SparkFun Electronics - Venus GPS with SMA Connector

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Product Info

Venus GPS with SMA Connector

sku: GPS-09133

Description: This is a development board that uses the smallest, most powerful, and most versatile GPS receiver we carry, the Venus. The module can be configured to an amazingly powerful 10Hz update rate, with 14 channel tracking! With two serial ports, UART and SPI interfaces (please see the datasheets on how to implement the SPI interface), 28mA operating current, and high sensitivity, this receiver seriously opens new doors for tracking. Module outputs the standard NMEA-0183 or SkyTraq Binary sentences at a default rate of 9600bps (adjustable to 115200bps).

The Venus634LPx has improved sensitivity, an integrated LNA (with multipath detection and suppression), built-in RTC, and integrated single power supply making it very simple to use. In addition, the module supports data logging with an external SPI Flash!

You can easily connect to the UART using our USB to Serial FT232 Breakout Board.

Check out our GPS buying guide

Features:

51 channel acquisition and 14 channel tracking
SkyTraq based chipset
10Hz max update rate (1Hz default)
Integrated LNA
Single 2.7-3.3V supply
3.3V TTL UART
Power: 28mA tracking
Sensitivity: -161dBm
Accuracy: <2.5m
Hot start: 1 Seconds
Cold Start: 29 Seconds
Supports active or passive antennas
Supports SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS)

Dimensions: 1.15 x 0.7 inches

Documents:

Pricing

	38 in stock backorder allowed

$49.95	price
$44.96	10-99 (10% off)
$39.96	100+ (20% off)

	quantity

click on image to enlarge

Comments

43 comments

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	by Antoine +3.1 \| April 20, 2009 at 2:36 AM 0
Hi, Here it is (but not in stock ?) ! You didn't put a backup battery nor integrated antenna, it would have been nice (but maybe more expensive). Antoine

	by A1ronzo \| April 22, 2009 at 10:37 AM
I agree Antoine, a chip antenna would be nice and we are working very hard on seeing if we can get it to work. Although, SkyTraq has warned against using small passive GPS chip antennas due to decreased SNR. So far SkyTraq has not heard of any their customers using passive chip antennas successfully with the Venus.

	by krh2o +2.4 \| April 26, 2009 at 2:55 AM 0
Do you have a recommended antenna? Is an active necessary? It would be nice if the GPS guide had a section covering antennas. Thanks

	by ARMinator +6.6 \| April 22, 2009 at 6:03 AM 0
Could you provide a footprint for it? I would like to integrate on top of my PCB design. Thanks.

	by A1ronzo \| April 22, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Check out our footprint library, it should be in the most recent update. http://www.opencircuits.com/SFE_Footprint_Library_Eagle

	by Calif –3.2 \| April 22, 2009 at 7:32 PM –0.23
Take photos at F22 so the edges don't blur. We're in a recession, man. Skip the backup battery & use a redundant power supply for full time acquisition. It's a lot more accurate.

	by Calif –3.2 \| April 22, 2009 at 7:34 PM –0.23
Also, an integrated antenna is real important. Those SMA connectors & cables are heavy.

	by Joshua +0.48 \| April 23, 2009 at 10:55 AM 0
Gidday there, Personally, I'm glad to have an external antenna connection. Then I can place my GPS near my noisy electronics, in a cozy environment, while the antenna is closer to the sky. Now, where can I find a nice supply of active antennas? Joshua

	by Helicopter +2.2 \| April 27, 2009 at 7:39 PM 0
I just got mine and noticed the 3.3 is upside down LOL

	by Helicopter +2.2 \| April 27, 2009 at 10:29 PM 0
Data sheet says the default rate is 9600 pg 2

	by Mazaa +1.6 \| April 30, 2009 at 7:37 PM +0.19
You could add this item to your "GPS Buying guide".

	by Briansw +2.7 \| May 4, 2009 at 7:52 PM +0.19
Just would like to add a layout suggestion. Maybe make the width of the board so that the spacing between the 2 rows of connection pads (like for .1 male headers) would be made so that this breakout board would align up with pads on another .1" spaced proto board if someone needed to place this on another circuit board. Hope I made some sense here. Thanks

	by ARMinator +6.6 \| May 5, 2009 at 6:43 AM 0
How would this module perform with this antenna? http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=464 Thanks!

	by Joshua +0.48 \| May 5, 2009 at 3:17 PM 0
In the binary command set, there is a message (0x09) that is supposed to change the output message type between NMEA and 'Binary'. Any idea what the 'Binary' message format is? The binary command set only describes configuration, but not GPS data. Thanks in advance. Joshua

JamesGalea

+1.9

| September 22, 2009 at 8:05 PM

Hi Joshua,
I was wondering the same thing so I contacted SkyTraq and they told me that the binary nav data messages were for a future firmware. They provided me with the updated firmware and binary command set document describing the PVT messages that can be configured to 10Hz. They have been pretty helpful.

It might be a good idea if Sparkfun add these files to this page so that SkyTraq do not get inundated with requests for the new firmware.

Hope this helps

James

	by Joshua +0.48 \| October 14, 2009 at 7:31 AM 0
Hey James, Thanks for the note. What are the distribution conditions on the document and firmware that you received? Any chance you could send the firmware and the datasheet to me by Electronic Ma i l? j p l (o)) x i p h o s DOT c a Joshua

	by ScottH +2.7 \| November 10, 2009 at 10:28 AM 0
I also second the vote about getting this extra information on the Sparkfun site. I've got a NEMA decoder running, but I'd rather do this via a binary protocol.

	by jessejay +1 \| May 9, 2009 at 9:53 AM 0
ok, so if you buy this with GPS-00177, how do you power the antenna? It's not clear to me how to get power to it.

bornem

+2.6

| May 20, 2009 at 4:04 PM

+0.55

I bought this (Venus) board with the antenna and USB to serial board shown on the related products section. I also bought a spare (EM-408) cable and socket to use to make connection easier.

I'm really impressed with the GPS unit. After 10 mins of soldering connections as above I had the unit displaying in the Visualizer application. First fix was achieved in about 30secs and it hotstarts as specified in less than 1s. My next challenge is to integrate it with the Package Tracker and see if I can log it at 10Hz...

	by Abraham +1.6 \| July 3, 2009 at 3:50 AM 0
Hello Bornem, I was wondering if you can help me on the setup of this device. I also bought the VenusGPS together with the FT232R breakout board. However, I did not realized that an antenna is required. Can you give me a link to the antenna you are using? Thank you, Abraham

	by fabi +1.2 \| July 31, 2009 at 5:23 AM 0
Hi, I'm interessed in logging with the package tracker at 10Hz. Did you get it integrated succesfully? Regards.

	by sync +2.6 \| July 3, 2009 at 1:49 AM 0
My Venus is dead after a month, did not touch it, was plugged but now the Venus power led lite up brightless, no signal acquisition at all. What went wrong, what do you think ?

	by sync +2.6 \| July 13, 2009 at 0:10 AM 0
My Venus board is back to life tonight. Don't know what went wrong before. Did not touch anything. That is some kind of good news anyways.

	by Landon +46 \| July 22, 2009 at 9:21 AM +0.19
I want to buy a helical GPS antenna with SMA connection for this device. If not helical, external whip. Any sources that anyone knows of for GPS stub or whip antennas with SMA?

	by tim292stro +2 \| July 23, 2009 at 3:29 PM +0.19
It would be nice if Sparkfun had a variant of this board that instead of SMA, had the Sarantel SL1300 embedded GPS antenna... It would use just about the same pad footprint as the SMA connector (maybe a little tweak). I've been trying to get my hands on that antenna for weeks with no joy... The module with an SMA antenna is great, simple to interface, very sensitive.

adr1an

+1.2

| July 28, 2009 at 9:17 PM

+0.19

I just wanted to remark that I have gotten *Fantastic* assistance and information from SkyTraq regarding the firmware and an SDK for the chip. Their website is simple, but they are very willing to assist and responded very promptly to email's.

It has also been working wonderfully at 115200 and 8Mhz updates currently to an Arduino Mega.

Thank you SparkFun for a great little board.

And Big thank's to LittleBird Electronics (whom I purchased it from) for their prompt delivery of the product.

	by perds +1.3 \| July 30, 2009 at 10:56 PM 0
I love this little board :) very easy to set up and lots of options! The gps software is excellent for getting a feel for the chip before integrating it into an mcu design.

	by tz +2.3 \| August 17, 2009 at 10:54 AM 0
The schematic doesn't show the which settings are selected for BTSEL (I assume flash, not rom) or GPIO24 (I assume enhanced not low-power? overridden by flash setting?)

	by tz +2.3 \| August 30, 2009 at 9:26 AM 0
The schematic shows a JP4 across the vbatt and 3.3, but I can't find any in the photographs.

societyofrobots

+5.3

| October 2, 2009 at 1:09 PM

The schematic says there is a jumper between VCC and VBAT. The board file however shows them directly connected (and no jumper in sight). Not sure why there is a VBAT pin if its connected to VCC . . . I also found two vias that don't connect to anything.

Anyway, that explains why my Venus kept heating up with 5V to VBAT. And maybe why I find cold start to take between 20 minutes and 1.5 hours, and hot start at 1 to 2 minutes.

So . . . I guess my Venus has been fried . . . why isn't this mentioned in the documentation?!?!

btw I'm using a 4.5" duck antenna outside.

societyofrobots

+5.3

| October 2, 2009 at 1:23 PM

Also, you say 'Power: 28mA tracking'. However, I see that value in the Venus634FLPx datasheet, meaning it does not factor in the LED current.

Your board file says 330ohm, is that what you used?

If so, this device uses 38mA.

(its important to me as I only have 72mA allowed to share among multiple sensors)

In addition, your schematic says the board has a 10uF cap. But the board file and device both do not have it!

SF really dropped the ball on this one =P

	by Shadyman +9.9 \| January 6, 2010 at 6:26 PM 0
So replace the LED with a diode? :)

societyofrobots

+5.3

| October 5, 2009 at 12:00 AM

I tested a second Venus that never got more than 3.3V (so its not possibly damaged). I also tested both devices about 15 miles away from the previous test. Clear skies. Results are the same. The cold start sat fix for me is anywhere between 5 minutes and 1.5 hours. 50 meter RMS in the new location.

Another person on my forum using the Venus said:
"Sometimes i'll get cold starts of seconds, or sometimes 30 minutes. On average it's around 3-5 minutes." And 15 meters RMS. He informed me that the latest Venus version now come with a VBAT jumper. He also said the power line was unstable, so I suspect a power cap was removed. Its stable on the older version, however. SF should really label version numbers . . .

The Venus is definitely not as advertised, so I wouldn't recommend it. Horrible accuracy, horrible cold start.

	by F5F +1 \| October 9, 2009 at 11:25 AM 0
My two boards had badly mismatched inputs--2 dB return loss. Was able to tune with 5pF capacitor in shunt. Sensitivity is poor, but works OK with active antenna when outside. Takes a very long time to first fix when signal is weak.

	by Faizan +1 \| October 28, 2009 at 8:53 AM 0
Hi, I've bought this Venus GPS from SFE. and I'm using this antenna: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=675 But in GPS Viewer software it gives an error "Position Fix unavailable". Is there something wrong with my antenna? or can i do it without an antenna?

	by Pearce \| October 28, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Hi, I would try using this antenna as we have found it to be the best fit; http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=177 The GPS will more than likely not work without an antenna

	by Olfox +1.1 \| November 23, 2009 at 6:14 AM 0
I just have a question before buying this module: When you apply power, does the GPS give each seconde some NMEA trame or does it need a request from the microcontroler to receive the NMEA trame ? Thanks a lot !

	by ScottH +2.7 \| December 14, 2009 at 4:04 PM 0
I contacted SkyTraq several weeks ago via email, but I've gotten no response. Does anyone have a contact there for getting the new firmware? -Scott

	by JamesGalea +1.9 \| December 14, 2009 at 6:01 PM 0
Hi ScottH, I spoke with Oliver Huang from SkyTraq Technology, Inc and he was very helpful. He sent me via email the updated firmware. Im sure you have already tried this but here is the email anyway: Info [info@skytraq.com.tw] If you still dont have any luck send me your email and ill forward it to you. Hope this helps. James

	by Jimb0 \| December 15, 2009 at 9:06 AM
We have some updated firmware as well. Drop us a line and we'll get it to you. -techsupport at sparkfun dot com

	by ScottH +2.7 \| January 12, 2010 at 10:37 PM 0
Oliver got back with me on my second try. So now that I have the firmware, how do I install it? I can't find an option to do this in the SkyTraq program. I figured there would be an "upload firmware from file" option somewhere. Thanks, -Scott

	by Jimb0 \| January 13, 2010 at 10:31 AM
In SkyTraq GPS Viewer to the bottom left of the scatter plot there's a download button (looks like a blue circle with an arrow pointing down). Click the small button to the right of that to navigate to the .bin file on your computer. Then click the download button to flash the new firmware.