Smallest GPS receiver + data logger ?

Everyone,

What is the smallest GPS receiver and data logger currently available ? I am asking about physical size L x W x H, could be with or without an integral antenna.

NikeRam

There are tons of inexpensive / small SirfStar based GPS data loggers out there, but they won't accurately track altitude during flight -- is this a requirement? I'd say a u-blox based one shouldn't be much bigger than 1" x 1" x 1/2" with integrated antenna and micro-controller to initialize the GPS and store the data. But I haven't seen one.

Greg

bigredbee said:

I'd say a u-blox based one shouldn't be much bigger than 1" x 1" x 1/2" with integrated antenna and micro-controller to initialize the GPS and store the data.

Click to expand...

Good guess. Here's a prototype that's 0.8" x 1.5" https://altusmetrum.org/TeleGPS/

keithp said:

Good guess. Here's a prototype that's 0.8" x 1.5" https://altusmetrum.org/TeleGPS/

Click to expand...

Nice work Keith! That is a little smaller than the mini gps tx I'm building now (mine is 1" x 1.5"), but it doesn't log.

If you don't mind me asking, where do you buy the ublox parts from? I can't find a us distributor and I really don't want to order from places like alibaba.

Thanks!

The TeleGPS prototype has logging and built-in USB for data download, along with a lipo battery charger. Talks to our existing TeleDongle or TeleBT devices, and also sends APRS.

Derek said:

If you don't mind me asking, where do you buy the ublox parts from? I can't find a us distributor and I really don't want to order from places like alibaba

Click to expand...

We bought a whole reel (500 parts). There's a guy in the UK, Anthony Stirk <[email protected]> who sells onesies for about $50 each.

Another source from the UK:
https://ava.upuaut.net/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_64

They built a small tracker for use on balloons, but I don't think it is for sale:
https://ava.upuaut.net/?p=675

Reinhard

keithp said:

We bought a whole reel (500 parts). There's a guy in the UK, Anthony Stirk <[email protected]> who sells onesies for about $50 each.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. That is a little more than I'd like but a lot better than what ublox wants.

Reinhard said:

Another source from the UK:
https://ava.upuaut.net/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_64

They built a small tracker for use on balloons, but I don't think it is for sale:
https://ava.upuaut.net/?p=675

Reinhard

Click to expand...

Thanks. Those prices aren't too bad.

What is it with ublox's us distribution? I don't get why mouser/digikey/avnet/etc, doesn't carry this stuff. Heck, even sparkfun and adafruit could carry them.

Greg,

Thanks for the reply. Yes sorry I should have stated that the basic requirement is to "accurately track altitude during flight ". I am asking about the smallest size to permit me to move it between launch vehicles. Actually if more requirements were stated, I would like it so store XX minutes of continuous flight data [lat, long, altitude, date/time] and retain that data regardless of battery condition. Other aux sensors are not important to me: temp, accelerometers, baro pressure, etc. I just am interested in a minimum sized recording GPS I can obtain, obviously with some sort of standard data I/O [i.e. USB port]. Telemetry has little value to me at this time but would probably be a major requirement for other users.

I am not anticipated flights above Mach 1 so that is another requirement (or non-requirement depending on how you see things.).

bigredbee said:

There are tons of inexpensive / small SirfStar based GPS data loggers out there, but they won't accurately track altitude during flight -- is this a requirement? I'd say a u-blox based one shouldn't be much bigger than 1" x 1" x 1/2" with integrated antenna and micro-controller to initialize the GPS and store the data. But I haven't seen one.

Greg

Click to expand...

NikeRam said:

Greg,

Thanks for the reply. Yes sorry I should have stated that the basic requirement is to "accurately track altitude during flight ". I am asking about the smallest size to permit me to move it between launch vehicles. Actually if more requirements were stated, I would like it so store XX minutes of continuous flight data [lat, long, altitude, date/time] and retain that data regardless of battery condition. Other aux sensors are not important to me: temp, accelerometers, baro pressure, etc. I just am interested in a minimum sized recording GPS I can obtain, obviously with some sort of standard data I/O [i.e. USB port]. Telemetry has little value to me at this time but would probably be a major requirement for other users.

I am not anticipated flights above Mach 1 so that is another requirement (or non-requirement depending on how you see things.).

Click to expand...

This one logs:



https://www.adafruit.com/products/746

keithp said:

Good guess. Here's a prototype that's 0.8" x 1.5" https://altusmetrum.org/TeleGPS/

Click to expand...

Well it looks like I need a new tracking option after my Cluster Kraken mishap at Brothers last year.... Ho hum..

Keith, do you have any idea of the price tag for these units?

Salvage-1 said:

Keith, do you have any idea of the price tag for these units?

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Most of the cost turns out to be assembly, so until we've got something that works (and these don't yet), I'm not comfortable trying to guess what they'd sell for. I have some idea of what I *want* to sell them for, of course, but I really don't want to promise something and then discover that we just can't do that.