Ever think your coat could guide you home? The easiest way to add location information to your wearable electronics project is with the Flora GPS. It’s part of the Adafruit Flora series of wearable electronics, designed specifically for use with the Flora main board. Installed on the PCB is the latest of our Ultimate GPS modules, a small, super-thin, low power GPS module with built in data-logging capability! This module’s easy to use, but extremely powerful. Check out our video on YouTube (please subscribe!) and Vimeo.

• -165 dBm sensitivity, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels
• Designed for wearable use with the Flora system
• Only 20mA current draw
• RTC battery-compatible – sew a battery on to create a atomic-precision real time clock
• Built-in datalogging
• >25Km altitude
• Internal patch antenna + u.FL connector for external active antenna
• Fix status LED

…all for under $40! Comes with a tutorial to get you started, and a more advanced GPS Jacket project tutorial.

The breakout is built around the MTK3339 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

The module is kept small and simple, we have a ferrite bead, filter capacitor and red fix LED on board. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and blinks once every 15 seconds when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Two features that really stand out about the MTK3339-based module is the external antenna functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. The module has a standard ceramic patch antenna that gives it -165 dB sensitivity, but when you want to have a bigger antenna, you can snap on any 3V active GPS antenna via the uFL connector. The module will automatically detect the active antenna and switch over! Most GPS antennas use SMA connectors so you may want to pick up one of our uFL to SMA adapters.

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have the Flora mainboard send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the Flora can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module. If you’d like to back up the RTC for faster fix-recovery, pick up a sewable CR2032 holder & CR2032 battery and sew it so the + side connects to the VBAT pad and the – side connects to ground.  

Also available in our FLORA GPS Starter Pack.

Every Wednesday is Wearable Wednesday here at Adafruit! We’re bringing you the blinkiest, most fashionable, innovative, and useful wearables from around the web and in our own original projects featuring our wearable Arduino-compatible platform, FLORA. Be sure to post up your wearables projects in the forums or send us a link and you might be featured here on Wearable Wednesday!

@somenice tweeted:

GPS glove puts digits on my digits. Using @adafruit Flora http://vine.co/v/bw5VIQIP2Hj

Flora GPS Jacket

Every Wednesday is Wearable Wednesday here at Adafruit! We’re bringing you the blinkiest, most fashionable, innovative, and useful wearables from around the web and in our own original projects featuring our wearable Arduino-compatible platform, FLORA. Be sure to post up your wearables projects in the forums or send us a link and you might be featured here on Wearable Wednesday!

Making Ultimate GPS breakouts! We line up the boards on a table after pick and placing before they go into the reflow oven at the end of the day.

NEW PRODUCT – Adafruit Ultimate GPS Logger Shield – Includes GPS Module. Brand new and better than ever, we’ve replaced our Adafruit GPS shield kit with this assembled shield that comes with an Ultimate GPS module. This GPS shield works great with either UNO or Leonardo Arduinos and is designed to log data to an SD card. Or you can leave the SD card out and use the GPS for a geocaching project, or maybe a music player that changes tunes depending on where you are in the city.

• -165 dBm sensitivity, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels
• Low power module – only 20mA current draw, half of most GPS’s
• Assembled & tested shield for Arduino Uno/Duemilanove/Diecimila/Leonardo (not for use with Mega/ADK/Due)
• MicroSD card slot for datalogging onto a removable card
• RTC battery included, for up to 7 years backup
• Built-in datalogging to flash
• PPS output on fix
• >25Km altitude
• Internal patch antenna + u.FL connector for external active antenna
• Power, Pin #13 and Fix status LED
• Big prototyping area

Each order comes with one assembled and tested shield, a stick of 0.1″ male header and a 12mm coin cell. Some light soldering is required to attach the header to the shield in order to plug it into your Arduino. if you want to stack a shield on top, be sure to pick up a set of stacking headers to use instead. MicroSD card not included either, but we do stock them in the shop!

If your project is going to be inside an enclosure, you’ll love this shield as it has external antenna support. Simply connect an external active GPS antenna via a uFL/SMA cable to the shield and the module will automatically switch over to use the antenna. You can then place the antenna wherever you wish.

We think this is the Ultimate GPS shield and we also think you’ll agree! For more details, tutorials and example code check out our comprehensive tutorial

Details:

• Dimensions(PCB only): 69mm x 53mm x 6.7mm (2.7in x 2.1in x 0.26in)
• Weight (w/o GPS module): 24g

In stock and shipping now.

GPS time on the Alpha Clock Five @ Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories.

William Phelps recently wrote to us with alternative firmware for Alpha Clock Five, our oversized alphanumeric LED clock/data display kit. His firmware adds two very welcome features: Automatic daylight saving time (DST) correction, and automatic time setting via a GPS module.  It works remarkably well.
Here, we’ll show you how to hook it all up and how to use it.

This project interfaces an Alpha Clock Five (either the classic red or newer white version), to the Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout.   For constructing a cable between the two, we will modify a “rainbow” 6-pin F-F header socket cable, and we’ll also need to run one more wire to provide power to the GPS module.

Using UART instead of USB – Adafruit Ultimate GPS on the Raspberry Pi @ The Adafruit Learning System. By popular demand, KTOWN has updated our new GPS tutorial for details on how to use the UART instead of USB for Ultimate GPS connectivity!

If you wish to use HW UART instead of the USB cable, it’s perfectly possible … you just need to do a bit more work to free the UART up on your Pi.

To get started, hook the GPS module up to your Pi as follows, cross-connecting the TX and RX pins (TX on one device goes to RX on the other and vice versa), and supply 5V from the Pi to the VIN pin on the GPS module…

Learn more!

Jay put together a nice little video of a GPS clock he built using an Arduino Micro, an Adafruit Ultimate GPS module, and an Adafruit 4-Digit 7-Segment LED Display.

I’ve posted a new video of the small GPS clock project I have been working on this past week.  It’s pretty easy to do, and only needs soldering on the GPS and LED units.  You can mount everything to a breadboard, so you don’t need to commit the parts to the project permanently.

Learn More

We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire – that’s why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the Ultimate GPS module, so we named it that. It’s got everything you want and more!

In Stock and Shipping Now!

Adafruit Ultimate GPS on the Raspberry Pi @ The Adafruit Learning System.

How easy is it to get your Raspberry Pi eavesdropping on satellites 20,000 km up in the sky? Wonderfully easy thanks to Linux, and affordable thanks to Adafruit’s Ultimate GPS Breakout!

This quick learning guide will show you everything you need to do to add position tracking to your Pi project using the open source GPS daemon ‘gpsd’ and an inexpensive USB to TTL adapter cable.

Learn more.

Great project from user “AIW” in the Adafruit forums:

Here’s some pictures of my latest project that couples an Adafruit Ultimate GPS module with my own NOAA Weather Radio/SAME Decoder module. This setup allows me to log signal strength of the radio reception based on GPS position. Right now I don’t have an SD Card implemented. It feeds the lat, lon, and RSSI of the radio to a terminal program for capture. After that I can overlay it on a map using gpsvisualizer.com

Read more.

New Tutorial: Reverse Geocache Box @ Adafruit Learning System

Adafruit customer Kenton Harris used a reverse geocaching box to propose to his girlfriend (she said yes).  After the project build and successful proposal, he shared how he built the reverse geocache box with us.  We thought others may be interested in building a similar box for their own proposals, or for fun!

A reverse geocaching box works similar to other geocaching devices.  It will guide you to certain coordinates on earth and instead of finding a geocache located at those coordinates, you carry the box with you, and it opens for you at a predetermined destination.  This is also a great way to do a scavenger hunt (making someone go to multiple locations before the box opens).

Thanks again Kenton for sharing your story and tutorial with us!

Happy shopping!

Adafruit Ultimate GPS – We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire – that’s why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the Ultimate GPS module, so we named it that. It’s got everything you want and more.

FLORA Wearable Ultimate GPS Module – This module is the best way to add a GPS to your wearable project. It’s part of the Adafruit Flora series of wearable electronics, designed specifically for use with the Flora motherboard. Installed on the PCB is the latest of our Ultimate GPS modules, a small, super-thin, low power GPS module with built in data-logging capability! This module’s easy to use, but extremely powerful.

Geogram ONE – An open source tracking device that is packed with features.

• Quad Band GSM
• 66 Channel GPS based off the MT3339 Chipset
• Atmega328p with Arduino Bootloader preinstalled
• 6 axis digital accelerometer
• On board single cell lipo fuel gauge
• 6 pin FTDI connector for connecting optional FTDI cable
• USB conection for charging Lipo battery
• 4 Analog inputs (3 can be used as digital IO)
• 2 Digital IO lines

Cooking Hacks 3G + GPS shield for Arduino - The 3G + GPS shield for Arduino enables the connectivity to high speed WCDMA and HSPA cellular networks in order to make possible the creation of the next level of worldwide interactivity projects inside the new “Internet of Things” era.  The module counts also with an internal GPS what enables the location of the device outdoors and indoors combining standard NMEA frames with mobile cell ID triangulation using both assisted-mobile (A-GPS) and mobile-based (S-GPS) modes.  There is also a version that works with the Raspberry Pi!

Coobro Geo - an easy to assemble GPS navigation kit. Upload coordinates, turn it on, and the Coobro Geo will help you navigate to any destination on earth by using LEDs to show you the correct direction and distance remaining. Before you leave on your quest, press and hold the breadcrumbs button and the Coobro Geo will remember your location and help you navigate back. Store up to five pre-entered destination coordinates and five breadcrumbs, or modify the open source code and store as many coordinates as you want.  Use the Coobro Geo to help you find geocaches, store and navigate between hot fishing spots, complete a scavenger hunt, or simply help you find your car after a hike.

SHIPPING DEADLINES

Here are your 2012 shipping deadlines for ordering from Adafruit. Please review our shipping section if you have specific questions on how and where we ship worldwide for this holiday season.

UPS ground (USA orders): Place orders by Friday 11am ET – December 14, 2012 – Arrive by 12/24/2012 or sooner.

UPS 3-day (USA orders): Place orders by Wednesday 11am ET – December 19, 2012 – Arrive on 12/24/2012.

UPS 2-day (USA orders): Place orders by Thursday 11am ET – December 20, 2012 – Arrive on 12/24/2012.

UPS overnight (USA orders): Place orders by Friday 11am ET – December 21, 2012 – Arrive on 12/24/2012.

UPS International: Place orders by Monday 11am ET – December 17, 2012. Can take up extra time due to worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/24/2012 or sooner.

Please note: We do not offer Saturday service for UPS.
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, Christmas, no UPS pickup or delivery service.
Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, New Year’s Day, no UPS pickup or delivery service.

United States Postal Service, First Class and Priority (USA orders): Place orders by Friday – December 14, 2012 – Arrive by 12/24/2012 or sooner.

USPS First class mail international (International orders): Place orders by Friday – November 23, 2012. Can take up to 30 days ore more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/24/2012 or sooner, but not a trackable service cannot be guaranteed to arrive by 12/24/12.

USPS Express mail international(International orders): Place orders by Friday – December 14, 2012. Can take up to 15 days or more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/24/2012 or sooner.

Gift Certificates are always available at any time.

When in doubt contact us!

Quite the comprehensive documentation for a project to lean on the Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout as a reference device central for building an NTP server on your Pi, from Open Collector:

Periodically, your computer will connect to servers that speak NTP. After getting the time, your system does some math (to account for transmission delays, and bad clocks), and adjusts the system clock. This periodic synchronization keeps a clock from drifting too far behind, or too far ahead from the world standard.

By itself, NTP does not provide accurate time information. This the job of a dedicated reference clock.

A reference clock is a precise source of time, and these are connected to a computer which transmit their data over a network using NTP.

In our case, we can use a GPS unit as a reference device (in GPS, accurate positioning requires very accurate time). While not a lab quality reference clock, it has enough accuracy for most applications.

Read More.

Featured product!

Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout – 66 channel w/10 Hz updates – Version 3

New! Version 3 comes with the latest module which has external antenna support and Pulse-Per-Second output

We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire – that’s why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the Ultimate GPS module, so we named it that. It’s got everything you want and more:

• -165 dBm sensitivity, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels
• 5V friendly design and only 20mA current draw
• Breadboard friendly + two mounting holes
• RTC battery-compatible
• Built-in datalogging
• PPS output on fix
• >25Km altitude
• Internal patch antenna + u.FL connector for external active antenna
• Fix status LED

…all for under $40!

The breakout is built around the MTK3339 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and blinks once every 15 seconds when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Two features that really stand out about version 3 MTK3339-based module is the external antenna functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. The module has a standard ceramic patch antenna that gives it -165 dB sensitivity, but when you want to have a bigger antenna, you can snap on any 3V active GPS antenna via the uFL connector. The module will automatically detect the active antenna and switch over! Most GPS antennas use SMA connectors so you may want to pick up one of our uFL to SMA adapters.

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have a microcontroller send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the microcontroller can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

We’ve tested this version of the Ultimate GPS in a high-altitude balloon, and it kept fix up to 27km!

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

We have a nice fancy library for GPS usage, with background parsing and can set and query the built in GPS logging capability (called LOCUS). A full tutorial is also available, which has tons of information about the module, how to use the data logger and more

Read more.

Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit, be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Have you tried the new “Adafruit Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro” ? It’s our tweaked distribution for teaching electronics using the Raspberry Pi. But wait, there’s more! Try our new Raspberry Pi WebIDE! The easiest way to learn programming on a Raspberry Pi.

Want a FREE RASPBERRY PI? All orders over $350 get a FREE Raspberry Pi Model B with 512MB RAM!

Dominic Wilcox’s No Place Like Home GPS shoes via BookofJoe.

Dominic Wilcox has created a fully functional prototype pair of shoes that will guide you home no matter where you are in the world…

“I was commissioned by the Global Footprint project in Northamptonshire, a place famous for shoe making, to create some shoes. I decided to make a pair of shoes that can navigate you to anywhere you wish to travel to. I thought about the Wizard of Oz and how Dorothy could click her shoes together to go home. After uploading your required destination to the shoes via a piece of custom made mapping software and a USB cable, the GPS, which is embedded in the heal, is activated by a heal click. It then communicates to the wearer via a ring of LED lights to point in the required direction. The shoe with the GPS wirelessly communicates with the right shoe that has a progress bar of lights to show how close you are to the destination.”
Dominic Wilcox 

In order to create the fully functioning prototype shoes Wilcox worked with interactive arts and technology expert Becky Stewart and local Northampton shoe maker Stamp Shoes to create the bespoke leather shoes.

Getting GPS to work on a Raspberry Pi. Peter writes -

One of the tasks I want to use a Raspberry PI for is to take over the duties of an existing ITX based linux box running my weather station. Now in theory that should be pretty simple as the current setup uses pywws to connect to the station and as that’s written in python it should work.

Now the Raspberry PI has no onboard Real time clock – which means it needs to use an NTP server to get the time when it starts. Usually you would use the default settings and allow the PI to connect to thenet for it’s time. Now this is fine if you have a working net connection but what if you are not connected to the net? You might be in the field running the PI on batteries.

As the other projects I have lined up for it is to connect my Meade LX200GPS telescope to the local network or to work with my (in prototype) radio telescopes so having an accurate clock is going to be required.

Now the obvious solution here is to use GPS as a time source. GPS works by having a constellation of satellites in orbit and each one carries a highly accurate atomic clock & broadcast both their current position and the time. A GPS receiver then receives these signals and, as long as it has enough satellites and workout where you are by comparing the times from those clocks.

So this article shows how to use A GPS receiver with the Rasperry PI – although these instructions are not specific to the PI.

We will also get this working with the Adafruit ultimate GPS – next week probably!

Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit, be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Have you tried the new “Adafruit Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro” ? It’s our tweaked distribution for teaching electronics using the Raspberry Pi.

aquarat in the Raspberry Pi forums is using the Adafruit Ultimate GPS on a Raspberry Pi, neato!

Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout – 66 channel w/10 Hz updates. New! Version 3 comes with the latest module which has external antenna support and Pulse-Per-Second output

We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire – that’s why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the Ultimate GPS module, so we named it that.

It’s got everything you want and more:

• -165 dBm sensitivity, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels
• 5V friendly design and only 20mA current draw
• Breadboard friendly + two mounting holes
• RTC battery-compatible
• Built-in datalogging
• PPS output on fix
• >25Km altitude
• Internal patch antenna + u.FL connector for external active antenna
• Fix status LED

…all for under $40!

The breakout is built around the MTK3339 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and blinks once every 15 seconds when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Two features that really stand out about version 3 MTK3339-based module is the external antenna functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. The module has a standard ceramic patch antenna that gives it -165 dB sensitivity, but when you want to have a bigger antenna, you can snap on any 3V active GPS antenna via the uFL connector. The module will automatically detect the active antenna and switch over! Most GPS antennas use SMA connectors so you may want to pick up one of our uFL to SMA adapters.

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have a microcontroller send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the microcontroller can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

We’ve tested this version of the Ultimate GPS in a high-altitude balloon, and it kept fix up to 27km!

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

Tech specs:

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude for PA6H: tested at 27,000 Meters
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• MTK3339 Operating current: 25mA tracking, 20 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

Breakout board details:

• Weight (not including coin cell or holder): 8.5g
• Dimensions (not including coin cell or holder): 25.5mm x 35mm x 6.5mm / 1.0″ x 1.35″ x 0.25″

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out. We also have a nice fancy library for GPS usage, with background parsing and can set and query the built in GPS logging capability (called LOCUS). A full tutorial is also available, which has tons of information about the module, how to use the data logger and more

Read more!

Updated tutorial: Adafruit Ultimate GPS @ Adafruit Learning System. We have updated our Ultimate GPS tutorial, better than ever, covers the changes in the V3 of the module with external antenna support!

If you are an educator, or a student who is learning how to use an Arduino or other basic microcontroller, learning how to use a GPS module is a great way to go from blinking LEDs to interacting with the outside world.  GPS modules are remarkably easy to use, and they open the door for many neat projects.  Here are just a few projects to inspire you:

Wonder if you’re giving your dog the exercise she needs? Like electronics? Make your own GPS dog collar!

Build a GPS enabled electronics bracer.

Make a tiny GPS tracker inside of a mini Altoids tin.

Automatically set the time on your clock by adding a GPS module!

Adafruit for Educators! #backtoschool

Please visit our educator’s section to learn more about:

• Adafruit volume discounts and programs for educators, discounts galore!
• Adafruit electronic kits, products, Arduino & Raspberry Pi products for education, we have’em!
• Adafruit products and Arduino for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Used in schools!
• The Adafruit System, the best way to learn electronics!
• Adafruit iron-on “skill badges” / patches and partners, celebrate skills building!
• Resources for educators, our picks for educators!
• Adafruit for educators content on Adafruit.com, daily posts for educators!
• Circuit Playground – iPad/iPhone App For Educators, volume discounts via Apple’s edu program!
• Adafruit copyright permission for educators, educators can use them, hassle-free!

Visit.

NEW PRODUCT – GPS Antenna – External Active Antenna – 3-5V 28dB 5 Meter SMA. Give your Ultimate GPS V3 a boost with this external active antenna. This GPS antenna draws about 10mA and will give you an additional 28 dB of gain. It’s got a 5 meter long cable so it will easily reach wherever you need it to. The antenna is magnetic so it will stick to the top of a car or truck (or any other steel structure).

Comes with a standard SMA connector on the end. If you want to connect to our Ultimate GPS V3 module, be sure to pick up a uFL to SMA adapter!

GPS not included.

In stock and shipping now!

We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire – that’s why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the Ultimate GPS module, so we named it that.

It’s got everything you want and more:

• -165 dBm sensitivity, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels
• 5V friendly design and only 20mA current draw
• Breadboard friendly + two mounting holes
• RTC battery-compatible
• Built-in datalogging
• PPS output on fix
• >25Km altitude
• Internal patch antenna + u.FL connector for external active antenna
• Fix status LED

…all for under $40!

The breakout is built around the MTK3339 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and blinks once every 15 seconds when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Two features that really stand out about version 3 MTK3339-based module is the external antenna functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. The module has a standard ceramic patch antenna that gives it -165 dB sensitivity, but when you want to have a bigger antenna, you can snap on any 3V active GPS antenna via the uFL connector. The module will automatically detect the active antenna and switch over! Most GPS antennas use SMA connectors so you may want to pick up one of our uFL to SMA adapters.

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have a microcontroller send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the microcontroller can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

We’ve tested this version of the Ultimate GPS in a high-altitude balloon, and it kept fix up to 27km!

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

Tech specs:

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude for PA6H: tested at 27,000 Meters
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• MTK3339 Operating current: 25mA tracking, 20 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

Breakout board details:

• Weight (not including coin cell or holder): 8.5g
• Dimensions (not including coin cell or holder): 25.5mm x 35mm x 6.5mm / 1.0″ x 1.35″ x 0.25″

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out. We also have a nice fancy library for GPS usage, with background parsing and can set and query the built in GPS logging capability (called LOCUS). A full tutorial is also available, which has tons of information about the module, how to use the data logger and more

In stock and shipping!

Instructables user Ossum writes:

I always record GPS traces of my cycle expeditions, as well as often recording videos, so when I go somewhere interesting I like to combine the two when I get back home. After coming across Stamen’s beautiful watercolour maps, I knew that I had found the missing ingredient. My process now is twofold, I use a Python script to retrieve the map and plot the GPS trace to an image, then I overlay and animate the images in a video editor. I have tried to write a guide that will be easy to follow for both the novice python programmer as well as the novice video editor.

Really Small(s) GPS @ The Custom Geek. Jeremy writes -

Hi Adateam! Here is a post on the small GPS receiver and OLED display I had on show and tell. There is also a Flickr set here. Code is on Github, and links to it are on the post.

Wonder if you’re giving your dog the exercise she needs? Like electronics? Make your own GPS dog collar! The progress bar fills up as you stroll around the neighborhood. Set your goal ahead of time and watch the miles rack up. See the full guide and download the open source code at the Adafruit Learning System. Watch the video on YouTube (please subscribe to our channel!) and Vimeo. This project was a collaboration with Tyler Cooper!

You will need:

• Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout – 66 channel w/10 Hz updates – MTK3339 chipset
• Atmega32u4 Breakout Board
• Monochrome 128×32 OLED graphic display
• 3 x AAA Battery Holder and batteries
• stranded hookup wire
• wire-edged ribbon
• scrap of fabric
• electrical tape or dark nail polish (optional)

Tools:

• Soldering iron
• wire strippers
• pliers
• scissors
• needle and thread
• iron
• sewing pins
• sewing machine (optional)

This week’s featured photo is Andrew D2010′s in-progress GPS clock. He writes:

Want to be featured on Flickr pool Friday? Add your Adafruits to the Adafruit Flickr pool.

Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout – 66 channel w/10 Hz updates [MTK3339 chipset]. We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire – that’s why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the Ultimate GPS module, so we named it that. It’s got everything you want and more, with -165 dBm sensitivity, 5V friendly design, breadboard friendly, mounting holes, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels, RTC battery-compatible and has a status LED all for under $40! The newest version we carry (using the MTK3339 chipset, as of March 26th) adds built in datalogging capability and high altitude functionality with even lower power.

The breakout is built around the MTK3339 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and blinks once every 15 seconds when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Two things that really stand out about the new MTK3339-based module is the high-altitude functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. Most modules permit NMEA output only when the module is traveling under 515 mph AND when its at an altitude of under 60,000 ft (18,000 m). This is to prevent the modules from being used for military use. However, as the requirements are not as strict, we’ve requested the factory to keep the speed limit but remove the altitude restriction. We trust that the factory has removed the limit but we have not done independent verification yet. If this feature is critical, please do not purchase until we’ve personally verified it!

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have a microcontroller send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the microcontroller can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out. We will have example sketches for using the internal logging system shortly, please hold on while we clean it up!

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3329: 18,000 meters
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3339: no limit
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• MTK3329 Operating current: 48mA tracking, 37 mA current draw during navigation
• MTK3339 Operating current: 25mA tracking, 20 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

Breakout board details:

• Weight (not including coin cell or holder): 8.5g
• Dimensions (not including coin cell or holder): 23mm x 35mm x 8mm / 0.9″ x 1.35″ x 0.3″

Bill shows the world’s smallest atomic clock and then describes how the first one made in the 1950s worked. He describes in detail the use of cesium vapor to create a feedback or control loop to control a quartz oscillator. He highlights the importance of atomic team by describing briefly how a GPS receiver uses four satellites to find its position. You can learn more about atomic clocks and the GPS system in the EngineerGuy team’s new book Eight Amazing Engineering Stories http://www.engineerguy.com/elements

Ethan writes -

The Kaymont weather balloon arrived today, attached a few pictures, including the Ultimate GPS for scale.  The balloon is 2.6 pounds of paper-thin latex, inflating to eight feet in diameter!

Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout – 66 channel w/10 Hz updates [MTK3339 chipset]. We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire – that’s why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the Ultimate GPS module, so we named it that. It’s got everything you want and more, with -165 dBm sensitivity, 5V friendly design, breadboard friendly, mounting holes, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels, RTC battery-compatible and has a status LED all for under $40! The newest version we carry (using the MTK3339 chipset, as of March 26th) adds built in datalogging capability and high altitude functionality with even lower power.

The breakout is built around the MTK3339 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and blinks once every 15 seconds when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Two things that really stand out about the new MTK3339-based module is the high-altitude functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. Most modules permit NMEA output only when the module is traveling under 515 mph AND when its at an altitude of under 60,000 ft (18,000 m). This is to prevent the modules from being used for military use. However, as the requirements are not as strict, we’ve requested the factory to keep the speed limit but remove the altitude restriction. We trust that the factory has removed the limit but we have not done independent verification yet. If this feature is critical, please do not purchase until we’ve personally verified it!

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have a microcontroller send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the microcontroller can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out. We will have example sketches for using the internal logging system shortly, please hold on while we clean it up!

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3329: 18,000 meters
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3339: no limit
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• MTK3329 Operating current: 48mA tracking, 37 mA current draw during navigation
• MTK3339 Operating current: 25mA tracking, 20 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

Breakout board details:

• Weight (not including coin cell or holder): 8.5g
• Dimensions (not including coin cell or holder): 23mm x 35mm x 8mm / 0.9″ x 1.35″ x 0.3″

In stock and shipping now!

The GPS Dot and its Discontents @ Inside GNSS.

What is the predictable endpoint of the trend toward ever cheaper, ever smaller, and ever more sensitive GPS receivers? It’s the GPS dot: a miniature GPS tracking device that we’ll buy in bulk and stick on almost everything of value that we own. But the dot has a dark side: the capability it enables for secret and potentially malicious tracking of others. The need to protect ourselves from invasive tracking will motivate use of subversive tools such as GPS jammers and spoofers. A rise in the use of these illicit tools has the potential to wreak havoc on the «good» GPS receivers — those built into our critical systems and infrastructure. The result: A looming showdown between privacy and GPS integrity. 

Hey Adafruit! I was on the show and tell this past Saturday with my handheld PIP-Boy GPS. You guys asked for the link to the write up, so here you go. Thanks! This wouldn’t have been possible without your awesome products and write-ups!

So what exactly is a PIP-Boy, you ask? For those unfamiliar, a PIP-Boy is a device used by the protagonist in the popular Fallout series of video games for navigation, radiation detection, data storage/playback, and inventory management. Being a major fan of the franchise, I decided I wanted to make my own version, but no mere prop, I wanted a functional device that I could really use. This version is very much just a working prototype and a platform for later development as I have many upgrades planned for future development. My ultimate goal is to build a fully functioning PIP-Boy 3000 from scratch, so this is my platform upon which I can build up to that level.

Noah Friedman took advantage of our GPS unit‘s realtime clock function to keep his Ice Tube on time, all the time.

Want to be featured on Flickr pool Friday? Add your Adafruits to the Adafruit Flickr pool.

Read more!

It has -165 dBm sensitivity, 10 Hz updates, 66 channels, built in RTC (requires an external battery), fix indicator output to drive an LED, PPS output, ultra low power (only 20mA!), high-altitude capable, built in data-logging with 64K FLASH storage, and an enable pin. You can power the module with up to 5V but logic levels are all 3.3V so you may need level shifting if using in a 5V system. All for under $30!

The module is built around the MTK3339 , a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS chipset that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

Two things that really stand out about this MTK3339 module is the high-altitude functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. Most modules permit NMEA output only when the module is traveling under 515 m/s AND when its at an altitude of under 60,000 ft (18,000 m). This is to prevent the modules from being used for military use. However, as the requirements are not as strict, we’ve requested the factory to keep the speed limit but remove the altitude restriction. We trust that the factory has removed the limit but we have not done independent verification yet. If this feature is critical, please do not purchase until we’ve personally verified it!

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have a microcontroller send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the microcontroller can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

This item is just the GPS module itself, no breakout board or other components included. The module can be soldered by hand without too much difficulty, we have it in our Eagle Library (GPS_FGPMMOPA6C) to make it easy to use. If you’re interested in getting started fast, check out our Ultimate GPS breakout board which comes all assembled and tested.

We have a nice fancy Arduino library for GPS usage, with background parsing and can set and query the built in GPS logging capability (called LOCUS). A full tutorial for the breakout is also available, which has tons of information about the module, how to use the data logger and more

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Module Size: 16mm x 16mm x 6.5mm
• Module Weight: 5.7 grams
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3329: 18,000 meters
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3339: no limit
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• MTK3329 Operating current: 48mA tracking, 37 mA current draw during navigation
• MTK3339 Operating current: 25mA tracking, 20 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

In stock and shipping!

The breakout is built around the MTK3339 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is incredibly low, only 20 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and blinks once every 15 seconds when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Two things that really stand out about the new MTK3339-based module is the high-altitude functionality and the the built in data-logging capability. Most modules permit NMEA output only when the module is traveling under 515 mph AND when its at an altitude of under 60,000 ft (18,000 m). This is to prevent the modules from being used for military use. However, as the requirements are not as strict, we’ve requested the factory to keep the speed limit but remove the altitude restriction. We trust that the factory has removed the limit but we have not done independent verification yet. If this feature is critical, please do not purchase until we’ve personally verified it!

The other cool feature of the new MTK3339-based module (which we have tested with great success) is the built in datalogging ability. Since there is a microcontroller inside the module, with some empty FLASH memory, the newest firmware now allows sending commands to do internal logging to that FLASH. The only thing is that you do need to have a microcontroller send the “Start Logging” command. However, after that message is sent, the microcontroller can go to sleep and does not need to wake up to talk to the GPS anymore to reduce power consumption. The time, date, longitude, latitude, and height is logged every 15 seconds and only when there is a fix. The internal FLASH can store about 16 hours of data, it will automatically append data so you don’t have to worry about accidentally losing data if power is lost. It is not possible to change what is logged and how often, as its hardcoded into the module but we found that this arrangement covers many of the most common GPS datalogging requirements.

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out. We will have example sketches for using the internal logging system shortly, please hold on while we clean it up!

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3329: 18,000 meters
• Maximum Altitude for MTK3339: no limit
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• MTK3329 Operating current: 48mA tracking, 37 mA current draw during navigation
• MTK3339 Operating current: 25mA tracking, 20 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

Breakout board details:

• Weight (not including coin cell or holder): 8.5g
• Dimensions (not including coin cell or holder): 23mm x 35mm x 8mm / 0.9″ x 1.35″ x 0.3″

In stock and shipping now!

The breakout is built around the MTK3329 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is also reasonable, only 37 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and turns off when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out.

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude: 18,000 meters
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• Operating current: 48mA tracking, 37 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

Breakout board details:

• Weight (not including coin cell or holder): 8.5g
• Dimensions (not including coin cell or holder): 23mm x 35mm x 8mm / 0.9″ x 1.35″ x 0.3″

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out.

• MTK3329 command set sheet for changing the fix data rate, baud rate, sentence outputs, etc!

Datasheet for the GPS module itself

In stock and shipping now!

The breakout is built around the MTK3329 chipset, a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. It can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Power usage is also reasonable, only 37 mA during navigation.

Best of all, we added all the extra goodies you could ever want: a ultra-low dropout 3.3V regulator so you can power it with 3.3-5VDC in, 5V level safe inputs, ENABLE pin so you can turn off the module using any microcontroller pin or switch, a footprint for optional CR1220 coin cell to keep the RTC running and allow warm starts and a tiny bright red LED. The LED blinks at about 1Hz while it’s searching for satellites and turns off when a fix is found to conserve power. If you want to have an LED on all the time, we also provide the FIX signal out on a pin so you can put an external LED on.

Comes with one fully assembled and tested module, a piece of header you can solder to it for breadboarding, and a CR1220 coin cell holder. A CR1220 coin cell is not included, but we have them in the shop if you’d like to use the GPS’s RTC

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out.

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Patch Antenna Size: 15mm x 15mm x 4mm
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Maximum Altitude: 18,000 meters
• Maximum Velocity: 515m/s
• Vin range: 3.0-5.5VDC
• Operating current: 48mA tracking, 37 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• DGPS/WAAS/EGNOS supported
• FCC E911 compliance and AGPS support (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )
• Up to 210 PRN channels
• Jammer detection and reduction
• Multi-path detection and compensation

Breakout board details:

• Weight (not including coin cell or holder): 8.5g
• Dimensions (not including coin cell or holder): 23mm x 35mm x 8mm / 0.9″ x 1.35″ x 0.3″

Get started in a jiffy: wire up 3-5VDC to the VIN pin, GND is common ground, and listen on the TX pin for 9600 baud data. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out.

• MTK3329 command set sheet for changing the fix data rate, baud rate, sentence outputs, etc!

Datasheet for the GPS module itself

In stock and shipping now!

I happened to be digging through Google searches a couple weeks back, and I stumbled upon an amazing looking hack of the Coobro Geo.  A regular here at Adafruit, Stephanie, has done some nice work with a custom Chronodot library, and other hacks of Adafruit products.  Using the open source schematic of the Coobro Geo, Stephanie managed to strap on an Adafruit OLED, and a lipo battery she had laying around to create her own GPS tracking device.  Here is how Stephanie describes it:

In a nutshell – I was thinking of making an arduino/gps device to help me track walks. I wanted to know the time and distance I was walking. When I saw your Coobro Geo project I realized that would be a perfect platform to build on.

For the LEDs, I’m using them to indicate the GPS accuracy – if there’s no signal or it’s too poor to use, the three LEDs flash. As the signal gets better, it goes to two, then one, then if the signal is excellent, none of the LEDs blink. The OLED screen displays some basic stuff on the top, like lat, long, UTC time. The push-button toggles the ‘track’ mode, so once it’s on and has a fix, one push starts it tracking – so it starts counting time, and every 10 seconds it checks how far it’s travelled. This info is displayed on the lower half of the screen. A second push of the button stops the tracking, so you can see the total distance covered, the time, and the calculated average speed. And finally, a long-push of the button clears the data.

I haven’t finished working on it yet, I was also planning on having it save the readings to the EEPROM, like every 10 seconds (or once a minute or whatever) I’d have it save the lat lon and utc stamp. Then I could dump that info at home and play it back over a map or something.

I am using a LiPo for power, I had one I’d pulled out of a dead handheld gaming device which was almost exactly the same size as the Coobro PCB. I added a JST connector so I can just unplug the battery and plug it in to a charger when I need to top it up.

I left off one of the distance LEDs because I wanted to keep the I2C pins available “just in case” and left the other LED off because… it had to be symmetrical! hehe. To connect the OLED I used several of the directional LED pins, but I did wire three of the direction LEDs up – they’re just hidden beneath the screen. The screen is held on by the wires that I used to connect it, most of which are on the left-hand side. On the right hand side there’s two wires that are not used, other than to hold the screen down. So if I needed to access the uC for any reason, I only have to desolder two wires and the OLED will fold away to one side.

Finally, I wired the power switch for ‘always on’ and replaced the jumper with the power switch, so switching it to ‘battery’ turns it on and switching it to the ‘ftdi’ side turns it off (unless you have the ftdi plugged in of course). The downside is that this means the GPS does not get that backup power to keep its settings. But I realized it would lose that every time I unplugged the battery to recharge it, so I figured it wouldn’t matter if it had to coldstart each time. It only takes about 2 minutes to get a lock and solid signal even indoors.

I totally love that gps module by the way. It’s my first experience working with a gps and it blows me away how sensitive it is. I found it was ‘too talkative’ though so I figured out how to send it the NMEA control info to have it only send the two sentences I required.

Cheers!

-Stephanie

p.s. Just remembered I had to modify the tinygps library. For ‘signal quality’ I am actualy using HDOP (horizontal degree of precision) but the tinygps library was ignoring that value. It’s a bit of an arbitrary thing, but the lower-the-better and I figured i’d want to know if it was accurately tracking my walk or not.  I’ve included my modified library as well as the sketch… I also increased the buffer in the new soft serial library, as I found it was having trouble keeping up with the gps.

You can download the updated tinygps library here, and view Stephanie’s code over at Coobro Labs.  Don’t own a Coobro Geo?  Pick one up here!

Coobro Geo owner and active user Gerard (call sign DL8SEL) has been pumping out updates to the Coobro Geo code and he is finally ready to show it off.  We are blown away with what Gerard has done here.  Here is the long list of new features he has developed:

1. 32 breadcrumb coordinate storage in eeprom
2. 32 geo coordinate storage in eeprom
3. Active geo and breadcrumb coordinates shown on the distance LEDs in binary
4. Activity logging: every time you turn on the device it logs the date/time/location of your start (10 revolving data logs)
5. Read and write coordinates and breadcrumbs via serial communication (a write command allows you to store breadcrumbs lat/lon in a specific location in the table, a read command shows all non-zero breadcrums lat/lon)
6. When you turn on the device, it will flash the software version in binary
7. When you turn off, then turn on the device, it will return to the last coordinate you were navigating to
8. The close-up distance display can be changed easily with a #define macro (from 5 to 10 or xx meter if you want to use it in a car)
9. When you turn on the device, it will transfer all wp of the program code into the corresponding eeprom wp storage area if the corresponding storage field is empty

A special thanks to Gerard for all of his hard work on the code!  This is what makes open source great.

Make sure to view the header in Gerard’s sketch for instructions on how to read/write to the Coobro Geo over serial.  Download Gerard’s updated code on GitHub.

Not a Coobro Geo owner?  Pick one up here!

The picture above is the entirety of Coobro Labs.  Coobro Labs is run out of my 800 sq. ft. condo in Minneapolis, MN.  This is where we kit and ship the Coobro Geo, and work on future open source hardware kits.  The reason for sharing this with you is to hopefully encourage those of you out there who think you need a lot of room, and a lot of expensive equipment to start your own KitBiz.  Let me break down the things that we find useful, and things we couldn’t live without.

1. An impulse sealer – This is a must have piece of equipment that we picked up brand new off of ebay for about $50.  This tool takes rolls of anti-static tubing (see item #2) and heat seals the ends to create bags on-the-fly.  You can buy impulse sealers with or without a built in cutter.  The cutter isn’t really necessary, as it is just as easy to cut the bags with a scissors.
2. Rolls of anti-static tubing – These are 500 foot rolls of anti-static tubing picked up from uline.com.  The reason for buying the rolls of anti-static tubing versus simply buying pre-made bags is that you can adjust the size of the bag to whatever length you want, and they are cheap at $25-30 per roll.
3. Laser printer – Below our workbench, we have a used Kyocera EP C170N laser printer that we picked up off of Craigslist for less than $50.  While it isn’t mandatory, laser printers are much more cost effective, and the ink won’t be affected by moisture.  We use the laser printer mainly to print out shipping labels.
4. High quality soldering iron – Having a decent soldering iron is what I feel is the most important tool I own.  The difference between a quality soldering iron and a cheap hardware store model is huge.  I used to find soldering frustrating and stressful, now I find it enjoyable and relaxing.  We have an Aoyue model 2900 soldering iron, but Adafruit’s Hakko FX-888 is a great choice.
5. Fume extractor – A fume extractor is one of my most recent additions, and I can’t believe it took me so long to get one.  There are a lot of toxins in solder, and breathing them in is very dangerous.  I used to simply solder in a well ventilated area, and hold my breath until the smoke cleared.  This is about as stupid as closing your eyes to avoid the arc flash while welding without a mask.  I own the Weller WSA350 model and it works really well.
6. Hot air reflow station – Once I started to get into soldering surface mounted components, this is the first tool I bought.  Before I made my own reflow soldering oven, I used this tool to solder surface mounted components.  While you certainly can use a good soldering iron to solder surface mounted components, this tool will save you a lot of headache.  We have the Aoyue 852A++ model, which can be had for around $150.
7. Reflow oven controller – We use the Rocket Scream Electronics Reflow Oven Controller ($40) Arduino shield.  We have done some testing with our reflow oven by simply cranking the oven temperature up until the solder reflows, then shutting the oven off and letting the board cool in the oven with the door closed.  This seems to work just as good as using a reflow oven controller that follows a specific reflow curve.
8. Toaster oven – This is a toaster oven that we bought in a Woot-Off for about $30.  It is really nice because it has a ‘Stay On’ feature, and it’s a convection oven, so there are no hot spots.  If you don’t plan on working with surface mounted components, you don’t need to worry about the last three items.
9. All-in-one printer – I have owned this HP PSC 1510 inkjet printer for a few years now and it has worked really well for me.  The important thing here is that it has a built in scanner.  You will need a scanner to be able to scan your signed purchase orders for component suppliers.  A scanner basically replaces a fax machine.
10. Component storage – I have a nice collection of Sparkfun shipping boxes that I have saved and used for component storage.  Simply slap a label on the top or front of the box to remember what is inside.  These also work great for project boxes.  You can also see other items we have used for component storage such as mint tins.
11. More component storage – When you are just starting out, this is really all you need.  We store all of the components needed to build up Coobro Geo kits in this small parts organizer from our local hardware store.  Through hole components, even in quantities of 1000+, take up very little room.  Eventually, as we release more kits, we will need to upgrade, but this system works well for the time being.
12. Ikea hacked workbench – My workbench is really just a bunch of components I picked up from Ikea.  The shelving is just Ikea CD storage boxes stacked in between some Ikea birch shelves.  The CD storage boxes work great for tool, parts, wire, and other large component storage.

As you can see, there really isn’t a whole lot to Coobro Labs.  There are obviously some items missing from the picture, such as shipping supplies, but this really is the majority of the Coobro Labs kit making business.  If you have a great idea for an open source electronics kit that you think others would also be interested in, there really isn’t anything standing in your way.

For more inspiration, see how we designed and developed the Coobro Geo, read Ladyada’s other kitbiz tips, or join the kitbiz conversation on the Adafruit forums.

NEW PRODUCT – UP501 Breadboard-friendly 66 channel GPS module w/10 Hz updates. When we saw this breadboard-friendly module used in the Coobro Geo kit, we were excited to carry it as a separate product. It’s a no-nonsense, high-quality GPS module that can track up to 22 satellites on 66 channels, has an excellent high-sensitivity receiver (-165 dB tracking!), and a built in antenna. The chipset is the latest MTK3329 which can do up to 10 location updates a second for high speed, high sensitivity logging or tracking. Of course the icing on the cake is the use of 6 x 0.1″ spaced holes on the side which make it trivial to add to any breadboard or perf-board project. This has the same chipset as what we’re using for the FLORA GPS module.

The only thing you’ll need to watch for is that the module is designed to run at about 3.3V, and shouldn’t be powered by 5.0V. If you’re using an Arduino, simply connect the GPS power pin to the 3.3V pin. If you want to configure the module, you’ll want to put a 10K resistor divider on the RX pin so you don’t put 5V on the data pin. We include these resistors, as well as a 6 pin header you can solder to the module in order to plug it into a breadboard.

Get started in a jiffy: after soldering together the module, follow our wiring diagram to connect it to your Arduino or other microcontroller. Then run our example sketch which will allow you to quickly set the update rate and select which NMEA sentences you want to have spit out.

• Satellites: 22 tracking, 66 searching
• Update rate: 1 to 10 Hz
• Position Accuracy: 1.8 meters
• Velocity Accuracy: 0.1 meters/s
• Warm/cold start: 34 seconds
• Acquisition sensitivity: -145 dBm
• Tracking sensitivity: -165 dBm
• Operating voltage: 3.0-4.2VDC
• Operating current: 25 mA current draw during navigation
• Output: NMEA 0183, 9600 baud default
• WAAS/EGNOS supported
• Weight: 9 grams
• Dimensions: 22mm x 22mm x 8mm

In stock and shipping immediately.

NEW PRODUCT – Coobro Geo Kit – DIY GPS Geocaching Pendant. The Coobro Geo is an easy to assemble GPS navigation kit. Upload coordinates, turn it on, and the Coobro Geo will help you navigate to any destination on earth by using LEDs to show you the correct direction and distance remaining. Before you leave on your quest, press and hold the breadcrumbs button and the Coobro Geo will remember your location and help you navigate back. Store up to five pre-entered destination coordinates and five breadcrumbs, or modify the open source code and store as many coordinates as you want.

We met the maker of this project our weekly ASK AN ENGINEER show-and-tell, and liked his product so much we wanted to carry it!

Use the Coobro Geo to help you find geocaches, store and navigate between hot fishing spots, complete a scavenger hunt, or simply help you find your car after a hike.

Features:

• High quality Fastrax UP501 GPS module with 66-channel receiver
• All through hole kit is easy to solder and requires minimal tools
• Completely open source hardware and software
• Program the software using the Arduino IDE
• Stores breadcrumbs in EEPROM so it remembers locations when turned off

Kit Includes:

• 1x Fastrax UP501 GPS Module
• 1x Atmega328 DIP Processor
• 1x Coobro Geo PCB
• 14x Bright Blue LEDs
• 2x 10 Ohm Resistor Networks
• 4x .1uF Ceramic Capacitors
• 1x 10uF Electrolytic Capacitor
• 2x Slide Switches
• 1x Push button
• 3x Header pins
• 1x Atmega328 Socket
• 1x 8MHz Ceramic Oscillator
• 1x AAA Enclosed Batter Holder
• 1x Lanyard
• 1x Power Supply Jumper

This kit requires assembly by the user. It’s not a difficult kit, and can be put together even by a beginner using a soldering iron, solder, diagonal cutters and other small hand tools. Notice: in order for this kit to work, you’ll need to have an FTDI cable or an FTDI breakout board such as our FTDI Friend they are not included. You may also want to pick up some AAA batteries, 3 are required and are also not included.

Open Source Hardware: This kit is 100% open source hardware. The makers provide the Eagle Cad design files, schematics, and software for your hacking pleasure.

In stock and shipping now!

Military jamming of GPS in Scotland suspended…

Jamming of global positioning signals (GPS) during Europe’s largest military exercise has been suspended, following complaints from fishermen. The Royal Navy issued warnings in September and October that GPS in parts of Scotland would be disrupted during Exercise Joint Warrior.

Needs a little record player to tell you the directions

Feb. 14, 1989: GPS Enters Orbit | This Day In Tech | Wired.com…

The first of 24 satellites that will make up the global positioning system is put into orbit.

GPS revolutionized navigation, both at sea and on land, by providing position reports with unprecedented, pinpoint accuracy. Each satellite is placed in a specific orbit at a specific altitude to ensure that four or five satellites are always within range from any point on the planet. A GPS receiver picks up signals from the satellites and trilaterates the data to fix the position.

This satellite system is so valuable — besides navigation, GPS has applications in mapmaking, land-surveying and the accurate telling of time — that even though it was developed and is maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense, it’s been available since 1993 without charge to anyone, anywhere on Earth.

Although GPS has eliminated the need for determining a ship’s position by shooting the sun or stars, no sailor worthy of the name would put to sea, even now, without the ability to use a sextant. Electronic navigation devices fail, and even GPS isn’t immune to the odd glitch, and the open ocean is a lonely place to be if you don’t know where you are.

GPS shield for Arduino kit with data-logging capability. After building this easy kit, you can create your own geo-locative project.

This shield is designed to make GPS projects straight-forward and easy. Plug in a supported GPS module and run any of the example Arduino sketches for parsing GPS data (NMEA sentences), logging to a FAT16-formatted SD flash memory card and storing analog sensor data along with precise location, date and time in CSV format.

The shield is designed specifically for use with the EM-406a module: the small surface-mount GPS connector is pre-soldered for you. (It is a high-quality engine with quick time-to-fix and excellent reception, even in downtown New York City!) It can also be used with a Tyco A1035D, EB-85A or Lassen IQ module (see the webpage for more details).

GPS module, Arduino, and SD memory card are not included. Please check the parts list to see what is included. Please note that the library is rather bulky, requiring 12K of flash and more than 1/2 K of RAM for buffering SD card memory blocks. The examples work fine on ATmega168-based Arduino (or compatible) but for more complex projects I strongly recommend upgrading to an ATmega328!

Run-time is approximately 3 hours with a 9V battery and up to 12 hours using a MintyBoost, assuming no power-saving features are enabled.

NEW PRODUCT – Basic GPS module – PMB-648. We picked up a few of these lower-cost GPS modules specifically for those that want to use them for time-keeping purposes. They function perfectly fine as a GPS, but they are not as accurate or low-power as the EM-406 modules we carry for location applications. For that reason, we don’t suggest them for precise, battery-powered location logging.

However! They will still get you precision time, can get a fix while near a window, and have a built in RTC. Great for hacking your Ice Tube Clock (as seen in our tutorial) or MONOCHRON, or other DIY clocks.

The PMB-648 GPS features 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition of NMEA0183 v2.2 data for robotics navigation, telemetry, or experimentation. There is a built-in patch antenna; rechargeable battery for memory and RTC backup; cable for power, TTL and RS-232 connections.

• SiRFstarIII chipset
• 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition
• Built-in rechargeable battery for memory and RTC backup
• Supports NMEA0183 V2.2 data protocol
• Includes cable for power, TTL and RS-232 connections
• Power requirements: 3.3V – 5V DC @ 65mA
• Communications: TTL or RS-232 asynchronous serial @ 4800 bps
• Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x .35 in (32 x 32 x 9 mm)
• Operating temp range:o32 to +158 oF (0 to +70 oC)

Product Specification + Connection Diagram (.pdf)

In stock and shipping now.

Fun hack for the Ice Tube clock! Who doesn’t want satellite-precise timing? This firmware mod allows you to add any 4800 TTL NMEA GPS module. Check that the module can run from 5V power, and has a wire that outputs NMEA 4800 baud at TTL levels. Do NOT use any RS-232 level outputs, they can easily damage your clock!

Devlin writes -

Our favorite Soviet-Era display that found its way into a present-day kit now displays time from orbiting satellites. A GPS module patched into an Ice Tube Clock with modified firmware will be able to provide a satellite-synced time. The firmware, modified by yours truly, parses the GPS module’s NMEA RMC sentences for the time and date information and then updates the clock’s time and date. Fun was had making sure the alarm went off at the correct times when the time was updated by the GPS. Overall, it was a fun project and we look forward to seeing additional Ice Tube Clock hacks.

We picked up a few of these now-discontinued GPS modules specifically for those that want to use them for time-keeping purposes. They use an older chipset and our testing determined that while they function perfectly fine as a GPS, they are not as accurate as the EM-406 modules we carry for location applications. For that reason, we don’t suggest them for location logging.

However! They will still get you precision time, can get a fix while near a window, and have a built in RTC. Great for hacking your Ice Tube Clock (as seen in our tutorial) or other DIY clocks.

• SONY CXD2951GA-4 chipset
• 12 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition
• Built-in rechargeable battery for memory and RTC backup
• Supports NMEA0183 V2.2 data protocol
• Includes cable for power, TTL and RS-232 connections
• Power requirements: 3.3V – 5V DC @ 80mA
• Communications: TTL or RS-232 asynchronous serial @ 4800 bps
• Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x .35 in (32 x 32 x 9 mm)
• Operating temp range: 32 to +158 F (0 to +70 C)

Above is an an example of the new track feature in Google Earth 5.2 (released today) showing a bike route to work. You could/can use these new features to do all sorts of great data logging and display.

Visualize your hiking, biking, and running tracks – Google Earth has always been a great tool for viewing your outdoor activities, whether it be hiking, running, biking, skiing, sailing, or just about any other way you choose to explore the world. With the release of Google Earth 5.0, we added the ability to connect your GPS device directly to Google Earth and import your track. Now, with Google Earth 5.2, we’ve added the ability to view elevation, speed, and other data as a graph directly in Google Earth. Just connect your GPS device to upload your track, and select “View Elevation Profile” from the menu. This will bring up elevation and speed graphs. If your GPS device records additional information such as heart rate or cadence, these will also be available to view in the graph. You can also see statistics such as total elevation, maximum slope, and average speed. You can select a portion of your ride and get statistics for just that section.

The age of cheap, plentiful sensors, tracking everything from heartrates to the noise pollution slowly driving everybody insane is here. Joe Saavedra’s modular neuroid is a wearable, reconfigurable sensor system that monitors pollution we probably don’t wanna know about.The modular part of the system is that it works with different kinds of sensors. Currently there are working sensors for methane, liquid petroleum, light and sound pollution, and carbon monoxide. The flagship device, built with an Arduino + Adafruit GPS system and three connection points for sensors, is a little bulky—more of a bag-hanger than a pocketable unit, but it’s easy to see how it’ll be miniaturized over time. It pairs up pretty nicely with a Nokia N900