Another DIY GPS logger approach

5 years ago
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rp6conrad
rp6conrad
383 posts
383 posts
5 Jun 2026 6:56pm
Check the reed switch on gpio15, it seems that it is constant active. Normal voltage on gpio15 should be 3.3V, only when the reed switch is activated it should be 0 V.
Actimel87
Actimel87
38 posts
38 posts
8 Jun 2026 6:54pm
Thanks, you were spot on:)

know it is not recognizing the GPS, it stuck at GPS initialization.
rp6conrad
rp6conrad
383 posts
383 posts
8 Jun 2026 8:12pm
I guess that you use a recent Beitian BE xxx, which has now a default baudrate from 115200 baud. The sw for the T-display only checks the GPS for 9600 bd and 38600 bd....
Do you have a older GPS on hand to test this ? I shall take a look at the sw for adapt to 115200 bd, but it wil take some time...
Greetings, Jan.
papae
papae
WA
14 posts
WA, 14 posts
9 Jun 2026 7:42pm
rp6conrad said..
Try other chargers, your only chance is that the charge current is high enough so that the ESP can boot. The position on the charger is also important, the coil in the ESP should be aligned with the send coil. Try different positions. If you put it on the charger, it will try to boot, this is normal. When the it completes the boot, I will shut down again with the message voltage is low 2.8V. Just let it sit on the charger then for a couple of hours. When it is stuck in the bootloop, try another charger, and other positions.
Greetings, Jan.


Thanks Jan.

unfortunately all my attempts to restart it have failed. I have tried all the different positions, tried charging it for several hours, bought a different charger and tried all the same things. I think the battery is fried unfortunately.

i have three of these. 1 still works, the other one doesn’t even take a charge now even though it still has power. I reflashed it, but didn’t help, so I think the coil might be fried.
Actimel87
Actimel87
38 posts
38 posts
11 Jun 2026 10:53pm
yes, first attempt was with an M10, it works with an older M8.


can’t I select the required baudrate to 115200 and skip the auto detection?
rp6conrad
rp6conrad
383 posts
383 posts
12 Jun 2026 6:59pm
I did try today with the M10 @ 115 kbaud, it seems to work here with the new firmware. I upload SW5.92 to github with 115k support. I guess the old firmware will not test for 115k. Can you check your serial output when "Autodetect@boot" is set ? It should look like this :
.search SSID2
..ESP32 disconnected to WIFI
...ESP32 disconnected to WIFI
..ESP32 disconnected to WIFI
..ESP32 disconnected to WIFI
.No Wifi connection !
CPU freq 240 ?= 240
CPU freq ?= 80
XTAL freq ?= 40
Serial2 Txd is on pin: 33
Serial2 Rxd is on pin: 32
‚¶ŸžÆ¥¤Áíù¥Ã†ˆmÌ!‚Þ‚‚îôL0Áå!ôa†©¸ •†)¥ÌÁiŒ iŒ iŒ ÕH8ª˜ü
Check UBX_MON_VER @9600bd

Check UBX_MON_VER @38400bd
Check UBX_MON_VER @115200bd
SW Ublox=ROM SPG 5.10 (7b202e)
HW Ublox=000A0000
Ublox M10 @115200bd
A
Set ublox M10 NMEA OFF
ACK 6138
Set ublox M10 BEIDOU OFF
ACK 6138
Set ublox M10 GLONAS ON
ACK 6138
Set ublox M10 UBX On
ACK 6138
Set ublox M10 NAV_PVT_ON
ACK 6138
Set ublox M10 NAV_DOP_ON
ACK 6138
Check UBX_MON_VER
SW Ublox=ROM SPG 5.10 (7b202e)
HW Ublox=000A0000
Check MON_GNSS settings
GNSS= :151311
Ask ublox Unique ID ID= :1821711701564
Set ublox M10 to 38400BD
ACK 6138
SW Ublox=ROM SPG 5.10 (7b202e)
HW Ublox=000A0000
Extensions Ublox= FWVER=SPG 5.10, PROTVER=34.10, GPS;GLO;GAL;BDS, SBAS;QZSS, ÷, ,
13
11
Set rate Ublox M10 ACK 6138
Let me now your findings !


veton
veton
49 posts
49 posts
13 Jun 2026 12:26am
I have them enclosed but even selecting auto detect, they jump to 115k when the module initializes, and then "changes" in the config page to 115K. My firmware is 6.01c


regards

Actimel87
Actimel87
38 posts
38 posts
15 Jun 2026 1:57am
Thanks Jan,
i'm very grateful.

CPU freq 240 ?= 240
CPU freq ?= 80
XTAL freq ?= 40
Serial2 Txd is on pin: 33
Serial2 Rxd is on pin: 32
ƥ  Æ m H! ނ L0 ! a + b K9)  ݌ =) Jm  ,Check UBX_MON_VER @9600bd
Check UBX_MON_VER @38400bd
Check UBX_MON_VER @115200bd
SW Ublox=ROM SPG 5.10 (7b202e)
HW Ublox=000A0000
Ublox M10 @115200bd
A
Set ublox M10 NMEA OFF
ACK 6138
sailquik
sailquik
VIC
6176 posts
VIC, 6176 posts
22 Jun 2026 11:32am
Sorry for this very basic question.
Which Beltian GPS module and UBOX chipset version (M8, M9, M10?) are people using now for new builds. And what are you reasons for the choice?
I am sure there is discussion of this in the 52+ pages of this thread but I am not finding it easily.
Thanks for your thoughts. :-)



rp6conrad
rp6conrad
383 posts
383 posts
22 Jun 2026 2:53pm
The ublox M10, this is the Beitian BE xx series, is the sweet spot now ! This module has the lowest power, and the highest sensitivity, and can be set to "high navigation rate". Although the M9 series (Beitian BK series) han handle a higher sample rate (up to 25 Hz), the power consumption is higher and the sensitivity is lower. The M8 (Beitian BN series) is the oldest one, with a high power consumption and lower sample rates.
I use always the Beitian BE182, small formfactor, but a thicker ceramic antenna as the BE180. The BE122 is the smallest, but has solderpoints in stead of a connector.
Greetings, Jan.




sailquik
sailquik
VIC
6176 posts
VIC, 6176 posts
29 Jun 2026 5:22pm
Many thanks Jan. 😎
Alhop
Alhop
WA
47 posts
WA, 47 posts
7 Jul 2026 12:17pm
rp6conrad said..
The ublox M10, this is the Beitian BE xx series, is the sweet spot now ! This module has the lowest power, and the highest sensitivity, and can be set to "high navigation rate". Although the M9 series (Beitian BK series) han handle a higher sample rate (up to 25 Hz), the power consumption is higher and the sensitivity is lower. The M8 (Beitian BN series) is the oldest one, with a high power consumption and lower sample rates.
I use always the Beitian BE182, small formfactor, but a thicker ceramic antenna as the BE180. The BE122 is the smallest, but has solderpoints in stead of a connector.
Greetings, Jan.


Does the antenna work ok like that half tucked under the lillygo PCB / screen ?





rp6conrad
rp6conrad
383 posts
383 posts
7 Jul 2026 3:35pm
Yesterday, I had a low wind session @ my homespot. I tested 4 PMMA-case ESP-GPS with next configurations :
1. Arm mount, BE182 partly covered, sats limited to 18 in the SW (motion setting)
2. Arm mount, BE182 free sight, sats limited to 18 in the SW (motion setting)
3. Boom mount, BE182 partly covered, unlimited sats (avg 26 sats)
4. Boom mount, BE182, partly covered, unlimited sats (avg 26 sats)
If you look at the HDOP numbers, nr 1 was worst. The other 3 were more or less the same. I am not sure why nr 1 was worst, maybe due to partly covered BE182, maybe because the hard limit of 18 sats. The 3 and 4 did perform the same as nr 1, but they received avg 26 sats. As walways, the speeds were higher with the arm mount units.
In my opinion, it does not make a huge difference if the Beitian is partly covered.

Greetings, Jan.














mark62
mark62
512 posts
512 posts
7 Jul 2026 6:50pm
LISAWindsurfing said..




Kind of .

With Jan's help I'm working on my own LISA prototypes/functions with color touch screen, up to 20hz, 3500mah battery, etc, and hopefully additional features such as race timer, bluetooth timer etc.. but I'm for now mainly working on the displays, securing the waterproof case and testing a lot to ensure that it's rock solid, easy to use. I will not be another mess like Motion and my policy with LISA is to provide the best products with the best service, so if I don't feel it 100% I will not sell it .

Nico


How's the testing going on this Nico? Is it likely to be launched this year?
19 posts
11 Jul 2026 4:46pm
Hi,

The LISA GPS development is finally coming to an end 🔥🔥. A huge amount of work has gone into this project over the past months.

I'm currently assembling a first batch of 100 units to fine-tune the assembly process, validate production, and optimize the workflow before scaling up.
If everything goes as planned, the GPS should be fully available over the coming months.

Cheers,
Nico
PacoRaapNL
PacoRaapNL
150 posts
150 posts
14 Jul 2026 2:13pm
ESP32-GPS on tour. Used in the salty waters of Lefkas (Greece) at Milos beach (Lefkada) 2026.





Actimel87
Actimel87
38 posts
38 posts
15 Jul 2026 12:26am
Hallo,

im Running the ESP without an SD card. Just the 16MB chip.

Is there maybe an issue with wrong memory calculation?
I had I few sessions without a saved GPS file, only the txt. file.
My guess is, it does not includes the files in the archive section.
Is there an option to completely disable this function?
rp6conrad
rp6conrad
383 posts
383 posts
16 Jul 2026 2:48am
If you boot a ESP-GPS with only 16 MB of flash, and no SD-card, you should have 12 MB free memory to store files. If not, and you only see 1 MB free memory, you probably flashed it the first time (over USB) with the wrong partition table.
If you see 12 MB free memory, the partition table is ok. But take care that you delete your files before the memory gets full, you could brick the device (no protection now in the SW for full memory...). There should be at least 2 MB free al time, to make sure all file handling is secured.
To prevent files copied to the "Archive" directory, set in the configuration archive_days to 0.
Greetings, Jan.
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