Mailbag: GPS Module with U-BLOX NEO-M8N (incl. First Tests with Arduino MCU)

[@karlsgarage6477]

Hey Robert. Thank you for all of your detailed videos they really help. I was wondering if you can, or if you have, posted the arduino code for outputting the GPS coordinates. Thanks

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Uh, I kinda have as part of my NMEA 0813 series. Here's the link to the (currently) last video in that series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJOolmSwa8qmoNUsi=s71Wu2xY9soU1gfC . In the description you find links to all previous parts and to my code.

[@davidsugijanto6935]

Thank you very much for the video. I got a task to make U-BLOX NEO-M8N PCB and integrate it to my team's drone. I started from nothing so I still need more research to understand what every pin and electronic use for.

[@robertssmorgasbord]

You're welcome! By the way, you find (most of) the information you need on U-Blox website ( www.u-blox.com/en/product-resources?query=NEO-M8N&legacy=Current ). Unfortunately they don't provide a reference layout (at least I didn't find one).

[@parthasarathi7880]

Hi Robert, I have u bloc NEO -M8N GPS module and interfaced with the ESP8266 microcontroller but I gave a 3.3v from the ESP8266 to the NEO -M8N but the BLUE Led Is turn ON when I connect the USB power to my ESP8266 at a seconds the LED is Turned OFF what's the problem in my module? Please help for this issue.

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Sorry, but I have no idea what could be the issue. A 3.3V supply should be OK (that's what I was using).

[@and9003-b7x]

Sir my neom8n red led is not blinking continuesly it is constant and there is no sattilites connecting to it what can I do for that Is there any solution

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@and9003-b7x To be honest, I have no idea. Here are two things that come to my mind: Is the antenna connected properly? Is the antenna pointed correctly to the sky? Are there any obstacles between the antenna and the sky (GPS signals are blocked by almost anything , e.g. doesn't work indoors)? Lastly, maybe your module is defect.

[@and9003-b7x]

@@robertssmorgasbord I tried in outdoor, and antena is connected correctly. Led is constant not blinking sir

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@and9003-b7x As I said before, I don't really have a clue. But if everything is connected correctly and it still doesn't work, then your unit is probably defect.

[@bobzarrabi0024]

QUESTION: I have a NEO-7M but it only get the lat and long if I am outside . Is NEO-M8N strong enough to get the latitude and long even from indoor environment?

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Not really. I have a wooden roof with some isolation (partly with metal foil backing, partly without) above me and I don't get a signal. I have to move the module close to a window for it to be working properly.

[@johnclayton2101]

In the NMEA output, it shows your lat and long of your window. Might want to edit that bit.

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Yeah, I probably should have 🙁 Anyway, thanks for pointing that out to me. But the damage is done now and so I won't reupload the video. In any case, that's just a window of my office space, so my privacy is hopefully still intact.

[@windowsxseven]

​@@robertssmorgasbord It isn't. See you soon.

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@windowsxseven Yeah, see you 😅

[@zekigenc8277]

i researching UBLOX-M8N BREAKOUT since 2 weeks but i could not find a original can someone is help me for find it

[@robertssmorgasbord]

UBLOX is selling evaluation kits ( www.u-blox.com/en/product/evk-8evk-m8 ), but those are quite expensive and everything is in an aluminum box (though you might remove the PCB from the box). Then there are seemingly more trustworthy suppliers for boards, e.g.: gnss.store/neo-m8n-gnss-modules/44-elt0031.html?srsltid=AfmBOop0LyAp46dCnEToGoUi0iH5PRCi081UmLzBu5Brn0EJLIlcMaxA . just search for "UBLOX-M8N board" or "UBLOX-M8N module" instead of "breakout".

[@fratguc3401]

Sir I have problem gps data parsing. How can I extract the raw GPS data(long lat altitude)? Do you have any codes

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Yes, I made a whole video series about decoding NMEA 0183 sentences (latest video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJOolmSwa8qmoNU ). The code is available via links in the video descriptions.

[@sibujacob977]

Hi, great Video..!! ..Can you please advice how do i factory reset using U-Center software after messing up with the CFG files. Currently i am not seeing any satellites or longitude. or lattitude .... thank you

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Have a look at www.u-blox.com/en/info/u-center-2-user-guide and search for "Revert". If you're using an older U-center version the revert should be found in a similar place, but I can't exactly say where. Please note that the Baud rate of your device might change after a revert (e.g. to 38400) and you have to change your settings accordingly.

[@krusethorsten]

It is not a battery, it is a super capacitor with 0.2 Farad, so you not have to replace it after some years. Because the GPS almanch data is valid only for a short time (about two days max), you are not needing a lot of capacity to save the data. If data loss in two days, it is okay. The 24C32 EEPROM is not needed, I found this design on many other GPS boards too. You can desolder it with no effects. This GPS module has an integrated flash and the external EEPROM is not used. Some modules like the old and very slow NEO-6 need it. I not understand why Chinese manufactures do this. By reading datasheets, can see it is not useful. I like your videos explaining breadboards in detail. Learning a lot. I do the same as you to understand electronic.

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Thanks for the info (supercapacitor)! That makes actually a whole lot of sense. I really didn't think about the "aging" of the almanac. Why the Chinese still put the 24C32 EEPROM on NEO-M8N boards? I guess somebody once developed a board for U-BLOX GPS modules, and that design initially contained that EEPROM. Since then a whole lot of other Chinese shops simply copied that design to use it with newer U-BLOX GPS modules, without putting any effort into updating the design. At the end of the day a 24C32 costs only a few cents. Regarding the flash: The NEO-M8N module on my board was unfortunately a fake missing the flash memory (see "Chinese U-Blox NEO-M8N GY-GPSV3-NEO Module Review (Feat. U-Blox U-Center)" kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKjdl4NthpatoJI ).

[@dharmikprajapati230]

With this gps module, now im facing some issues 1 . When i try it on my house tarace or in open area its connectivity is goood or working complet. Ok But , when im trying to connect in my room , then this device is not working properly and what i can facing issues that this device is not connect with satelite ,why .....? Have any solution I throught , this device have low strength... According to you, what is your opinion on my issues.....? Please help ... Thanks.....

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Mine does exactly the same. To get good satellite reception I have to put it near a roof window, so it has a clear "view" of the sky. But that's normal for GPS receivers. E.g. inside the GPS reception of my iPhone degrades to +/- 10m and it drifts +/- 5m and my Garmin eTrex has no reception at all.

[@dharmikprajapati230]

@@robertssmorgasbord ohh, thanks for reply , now im trying in another way, that how to do complet conection or satelite reception from the ground floor or from my room 🙂. If any problem will heppen . I will inform you.

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@dharmikprajapati230 Yes, please let me know what method works.

[@PexiTheBuilder]

GPS satellites are about 20000km high, so its normal to have bad connection inside, and why use GPS inside anyway. Mine have signal from 5 satellites and about 40m accuracy upstairs.

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@PexiTheBuilder Well, it's the combination of the high orbits of 20200km, the relatively low transmit powers between 50W and 300W (including antenna gain), and the high transmit frequencies of ~1.2GHz and ~1.6GHz used (which are easily blocked/shielded). And why use GPS indoors? Easy! My bench where I'm working is indoors 😅

[@David_11111]

yay... link to module please

[@robertssmorgasbord]

I've got it from eBay Germany, so I don't know if the link will be helpful, but here it is anyway: www.ebay.de/itm/174653066112?var=473855501165

[@David_11111]

@@robertssmorgasbord ordered same from a UK seller :)

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@David_11111 Have fun with it 🙂 And let me know which firmware version yours is running. Mine is running 15.x, which is pretty old and outdated, but it works.

[@David_11111]

@@robertssmorgasbord arrived just opened the packet :)

[@David_11111]

@@robertssmorgasbord hmmm must read before i order :( NEO-6M NEO-6M-0-001 ROM7.03NEO-6M NEO-6M-0-001 ROM7.03

[@David_11111]

of Corse we need to see the code :)

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Here you go ;-) void setup() { Serial.begin( 1000000, SERIAL_8N1 /* default */); // 1.0Mbps Serial1.begin( 9600, SERIAL_8N1 /* default */); while(!Serial); } void loop() { if(Serial1.available()) Serial.write(Serial1.read()); }

[@David_11111]

@@robertssmorgasbord lol :)

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@David_11111 There was a reason I didn't upload the code to my Google drive ;-)

[@MrTooawesomeforaname]

@@robertssmorgasbord Hello, I tried to use your code in Arduino IDE and the serial reader gave out gibberish. I've tried different Arduino Mega, different serial port, different baud rate and different data cable. I've confirmed that my GPS is working through U-center since it's able to get a 3d fix on my location, it's connected using a USB TO TTL Module . Do you have any suggestion?

[@robertssmorgasbord]

@@MrTooawesomeforaname Sorry, but not really. Did you adjusted the baud rate in the Arduino serial monitor to match the one used in the code for Serial? That's the only situation so far I've seen the Arduino serial monitor printing out gibberish (when the baud rate of the Arduino serial monitor doesn't match the baud rate of Serial in the code). Serial1 (the connection to the module) should normally be 9600 baud, 8 bit, no parity, 1 stop bit, since that's the settings the module uses after a cold start.

[@victalnsezshez3665]

Thanks

[@robertssmorgasbord]

You're welcome 🙂

[@learn3715]

Great upload video! 👍 stay connected! 😍Like 👍👍👍

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Thank you very much 😁

[@robertssmorgasbord]

Somehow KZbin "suppressed" some comments ... I don't know why - sorry guys! Please don't let that discourage you from commenting on my videos! You know how I love your commens! Here's what I was able to recover from my alarm bell menu: Futschikatores commented: "Die Koordinaten weisen auf Grun___str. in Goma___, falls zutreffend wurde vielleicht anonymisieren vergessen? ;)" My answer: Nope, I wasn't in Goma... at the time I was shooting that video ;-) Anyway, thank you for the hint! Maybe I should really anonymize the coordinates in future videos about that module ... andymouse123 commented: "I have one of these and there's some Ublox software that gives you a graphical display showing all the satellite's and much more, it's open source and easy to use, I look forward to you... My answer: Maybe I will play a bit with the u-blox software ;-) Anyway, I'm planning to turn that GPS module (plus a digital compass) into a fully NMEA 0183-HS compliant device, so I can connect it to a "chart plotter". So there will be definitely more videos about that module.