[time-nuts] Getting my Rockwell D200 GPS to work

[Azelio Boriani]

Just take care that GPS signal is right-hand circularly polarized. For
those interested in building GPS antennae I recommend the QFH-type antenna:
quite complex but it is the same antenna actually used to transmit from the
birds.

On Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 5:02 PM, David <davidwhess at gmail.com> wrote:

> I have done the same thing with an amplified patch antenna facing out
> the window.
>
> I wonder in this case if making a rough 1/4 wave antenna out of a very
> short feedline would be enough for a cheap outdoor sanity check.
>
> On Sat, 7 Jan 2012 14:21:09 +0000, shalimr9 at gmail.com wrote:
>
> >I test all my GPS receivers with a hockey puck type antenna attached to
> the wall in my hamshack, which is upstairs, but under the ceiling and the
> roof and I have never had one fail to lock within reasonable time. With
> this setup, Thunderbolts occasionally go on holdover, but never for very
> long.
> >
> >Of course, when I plug them in the external Symmetricom antenna, they
> typically see more satellites and don't go into holdover.
> >
> >I am in Northwest Florida, so probably at a lower latitude than most of
> you, so the same setup farther north may not work as well.
> >
> >Didier KO4BB
> >
> >Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy while I do other things...
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Azelio Boriani <azelio.boriani at screen.it>
> >Sender: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> >Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2012 02:00:21
> >To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement<
> time-nuts at febo.com>
> >Reply-To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> >       <time-nuts at febo.com>
> >Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Getting my Rockwell D200 GPS to work
> >
> >Absolutely yes, the antenna must see the sky, not the ceiling. Even very
> >sensitive GPS receivers must have a good view of the sky for the first
> fix,
> >then you can bring the antenna indoor. You can try positioning the antenna
> >very near a window for just a test but better a good view. The car roof is
> >okay but you must wait several minutes (12 minutes at most) to let the
> >receiver download the almanac.
> >
> >On Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 1:54 AM, Don Lewis <dlewis6767 at austin.rr.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Maybe I didn't take positioning seriously.
> >>
> >> The antenna is currently on a shelf above my workbench, ....there is a
> >> ceiling and an upstairs above it. Then the roof.
> >>
> >> Is it very critical to be outside in order to 'see' the sky?
> >>
> >> I did take it out once and set the antenna on my car roof, ....but
> still no
> >> satellites.
> >>
> >>
> >> -Don
> >>
> >> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> >> Behalf Of bownes
> >> Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 6:49 PM
> >> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> >> Cc: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> >> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Getting my Rockwell D200 GPS to work
> >>
> >> Step one...is the antenna in a location where it can see they sky?
> >>
> >> Sorry if it is a stupid question but you already said it was plugged
> in. :)
> >>
> >> On Jan 6, 2012, at 19:24, "Don Lewis" <dlewis6767 at austin.rr.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Can someone please give me some pointers (my first time with a GPS
> >> module).
> >> >
> >> > A little hand-holding, pls.
> >> >
> >> > I bought three of these Rockwell D200 GPS receivers. (It's little GPS
> PWB
> >> > with an antenna connector and pins for connecting to the RS232- PC)
> >> >
> >> > All three 'appear' to work the same way (no apparent capture of
> >> satellites).
> >> >
> >> > Here's what I have:
> >> >
> >> > 1.    VisualGPS installed and running.
> >> > 2.    A small USB-RS232 card installed and appears to be operational.
> >> > 3.    Small GPS active antenna plugged in.
> >> > 4.    VisualGPS monitor just repeatedly displays:
> >> > $GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,,,,,*66
> >> > 5.    I think I understand this to be NMEA code to mean no satellites
> >> have
> >> > been acquired.
> >> > 6.    The Rockwell D200 draws ~180ma (5V) with no antenna and ~190ma
> with
> >> > the small active antenna plugged in.
> >> >
> >> > What am I doing wrong?  Other than maybe cheap china gps' and
> antenna???
> >> > But it is what I could afford and thought it would be cheap to learn
> on.
>
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