Copernicus Fix???

GPS/GNSS Development Boards
1

Just got the dip copernicus module in the mail and thouht I would test things out on the breadboard. I am using a cp2101 from dontronics to get usb power and serial connection to the pc. Seems no matter what I do I can’t get any other data than:

$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,,,,,*66
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30

I had a similar problem when using the EM406 and was wondering if anyone else had experienced this problem.

Has anyone used the http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8145 breakout board and gotten a gps fix? Any help would be appreciated.

http://www.ohararp.com/files/COPERNICUS_BREADBOARD.JPG

2

Ryan, that data looks like its not getting any GPS signal. is your antenna close to a window ?

3

Jim,

It just got cold hear in New England and I froze my arse off for about 30 minutes standing outside with the laptop when it was ~25 deg. Trying to get a lock. Suck.

Has anyone used the breakout board from SFE with this device? I am a little hesitant to just go and make a proto board but it looks like that is what I will have to do.

4

I have looked at your photo and verified with the schematic that you wired it up correctly, i am assuming the resistor is tied high (cannot tell from photo).

just for kicks i would tie the SHORT pin (JP1-4) high and the OPEN pin(JP1-3) low to give the unit a normal condition instead of a “open” condition.

i know the data sheet says that you don’t need to but what the heck, its something to try.

Also, is that antenna your using an active or passive antenna ?

5

It’s supposed to be an active antenna (got it from SFE). I will have a look at tying those pins to ground to see how things work.

On another note I just got a continuous runtime of 26.5 hours out of a 2400 mAh battery and a “3.3V” version of my data logger (5 s sampling rate). Much better than the previous 10 hour version at 1s sampling. If I use the Copernicus module I am expecting run times of 48 hours or more at 5 s samples.

6

Make sure the Copernicus DIP Module is suplying power to the antenna jack. Stick a meter on the antenna jack and see if there is power there to confirm.

7

Jim, good call I will add that to my list! Something very simple that could easily be overlooked.

8

P.S. your resistor is tied to Vcc right ?

As per the manual:

Exiting Standby Mode:

When the pin is taken high again, the receiver will warm restart and return to normal operation.

If all else you have on your to do list fails, make sure this pin is tied high and try putting a 0.1uf bypass cap to ground on this pin.

9

The orange/upper rail is 3.3V from the regulator and the red/lower rail is tied to gnd.

I will add the .1uf cap (always good practice), another good catch.

Last night I did shorten the tx and rx lines to reduce “arials” and that didn’t seem to help.

10

Any better luck ?

11

Not much…I broke down and ordered the SFE board. I’ll let you know how things go.

12

Copernicus module and V-Torch Active antenna work extremely well. Short active Antenna from SFE doe not work well with either the dev board or a breadboard and usb power.

Has anybody had a good experience with the ET-301? Input would be definitely appreciated!

13

have you tried the geo-helix antenna on this module yet ?

14

Jim, I tried this initally via a hacked up cable without any luck. I think it was my soldering job more than anything. I am gonna try things out with a few “test” boards here soon.

15

Ryan,

Did you come to any conclusions regarding antennas for the Copernicus module?

You said that the "Short active Antenna from SFE doe not work well " is this the one with the HFL connector? How did you attach the HFL connector to the DIP board with the SMA connector?

Also, is the antenna pictured above the ‘V-Torch’? If so, did you shorten the coax on the antenna? Also, this antenna looks surprisingly similar to the HFL antenna – did you rip the V-torch from it’s magnetic base?

– Greg

16

Subsequent testing with a v-torch antenna produced good results from home. Copernicus module locks right on without a problem. This leads me to the conclusion that passive antenna modules should be avoided. Although slightly higher current draw is required can be worth it in low signal areas.

I have to order some new female connectors so that I can shorten up the 5 meters of v-torch cable to about 8 inches.

17

do you think these results are better than the EM406?

I.E. do you get more satellites & better signal with the EM406 or the Copernicus unit with the v-torch antenna

18

So heres the deal and my interest in the copernicus. A visitor of the forums here saw my site and wondered if we could tailor it to track dingos in the outback of australia. I need low power and the ability to mount the antenna on top of the collar. Well the gps and an external antenna fits this bill. Plus the copernicus has an input pin for low power mode.

Whether is is better than the EM406/EM411 that is hard to say. The em406 gets stupid good reception in all but the “worst” signal areas. I need to pony up and do a design with the copernicus and the sarantel antennas but I haven’t gotten quite that far yet. I need to order a sarantel with a sma connector to get a better idea on how things work usign the SFE breakout board.

Edit

The antenna pictured in the threads above is an active antenna from SFE that produced no “good” results. Is it a bad design? Bad Antenna? Not sure? It just didn’t work. V-Troch from SFE works great. I am also demoing both an active and passive antenna from Sarantel. Initial test were not promising due to my hack soldering. XMAS got in the way and I haven’t touched this project since.

I am also evaluating the ET-301.

19

Argh…

SF is out of the unpackaged SMA GPS antennas. Anyone got an alternate source, specifically something that they know works the the IQ?

20

Just a quick update. I bought the magnetic based v-torch from SparkFun, ripped out the patch antenna, shortened the cable and added my own SMA connector. Costs a few more $$$'s than the unpackaged version, but it works…

– Greg