I have little knowledge of electronics. I would like to build a simple GPS unit that displays the speed, distance traveled over time and meters accended decended over time. I would like it to be small and battery operated. What is the best way to get started in this project? Thank you in advance.
I know this doesn’t seem to be going in the direction you’d like, but I’d start with an Arduino.
Arduino ->(http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=666)
Simple to use and pretty cheap… It also has a built in regulator for external power, like batteries.
Start by blinking an LED.
LED project ->(http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Blink) The project doesn’t show/use a current limiting resistor!!! If you follow this project and you use an external LED (One that’s not built in), I highly recommend putting a 150ohm resistor in series with the LED. [Ex. Arduino Ground → resistor → LED (cathode)] [LED (anode) → Arduino pin 13] If you don’t, you may destroy the Arduino.
The standard Arduino board comes with an LED and resistor built in on pin 13 so you don’t necessarily need to use an external LED. Hooking up an external LED might help in getting ‘hands-on’ experience with connecting components though…
There are various beginners projects available to get you up to speed in using this microprocessor.
http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage
Build from that. Work with serial communications. Get a serial/parallel LCD display working after that. Then get your GPS module.
Keep your eye on power requirements for various modules.
As an example, the Arduino I linked above works off of 5volts dc (5vdc) There are modules that require 3.3vdc. If you power a 3.3v device with 5vdc you will most likely destroy the 3.3v part.
This also applies for signals.
If a 5v device is communicating with serial to a 3.3v device, you may kill the part as well.
This isn’t to discourage you, just something to be aware of.
Oh, and READ!!! There is tons of information out there!!!
Coyote’s advice is sound. I second it.
Hooking up a GPS module and displaying the data received from the module is not that difficult a task. I had that going during the first year that I was messing with these devices. Displaying total distance traveled and total ascent/descent will be more challenging, and require some programming skills. I suggest starting with just learning to display the time and position data.
Also be aware that GPS altitude is not generally very accurate. I don’t think you’re going to get really good data for that part of your project, though if you ask around for help, I’ll bet someone has figured out a way to get far better data than I’ve ever gotten.
Ok thank you. So for this project I will bacially need a GPS chip, battery a display and programable micro processor . I will have to learn how to program the micro processor and that is the most difficult part. Also GPS is not particularly good at tracking altitude. So if I want to keep track of my daily accent/ decent that could be really difficult. Is there any thing else I should know? :idea:
That’s about it I’d say.
You might be able to find a pressure sensor that might give you better readings for altitude.
Arduino or msp430
Pressure sensor http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=9694
Real time clock http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ucts_id=99
Data logger http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=9530
GPS http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=465
Buttons etc
Battery
Charger
Display depends but any 16 x 2 display would work.
One of the prebuilt eval boards might be easier
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ucts_id=61
As with any home build product, it will be alot more expensive than an off the shelf product.
There are very cheap products out there that do most of what you want (except the elevation) . I use the http://www.i-gotu.com/ and find it very good but it has no display but it will store several tracks. Not linux or mac friendly.
Also an iphone or equiv. will do this too.
Re the elevation. You might be able to infer this from gps data using the http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/ data. I think it is used in Google Earth, but maybe there is a site out there that will take a gps track and generate what you want.
The Sparkfun gps tracker is a nice little product.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8755
Regards
Diarmuid