Globalsat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS

Hi, my first post here, so a little introduction, im an mechanical enginering student from The Netherlands, interested in Arduino as a side hobby project.

I was wondering if it where possible to disasemble a Globalsat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS, wich uses a bluetooth module to send its gps strings trough the bluetooth protocal SPP (serial data), and read the gps string with the arduino. I know it is possible with a globalsat BT-355 from a tutorial i found online (google "globalsat 355 arduino" i cant post the link yet, bot restriction i gues).

And if this where possible use the bluetooth module wich should listen to serial data from the GPS, as a link from the arduino to the PC. Since all it should do as bluetooth is to replace a RS-232 wired interface.

If this all would be possible it would be great since the gps module only costs about ?16/$23

Thanks for reading, hope my english is clear enough.

Hiya,

I also bought a BT-359, mine is actually disguised as a " CoPilot " , cost £10 on ebay.

Popped it open and to my dismay its got a bunch of test points, but all labeled TP# or PAD#. Just wondering if you or anyone knows what all these things are, which one would be the serial pad? :-/

To get the GPS data, you can connect a bluetooth-to-serial module, if you have, to Arduino. The module should support the protocol SPP and it can be wired to the Arduino serial port (Rx, Tx).
The GPS module and the bluetooth module create a wireles link. The Arduino can read the GPS data from the serial port.

I have tried to received the GPS data (NMEA data) from my phone SAMSUNG I900 by this way. I don't have Globalsat BT-359. Just for you information. Hope it helps.

Thanks,
Jeffrey

W0000T ! ! ;D

Okay I finally found the baud and testpoint after lots of noobish trial and error, so here's for the benefit of the community:

To read the NMEA data from a Globalsat BT-359 connect your serial Rx to the test point labeled TP4, and set the baud rate to 38400

I used some Arduino Playground - GPS playground code to decipher the NMEA stuff, but of course changed the rate to 38400 ( Serial.begin(38400) in the setup bit instead of 4800)

the pic shows test point TP4, and some shabby soldering since the battery covers this point if its in place. Make sure the arduino and BT-359 share ground, ie connect the arduino ground to the -ve battery terminal

sorry for the impending screen rape by this huge pic

p.s.

i don't know about your PC, but on mine arduino IDE and bluetooth can't work at the same time without blowing a hole in my desktop.

However I can get the serial monitor started, then start bluetooth and use, say, GooPs (which then stuffs your location into google earth) to read the nmea over bluetooth, like the device was intended in the first place lawl :smiley:

prawnstar, can you please take a picture of that GPS receiver's other PCB side?
I am about to buy it, but I can't find the picture of the other side of the internals anywhere :slight_smile:
That would help me because I am planning on taking out the bluetooth module and using it for something else, and also using the GPS for another thing...
If not, maybe you remember what's on the other side? Is there a ceramic antenna? Do you know what's under the metalic boxes I see on this picture you took?

Thanks for any info! :slight_smile:

Don't suppose you know how to wire a BT-308 to an arduino?!

Traxonja, my 308 (presumably an older model) has a ceramic antenna and an antenna port. The metal boxes covering components are soldered on.