Arduino-Gps Project

GPS Logging

2011-07-09T18:19:00.004+02:00

I have now begun setting up the SD-logging, still using this guide.
I have decided to try out with a 16gb SDHC-card, instead of using a regular SD-card. I do not believe that this will work, but since I don't have any other at the moment (on vacation) I have no other choice.

I started by installing the NewSoftSerial library to the Arduino program, and after, this fitted the Adafruit GPSLogger code, to fit my desired settings (not much).

After this, I opened up the SerialMonitor and uploaded the project the Arduino Uno

After this I reconnected the jumper I previously removed from the GPSLogger Shield, and I could now see in the SerialMonitor that the program was actually logging to my SDHC-card, though I doubted it would - Hurray :-D

I uploaded my file to GPSvisualizer.com and the result was uplifting - The data in the logfile were showing the correct coordinates as where I am at the moment - Success! :-D

Second connection attempt

2011-07-09T17:27:00.001+02:00

At my second attempt at connecting the GPS receiver, I were located in Germany in a tent. I thought that the reception might be better, and the error on the lattitude would be gone. Unfortunatelely the result were the same, and my GPS-data and my actual position were wrong by about 25 km.

At this point I figured that it must be a hardware error, but it is at least an error that can easily corrected in the code (I think).

My next step is to make some actual code for the GPS-receiver

First contact

2011-07-01T16:36:00.003+02:00

After assembling the Adafruit GPS Shield, I followed this guide and checked if my GPS receiver was actually working.

When first connecting the Arduino Uno and the GPS Shield to the computer, I was not getting any data in my Serial Monitor in Arduino program... I actually used some time on this, until I realised that i had forgot to put on the jumper...

After doing this, I immediately received some signal data in the monitor, and I was thrilled :-D

I double checked the received data on Google Maps, and although the lattitude were a bit wrong (See picture), the longitude were almost spot on, so I were satisfied :-D

Data example:
$GPRMC,141251.000,A,5627.6381,N,01001.7292,E,0.10,348.55,010711,,,A*60

Update - How to read NMEA:

     RMC          Recommended Minimum sentence C
     141251       Fix taken at 14:12:51 GMT
     A            Status A=active or V=Void.
     5627.6381,N   Latitude 56 deg 27.6381 min N
     01001.7292,E  Longitude 10 deg 01.7292 min E
     0.10        Speed over the ground in km
     348.55        Track angle in degrees True
     010711       Date - 1st of July 2011
     *60          The checksum data, always begins with *

Beginning of GPS project :-)

2011-07-01T13:28:00.001+02:00

Hi everyone :-)
My name is Jimmi and I'm a danish student at Aarhus Business Academy, where i study Electronic Technology.

I recently decided to expand my knowledge of the very easy-to-use Arduino microcontroller, and to do this, I decided to try out a GPS logger.
For documentation i decided to create this blog, not only for interested readers, but also very much for my own sake, since I learn more when you need to describe it, for others to read, and also because my memory is pretty bad (nothing serious though).
So for me to be able to quickly get back into my last work, I need to have some written documentation, or it would simply be hell to return to the project.

Arduino Uno

I already had a couple of Arduino-boards lying around, and for this specific project I will use the Arduino Uno.
I read up on the gps stuff, both on wikipedia and other sites, and it seemed manageable. Now I started looking into what kind of hardware was available for easy communication with the Arduino Uno. A good page for information on this is Sparkfun's Buyers Guide which helped me in choosing the GPS

EM-406 GPS Receiver

After reading the pros and cons of each of the receivers, I finally chose the EM406 as the GPS-receiver of my choice.

Other than that i decided to buy a GPS shield from Adafruit because it makes it easy to get started, and log the data from the GPS, onto an SD-card without too much trouble.
It might be good to mention that the Adafruit GPS Shield will be delivered unassembled, so buyers should also have access to soldering iron and some kind of mount for the PCB.

Adafruit GPS Shield - top

Adafruit GPS Shield - bottom