Unable to get GPS data using SparkFun LTE GNSS Function Board - SARA-R5

GPS/GNSS
1

I have recently purchased the SparkFun LTE GNSS Function Board - SARA-R5 (SKU: GPS-18431), SparkFun MicroMod Main Board - Single (SKU: DEV-20748), and SparkFun MicroMod ESP32 Processor (SKU: WRL-16781). I have connected the function board and ESP32 Processor to the Main Board and connect the Main Board to my MacBook via USB-C to USB-C cable.

I installed the CP2104 USB-to-Serial converter drivers using the MAC OSX link on the following webpage: Installing the Arduino Library - SparkFun MicroMod LTE GNSS Function Board - u-blox SARA - R5 Hookup Guide.

I am using the Arduino IDE and have also installed the SparkFun u-blox SARA-R5 Arduino Library from the same webpage above. My Arduino IDE settings are as follows:

  • Board: SparkFun ESP32 Boards → SparkFun ESP32 MicroMod
  • Port: /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART

I am simply testing only the GPS for now and am attempting to run the following example: File → Examples → SparkFun u-blox SARA-R5 Arduino Library → SARA-R5_Example1_GNSS_GPRMC. However, when I compile, upload, and run the code I do not see any GPS data as in the example. My serial monitor baud rate is set to 115200.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

2

Do you see any output/msgs on the serial monitor?

3

I see the following in the serial monitor:

SARA-R5 Example
Press any key to begin GNSS’in

I uncommented the following line:

mySARA.enableDebugging();

When I send any key I see the following in the monitor:

init: Begin module init.
sendCommandWithResponse: Command: E0
init: Module failed echo test.
init: Begin module init.
init: Attempting autobaud connection to module.
sendCommandWithResponse: Command: +IPR=9600
sendCommandWithResponse: Command:

The last two lines repeat a couple times before the following lines appear:

init: Begin module init.
init: Power cycling module.
powerOff: complete
powerOn: complete
sendCommandWithResponse: Command:
init: Begin module init.
init: Attempting autobaud connection to module.
sendCommandWithResponse: Command: +IPR=9600

Then it just repeats to lines of code above.

4

Hi @floresant95 ,

The MicroMod LTE Function Board needs a little extra configuration. You need to add an extra line of code to ensure the regulator on the function board is enabled (by pulling the EN / PWR_EN line high). With the ESP32 Processor Board, and the Main Board Single, this is the “PWM1” pin (actually ESP32 GPIO12). Add this line at the start of setup(), before the mySARA.begin:

pinMode(PWM1, INPUT_PULLUP); // EN when using the ESP32 Processor Board on Main Board Single

I think you will also need to comment this line:

mySARA.invertPowerPin(true);

I hope this helps,
Paul

5

This worked perfectly, thank you!

1 Like
6

Thanks for the update - glad you got it working,
Paul