Arduino Zero - PAM7Q GPS Module

Official Hardware Classic Zero
1

I'm working on a project which involves interfacing between the Arduino Zero and the Parallax PAM7Q GPS Module. Parallax provides some demonstration code to test out on the Arduino, but sadly doesn't work with the Zero. I know it has something to do with the Zero not having the SoftwareSerial library, but I'm not sure how I need to modify the code to make it work. I have included the Demo code provided.

/* 

Demonstration code for the Parallax PAM-7Q module, #28509
This code uses the default factory settings of the PAM-7Q module.

The GPS output is displayed in the Arduino Serial Terminal Window.
After uploading the sketch open this window to view the output. 
Make sure the baud rate is set to 9600.

Numeric output is shown as signed latitude and longitude degrees and
minutes. Values may be directly copied and pasted into the location bar
of Google Maps to visually show your location.

For best results use the PAM-7Q module outdoors, or near an open window.
Use indoors away from windows may result in inconsistent results.

This example code is for the Arduino Uno and direct compatible boards. 
It has not been tested, nor designed for, other Arduino boards, including
the Arduino Due.

Important: This version is intended for Arduino 1.0 or later IDE. It will
not compile in earlier versions. Be sure the following files are
present in the folder with this sketch:

TinyGPS.h
TinyGPS.cpp
keywords.txt

A revised version of the TinyGPS object library is included in the sketch folder
to avoid conflict with any earlier version you may have in the Arduino libraries 
location.

Connections:
PAM-7Q    Arduino
GND       GND
VDD       5V
TXD       Digital Pin 6

Reminder! Wait for the satellite lock LED to begin flashing before
taking readings. The flashing LED indicates satellite lock. Readings taken
before satellite lock may be inaccurate.

*/

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include "./TinyGPS.h"                 // Use local version of this library

TinyGPS gps;
SoftwareSerial nss(6, 255);            // TXD to digital pin 6

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  nss.begin(9600);                     // Communicate at 9600 baud (default for PAM-7Q module)
  Serial.println("Reading GPS");
}

void loop() {
  bool newdata = false;
  unsigned long start = millis();
  while (millis() - start < 5000) {    // Update every 5 seconds
    if (feedgps())
      newdata = true;
  }
  if (newdata) {
    gpsdump(gps);
  }
}

// Get and process GPS data
void gpsdump(TinyGPS &gps) {
  float flat, flon;
  unsigned long age;
  gps.f_get_position(&flat, &flon, &age);
  Serial.print(flat, 4); Serial.print(", "); 
  Serial.println(flon, 4);
}

// Feed data as it becomes available 
bool feedgps() {
  while (nss.available()) {
    if (gps.encode(nss.read()))
      return true;
  }
  return false;
}

The error reads as:

fatal error: SoftwareSerial.h: No such file or directory

Any help would be much appreciated.

28509-Pam-7Q-GPS-Module-Arduino-Demo-Code (2).zip (6.55 KB)

2

SoftwareSerial library is not yet ported to the Arduino Zero. Try with the Hardware Serial n°1 (pin 0 and 1), by calling Serial1 and delete everything about SoftwareSerial (nss)

3

tray this...

#include <TinyGPS.h>
#define GPS_BAUD_RATE 9600
#define SerialMonitor Serial
#define gpsPort Serial1

TinyGPS gps;

static void smartdelay(unsigned long ms);
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()

{
SerialMonitor.begin(115200); // Initialize the serial monitor port at 9600 baud

Serial.print("Testing TinyGPS library v. "); Serial.println(TinyGPS::library_version());
Serial.println("by Mikal Hart");
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 R500 ---- RX RX Fail");
Serial.println("-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------");

gpsPort.begin(GPS_BAUD_RATE); // The GPS module's default baud is 9600
}

void loop()
{

float flat, flon;
unsigned long age, date, time, chars = 0;
unsigned short sentences = 0, failed = 0;
static const double LONDON_LAT = 0, LONDON_LON = 0; // use your GPS location

if (gpsPort.available()) // If GPS data is available
SerialMonitor.write(gpsPort.read()); // Send it to the serial monitor

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, 10, 6);
print_float(flon, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE, 11, 6);
print_int(age, TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_AGE, 5);
print_date(gps);
print_float(gps.f_altitude(), TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ALTITUDE, 7, 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 ? 0xFFFFFFFF : (unsigned long)TinyGPS::distance_between(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON) , 0xFFFFFFFF, 9);
print_float(flat == TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE ? TinyGPS::GPS_INVALID_F_ANGLE : TinyGPS::course_to(flat, flon, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON), 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();

smartdelay(1000);
}

static void smartdelay(unsigned long ms)
{
unsigned long start = millis();
do
{
while (gpsPort.available())
gps.encode(gpsPort.read());
} while (millis() - start < ms);
}

static void print_float(float val, float invalid, int len, int prec)
{
if (val == invalid)
{
while (len-- > 1)
Serial.print('*');
Serial.print(' ');
}
else
{
Serial.print(val, prec);
int vi = abs((int)val);
int flen = prec + (val < 0.0 ? 2 : 1); // . and -
flen += vi >= 1000 ? 4 : vi >= 100 ? 3 : vi >= 10 ? 2 : 1;
for (int i=flen; i<len; ++i)
Serial.print(' ');
}
smartdelay(0);
}

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 = ' ';

  • if (len > 0)*
  • sz[len-1] = ' ';*
  • Serial.print(sz);*
  • smartdelay(0);*
    }
    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);*
  • smartdelay(0);*
    }
    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 : ' ');_
    * smartdelay(0);*

* //if (SerialMonitor.available()) // If data is sent to the serial monitor*
* gpsPort.write(SerialMonitor.read()); // send it to the GPS module*
}