Mon, 02 May 2005

GPS OEM Module Update

This module came in the mail today, along with my active antenna. The active antenna has a cellular antenna built-in, which could make 1900MHz reception much more ideal than the Merlin C201's internal horizontally polarized antenna...which might i add, kinda bites.

The OEM device is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. It measures in at 1.65" x 2.83" x 0.35" (41.91 x 71.88 x 8.76 mm for you metric types) and weighs only 0.7 oz (19.84g). You can see how it is dwarfed by my key chain and makes this tiny dime look like a quarter.

While this GPS unit will provide location data to our hotspot, its size and ability to log over 5000 data points independent of a host device has my mind running with possibilities:

• Location logger/jogging log
• UAV/RC Aircraft navigation
• Embedded laptop GPS for asset recovery
• Embedded electronic map with satellite/topo/urban areas photos

And combined with that neat (very small) GPRS/GSM/Camera OEM module at Sparkfun, or that $0.10 a message satcom board:

• Asset tracking
• Baby/wife locator
• OnStar knock off for wife's car
• UAV/RC aircraft navigation with telemetry and OTA flight plan updates

This really beats the Garmin brick I have carried around for various location projects.

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Neat Gadgets

I have some neat gadgets on the way:

• RS232 GPS OEM Module with NMEA output
• GPS Active Antenna + Cellular Antenna

The GPS device i bought for $20 off ebay, and yes, there are plenty more.

Not only does the unit spit out location information, but it features a 1Hz strobe and also has extensive logging capabilities inside the unit. Its a Sandpiper II with a TTL to RS232 level converter chip on board. Requires 5VDC. It outputs 4800 bps NMEA by default, but I suspect this is configurble. SiRF output can be configured...

This will ultimately be intergrated into the hotspot. GPS is very difficult on the train, but I am hoping this external antenna will help out.

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