GPS modules ?

Could someone recommend a gps module suitable for use in embedded projects (pic and lpc21xx) , robotics and hooking up to a (laptop/pc with windows and osx drivers).

Either 3V or 5V powered, ASCI output via rs232 or i2c or spi - (NMEA 0183) and under 10cm by 10cm (5cm by 5cm or under would be better).

Start up time isn't a concern , up to a couple of minutes is fine

Quite a few out there, just wondering which ones people use more and are fairly cheap , easy to use , reliable and rugged/robust.

I had a bit of a look at a few (first three look quite good) UV40 - Laipac TF30 - Laipac Lassen iQ - Trimble

Rikaline GPS-23 Jupiter 12 Leadtek 9543

UV40 , TF30 and Lassen listed here

Rikaline

Jupiter and leadtek GPS-9543 - bit pricy

Thanks Alex Gibson

Hey Alex, have you looked at Navman? I think they're over on your side of the globe, NZ. See the Juptier Pico and Calisto.

I've used the Jupiter 11. Nice thing is they have a dead reckoning input, for wheel sensors, so they can do a better job of predicting motion. Reasonably priced, I thought.

Hi Alex,

How's the cricket going?

Seriously, though, I am a newbie, but have come across some interesting articles on interfacing to GPS. One is in Everyday Practical Electronics, Jan 2004 issue, ( go to web site for assembler code - you will have to muck about a bit with their Assembler application software to translate it to Microchip's MPASM format -

Or, there has been a couple of articles in Nuts n Volts (USA) magazine using the BASIC Stamp (search through

I think these projects used Garmin.

I can e-mail the first article or post it here if u like.

Cheeers

Dale

Have you had a look at Freescale's (Motorola) FS Oncore?

Or even the old standy, Garmin?

You can buy combined GPS modules and antennae for about $80 off the net (try eBay). These small devices can be obtained with either a standard RS232 or USB output. They put out the information in standard NMEA format (which basically means that it can be read directly by a microprocessor). I am using them with a Picaxe08 micro to monitor the movement of cattle via a small solar-powered collar around their neck. And for RC airplanes with a tiny

Alex Gibs> Could someone recommend a gps module suitable for use

Digital cattle? Sounds like something from a bad SCI-FI movie. ;)

I've used the UBlox TIM-LP and GPS-MS1E in a couple of designs. They run off 3.3V and provide CMOS level asynchronous outputs. They can provide either NMEA or a binaryn packet protocol as output.

Try

You can even buy samples through their web site. IIRC, the TIM-LP modules are about $110 each.

Mark Borgerson

cattle via a

with a tiny

Tracking cattle by GPS seems to be a popular thing to do. There is a picture here.

Peter

I'd rather see them on usenet kooks, trolls and spammers so we could make sure they don't get near a working computer.

I'm sure they are quite useful to ranchers when livestock goes missing.

I read in sci.electronics.design that Michael A. Terrell wrote (in ) about 'GPS modules ?', on Sun, 27 Mar

Mavericks arise! You have nothing to lose but your tracking devices! (;-)

Where, oh where, has my little dogie gone.

Bad doggerel, bad.

Check out:

Try Furuno... I know they make some that are maybe 1/4" x 1" x 2" (6 mm x 25 mm x 50 mm), connector for external antenna, 5.0 or 3.3 V, serial output in standard ASCII formats. I think it's logic serial and you need to follow with a MAX232 or equal to get RS232 serial. One antenna I have seen used is a "puck" that is maybe 1/2" thick by 2" diameter (13 mm x 50 mm).

Matt Roberds

Where are you going to put a troll or spammer that they wouldn't come within the tracking error(say 20 meters in an urban canyon) of a working computer?

So how do the cows transmit back their position? Or do they log the positions to see where the cows go when they aren't watching?

Mark Borgerson

I was thinking more along the lines keeping them at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

You've got me. I haven't been near a live cow in almost 39 years. I prefer my cows already processed. In fact, there's some beef cooking in my crock pot full of chili right now.

I didn't start the part about the digital cows, I just commented on it.

(try eBay).

Can you give some more info on the ones you are using?

Thanks.

output.

means that

via a

tiny

Check out

I am a customer of theirs. It is a small company and I like to support them.

Cheers

Dale

Have a look at the Lassen IQ module as sold by Step GPS in Oz.

Alan

This has to be an opening for a 'Far Side' cartoon. ;-)