Mark Willis

Another uBlox GPS question

Hola Amigos, I'm having issues with my uBlox GPS.  I've taken a lot of time reading the instructions and reading other's posts regarding their problems before deciding to post here.

First off, I built an adapter cable to be able to test the GPS via u-center and the FTDI cable.  The GPS works properly when directly connected to my computer (u-center is really nifty, btw).   I updated the firmware to latest version and have configured the GPS to communicated at 38,400 baud and followed the other instructions that Jordi describes elsewhere on the forum (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/wiring-up-ublox-only-for-pros ).  I cannot get a GPS lock when I connect it to the Ardupilot shield (blue version) nor to the ATMega328 board.  I've been connecting the GPS via the uBlox adapter (from diydrones) and the uBlox adapter cable.

Other than the GPS not connecting, the rest of the autopilot seems to work properly (fbw, etc).  Oh, I've tried several versions of the ardupilot code to see if that's the problem.  It doesn't seem to be.

After looking at the instructions and reviewing the adapter, I have a couple of questions.

The manual shows a 3.3V connector for GPS/Modem ( http://ardupilot.googlecode.com/svn/images/twentytwo.jpg ). Should the GPS also be connected to Ardupilot Shield from this connection? I've tried this using the pins I added to the bottom of the adapter to make a connection and it still doesn't work. I'm assuming the uBlox adapter cable was meant to bypass the need for connecting to the 3.3V GPS/Modem pins but just double checking.

On the back of the uBlox Adapter board there is selector for >5V and 3.3V ( http://store.diydrones.com/v/vspfiles/photos/BR-0008-01-4.jpg ).  It looks to me like the default selection is >5V (middle pin and the one closest to >5V are soldered).  Is this correct if the GPS is to be running at 3.3V?

Any suggestions on how to proceed?  I'm perplexed and hoping there is something obvious I'm missing.

Thanks,

Mark

p.s. I'm trying to get GPS lock with a clear line of sight to the sky and I've tried the GPS test utilities (Raw_GPS_Tester and uBlox_Tester).

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Replies to This Discussion

Chris AndersonPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on March 1, 2010 at 10:19am
Where did you get the uBlox? From us? If so, did you request that it be programmed?
Mark WillisPermalink Reply by Mark Willis on March 1, 2010 at 10:22am
Chris, I got the GPS from diydrones and it was programmed for Ardupilot. I bought it about six weeks ago but haven't had a chance to play with it until this weekend.

Thanks for the quick reply,

Mark
Doug WeibelPermalink Reply by Doug Weibel on March 1, 2010 at 11:02am
If you are using the adapter board then it takes care of the 5v to 3.3v conversion. You only need to use the solder jumper if you are going to be powering the adapter board from a 3.3v source.

One known issue is that if you are using the adapter board but power it from a 3.3v source (without soldering the jumper) the ublox will operate but will not get a lock. This does not sound like your case - you are using the adapter board and the 6 pin cable from the store to connect between the adapter board and ArduPilot, correct?

I don't hear anything wrong in what you are doing. You might try inserting a couple Serial.print statements into the gps parser in the ArduPilot code to see what is going on....
Yves GohyPermalink Reply by Yves Gohy on March 1, 2010 at 11:23am
Hello, I don't know why, but with my blue shield version I have to choose in configuring the old version of shield, although it is a new!. And only in this way it works. Strange no?. If someone has an explanation, it would be nice, because it always leaves me with doubt.
Mark WillisPermalink Reply by Mark Willis on March 1, 2010 at 4:09pm
Thanks for the input everyone. I figured out my problem after extensive use of a multimeter and magnifying lens. It looks like the pins between the plastic female connection for the 6-pin GPS cable and the ArduPilot board weren't originally soldered. It's possible I somehow damaged it, breaking this connection but all the pins looked clean of solder... After a very careful soldering job, I retacked the pins to the board and the GPS is now connecting properly. Yippee!

Does anyone have a simple solution to avoiding damage to these connectors?

Thanks,

Mark
Mark ColwellPermalink Reply by Mark Colwell on March 2, 2010 at 6:47am
Should be OK now that you tacked pins down, just be careful inserting plug, I check each time for bent pins. I had two of these connectors pin 6 bent while inserting. Plug will not seat fully when a pin bends over. Pin 6 is not used, but plug can come loose if not seated, causing loss of GPS data. I was able to straighten pin with 000 tweezer. Both are still working fine now..
I do a lot of testing and connect and disconnect GPS many times, over 100 times, I use same uBlox for all testing on 3 ArduPilots.
Henry GanPermalink Reply by Henry Gan on January 3, 2011 at 11:25pm

I am using a Ublox gps, i have use the ublox gps test for the APM.

 

I have read from serial monitor and i received all this... Is it correct for indoor? Was the GPS working? Cause when i use my modified code for arducopter, the GPS module is power up but the led is not lit up and shown on IMU. 

Chris AndersonPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on January 3, 2011 at 11:36pm
Did you set the code for uBlox? If so, try again outdoors.
Henry GanPermalink Reply by Henry Gan on January 4, 2011 at 12:24am

I set the code for ublox. But i didnt get the any led lit up when i plug in the gps antenna during outdoor.

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