Last week, I wrote about NavSpark Mini a $6 GPS + Beidou module, that’s also available for “free” plus $10 shipping. However, if you don’t have an antenna, you’d also need to add a $9 antenna, bringing the total price to $19 for this low cost GPS solution. But there’s actually a cheaper alternative with Ublox NEO-6M GPS module, as it sells for $10 with a GPS antenna including shipping on either Aliexpress or eBay.
Ublox NEO-6M based GPS module specifications:
- NEO-6M-0-001 module
- Storage – EEPROM for configuration data
- External interfaces – UART; default baudrate: 9600 bps
- Misc – RTC battery (MS621FE)
- Power Supply – 3 to 5V
The battery may not always be included due to transport regulations, so you may have to purchase it separately and solder it yourself.
The module is not exactly new, and has been around at least since 2013, so there’s also some documentation, and it has been used with Arduino based ArduPilot APM2 and APM2.5. Others have also explained how to use it with a Raspberry Pi, and since it’s simply controlled via a UART interface, it should work with most micro-controllers. U-blox also provides U-Center for Windows and Android to test the module, and you can also find some hardware documentation in this ZIP file.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I am wondering how can a whole module produced for 10 bucks (including margin) while the module itself costs 44 EUR at the manufacturer’s webshop:
https://shop-emea.u-blox.com/en/eur/3~101~emea/Position-Time/Standard-Precision-GNSS/NEO-series
@martonmiklos
Parts that did not pass quality control, or other embarassing reasons…
Dont buy these neo 6 modules, they have very poor reception and takes ages to acquire fix even in outdoors. Go for the latest 8 series or best go for mediatek based products.
My practical experience with mediatek has been good even indoors.