Retrieving GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Data

In this project you will be directed to retrieve GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) location and time data using an NB-LYNX-7000 board installed with a GPS Antenna.

Prerequisites

The materials required follow the General Prerequisites on the previous page. If you have not prepared the requirements on that page, then you can visit the following page.

General Prerequisites NB-Lynx-7000

Follow These Steps

1. Equipment Setup

The first thing you need to do is to setup the equipment by connecting the NB-LYNX-7000 board with the GPS Antenna. The board can then be connected to your laptop/computer using a USB-C cable.

You need to connect the GPS Antenna to the GPS antenna port located on the NB-LYNX-7000 board.

Here are the equipment circuits that have been connected to a laptop/computer.

NB-LYNX-7000 Connected with GPS Antenna

2. Launch Arduino IDE

3. Inputting programme code

To retrieve GNSS data, you need to input the programme code below in the Arduino IDE.

#include <Arduino.h>

// Configurable macros
#define SIM7000_POWER_KEY 27

String sendCommand(String command, uint32_t timeout, char delimiter)
{
 while (Serial2.available())
  Serial2.read();

 uint32_t T = millis();
 String res = "";
 Serial.print("[SYS CMD] ");
 Serial.print(command);
 Serial.println("=========");
 Serial2.print(command);
 while ((millis() - T) < timeout)
 {
  while (Serial2.available())
  {
   res = Serial2.readStringUntil(delimiter);
   res.trim();
   if (res.length() > 0)
   {
    Serial.print("[SYS RES] ");
    Serial.println(res);
    return res;
   }
  }
 }
 return "TIMEOUT";
}

String receiveAddCommand(int32_t timeout)
{
 String res = "";
 uint32_t T = millis();
 while ((millis() - T) < timeout)
 {
  while (Serial2.available())
  {
   res = Serial2.readStringUntil('\0');
   res.trim();
   if (res.length() > 0)
   {
    Serial.print("[SYS RES] ");
    Serial.println(res);
    return res;
   }
  }
 }
 return res;
}

bool checkResponse(String response, String expected_response)
{
 if (response.indexOf(expected_response) != -1)
  return true;
 else
  return false;
}

bool sim7000_powerOn()
{
 pinMode(SIM7000_POWER_KEY, OUTPUT);
 delay(100);
 digitalWrite(SIM7000_POWER_KEY, LOW);
 delay(1000);
 digitalWrite(SIM7000_POWER_KEY, HIGH);
 delay(1000);
 for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 5; i++)
 {
  String response = sendCommand("AT\r\n", 200, '\n');
  if (checkResponse(response, "AT"))
  {
   sendCommand("ATE0\r\n", 200, '\n');
  }
  else if (checkResponse(response, "OK"))
  {
   return true;
  }

  delay(1000);
 }
 return false;
}

bool sim7000_powerOnGNSS()
{
 if (!checkResponse(sendCommand("AT+CGNSPWR=1\r\n", 200, '\n'), "OK"))
  return false;
 if (!checkResponse(sendCommand("AT+CGNSURC=1\r\n", 200, '\n'), "OK"))
  return false;

 return true;
}

void sim7000_parseGNSS(String input)
{
 // Serial.println(input);
 int firstCommaIndex = input.indexOf(",");
 int secondCommaIndex = input.indexOf(",", firstCommaIndex + 1);
 int thirdCommaIndex = input.indexOf(",", secondCommaIndex + 1);
 int fourthCommaIndex = input.indexOf(",", thirdCommaIndex + 1);
 int fifthCommaIndex = input.indexOf(",", fourthCommaIndex + 1);
 int sixthCommaIndex = input.indexOf(",", fifthCommaIndex + 1);

 int isGnssRun = input.substring(0, firstCommaIndex).toInt();
 if (isGnssRun == 0)
 {
  Serial.println("[SIM7000] GNSS is not running");
  return;
 }
 
 int isGnssFix = input.substring(firstCommaIndex + 1, secondCommaIndex).toInt();
 if (isGnssFix == 0)
 {
  Serial.println("[SIM7000] GNSS is not fixed");
  return;
 }

 Serial.print("Latitude : ");
 Serial.println(input.substring(thirdCommaIndex + 1, fourthCommaIndex));
 Serial.print("Longitude : ");
 Serial.println(input.substring(fourthCommaIndex + 1, fifthCommaIndex));
 Serial.print("Altitude : ");
 Serial.println(input.substring(fifthCommaIndex + 1, sixthCommaIndex));

 Serial.print("Date & Time : ");
 String datetime = input.substring(secondCommaIndex + 1, thirdCommaIndex);
 Serial.print(datetime.substring(6, 8));
 Serial.print("/");
 Serial.print(datetime.substring(4, 6));
 Serial.print("/");
 Serial.print(datetime.substring(0, 4));
 Serial.print(" ");
 Serial.print(datetime.substring(8, 10));
 Serial.print(":");
 Serial.print(datetime.substring(10, 12));
 Serial.print(":");
 Serial.print(datetime.substring(12, 14));
 Serial.print("\n");
}

bool gnssSetup()
{
 Serial2.begin(9600);
 Serial2.flush();
 Serial.println("[SIM7000] Turning ON...");
 if (sim7000_powerOn())
  Serial.println("Success");
 else
 {
  Serial.println("Failed");
  Serial.println("Hold PWRKEY for 3 seconds and press RST");
  return false;
 }

 Serial.println("[SIM7000] Turning ON GNSS...");
 if (sim7000_powerOnGNSS())
  Serial.println("Success");
 else
 {
  Serial.println("Failed");
  return false;
 }

 return true;
}

void setup()
{
 Serial.begin(115200);
 if (!gnssSetup())
 {
  while (1)
   delay(1000);
 }
}

void loop()
{
 String res = "";
 while (Serial2.available())
 {
  res = Serial2.readStringUntil('\0');
  res.trim();
  if (checkResponse(res, "+UGNSINF:"))
  {
   res.replace("+UGNSINF:","");
   sim7000_parseGNSS(res);
  }
 }
}

4. Programme Code Explanation

In order for the NB-LYNX-7000 board to communicate with the Antares platform, a SIM7000 module is used. SIM7000 is a cellular communication module developed by SIMCom Wireless Solutions. This module implements several protocols that allow the device to connect to the network using AT commands. The following describes some of the AT commands used in the programme code.

AT<CR><LF>

In the program code, the command "AT\r\n" is sent as the starting point or initialisation stage of the SIM7000 module. \r is a carriage return, while \n is a line feed. This command is sent to get an "OK" response.

ATE0<CR><LF>

In the programme code there is an "ATE0\r\n" command sent after getting an "OK" response. This command is used to disable echo mode indicating that initialisation has been successful.

AT+CGNSPWR=<mode><CR><LF>

In the programme code there is a command "AT+CGNSPWR=1\r\n" which is used to power control the GNSS module. Parameter "1" is used to switch on the GNSS power supply.

Here are other parameters that can be used.

• 0 = Switching off the GNSS power supply

• 1 = Switching on the GNSS power supply

AT+CGNSURC=<Navigation mode><CR><LF>

In the programme code there is a command "AT+CGNSURC=1\r\n" which is used to display navigation data. Parameter "1" is used to display navigation data every time GNSS receives a signal from the satellite.

Here are some other parameters that can be used

• 0 = Turn off the displayed navigation data

• 1 = Displays navigational data every time the GNSS receives a signal

• 2 = Displays navigation data once every time the GNSS has received a signal for 2 times

• …

• 256 = Displays navigation data once every time the GNSS has received a signal 256 times

5. Program Upload to NB-LYNX-7000 Board

Firstly, you must set up the board used by selecting ESP32 Dev Module under Tools > Board > esp32.

Board Selection

After that, you need to set the port used by going to Tools > Port > COM(X). The X value corresponds to the port number used by the NB-LYNX-7000 board.

Port Selection

After you have prepared the programme code, you can then upload the programme code by pressing the upload button as shown in the image below.

Upload programme code

If the programme code has been uploaded successfully, you can open the Serial Monitor by pressing the icon as shown in the image below. You can find the icon on the top right-hand side.

Serial Monitor Icon

You need to set the Serial Monitor's baud rate to 115200 so that its output can be read.

Baud Rate

The Serial Monitor display will be as shown below which signifies the SIM7000 module initiation process and the process of turning on the GNSS to get navigation data.

Serial Monitor Output Showing the Process of Initiating the SIM7000 Module and Turning on the GNSS

Furthermore, the GPS Antenna will work to receive signals from satellites to obtain GNSS data in the form of navigation information consisting of latitude, longtitude, altitude, and date & time.

GPS Antenna sometimes takes a long time to receive signals from satellites until GNSS data is finally received. In this case, you can wait for a while.

If you have waited for a while but have not received GNSS data, it is likely that the GPS Antenna is not receiving enough signals from the satellites.

When the GPS Antenna is not receiving enough signals from the satellites, the display on the serial monitor will be as shown below.

Monitor Serial Output When the Antenna is Not Receiving Enough Signal

If the GPS Antenna is not receiving enough signal from the satellites, you can bring the GPS Antenna to an open room or by bringing it closer to a window.

When the antenna has received enough signal, the GNSS data will be displayed on the serial monitor as shown below.

Serial Monitor output when successfully receiving GNSS data

In this condition, the GPS Antenna will continuously receive signals from the satellite to display GNSS data on the serial monitor.