# New GY-NEO6MV2 gives absolutely no output and no sign of life

**URL:** <https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135>\
**Category:** Sensors\
**Created:** [July 24, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135 "2026-07-24T14:54:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_com3\_port](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/the_com3_port/32/1244823_2.png) [@the\_com3\_port](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/the_com3_port)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/1 "2026-07-24T14:54:34Z")

</div>

Hello, i wanted to test my new GY-NEO6MV2 and i firstly used a level converter to make sure if it is actually 3.3v it won't fry itself. I connected the GPS module but no output, not even a single letter of output after 2 minutes. I then tried with the logic level shifter but found no luck. Then i connected the TX directly to the pin and the VCC to 5V but to no avail there was absolutely nothing. The LED didnt even turn on ONCE and it can't be a faulty module, what could be causing this?  
Is it because i am indoors?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![srnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/srnet/32/238868_2.png) [@srnet](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/srnet)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/2 "2026-07-24T15:54:17Z")

</div>

The GPS should be outputting a lot of Serial characters all the time, even if it is in a screened metal box and can see no satellites.

So if there are no serial characters at all the possibilities are;

The GPS is faulty.

You have the GPS connected incorrectly.

Your Arduino is faulty.

Tips on dealing with the problem are here;

> **[My GPS does not work](https://stuartsprojects.github.io/2018/10/01/My-GPS-does-not-work.html)**
>
> On public forums, such as Arduino, I see a great many posts along the lines of ‘My GPS does not work’. Most often constructors connect a GPS to an Arduino on their bench indoors, load up a complete application and find it does not work in that there...

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kmin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/kmin/32/1147370_2.png) [@kmin](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/kmin)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/3 "2026-07-24T16:40:26Z")

</div>

Post good photos of your wiring and soldering (if present).

> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> and it can't be a faulty module

Why it can't?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/4 "2026-07-24T16:58:59Z")

</div>

> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> i wanted to test my new GY-NEO6MV2

Do you mind telling us which Arduino board you are using for the test? Does it have a separate serial port for the GPS unit?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/5 "2026-07-24T17:06:53Z")

</div>

> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> i firstly used a level converter to make sure if it is actually 3.3v it won't fry itself.

I see a warning on the data sheet PDF for the unit, be sure to connect to 5 volts for 1 to 2 hours to charge the internal battery. Have you researched for documentation?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![srnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/srnet/32/238868_2.png) [@srnet](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/srnet)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/6 "2026-07-24T17:20:08Z")

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> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> and it can't be a faulty module,

Can you explain why you believe the GPS cannot be faulty ?

A faulty GPS is definitely one of the reasons why there is no serial characters output ,,,,,,,

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![srnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/srnet/32/238868_2.png) [@srnet](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/srnet)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/7 "2026-07-24T17:22:32Z")

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The battery is needed if the GPS is going to work in hot fix mode, but for normal operation the GPS should not need a working battery at all.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/8 "2026-07-24T17:52:15Z")

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perhaps true, but the OP did not do the initial battery charge. May not be needed after charging. Did the antenna and receiver electronics get attached to the board for the test? The patch antenna has a bunch of components under the ceramic part.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![srnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/srnet/32/238868_2.png) [@srnet](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/srnet)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/9 "2026-07-24T18:05:52Z")

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> [@Paul\_KD7HB](#):
>
> but the OP did not do the initial battery charge.

Not relevant.

The GPS does not need a battery to work when its powered.

Lots of GPSs dont have batteries.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dave\_Lowther](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/dave_lowther/32/1092885_2.png) [@Dave\_Lowther](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Dave_Lowther)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/10 "2026-07-24T18:35:24Z")

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> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> The LED didnt even turn on ONCE and it can't be a faulty module, what could be causing this? Is it because i am indoors?

Even indoors with no view of the satellites the GPS should be outputting some messages.  
Even though you said it can't be a faulty module: I tried to get 5 working modules from Amazon during 2025 and I had to return more than half of them. The faulty ones output nothing at all on their serial output.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anon94801460](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@anon94801460](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon94801460)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/11 "2026-07-24T18:42:58Z")

</div>

> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> it can't be a faulty module,

Yes, it can. Lots of counterfeit Neo6M GPS modules have been reported.

Post a link to where you bought it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![horace](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/horace/32/1014299_2.png) [@horace](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/horace)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 5:37am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/12 "2026-07-25T05:37:30Z")

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code for a GY-NEO6MV2 connected to Serial1 port of ESP32

```cpp
// ESP32 Serial1 to GPS_GY-NEO6MV2 NEO-6M module

// GPS VCC to ESP32 3.3V
// GPS GND to ESP32 GND
// GPS RX to ESP32 GPIO15
// GPS TX to ESP32 GPIO16

#define RXD1 16
#define TXD1 15

void setup() {
  // initialize both serial ports:
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial1.begin(9600, SERIAL_8N1, RXD1, TXD1);
  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("ESP32 serial1 GPS test Rx pin 16 Tx pin 15");
}

void loop() {
  // read from port 1, send to port 0:
  if (Serial1.available()) {
    int inByte = Serial1.read();
    Serial.write(inByte);
  }

  // read from port 0, send to port 1:
  if (Serial.available()) {
    int inByte = Serial.read();
    //Serial.write(inByte);
    Serial1.write(inByte);
  }
}

```

serial monitor output

```arduino
ESP32 serial1 GPS test Rx pin 16 Tx pin 15
$GPGGA,153740.649,,,,,0,00,25.5,,,,,,*6B
$GPGLL,,,,,153740.649,V,M*76
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,25.5,25.5,25.5*02
$GPGSV,3,1,10,02,20,152,,06,14,030,,11,30,066,,12,41,084,*75
$GPGSV,3,2,10,22,36,269,,25,72,083,,26,08,274,,29,58,192,*79
$GPGSV,3,3,10,31,47,297,,32,25,232,*70
$GPRMC,153740.649,V,,,,,,,150123,,,M*45
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,M*33
$GPZDA,153740.649,15,01,2023,00,00*5F
$GPTXT,01,01,01,ANTENNA OPEN*25
$GPGGA,153741.649,,,,,0,00,25.5,,,,,,*6A
$GPGLL,,,,,153741.649,V,M*77
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,25.5,25.5,25.5*02
$GPGSV,3,1,10,02,20,152,,06,14,030,,11,30,066,,12,41,084,*75
$GPGSV,3,2,10,22,36,269,,25,72,083,,26,08,274,,29,58,192,*79
$GPGSV,3,3,10,31,47,297,,32,25,232,*70
$GPRMC,153741.649,V,,,,,,,150123,,,M*44
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,M*33
$GPZDA,153741.649,15,01,2023,00,00*5E
$GPTXT,01,01,01,ANTENNA OPEN*25
$GPGGA,153742.649,,,,,0,00,25.5,,,,,,*69
$GPGLL,,,,,153742.649,V,M*74
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,25.5,25.5,25.5*02
$GPGSV,3,1,10,02,20,152,,06,14,030,,11,30,066,,12,41,084,26*71
$GPGSV,3,2,10,22,36,269,,25,72,083,,26,08,274,,29,58,192,30*7A

```

as the ESP32 uses 3.3V logic no requirement for level shifters etc removing possible source of poor connections etc

post a photo of your setup?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_com3\_port](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/the_com3_port/32/1244823_2.png) [@the\_com3\_port](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/the_com3_port)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/13 "2026-07-28T16:07:42Z")

</div>

The battery is fine, i measured it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_com3\_port](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/the_com3_port/32/1244823_2.png) [@the\_com3\_port](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/the_com3_port)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/14 "2026-07-28T16:07:58Z")

</div>

I bought it from a physical store

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_com3\_port](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/the_com3_port/32/1244823_2.png) [@the\_com3\_port](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/the_com3_port)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/15 "2026-07-28T16:08:44Z")

</div>

Tried it, to no avail.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_com3\_port](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/the_com3_port/32/1244823_2.png) [@the\_com3\_port](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/the_com3_port)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/16 "2026-07-28T16:09:39Z")

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It was brand new, just out of the gelatin packaging  
And yes, it turns out it was faulty from the beginning 😞

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MaximoEsfuerzo](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/maximoesfuerzo/32/923798_2.png) [@MaximoEsfuerzo](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/MaximoEsfuerzo)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/17 "2026-07-28T18:16:18Z")

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> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> I connected the GPS module but no output

What did you connect it to?

> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> Then i connected the TX directly to the pin

Which pin?

Upload an image or be more specific; we're not in front of your module and we're not fortune tellers.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dave\_Lowther](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/dave_lowther/32/1092885_2.png) [@Dave\_Lowther](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Dave_Lowther)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/18 "2026-07-28T18:24:21Z")

</div>

> [@the\_com3\_port](#):
>
> it turns out it was faulty from the beginning

Did you get a replacement? If you did I hope it works, please let us know how you get on. If you got a replacement from the same supplier, I wouldn't be surprised if it also didn't work.  
It's a bit concerning that sellers, on a popular shopping site, that have sold me duds that I returned, continue to sell the same items. One (via site messaging) even asked me not to solder headers on them as he wouldn't be able to resell the duds I returned ☹  
It's not really a problem for me because I can test one in 5 seconds with u-center and an FTDI USB-serial module. I simply take the duds, not in any packaging, to the post office. There is no charge for the return and I get a full refund.  
The ones that work are good value for money. I'm not using them for anything critical and I'm doing the work as a hobby, so I'm happy to get cheap GPS modules even if I have to order multiple times and pick out the good ones / return the bad ones.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tigger](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/tigger/32/1104210_2.png) [@tigger](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/tigger)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:44am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/19 "2026-07-29T10:44:24Z")

</div>

A familiar story.  
Buy cheap, get cheap. Sometimes get lucky, sometimes not.  
Customer service? Probably not.  
The frustration doesn't have a price tag.  
It's particularly important for anyone starting out, or starting a complex project, to have confidence in what they are using.  
A GPS module from say, Adafruit, is likely to work, comes with tutorials, advice, customer service. Costs more.  
Then try the cheap ones.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Paul\_KD7HB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paul_kd7hb/32/1127958_2.png) [@Paul\_KD7HB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Paul_KD7HB)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/new-gy-neo6mv2-gives-absolutely-no-output-and-no-sign-of-life/1453135/20 "2026-07-31T18:55:12Z")

</div>

Here is a hint! Put your mark on the circuit board so you will know if they sent your board back to you!