Neo-6M V3 GPS
Michael Triffon
This post will be updated to reflect changes and/or additions to the trouble shooting section.
Desperate for a GPS but not really knowing why, I stared looking for a substitute to tide me over until the OP one becomes available.
Some of you recommended the RcTimer Neo-6M or similar. When I started looking for it I found a new version 3.0 of the board. As you can see there have been major improvements in design. They added a 3.3V LDO and it can accept the same 5V input as our beloved OP Revo, making it truly plug and play from the hardware side. Not so much from the software side, which is why I am writing this. The 1st picture is V2 the next 2 are V3.
[attachment=36007:old gps.jpg] [attachment=36008:gps front.jpg] [attachment=36009:gps under.jpg]
Specs:
- u-blox NEO-6M GPS module
- 5Hz update rate
- 32k I2C EEPROM for save configuration
- Build in 25 x 25 x 4mm ceramic patch antenna
- LNA and SAW chip
- 3.3V LDO low noise regulator
- UART (TTL) port with EMI protection
- 3V lithium Rechargeable battery
- Power and fix indicator LEDs
- Reverse polarity protection for input power
Default parameter
- Standard NMEA protocol
- Baud rate : 9600, up to 115200
- Nav rate : 1Hz
- TIMEPULSE (fix LED) rate : 1Hz
Other
- Dimension: 40 x 40 x 9mm
- Weight: 16.4g/18.6g (include cable)
- Hole diameter: 3.1mm
Package content
- CN-06 GPS v3.0 x 1
- UART 4Pin cable 300mm x1
Where to buy:
I ordered from this eBay vendor for only $22.99 SHIPPED. Service was phenomenal and they arrived in Montreal in only 11 days, DURING Christmas!
Cable requirements:
As I mentioned before, the hardware is truly plug and play, except for the cable OF COURSE. I simply took the provided harness, cut off the black connector and wired it up to a spark fun JST SH4 lead. You can also use a standard openpilot JST SH4 serial cable and rearrange the pins.
Flexiport (or MainPort) Crius NEO 6 GPS V3
Pin 1 Ground (Black) Pin 1 Ground (Black)
Pin 2 Power Pin 4 Power
Pin 3 TX Pin 2 RX
Pin 4 RX Pin 3 TX
Software:
1) Download and install the U-Center from uBlox. I linked to the PC version but an Android version is also available. There is no OS X version so you will need a PC, Bootcamp, or Parallels if you have a Mac.
2) Download this configuration file for the GPS and save it to your desktop. There is another version on the minimOPOSD wiki but don'y use it, I had issues with it.
Programming:
1) Start Openpilot GCS and plug your Revo into the USB port.
2) Back up your Revo by clicking on File and selecting Export UAV Settings.. in GCS. This is CRITICAL, I had to rescue my board twice while I was mucking around and lost all my settings.
3) Now set up your Revo as shown in the screen shot:
[attachment=36029:Screen Shot 2013-12-29 at 3.58.23 PM.png]
Save your settings and power cycle or reset the board for the changes to take effect:
[attachment=36752:Reset.png]
4) Close GCS and verify your com port number by clicking on Start in (Windows 7) and then right click on Computer and select Properties, then Device Manager. Click on Ports and select the Revolution driver
[attachment=36732:port 2.PNG]
5) Start the U-Center software and close all view boxes except Data to clean up the desktop. Configure as follows:
[attachment=36733:comportgood.PNG]
[attachment=36734:baudrate.PNG]
6) Plug in your GPS board to the Revo and power your system by connecting battery or power supply. If everything works, a blue LED on the GPS will light up and within a few minutes you will see activity in the UCenter:
[attachment=36735:connected.PNG]
The squares in the red box will start to flicker and turn blue and then green as satellites are found and locked in. You are now ready to send the file.
8) Upload the firmware:
[attachment=36736:uploadconfig1.PNG]
[attachment=36737:send config.PNG]
9) The file will upload and start to give errors about 3/4 of the way through. This is normal because the board's baud rate changed from 9600 to 57,600.
[attachment=36738:error1.PNG]
10) Save the config:
[attachment=36809:save config.png]
Do not disconnect the power at this time or you may lose the GPS config.
11) Now we need to change the baud rate to 57,600 and re-upload the file so it can complete without errors:
[attachment=36032:57600.png]
Save and use the reset function in the GCS Firmware tab for the changes to take effect.
12) Close GCS and open U-Center and change the baud rate to 57,600. You do not need to change the Revolution serial port driver baud rate, it will be configured by U-Center:
[attachment=36739:baud 2.PNG]
13) Upload the configuration file for the second time:
[attachment=36736:uploadconfig1.PNG]
The configuration file should upload with no errors except for 1 confirmation 1 at the beginning.
14) Lock everything in by saving the config once again:
attachment=36809:save config.png]
15) Now fire up your GCS and set it up as follows:
[attachment=36740:Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 1.02.35 AM.png]
Save and power cycle or reset for changes to take effect.
16) Your GPS settings should be set the moment you select GPS in the configuration screen but you can check them in the System tab:
[attachment=36741:GCS GPS.png]
If everything was done correctly, the GPS section in GCS will be red, yellow, and finally green when your GPS has a lock.
16) Leave your GPS plugged in for an hour or more so it can acquire it's almanac. If you don't do this, it will take a long time for it to get a fix the next time you power up.
17) Congratulate yourself and crack open your beverage of choice to help pass time until the OP team releases GPS functionality.
Trouble Shooting:
If your revo will no longer connect to GCS
1) Disconnect all power and unplug USB
2) Click on the firmware tab, then select rescue
3) You will be prompted to plug in your board, do so
4) Click Erase
5) Board will reconnect
[attachment=36744:rescue 2.png]
If your GPS board refuses to communicate with U-Center and any attempt to upload results in immediate errors
1) Set Revo and U-Center to 9,600 Baud
2) Select Configuration View from the View menu to open the configuration window:
[attachment=36746:configmenu.PNG]
3) Set as follows:
[attachment=36747:GPS Reset-1.PNG]
4) Send:
[attachment=36748:GPS Reset send.PNG]
5) A counter will start in the top right corner of the Configuration window. Wait until it reaches 120 then unplug the GPS board and close U-Center
6) Restart U-Center and plug in the GPS board. If it worked you will see the satellites acquire in the Data box.
