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There are a lot of options when it comes to GPS hardware so it can be hard to just pick one and start logging locations. The size, update rate, power requirements, these are all features that you'll want to look into before you choose which hardware is right for your project.
This is something you need to consider if your project is supposed to be pocket-sized. GPS modules are getting ever-smaller (Your tiny, tiny cell phone has one in it!) but remember that in general, the antenna has to shrink to fit the module which will affect things like lock time and accuracy.
The update rate of a GPS module is basically how often it recalculates and reports its position. The standard for most devices is 1Hz (Only once per second). The fact is, unless you're on an airplane or something, you're probably not going fast enough to have changed position significantly in the past second. However, UAVs and other flying or fast vehicles may require faster update rates to stay on track. 5 and even 10Hz update rates are becoming more and more available for cheap. Keep in mind, though, that a fast update rate means that there's more NMEA sentences flying out of the module, some microprocessors will be quickly overwhelmed trying to parse that much data. On the plus side, if you have a module that runs at 5 or 10Hz, it can usually be configured to run at an easier pace.
If someone asked you to crunch a bunch of numbers that you had to get from satellites in orbit around the Earth and use that information to figure out where you were, you'd flat out refuse. It's a lot of work, and yet that's exactly what these tiny GPS units are doing (multiple times per second!) so they can use a lot of power. On average, around 30mA at 3.3V. Keep in mind, also, that GPS antennas usually enlist the help of an amplifier that draws extra power. If a unit appears to have super-groovy-low power consumption, make sure there's an antenna attached.
Even though there are only so many GPS satellites in view at any given time, the number of channels that your module runs will affect your time to first fix. Since the module doesn't know which satellites are in view, the more frequencies that you can check at once, the faster you'll find a fix. After you get a lock, some modules will shut down the extra blocks of channels to save power. If you don't mind waiting a little longer for a lock, 12 or 14 channels will work just fine for tracking.
Many modules come with this chunk of something on top of it. What is that? That is a precisely made chunk of ceramic. Each antenna is finely trimmed to pickup the GPS L1 frequency of 1.57542 GHz. Sound expensive? Well, they make a lot of them. There are some other GPS antenna technologies (chip, helical), but they are not as common, a bit more expensive, and require significantly more amplification and filtering.
Oh hey - as I mentioned, the satellites are in the sky like... 12,552 miles above you, so be sure and point the ceramic towards the sky, ok? GPS antennas are getting better, and you can certainly get GPS signal indoors, but it's hit-or-miss. I hear there are reception problems in the urban canyons of places like New York City. If you can get near a window - it will help a lot.
How accurate is GPS? Well it varies a bit, but you can usually find out where you are, anywhere in the world, within 30 seconds, down to +/- 10m. Amazing! I say +/- because it can vary between modules, time of day, clarity of reception, etc. Most modules can get it down to +/-3m, but if you need sub meter or centimeter accuracy, it gets really expensive. I've heard stories of such fabled GPS receivers, but I have never gotten to touch one. Someone please prove us wrong.
Cold: 24 sec, Hot: 2 sec
25Hz Max (4 concurrent GNSS)
SMA
40.64mm x 36.83mm
NMEA, UBX, and RTCM over UART or I2C
3.3VCC and I/O, ~31mA
Qwiic Connectors, USB-C
Cold: 24 sec, Hot: 2 sec
25Hz Max (4 concurrent GNSS)
Chip
40.64mm x 33.02mm
NMEA, UBX, and RTCM over UART or I2C
3.3VCC and I/O, ~31mA
Qwiic Connectors, USB-C
Cold: 24 sec, Hot: 2 sec
25Hz Max (4 concurrent GNSS)
U.FL connector for use of antenna of your choice
40.64mm x 33.02mm
NMEA, UBX, and RTCM over UART or I2C
3.3VCC and I/O, ~31mA
Qwiic Connectors, USB-C
Cold: 26 sec, Hot: 1.5 sec
30Hz
U.FL connector for use of antenna of your choice
42mm x 35mm
NMEA, UBX, and RTCM over UART or I2C
3.3V, 29mA
Dead Reckoning, Built in Accelerometer & Gyroscope, Qwiic Connectors
Cold: 26 sec, Hot: 1 sec
18Hz
External
25.25mm x 25.25mm
NMEA, UBX, and 18Hz RTCM
3.3V, 29mA
Software Configurable, UART, I2C, High Sensitivity
Cold: 26 sec, Hot: 1 sec
18Hz
External
41.35mm x 41.35mm
NMEA, UBX, and 18Hz RTCM
3.3V, 29mA
Software Configurable, UART, I2C, High Sensitivity
Cold: 24 sec, Hot: 2 sec
Up to 30Hz
U.FL connector for use of antenna of your choice
52mm x 44mm
NMEA, UBX, and RTCM over UART or I2C interfaces
5V or 3.3V but all logic is 3.3V @ ~85mA to ~130mA (varies with constellations and tracking state)
Dead Reckoning, Receives both L1C/A and L2C Bands, Built-In Accelerometer and Gyroscope
Cold: 24 sec, Hot: 2 sec
Up to 30Hz
U.FL connector for use of antenna of your choice
80mm x 70mm
NMEA, UBX, and RTCM over UART
5V or 3.3V but all logic is 3.3V @ ~85mA to ~130mA (varies with constellations and tracking state)
Dead Reckoning, Receives both L1C/A and L2C Bands, Built-In Accelerometer and Gyroscope, Raspberry Pi pHAT
Cold: 25 sec, Hot: 2 sec
25Hz
External
43.5mm x 43.2mm
NMEA, UBX
3.3V, 35mA
Receives both L1C/A and L2C Bands
Cold: 29 sec, Hot: 1 sec
10Hz
External
40.6mm x 33mm
NMEA, UBX, RTCM
3.3V, 35mA
Accuracy close to 1inch
Cold: 15 sec, Warm: 5 sec, Hot: 1 sec
10Hz
Built-In & External
30.48mm x 25.4mm
NMEA, MediaTek Binary
3.3V, 25mA
Cold: 15 sec, Hot 1 sec
5Hz
Built-In
30x30x5mm
NMEA
3.3V, 41mA
Cold: 29 sec, Warm: 28 sec, Hot: 8 sec
1Hz
Built-In
18.4mm x 18.4mm x 4mm
NMEA, UBX
3.3V, 40mA
Cold: 36 sec, Warm: 25 sec, Hot: 1 sec
10Hz
Built-In
52 x 52 x 20.5 mm
NMEA, UBX
3.3-5V, 40mA
Cold: 35 sec, Hot: 1 sec
1Hz
Built-In
30x30x10.7mm
NMEA, SiRF
4.5-6V, 45-55mA
Extremely High Sensitivity: -163dBm
Cold: 29 sec, Warm: 28 sec, Hot: 8 sec
10Hz
Built-In
35 x 8 x 6.5 mm
NMEA
3.3-5V, 37mA
Cold: 38 sec, Hot 3 sec
1Hz
External
31.8x27.4x14mm
NMEA
3.3V, 44mA
Standalone Module Available
75g including 3m cable
50x38x17mm
SMA
GPS/GLONASS
3-5V, 10mA
175g (including cable)
60.0mm x 82.0mm x 22.5mm
SMA
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou
—
Picks up both L1 and L2 bands
7.4g
60.96 x 25.4mm
—
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou
—
191g
101.6mm x 6.35mm thickness
—
—
—
4g
101.6mm
SMA
—
—
3.04g
200 mm length x 1.25mm diameter
U.FL on both ends
—
—
43.36g
40.5mm x 38mm x 12.3mm
SMA
—
—
118g
46mm x 46mm x 13.7mm
SMA
—
2.7V, 8mA
We've got a page just for you! We'll walk you through the basics of how GPS works, the hardware needed, a great starter project to get you going and more.