LS20031 5Hz (66 Channel) GPS Receiver Hookup Guide
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Hardware Overview
The LS20031 is a high performance, reliable, and inexpensive GPS module. It is a great choice, since it has a 5Hz update rate, a backup power source for quick locks (time to first fix), and a small form factor. The only downside is that it doesn't come with a connector. There is some minor assembly required, but it is very simple.
GPS Module
The LS20031 uses the MediaTek MT3339, which can acquire up to 66 satellites at a time. The GPS module has a fast time to first fix (TTFF) and high sensitivity for applications that require navigation and tracking in dense foliage and urban canyons environments.
Built-In GPS Antenna
The ceramic patch antenna is the large tan and white object soldered onto the green PCB. Make sure to always point the antenna towards the sky!
Status LED
There is a red status LED that blinks when there is a fix. A fix means there are enough satellites in view to accurately calculate your position. Once there is a lock in continuous power mode, it will flash once per second when the position is fixed. Otherwise, this LED will remain off.
Pinout
The input voltage is 3.3V. The Rx and Tx pins are 3.3V TTL tolerant. This means you will need a logic level conversion if you are using this with a 5V Arduino. The pinout is shown below for the bottom and top views. When using right angle headers and connecting the GPS receiver to a breadboard, the pins are mirrored. Make sure to connect to the correct pins when viewing from either side!
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| Pinout of the Back View | Pinout of the Top View |
Commands can be sent to the module to configure settings. There is a handy program called Mini GPS that will help you configure your module. More information about configuration can be found on a blog post by DIY Drones: Using the 5Hz Locosys GPS with Arduino/ArduPilot. Configurable 10Hz update rate means you can get valid position, time, etc. data 10 times a second. Default setting is 1Hz.
Battery Backup
The LS20031 has a built-in battery to reserve system data. This allows for rapid satellite acquisition for cold starts.
