Build a GPS receiver?

[mindctrl]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering, and I know this is probably a really complicated project that I wouldn't want to get involved with, but I'm going to ask anyway because I am curious. Has anybody ever heard of a project where you build your own GPS receiver?

I looked on Google and I couldn't find anything. I found a whole bunch of information about making custom cables for your GPS, etc. but nothing to deal with the actual fabrication of a GPS receiver.

I ask this question because eventually I want to build a project that needs to have a relatively exact location sensor in it, using the GPS system. I don't want to bother with using a big hunk of equipment that has tons of features I don't need. I just need something that maybe has a 4x20 LCD display readout with a couple of buttons to toggle through menus.

I look forward to your knowledgeable responses. Thanks and have a great night. Happy Martin Luther King Day!

--mindctrl

 

[kinjalgp]

Building your own GPS receiver would be quite tough job. It is very complicated and would be rather expensive than what is readily avilable. All you need to do is poll the receiver through its serial port using any microcontroller interface, get the readings, decode it and display it on LCD which is also interfaced with the uC. Don't go for building the receiver yourself.

 

[mindctrl]

What exactly about it is so tough? Are there special "encoder" chips that are only available to certain manufacturers with a government contract, or something? I guess what I'm trying to say, is how exactly is this such a hard project? How would it be any different from building any other kind of receiver? What kind of complications are there?

 

[bmcculla]

The High frequency stuff is not easy - lots of math and lots of testing required. I'ts also really hard to buy that sort of IC except in high volumes. These sorts of ICs also tend to be in tiny packages that arn't hand solderable.

If you want GPS you'll probably have to shell out some money for a pre built module. Using a module shouldn't be too hard though. I think Sparkfun.com has some.

 

[checkmate]

Well, maybe you are googling with the wrong keywords. I checked "GPS Development Kit" and received lots of related hits.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

What exactly about it is so tough? Are there special "encoder" chips that are only available to certain manufacturers with a government contract, or something? I guess what I'm trying to say, is how exactly is this such a hard project? How would it be any different from building any other kind of receiver? What kind of complications are there?

If you don't know why it's difficult, you probably don't have a chance of making one from scratch!, assuming you could get the special chips required?. Certainly doing so would cost a great deal more money than buying one.

Would you build your own PC motherboard from scratch?, or your own Pentium 4 processor?.

As already suggested, you can buy GPS modules which you can then build into your own projects, this makes for a relatively simple construction, with all the expensive, complicated, parts ready done.

 

[TheOne]

Like Nigel said a GPS receiver won't be easy. If you never worked around designing circuits at 1600MHz before and the necessary test equipment, you will have very little chance to get it working. Also GPS receivers must have ultra low noise front-ends as you dealing with signal levels -120dBm and lower. Then there is still the decoding etc. etc.

I posted my design of a GPS amplifier before. The combline filter in there needs 1pF variable capacitors to do the tuning on the resonators. So you can get an idea how critical things become at higher frequencies, not to mention pcb layout. Without a network analyzer to align the filter it would be almost impossible to get the alignment correct.

 

[Dark_knight16]

GPS receiver

HI guys
this is mahesh from India,
i Hv read Abt GPS and i know how it works

i just want to know how can i build one????
on of the posts frm this site itself said that we get GPS modules???
frm where can i find those

My receiver would hv small LCD touch screen display which would show me current time,position and i shoul be able to zoom in & out just a bit.& it should be able to guide me where i want to go

pls awaiting anyones reply
its urgent (its my project guys)

 

[Lantz]

You can buy a single 20-channel gps receiver IC for $40 at sparkfun. Pretty nice! Doesn't feel like it's worth the effort of designing your own (which would probably cost thousands of dollars in equipment) when they come this cheap...

 

[Ubergeek63]

GM-205810-000

 

[peterson98908]

GPS Project

Does anyone have any information on buying a GPS or building a GPS. Please email me and let me know if you are willing to help me. PLLEEEAAZZZZZEEEE!
Bill

 

[picbits]

Buy a GPS Serial "mouse" off Ebay from Taiwan for $10
Hook up to a serial port
Learn NMEA codes
Interface with a microcontroller.

 

[blueroomelectronics]

eBay for buying, as for building just buy one.

 

[ankit aswale]

we are the students of E&TC we want an minor projet details on gps receivers immediately
thanku

 

[peterson98908]

GPS receiver

Please get a hold of me for the GPS project at billp@heyl.net.
thanks