Arduino GPS Shield by iteadstudio.com

Hi,

Yesterday i bought this arduino GPS shield http://iteadstudio.com/application-note/play-arduino-with-global-positioning-system-gps/
there's a demo for this shield, it saves the GPS data in a text file located on the sd card.
But I just want to extract the longitude and latitude from the GPS shield and post them on the serial interface...
does anyone have any idea??

thank you in advance!

here's the demo code for the GPS shield

#include <SD.h>
const int chipSelect = 10;
void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
  if (!SD.begin(chipSelect)) {
   
    return;
  }
 
}

void loop()
{
  // make a string for assembling the data to log:
  char index = 0;
  char temp = 0;
  String dataString = "";
  // open the file. note that only one file can be open at a time,
  // so you have to close this one before opening another.
  /*
    while(Serial.available())
    {
      File dataFile = SD.open("datalog.txt", FILE_WRITE);
      if(dataFile)
      {
        temp = Serial.read();
        dataString += String(temp);
        dataFile.print(dataString);
        dataString = "";
        dataFile.close();
      }
    }
  */  
File dataFile = SD.open("datalog.txt", FILE_WRITE);
 if(dataFile)
 {
   while(Serial.available())
   {
     temp = Serial.read();
     dataString += String(temp);
     index++;
     if(index>200)
       break;
   }
   dataFile.print(dataString);
   dataFile.close();
 }
}

does anyone have any idea??

I think that opening and closing the file for each character written to it is a pretty lame idea. Good thing that code is commented out.

Why did you leave all that commented out code in there, anyway?

In the code that is actually running, you keep accumulating data in the String dataString. After writing that data to the file, you'd think that it would be important to reset dataString to an empty string.

Regardless, there is a perfectly good library, TinyGPS, that can be used to collect the data from the GPS, and parse that data. You simply use the class methods, then, to get the data of interest.

If you want to parse the data AND save it to a text file, you'll need to modify the TinyGPS library to get the complete sentence, or modify the example that comes with TinyGPS to also write the character to the file.

I'd suggest the former, to minimize how often you need to open and close the file.

Thanks Paul.

I just posted the code i downloaded from the GPS shield Site.
and i discovered TinyGPS this morning, it's a magnificent library, but i am having an issue in locating the rx and tx pins on the GPS shield.
On the datasheet there's a table describing the pins...
here's the datasheet:
http://iteadstudio.com/store/images/produce/Shield/Shields/gpsshield/ArduinoGPSshield_DS.pdf

Although the baud rate used in the GPS i have is 38400.
I am a very beginner with handling a GPS...

Regards

here's the demo code for the GPS shield

Does it work? If so, the GPS is connected to the hardware serial pins (0 and 1).

yes the code i attached worked...
now i am trying this TingGPS example

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

#include <TinyGPS.h>

/* This sample code demonstrates the normal use of a TinyGPS object.
   It requires the use of SoftwareSerial, and assumes that you have a
   4800-baud serial GPS device hooked up on pins 3(rx) and 4(tx).
*/

TinyGPS gps;
SoftwareSerial nss(1, 0);//tx and rx pins in my arduino GPS shield

static void gpsdump(TinyGPS &gps);
static bool feedgps();
static void print_float(float val, float invalid, int len, int prec);
static void print_int(unsigned long val, unsigned long invalid, int len);
static void print_date(TinyGPS &gps);
static void print_str(const char *str, int len);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(115200);
  nss.begin(38400);//baud rate for the GPS shield
  
  Serial.print("Testing TinyGPS library v. "); Serial.println(TinyGPS::library_version());
  Serial.println("by Mikal Hart");
  Serial.println();
  Serial.print("Sizeof(gpsobject) = "); Serial.println(sizeof(TinyGPS));
  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("Sats HDOP Latitude Longitude Fix  Date       Time       Date Alt     Course Speed Card  Distance Course Card  Chars Sentences Checksum");
  Serial.println("          (deg)    (deg)     Age                        Age  (m)     --- from GPS ----  ---- to London  ----  RX    RX        Fail");
  Serial.println("--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------");
}

void loop()
{
  bool newdata = false;
  unsigned long start = millis();
  
  // Every second we print an update
  while (millis() - start < 1000)
  {
    if (feedgps())
      newdata = true;
  }
  
  gpsdump(gps);
}

static void gpsdump(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  float flat, flon;
  unsigned long age, date, time, chars = 0;
  unsigned short sentences = 0, failed = 0;
  static const float LONDON_LAT = 51.508131, LONDON_LON = -0.128002;
  
  print_int(gps.satellites(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_SATELLITES, 5);
  print_int(gps.hdop(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_HDOP, 5);
  gps.f_get_position(&flat, &flon, &age);
  print_float(flat, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 9, 5);
  print_float(flon, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 10, 5);
  print_int(age, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE, 5);

  print_date(gps);

  print_float(gps.f_altitude(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ALTITUDE, 8, 2);
  print_float(gps.f_course(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 7, 2);
  print_float(gps.f_speed_kmph(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_SPEED, 6, 2);
  print_str(gps.f_course() == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? "*** " : TinyGPS::cardinal(gps.f_course()), 6);
  print_int(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? 0UL : (unsigned long)TinyGPS::distance_between(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON) / 1000, 0xFFFFFFFF, 9);
  print_float(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? 0.0 : TinyGPS::course_to(flat, flon, 51.508131, -0.128002), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 7, 2);
  print_str(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? "*** " : TinyGPS::cardinal(TinyGPS::course_to(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON)), 6);

  gps.stats(&chars, &sentences, &failed);
  print_int(chars, 0xFFFFFFFF, 6);
  print_int(sentences, 0xFFFFFFFF, 10);
  print_int(failed, 0xFFFFFFFF, 9);
  Serial.println();
}

static void print_int(unsigned long val, unsigned long invalid, int len)
{
  char sz[32];
  if (val == invalid)
    strcpy(sz, "*******");
  else
    sprintf(sz, "%ld", val);
  sz[len] = 0;
  for (int i=strlen(sz); i<len; ++i)
    sz[i] = ' ';
  if (len > 0) 
    sz[len-1] = ' ';
  Serial.print(sz);
  feedgps();
}

static void print_float(float val, float invalid, int len, int prec)
{
  char sz[32];
  if (val == invalid)
  {
    strcpy(sz, "*******");
    sz[len] = 0;
        if (len > 0) 
          sz[len-1] = ' ';
    for (int i=7; i<len; ++i)
        sz[i] = ' ';
    Serial.print(sz);
  }
  else
  {
    Serial.print(val, prec);
    int vi = abs((int)val);
    int flen = prec + (val < 0.0 ? 2 : 1);
    flen += vi >= 1000 ? 4 : vi >= 100 ? 3 : vi >= 10 ? 2 : 1;
    for (int i=flen; i<len; ++i)
      Serial.print(" ");
  }
  feedgps();
}

static void print_date(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  int year;
  byte month, day, hour, minute, second, hundredths;
  unsigned long age;
  gps.crack_datetime(&year, &month, &day, &hour, &minute, &second, &hundredths, &age);
  if (age == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE)
    Serial.print("*******    *******    ");
  else
  {
    char sz[32];
    sprintf(sz, "%02d/%02d/%02d %02d:%02d:%02d   ",
        month, day, year, hour, minute, second);
    Serial.print(sz);
  }
  print_int(age, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE, 5);
  feedgps();
}

static void print_str(const char *str, int len)
{
  int slen = strlen(str);
  for (int i=0; i<len; ++i)
    Serial.print(i<slen ? str[i] : ' ');
  feedgps();
}

static bool feedgps()
{
  while (nss.available())
  {
    if (gps.encode(nss.read()))
      return true;
  }
  return false;
}

i tried both baud rates 9600 (it was used in the demo) & 38400 the baud rate give in the data sheet..
but all i get is stars....
here's my results :

Testing TinyGPS library v. 12
by Mikal Hart

Sizeof(gpsobject) = 115

Sats HDOP Latitude Longitude Fix Date Time Date Alt Course Speed Card Distance Course Card Chars Sentences Checksum
(deg) (deg) Age Age (m) --- from GPS ---- ---- to London ---- RX RX Fail

**** **** ******* ******* **** ******* ******* **** ******* ****** ***** *** 0 0.00 *** 173 0 0
**** **** ******* ******* **** ******* ******* **** ******* ****** ***** *** 0 0.00 *** 310 0 0
etc...

once again, thank you for your help, Paul :slight_smile:

SoftwareSerial nss(1, 0);//tx and rx pins in my arduino GPS shield

You can't use SoftwareSerial on the hardware serial pins.

You need to read from Serial, in feedgps().

ok i get the idea, but as i said, i sarted using arduino since one month, and really new to the GPS and tiny GPS, can you please explain more, what do i have to modify in the code i posted so i can read latitude and longitude??

thanks again!

can you please explain more, what do i have to modify in the code i posted

You have:

static bool feedgps()
{
  while (nss.available())
  {
    if (gps.encode(nss.read()))
      return true;
  }
  return false;
}

Get rid of the SoftwareSerial include statement, the nss instance creation, and change nss to Serial in this function.

Then, the gpsdump() method will show you all the GPS data.

You can then look at that code to see how it gets lat and lon data from the GPS sentence.

I changed the code just like you told me to do, still the same issue, no GPS data! :~

i left the GPS runing for about 10 min, and some how i start seeing data!!! thank you Paul! XD
All hail the free source Arduino and TyniGPS!

It has been pointed out that the GPS needs to learn a fair amount from the satellites before it can produce good data. 10 minutes seems like a reasonable time for that to happen in.

Glad you got it working.

For all who might buy this shield, here's the working code for the "Arduino GPS Shield v1.1 by iteadstudio.com"

#include <TinyGPS.h>

TinyGPS gps;

static void gpsdump(TinyGPS &gps);
static bool feedgps();
static void print_float(float val, float invalid, int len, int prec);
static void print_int(unsigned long val, unsigned long invalid, int len);
static void print_date(TinyGPS &gps);
static void print_str(const char *str, int len);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
  Serial.print("Testing TinyGPS library v. "); Serial.println(TinyGPS::library_version());
  Serial.println("by Mikal Hart");
  Serial.println();
  Serial.print("Sizeof(gpsobject) = "); Serial.println(sizeof(TinyGPS));
  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("Sats HDOP Latitude Longitude Fix  Date       Time       Date Alt     Course Speed Card  Distance Course Card  Chars Sentences Checksum");
  Serial.println("          (deg)    (deg)     Age                        Age  (m)     --- from GPS ----  ---- to London  ----  RX    RX        Fail");
  Serial.println("--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------");
}

void loop()
{
  bool newdata = false;
  unsigned long start = millis();
  
  // Every second we print an update
  while (millis() - start < 1000)
  {
    if (feedgps())
      newdata = true;
  }
  
  gpsdump(gps);
}

static void gpsdump(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  float flat, flon;
  unsigned long age, date, time, chars = 0;
  unsigned short sentences = 0, failed = 0;
  static const float LONDON_LAT = 51.508131, LONDON_LON = -0.128002;
  
  print_int(gps.satellites(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_SATELLITES, 5);
  print_int(gps.hdop(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_HDOP, 5);
  gps.f_get_position(&flat, &flon, &age);
  print_float(flat, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 9, 5);
  print_float(flon, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 10, 5);
  print_int(age, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE, 5);

  print_date(gps);

  print_float(gps.f_altitude(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ALTITUDE, 8, 2);
  print_float(gps.f_course(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 7, 2);
  print_float(gps.f_speed_kmph(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_SPEED, 6, 2);
  print_str(gps.f_course() == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? "*** " : TinyGPS::cardinal(gps.f_course()), 6);
  print_int(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? 0UL : (unsigned long)TinyGPS::distance_between(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON) / 1000, 0xFFFFFFFF, 9);
  print_float(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? 0.0 : TinyGPS::course_to(flat, flon, 51.508131, -0.128002), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 7, 2);
  print_str(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? "*** " : TinyGPS::cardinal(TinyGPS::course_to(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON)), 6);

  gps.stats(&chars, &sentences, &failed);
  print_int(chars, 0xFFFFFFFF, 6);
  print_int(sentences, 0xFFFFFFFF, 10);
  print_int(failed, 0xFFFFFFFF, 9);
  Serial.println();
}

static void print_int(unsigned long val, unsigned long invalid, int len)
{
  char sz[32];
  if (val == invalid)
    strcpy(sz, "*******");
  else
    sprintf(sz, "%ld", val);
  sz[len] = 0;
  for (int i=strlen(sz); i<len; ++i)
    sz[i] = ' ';
  if (len > 0) 
    sz[len-1] = ' ';
  Serial.print(sz);
  feedgps();
}

static void print_float(float val, float invalid, int len, int prec)
{
  char sz[32];
  if (val == invalid)
  {
    strcpy(sz, "*******");
    sz[len] = 0;
        if (len > 0) 
          sz[len-1] = ' ';
    for (int i=7; i<len; ++i)
        sz[i] = ' ';
    Serial.print(sz);
  }
  else
  {
    Serial.print(val, prec);
    int vi = abs((int)val);
    int flen = prec + (val < 0.0 ? 2 : 1);
    flen += vi >= 1000 ? 4 : vi >= 100 ? 3 : vi >= 10 ? 2 : 1;
    for (int i=flen; i<len; ++i)
      Serial.print(" ");
  }
  feedgps();
}

static void print_date(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  int year;
  byte month, day, hour, minute, second, hundredths;
  unsigned long age;
  gps.crack_datetime(&year, &month, &day, &hour, &minute, &second, &hundredths, &age);
  if (age == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE)
    Serial.print("*******    *******    ");
  else
  {
    char sz[32];
    sprintf(sz, "%02d/%02d/%02d %02d:%02d:%02d   ",
        month, day, year, hour, minute, second);
    Serial.print(sz);
  }
  print_int(age, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE, 5);
  feedgps();
}

static void print_str(const char *str, int len)
{
  int slen = strlen(str);
  for (int i=0; i<len; ++i)
    Serial.print(i<slen ? str[i] : ' ');
  feedgps();
}

static bool feedgps()
{
  while (Serial.available())
  {
    if (gps.encode(Serial.read()))
      return true;
  }
  return false;
}

Thanks to PaulS who made this work..

hi

i've already tried this code, but still get stars instead of values..some details about mine:

i attached the em 408 to the gps shield, and the gps shield is connected to the arduino by using tx-0 and rx-0 (which means i need to use serial, and just the same with the given code here). i can't figure out what's wrong, and i'm very new with this.

troyka_4484:
For all who might buy this shield, here's the working code for the "Arduino GPS Shield v1.1 by iteadstudio.com"

#include <TinyGPS.h>

TinyGPS gps;

static void gpsdump(TinyGPS &gps);
static bool feedgps();
static void print_float(float val, float invalid, int len, int prec);
static void print_int(unsigned long val, unsigned long invalid, int len);
static void print_date(TinyGPS &gps);
static void print_str(const char *str, int len);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
 
  Serial.print("Testing TinyGPS library v. "); Serial.println(TinyGPS::library_version());
  Serial.println("by Mikal Hart");
  Serial.println();
  Serial.print("Sizeof(gpsobject) = "); Serial.println(sizeof(TinyGPS));
  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("Sats HDOP Latitude Longitude Fix  Date       Time       Date Alt     Course Speed Card  Distance Course Card  Chars Sentences Checksum");
  Serial.println("          (deg)    (deg)     Age                        Age  (m)     --- from GPS ----  ---- to London  ----  RX    RX        Fail");
  Serial.println("--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------");
}

void loop()
{
  bool newdata = false;
  unsigned long start = millis();
 
  // Every second we print an update
  while (millis() - start < 1000)
  {
    if (feedgps())
      newdata = true;
  }
 
  gpsdump(gps);
}

static void gpsdump(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  float flat, flon;
  unsigned long age, date, time, chars = 0;
  unsigned short sentences = 0, failed = 0;
  static const float LONDON_LAT = 51.508131, LONDON_LON = -0.128002;
 
  print_int(gps.satellites(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_SATELLITES, 5);
  print_int(gps.hdop(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_HDOP, 5);
  gps.f_get_position(&flat, &flon, &age);
  print_float(flat, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 9, 5);
  print_float(flon, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 10, 5);
  print_int(age, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE, 5);

print_date(gps);

print_float(gps.f_altitude(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ALTITUDE, 8, 2);
  print_float(gps.f_course(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 7, 2);
  print_float(gps.f_speed_kmph(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_SPEED, 6, 2);
  print_str(gps.f_course() == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? "*** " : TinyGPS::cardinal(gps.f_course()), 6);
  print_int(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? 0UL : (unsigned long)TinyGPS::distance_between(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON) / 1000, 0xFFFFFFFF, 9);
  print_float(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? 0.0 : TinyGPS::course_to(flat, flon, 51.508131, -0.128002), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 7, 2);
  print_str(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? "*** " : TinyGPS::cardinal(TinyGPS::course_to(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON)), 6);

gps.stats(&chars, &sentences, &failed);
  print_int(chars, 0xFFFFFFFF, 6);
  print_int(sentences, 0xFFFFFFFF, 10);
  print_int(failed, 0xFFFFFFFF, 9);
  Serial.println();
}

static void print_int(unsigned long val, unsigned long invalid, int len)
{
  char sz[32];
  if (val == invalid)
    strcpy(sz, "*******");
  else
    sprintf(sz, "%ld", val);
  sz[len] = 0;
  for (int i=strlen(sz); i<len; ++i)
    sz[i] = ' ';
  if (len > 0)
    sz[len-1] = ' ';
  Serial.print(sz);
  feedgps();
}

static void print_float(float val, float invalid, int len, int prec)
{
  char sz[32];
  if (val == invalid)
  {
    strcpy(sz, "*******");
    sz[len] = 0;
        if (len > 0)
          sz[len-1] = ' ';
    for (int i=7; i<len; ++i)
        sz[i] = ' ';
    Serial.print(sz);
  }
  else
  {
    Serial.print(val, prec);
    int vi = abs((int)val);
    int flen = prec + (val < 0.0 ? 2 : 1);
    flen += vi >= 1000 ? 4 : vi >= 100 ? 3 : vi >= 10 ? 2 : 1;
    for (int i=flen; i<len; ++i)
      Serial.print(" ");
  }
  feedgps();
}

static void print_date(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  int year;
  byte month, day, hour, minute, second, hundredths;
  unsigned long age;
  gps.crack_datetime(&year, &month, &day, &hour, &minute, &second, &hundredths, &age);
  if (age == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE)
    Serial.print("*******    *******    ");
  else
  {
    char sz[32];
    sprintf(sz, "%02d/%02d/%02d %02d:%02d:%02d   ",
        month, day, year, hour, minute, second);
    Serial.print(sz);
  }
  print_int(age, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE, 5);
  feedgps();
}

static void print_str(const char *str, int len)
{
  int slen = strlen(str);
  for (int i=0; i<len; ++i)
    Serial.print(i<slen ? str[i] : ' ');
  feedgps();
}

static bool feedgps()
{
  while (Serial.available())
  {
    if (gps.encode(Serial.read()))
      return true;
  }
  return false;
}




Thanks to PaulS who made this work..

the code you're using is for the GPS shield by iteadstudio.com
you're using another shield, try this code :

/*
  6-8-10
  Aaron Weiss
  SparkFun Electronics
  
  Example GPS Parser based off of arduiniana.org TinyGPS examples.
  
  Parses NMEA sentences from an EM406 running at 4800bps into readable 
  values for latitude, longitude, elevation, date, time, course, and 
  speed. 
  
  For the SparkFun GPS Shield. Make sure the switch is set to DLINE.
  
  Once you get your longitude and latitude you can paste your 
  coordinates from the terminal window into Google Maps. Here is the 
  link for SparkFun's location.  
  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.06477,+-105.20997
  
  Uses the NewSoftSerial library for serial communication with your GPS, 
  so connect your GPS TX and RX pin to any digital pin on the Arduino, 
  just be sure to define which pins you are using on the Arduino to 
  communicate with the GPS module. 
  
  REVISIONS:
  1-17-11 
    changed values to RXPIN = 2 and TXPIN = to correspond with
    hardware v14+. Hardware v13 used RXPIN = 3 and TXPIN = 2.
  
*/ 

// In order for this sketch to work, you will need to download 
// TinyGPS library from arduiniana.org and put them 
// into the hardware->libraries folder in your ardiuno directory.
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <TinyGPS.h>

// Define which pins you will use on the Arduino to communicate with your 
// GPS. In this case, the GPS module's TX pin will connect to the 
// Arduino's RXPIN which is pin 3.
#define RXPIN 2
#define TXPIN 3
//Set this value equal to the baud rate of your GPS
#define GPSBAUD 4800

// Create an instance of the TinyGPS object
TinyGPS gps;
// Initialize the NewSoftSerial library to the pins you defined above
SoftwareSerial uart_gps(RXPIN, TXPIN);

// This is where you declare prototypes for the functions that will be 
// using the TinyGPS library.
void getgps(TinyGPS &gps);

// In the setup function, you need to initialize two serial ports; the 
// standard hardware serial port (Serial()) to communicate with your 
// terminal program an another serial port (NewSoftSerial()) for your 
// GPS.
void setup()
{
  // This is the serial rate for your terminal program. It must be this 
  // fast because we need to print everything before a new sentence 
  // comes in. If you slow it down, the messages might not be valid and 
  // you will likely get checksum errors.
  Serial.begin(115200);
  //Sets baud rate of your GPS
  uart_gps.begin(GPSBAUD);
  
  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("GPS Shield QuickStart Example Sketch v12");
  Serial.println("       ...waiting for lock...           ");
  Serial.println("");
}

// This is the main loop of the code. All it does is check for data on 
// the RX pin of the ardiuno, makes sure the data is valid NMEA sentences, 
// then jumps to the getgps() function.
void loop()
{
  while(uart_gps.available())     // While there is data on the RX pin...
  {
      int c = uart_gps.read();    // load the data into a variable...
      if(gps.encode(c))      // if there is a new valid sentence...
      {
        getgps(gps);         // then grab the data.
      }
  }
}

// The getgps function will get and print the values we want.
void getgps(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  // To get all of the data into varialbes that you can use in your code, 
  // all you need to do is define variables and query the object for the 
  // data. To see the complete list of functions see keywords.txt file in 
  // the TinyGPS and NewSoftSerial libs.
  
  // Define the variables that will be used
  float latitude, longitude;
  // Then call this function
  gps.f_get_position(&latitude, &longitude);
  // You can now print variables latitude and longitude
  Serial.print("Lat/Long: "); 
  Serial.print(latitude,5); 
  Serial.print(", "); 
  Serial.println(longitude,5);
  
  // Same goes for date and time
  int year;
  byte month, day, hour, minute, second, hundredths;
  gps.crack_datetime(&year,&month,&day,&hour,&minute,&second,&hundredths);
  // Print data and time
  Serial.print("Date: "); Serial.print(month, DEC); Serial.print("/"); 
  Serial.print(day, DEC); Serial.print("/"); Serial.print(year);
  Serial.print("  Time: "); Serial.print(hour, DEC); Serial.print(":"); 
  Serial.print(minute, DEC); Serial.print(":"); Serial.print(second, DEC); 
  Serial.print("."); Serial.println(hundredths, DEC);
  //Since month, day, hour, minute, second, and hundr
  
  // Here you can print the altitude and course values directly since 
  // there is only one value for the function
  Serial.print("Altitude (meters): "); Serial.println(gps.f_altitude());  
  // Same goes for course
  Serial.print("Course (degrees): "); Serial.println(gps.f_course()); 
  // And same goes for speed
  Serial.print("Speed(kmph): "); Serial.println(gps.f_speed_kmph());
  Serial.println();
  
  // Here you can print statistics on the sentences.
  unsigned long chars;
  unsigned short sentences, failed_checksum;
  gps.stats(&chars, &sentences, &failed_checksum);
  //Serial.print("Failed Checksums: ");Serial.print(failed_checksum);
  //Serial.println(); Serial.println();
}

hope you it works ..

still no results after 20 minutes..this is what i get:

GPS Shield QuickStart Example Sketch v12
...waiting for lock...

is there anything to do with rx and tx pin? because both led in my arduino didn't turn on at all (if that is anything to do with this)

from my understanding of this webpage (http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/SoftwareSerial), if i used software serial i need to use pin other than 2 and 3, since "Not all pins on the Mega and Mega 2560 support change interrupts, so only the following can be used for RX: 10, 11, 12, 13, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69" (quote from the web)

but i've changed 10 and 11 instead of 2 and 3, but still no effect...

troyka_4484:
the code you're using is for the GPS shield by iteadstudio.com
you're using another shield, try this code :

/*

6-8-10
  Aaron Weiss
  SparkFun Electronics
 
  Example GPS Parser based off of arduiniana.org TinyGPS examples.
 
  Parses NMEA sentences from an EM406 running at 4800bps into readable
  values for latitude, longitude, elevation, date, time, course, and
  speed.
 
  For the SparkFun GPS Shield. Make sure the switch is set to DLINE.
 
  Once you get your longitude and latitude you can paste your
  coordinates from the terminal window into Google Maps. Here is the
  link for SparkFun's location. 
  Google Maps
 
  Uses the NewSoftSerial library for serial communication with your GPS,
  so connect your GPS TX and RX pin to any digital pin on the Arduino,
  just be sure to define which pins you are using on the Arduino to
  communicate with the GPS module.
 
  REVISIONS:
  1-17-11
    changed values to RXPIN = 2 and TXPIN = to correspond with
    hardware v14+. Hardware v13 used RXPIN = 3 and TXPIN = 2.
 
*/

// In order for this sketch to work, you will need to download
// TinyGPS library from arduiniana.org and put them
// into the hardware->libraries folder in your ardiuno directory.
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <TinyGPS.h>

// Define which pins you will use on the Arduino to communicate with your
// GPS. In this case, the GPS module's TX pin will connect to the
// Arduino's RXPIN which is pin 3.
#define RXPIN 2
#define TXPIN 3
//Set this value equal to the baud rate of your GPS
#define GPSBAUD 4800

// Create an instance of the TinyGPS object
TinyGPS gps;
// Initialize the NewSoftSerial library to the pins you defined above
SoftwareSerial uart_gps(RXPIN, TXPIN);

// This is where you declare prototypes for the functions that will be
// using the TinyGPS library.
void getgps(TinyGPS &gps);

// In the setup function, you need to initialize two serial ports; the
// standard hardware serial port (Serial()) to communicate with your
// terminal program an another serial port (NewSoftSerial()) for your
// GPS.
void setup()
{
  // This is the serial rate for your terminal program. It must be this
  // fast because we need to print everything before a new sentence
  // comes in. If you slow it down, the messages might not be valid and
  // you will likely get checksum errors.
  Serial.begin(115200);
  //Sets baud rate of your GPS
  uart_gps.begin(GPSBAUD);
 
  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("GPS Shield QuickStart Example Sketch v12");
  Serial.println("       ...waiting for lock...           ");
  Serial.println("");
}

// This is the main loop of the code. All it does is check for data on
// the RX pin of the ardiuno, makes sure the data is valid NMEA sentences,
// then jumps to the getgps() function.
void loop()
{
  while(uart_gps.available())     // While there is data on the RX pin...
  {
      int c = uart_gps.read();    // load the data into a variable...
      if(gps.encode(c))      // if there is a new valid sentence...
      {
        getgps(gps);         // then grab the data.
      }
  }
}

// The getgps function will get and print the values we want.
void getgps(TinyGPS &gps)
{
  // To get all of the data into varialbes that you can use in your code,
  // all you need to do is define variables and query the object for the
  // data. To see the complete list of functions see keywords.txt file in
  // the TinyGPS and NewSoftSerial libs.
 
  // Define the variables that will be used
  float latitude, longitude;
  // Then call this function
  gps.f_get_position(&latitude, &longitude);
  // You can now print variables latitude and longitude
  Serial.print("Lat/Long: ");
  Serial.print(latitude,5);
  Serial.print(", ");
  Serial.println(longitude,5);
 
  // Same goes for date and time
  int year;
  byte month, day, hour, minute, second, hundredths;
  gps.crack_datetime(&year,&month,&day,&hour,&minute,&second,&hundredths);
  // Print data and time
  Serial.print("Date: "); Serial.print(month, DEC); Serial.print("/");
  Serial.print(day, DEC); Serial.print("/"); Serial.print(year);
  Serial.print("  Time: "); Serial.print(hour, DEC); Serial.print(":");
  Serial.print(minute, DEC); Serial.print(":"); Serial.print(second, DEC);
  Serial.print("."); Serial.println(hundredths, DEC);
  //Since month, day, hour, minute, second, and hundr
 
  // Here you can print the altitude and course values directly since
  // there is only one value for the function
  Serial.print("Altitude (meters): "); Serial.println(gps.f_altitude()); 
  // Same goes for course
  Serial.print("Course (degrees): "); Serial.println(gps.f_course());
  // And same goes for speed
  Serial.print("Speed(kmph): "); Serial.println(gps.f_speed_kmph());
  Serial.println();
 
  // Here you can print statistics on the sentences.
  unsigned long chars;
  unsigned short sentences, failed_checksum;
  gps.stats(&chars, &sentences, &failed_checksum);
  //Serial.print("Failed Checksums: ");Serial.print(failed_checksum);
  //Serial.println(); Serial.println();
}




hope you it works ..

I don't think I can help more :~
but an advice, make sure that you're using your GPS outdoors, and that you're GPS have a clear view to the open sky!

hai
as a biginer i am not having much idea about the initial settings required for the operation of GPS module (itead studio gps shield v1.1).
so could you please provide me the idea related to it...

Hello, I return on this excellent post and "only one" article on this GPS which I have just bought. I had difficulty to make it speak and it is thanks to you and especially to Paul that I heard the soft music of wefts come from the sky!!! Ouahh
I shall wish to make two observations and to put two questions.
Obs1: on a deck UNO, it is necessary to use pines 0 and 1 otherwise it do not work. P1=Rx; P2=Tx.
Obs2; it is impossible to download the shetch (all IDE) without creating of fault if pines 1 and 0 are connected. It is necessary to disconnect pine 0 and the download can take place. Mystery!! see pj
Question1: it is impossible to use the exitsI2C. I do not know why but it is boring to connect a LCD. What's going on?
Question2; I implemented the part necessary for the recording on SD by following the only usable link and offert:Gs_logger. I was not "thrown" but I did not know how to write the program.
Can you advise to me there above?
I made another sketch work which allows the employment of a LCD 12x2 and a display delayed a part of wefts. I wait for one 20x4 to make better.
If it interests somebody!!!

I am French and it is mister Google who made the translation !!! Sorry !!!
Thank you

Gps.jpg

Greetings, troyka 4484 and Paul'S. My name is Nataly from Venezuela.

I have the same gps shield by ITEAD STUDIO ver 1.1.

my question is:

in this image, where i have to put the correct jumper tx & rx ?

thanks for any help...