Neo 6M GPS not Locking onto Satellites

Other Hardware Sensors
1

Got a new U-blox Neo 6M 2 days back. It came with the Antenna. Tested it outside yesterday, it worked fine. Tested it today, and it's not fixing onto any satellites. Tried everything I could.
The cold start after I got it new was about 30 secs or so, But today, I left it outside for about an hour and still no fix.

This is the code I'm using:

HardwareSerial &gpsSerial = Serial1;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  gpsSerial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  if(gpsSerial.available())  {
    Serial.write(gpsSerial.read());
  } 
}

I switched to a different program to store the data in variables, but ended up bringing it back down to this when it stopped working.

I'm also pretty sure my connections(Arduino Mega with Hardware Serial) are not wrong, cuz I am still getting the NMEA sentences.
The Output looks something like this :

$GPRMC,,V,,,,,,,,,,N*53
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*48
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPGSV,1,1,00*79
$GPGLL,,,,,,V,N*64
$GPRMC,,V,,,,,,,,,,N*53

Regards,

2

The module is working fine, but it does not see any satellites, so make sure that you have a clear view of the sky, and check the antenna connection (if external).

3

All the testing I did were on my terrace where there was plenty of sky access. That's how it even worked in the first place. And the antenna connection looks fine to me. Unless the antenna itself broke somehow in the span of less than a day, which I really don't want to be the case.

4

Unfortunately there are lots of reports of counterfeit NEO-6M GPS modules, which tend to fail or work poorly if at all. If yours was purchased cheaply on eBay, Alibaba, etc., such could be the case.

5

I got the module for about $6 at a shop nearby which sells arduino and related stuff. And I'm not sure if it is a counterfit, but this is what it looks like

Image
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6

Quite sure it is CF module. But it can be good enough for simple use. It uses a active gps antenna (amplifier). Check the coax cable between the module and gps antenna. Keep the gps antenna away from metal. Try the Ublox u-center software can give you some more information.

7

Each time I test it, I place the antenna on a concrete floor, so no touching metals there. The U-center software was also a dead end, because it reported 0 data, same as the data from the arduino. The coax cable is something that I haven't checked each time I tested tho, but looking at it now, seems fine...

8

Can you take it back to that shop?

9

Yeah, ig I'll just ask ask them what the problem is and if they could fix or replace it.

Update : The Shop's closed for holidays and won't open till after the new year.
Is there anything I myself could do to fix this?

10

Hi and welcome.
You have to view the device as a GPS/antenna system. I've had several failed antenna of the same type as yours. I'm satisfied it has been my poor handling practices that ruined them.

Avoid disconnecting and connecting the tiny cable with power connected to the GPS module. It is easy to cause a short across the receptacle. The U-blox guide has strong warning about electrostatic damage to the antenna and receiving circuit.

11

When you can communicate with the module with clear antenna view to the sky. But suddenly no signal, probably the small coax cable is damaged or its connector. Reason: he active antenna do no longer get supply voltage or signal break. As I stated above.

12

From what you're saying I understand that the antenna is very fragile and easily affected by small static charges. Although I've tried to be careful with the module and the antenna, I might have messed something up. And it is more likely that the antenna is the problem and not the module considering it still partially works.
So ig I'll just try to get my hands on a different antenna and test the module with that to see how it goes...

13

You should minimise your handling of the antenna. I don't think you can tell if it has suffered ESD. Both cable ends are physically weak and easily damaged. Don't use any kind of pliers to remove the connector from the receptacle -- you can pull the receptaclr right out of the board.. I use bent tweezers to lever it off.

It's a good idea to secure the antenna to the board with electrical tape.

14

I use my nails to pull off the connector of the antenna, and haven't faced any problems there. But it's sad I can't actually see if it has a problem :frowning: . But the tape thing makes sense, and I was planning to 3D print a bracket to hold the antenna, so that shouldn't be a problem either. I'll put everything together with the new antenna and test is out...

15

The first time I ripped the connector out of the board I was using thin nosed pliers so that wasn't surprising -- wrong tool, too much compression force. The second time I was using my fingernails. That was surprising. Take a close look at the board thru a magnifier or microscope. You can get a sense of how weakly the components are affixed to the board.

Angled tweezers just lift the connector off without applying any compression force.

If you leave the antenna dangling by the cable, sooner or later it will catch on something and break where the cable connects to the antenna. It also breaks thru fatigue over time.

I designed a 3D printed frame and I've been using it for a few months now. It's good. Here's the Tinkercad link. Feel free to use it or modify. Let me know if you can improve on it:

16

From the photo, that looks like a U.Fl connector. Those are very delicate; intended for one-time installations (like inside a laptop case) and will not tolerate much strain, or even repeated cycles of removal/reattachment.

17

Well these are how the connector looks on both the module as well as the antenna.

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I can't really say, but do they look damaged by any chance?

18

Everything points to that connector. You can check for continuity and shorts between center conductor and shield, but once those U.Fl connections are made, it is unwise to wiggle or change them.

You may have to buy another module, or at the very least, a new cable.

19

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