SparkFun Electronics - GPS Evaluation Board

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GPS Evaluation Board

sku: GPS-08334

Description: This is an evaluation board for our various GPS modules that incorporates many new features! This one board supports connection to the various GPS modules sold by SparkFun. Serial interface for USB over the FT232RL and a classic RS232 interface. Power is provided over USB or a DC barrel jack. A power switch, port selection, and serial isolation switches are available.

Check out our GPS buying guide!

Note: If using the Lassen iQ module, a piece of tape is needed to cover the exposed header under the module.

Supported Modules:

FV-M8 (formerly EB-85A)
EM406
EM408
Lassen iQ
Copernicus (requires female socket installation)

Features:

On board 5V regulation
Power over USB
Power over 5.5x2.1mm barrel jack (center positive)
Status LED
12mm Coin Cell backup battery holder
Serial over USB (FT232RL VCP)
Serial over dual RS232 connection
All serial ports broken out

Documents:

Software:

Mini GPS Software
GPSTrace Software
Trimble GPS Monitor (for Lassen iQ and Copernicus)

Pricing

	44 in stock backorder allowed

$39.95	price
$35.96	10-99 (10% off)
$31.96	100+ (20% off)

	quantity

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Comments

11 comments

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ksaves2

+2.7

| Jan 3, 2009 at 8:20am

What's the secret to getting this evaluation board to work with the Copernicus DIP module? The computer recognizes the USB port, power gets to the board by
the red LED lighting. I have the 4800 speed set in
the COM 5 port. I have an antenna plugged into the SMA
connection. The switches are set correctly I think to
USB / INT. I don't have a coin battery for it yet but I don't think that is needed to get the thing to run. Do
I have a bad board?

Kurt

	by ksaves2 +2.7 \| Feb 24, 2009 at 12:40pm 0
Just an update. Was able to get the board to work with an ancient laptop with a DB9 port. Have narrowed it down to possibly an errant driver for the USB to serial converter. Seems that Port 2 on the card is for NMEA output.

	by gwagner +3.1 \| Apr 2, 2009 at 1:32pm 0
I have inherited what appears to be an obsolete SparkFun Copernicus GPS RS232 Eval board (date code 10-2-06). Its two serial port connectors are too close together to attach to both simultaneously with standard cables. From the dimensional documentation it does not appear this problem has been fixed in this version of the board. Please clarify.

	by Joel +1.7 \| May 3, 2009 at 7:01pm 0
is there a guide that comes along with how to use this?? I seem to have connected the necessary cables... but nothing happens...

	by Prarobo +1 \| May 21, 2009 at 4:18am 0
Does this board work with sparkfun gps FV-M11??

	by gm +3.8 \| Sep 14, 2009 at 11:45am 0
User robogiff reported problems when using a Trimble Lassen iQ GPS module. Problem was traced to the module casing shorting some of the vias that are exposed under the module. Putting tape on the underside of the module was effective in insulating the module and getting the eval board to work. This might occur with some of the other GPS modules, too.

jdhibbs

+1.7

| Dec 7, 2009 at 6:43am

Got the board and used with an EM406a GPS chip. Works like a champ. Connected both to the RS232 ports and USB. Had better success using the SiRF demo software (See the EM-406A page). The SiRF demo includes the drivers for USB to serial. Also could see data using Br@@ys Terminal software set at 4800 baud across RS232. Didnt try the USB on Br@@ys. Would like to see the PPS pin on the EM406 connected to the Status led on the board. Other than that, it works well.

	by jdhibbs +1.7 \| Dec 8, 2009 at 6:18am 0
Also, if you are using a DB9 cable for RS232, use a straight through cable. A Null Modem cable will not work as the Tx and Rx wires are swapped. (I tried it for fun just to see.)

	by dogfuel +1.7 \| Mar 31, 2010 at 8:06pm 0
This board works like a champ with an EM406 module but I get nothing from my EM408... hmmmm some docs or even notes would sure help

	by RobertC. \| May 12, 2010 at 1:01pm
Have you verified both modules are working outside of the eval board?

Luke H.

| May 22, 2010 at 9:16am

Is there any way, with either this product or something else on Sparkfun, where I can send a serial signal to a microcontroller so i can decode gps signals to be displayed on an LCD?

Just wondering because I want to make a backpack (like a daypack, not auduino extension) that has an on-board microcontroller. This would allow me to control flexible PV Panels from powerfilm to charge electronics as well as operate additional extensions such as GPS, internal LiPo charger, weather data, etc.