Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

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mbodo
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by mbodo »

Does the current stock of Ultimate GPS breakout boards have the updated firmware to work at 40km altitudes?

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adafruit_support_rick
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by adafruit_support_rick »

Don't think so, but I'll check...

adafruit
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by adafruit »

no, it does not.

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mbodo
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by mbodo »

I contacted the GlobalTop customer service dept regarding the altitude limitation of the Ultimate GPS module with MTK3339 chipset. They said the module can be updated with a firmware upgrade and they provided me with the software tool to apply the upgrade. However, they advised me to obtain the firmware bin file from Adafruit. Can you provide the bin file that enables fixes at 40km+?

adafruit
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by adafruit »

we've asked globaltop not to advise that, it's not something we support at this time.

thank you,
adafruit support

nbartolomeu
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by nbartolomeu »

Hi,

Is the new firmware that allows high altitude tracking already available in current Ultimate GPSs?

Best,

Nuno

adafruit
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by adafruit »

as of May 2013 we are shipping 40KM-tested firmware, so any purchases from adafruit will be 40km

FiddlerJones
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by FiddlerJones »

Hi!

I have the same question, in the description of the Ultimate GPS page there's still the 27km limit, but I'm reading here that with the new firmware I'm getting altitude data up to 40km!

Buying the Ultimate GPS from here: http://www.adafruit.com/products/746 will I be able to reach 40km and still get the right data?

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adafruit_support_rick
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by adafruit_support_rick »

FiddlerJones wrote: Buying the Ultimate GPS from here: http://www.adafruit.com/products/746 will I be able to reach 40km and still get the right data?
That's right!

gburchuk
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by gburchuk »

Hi Adafruit, we've been using these GPS devices on many different data loggers for balloon launches without much issue. However, lately our data has been stopping around 87k ft. I thought the altitude limit was removed, what gives? Is there a way to correct this?

Thanks,
George

adafruit
 
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Re: Ultimate GPS for stratospheric Balloons

Post by adafruit »

Hmm - Nothing has changed with the firmware, its been the same for quite a while and was tested at 40Km. If you can send a log showing where the data is lost, to support@adafruit with a link to this thread we'll ask the manufacturer. Also, please get the version from the module with the $PMTK605*31 command should be something like "$PMTK705,AXN_2.10...." Thanks!

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