ask...
  • Leonardo Lisboa May 8, 2010 at 3:54am
    I took the challenge and fixed mine. I've used my huge magnification lenses and my soldering iron and did the antenna soldering again (saw there were some cold soldering there). It worked, picked up satellites and got a fix.
    I was very disapointed with the unit quality and how loose the antenna became even without using or dropping the unit. I think u-blox should do a better job. It's not a cheap unit and should be a very stable and reliable one.
    It should have a better structure and antenna fix, mainly because it is made to be a mobile device.
    Also I did not think it's a very good receiver. My Iphone picks more satellites than the u-blox at the same place.
    That's MY oppinion to the group.

    Cheers,
    Leonardo
  • Khalid Saeed May 7, 2010 at 6:53pm
    Jordi, I must have had a bad one. The antenna fell off on a (gentle) landing and disappeared into the grass. Can I send it back without the antenna?
  • Developer
    Jordi Muñoz May 7, 2010 at 4:05pm
    They already fix it and improved the job... For incoming modules
  • Moderator
    Sgt Ric May 7, 2010 at 3:18pm
    I've heard some horror stories of it wicking on a microscopic level and insulating contact points.

    Jordi's suggestion of hard glues sounds best.

    I plan on a real serious buildup of epoxy!
  • Moderator
    Sgt Ric May 7, 2010 at 2:55pm
    CA glues and electronics should NOT mix!

    The superglue wicks along the connections and robs you of a good contact.
  • Developer
    Jordi Muñoz May 7, 2010 at 2:52pm
    Any hard glue around the antenna and the PCB to keep it very secure....
  • Kenny Huang May 7, 2010 at 6:05am
    I have ordered this Ublox GPS on March 26 from DIYDrones Store (the order number is 3234).
    It never got any satellite. I even upgraded it to the newest firmware 6.02, and still got nothing in u-center and ublox tester. I think it's defective in the antenna. May I mail it to you for a FREE repair?
    However, I ordered another Ublox GPS on 4/30/2010 and it got the GPS fix very soon in u-center and ublox tester. But something strange. When I first connect it to u-center, I need to drop the baud rate to 9600 to get connected. I think I order it with ArduPilot Ready(order number 3538), the baud rate should be 38400. However, after I put in the configuration file, it work fine now.
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