How Do I Connect the GPS Module (NEO-6m) With Arduino

Through this tutorial, I've demonstrated how to connect the GPS module to Arduino UNO. The information for longitude and latitude are displayed on an LCD.

What is GPS?

It is the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system based on satellites consisting of at minimum 24 satellites. GPS operates in all weather conditions, in any part of the world, 24/7 every day, and without cost for subscriptions or set-up fees.

What GPS function is?

GPS satellites orbit the Earth every day on an exact orbit. Each satellite emits a distinct signal as well as orbital parameters which permit GPS devices to detect and determine the exact position for the satellite. GPS receivers make use of this information , along with trilateration, to determine a user's precise position. In essence, the GPS receiver calculates the distance between each satellite using the time required to receive a signal. By comparing distance measurements from a couple of satellites, the receiver is able to identify the location of a user and show the location.

For you to calculate your 2-D location (latitude as well as longitude) and track your movement for tracking your movement, you need a GPS receiver has to be connected to the signals of at minimum 3 satellites. If there are four or more satellites in the view the receiver will be able to determine your 3-D location (latitude and longitude, as well as altitude). In general, a GPS receiver can be able to track more than 8 satellites, however this depends on the time of the day and the location you're in the world.

Once your position is established Once your location has been determined, the GPS unit will calculate additional data, like:

• Speed
• Bearing
• Track
• Trip dist
• Distance to destination

What's the sign-up?

GPS satellites send at least two radio signals. The signals travel in line of sight, which means they can traverse through glass, clouds and plastic , but won't traverse through solid objects like mountains and buildings. Modern devices are much more sensitive, and typically track through buildings.

A GPS signal can contain 3 distinct kinds of information:

• Pseudorandom Code refers to an I.D. code that determines the satellite that is transmitting data. You can find out the satellites that you're receiving signals from by visiting the satellite page of your device.
• Ephemeris information is required to determine the position of a satellite and also provides vital information about the condition of the satellite in terms of current date and time.
• Almanac information informs the GPS receiver the location where each GPS satellite is located at any given time during the day. It also shows the orbital data for that satellite , as well as for all other satellites within the system.

Supplies

Arduino Uno R3

NEO-6M GPS

Step 1: Download and Install the Necessary Libraries to Allow GPS to Function in Arduino IDE

• SoftwareSerial library
• TinyGPS library

Step 2: Overview for NEO-6M GPS Module

• NEO-6M GPS Chip

The core to the unit is an GPS NEO-6M chip manufactured by U-blox. It is capable of tracking up to 22 satellites over 50 channels. It also achieves highest sensitivity in the industry i.e. 161 dB for tracking, and using only 45mA of supply current. The u-blox 6's positioning engine has Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) that is less than 1 second. One of the most useful attributes the chip offers is the Power save Mode(PSM). It can reduce power consumption for the system by switching components of the receiver on and off. This significantly reduces the power consumption of the device to only 11mA. This makes it suitable for power-sensitive applications such as a GPS wristwatches. The required data pins of the NEO-6M GPS chip are split into "0.1 pitch header. These pins are required to communicate with a microcontroller via UART.

Note The module can support baud rates between 4800bps and 230400bps, with a the default baud rate of 9600.

• Position Fix LED Indicator
• There's a indicator light on the GPS NEO-6M Module that indicates the state of the Position Fix. It will blink at different rates in accordance with the condition it's currently in.
• "No blinking means it is searching for satellites. indicates it is looking for satellites
• Blinks every 1s is a sign that the that a Position Fix has been found

• 3.3V LDO Regulator

Its operating temperature for the chip ranges between 2.7 and 3.6V. However, the chip comes packed with MIC5205 Ultra-low Dropout 3V3 regulator by MICREL. Its logic ports are five-volt-tolerant, meaning we can attach it to the Arduino or any other 5V microcontroller with logic, without any circuits to convert the level of logic.

Battery & EEPROM

The module is fitted with an HK24C32 dual wire serial EEPROM. It's size is 4KB and connects to NEO-6M's chip through I2C.The module also has an rechargeable button battery that functions as a super-capacitor.

An EEPROM , along with the battery keeps the battery-backed memory (BBR). The BBR contains data for the clock and the most current data on position (GNSS or bit information) and configuration of the module. However, it is not intended to store data permanently.

Since the battery keeps its clock as well as the last location, the time for the first fix (TTFF) drastically decreases to 1 second. This allows for much faster locking of position.

Without the battery , the GPS will always start cold, so that the first GPS lock is more difficult. The battery is charged automatically whenever power is turned on and keeps data at least two weeks without electricity.

Pinout

1. GND is the ground pin and must be connected to the GND Pin on an Arduino.
2. The TxD (Transmitter) pin can be used to communicate with serial devices.
3. The RxD (Receiver) pin can be used for serial communications.
4. VCC provides power to the module. It is possible to connect directly via the 5V connector of the Arduino.

Step 3: Arduino Uno

Arduino is an open source electronics platform built on simple technology and software. Arduino boards can read inputs such as light from the sensor, a touch on an object, or even an Twitter tweet - then transform it into outputs - activating the motor or activating an LED, and publishing information online. It is possible to tell the board what it should accomplish by sending a string of commands to the microcontroller that is on the board. For this, you can make use of an application called the Arduino programing software (based upon Wiring) and it is a part of the Arduino Software (IDE), that is based upon Processing.

Pinout:

Pin Description

Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based upon the eight-bit microcontroller ATmega328P. Along with ATmega328P it has other parts like crystal oscillator and serial communication voltage regulator, etc. to make it compatible with the microcontroller. Arduino Uno has 14 digital input and output pins (out of which six can use as PWM outputs) as well as 6 analog input pins the USB connection, a Power barrel connector with an ICSP header as well as an reset button.

The 14 digital input and output pins can function as output or input pins using pinMode() as well as the digitalRead() and digitalWrite() functions within Arduino programming. Each pin operates at 5V, and can deliver or receive up to 40mA of current. They also have an internal pull-up resistor that ranges from 20-50 KOhms, which is not connected by default. Of these 14 pins, certain pins are designed to perform specific tasks that are listed below.

• Serial Pins (0 (Rx) (Rx) and 1 (Tx) ==> Rx and Tx pins are used to transmit and receive TTL serial information. They are connected to the ATmega328P USB to the TTL serial chip.
• External Interrupt pins 2 and 3. =These pins may be programmed in order to initiate an interrupt upon the low end of the value, falling or rising edge, or even a fluctuation in.
• PWM Pins 3, 5, 6 9 as well 11 =They offer an output PWM of 8 bits via the analogWrite() function.
• SPI Pins 10, 11 (SS) 11, 11 (MOSI) 12, 13 (MISO) as well 13 (SCK) ==These pins are utilized to facilitate SPI communication.
• Built-in LED pin 13 =This pin is connected to a integrated LED. When pin 13 is HIGH- LED is lit and the pin is low it turns off.

There are six analog input pins, all of which has the resolution of 10 bits i.e. 1024 different values. They range between 0 and 5 Volts, but this range can be extended making use of AREF pins that has an analog reference() functionality.

• Analog pin 4 ( SDA) and pin 5 ( SCA) are also are used to facilitate TWI communication via Wire library.
• ARF ==> Use to provide reference voltage to analog inputs using the analogReference() function.
• Reset Pin ==>Lowering this pin will reset the microcontroller.

Another thing I've observed when working using GPS antenna is that it comes with a module is that it doesn't receive signal outside the house therefore I decided to use this antenna.

https://www.flyrobo.in/gps-gnss-magnetic-mount-antenna-with-3-meter-cable

For connecting this antenna, you have to use connector:

https://www.flyrobo.in/sma-female-ufl-connector

Step 4: Code

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <TinyGPS.h>
//long   lat,lon; // create variable for latitude and longitude object
float lat = 28.5458,lon = 77.1703; // create variable for latitude and longitude object 
SoftwareSerial gpsSerial(3,4);//rx,tx
LiquidCrystal lcd(A0,A1,A2,A3,A4,A5);
TinyGPS gps; // create gps object
void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600); // connect serial
//Serial.println("The GPS Received Signal:");
gpsSerial.begin(9600); // connect gps sensor
lcd.begin(16,2);
}
 
void loop(){
    while(gpsSerial.available()){ // check for gps data
    if(gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))// encode gps data
    { 
    gps.f_get_position(&lat,&lon); // get latitude and longitude
    // display position
    lcd.clear();
    lcd.setCursor(1,0);
    lcd.print("GPS Signal");
    //Serial.print("Position: ");
    //Serial.print("Latitude:");
    //Serial.print(lat,6);
    //Serial.print(";");
    //Serial.print("Longitude:");
    //Serial.println(lon,6); 
    lcd.setCursor(1,0);
    lcd.print("LAT:");
    lcd.setCursor(5,0);
    lcd.print(lat);
    //Serial.print(lat);
    //Serial.print(" ");
    
    lcd.setCursor(0,1);
    lcd.print(",LON:");
    lcd.setCursor(5,1);
    lcd.print(lon);
    
   }
  }
  
  String latitude = String(lat,6);
    String longitude = String(lon,6);
  Serial.println(latitude+";"+longitude);
  delay(1000);
  
}