GPS Frequency Reference - Remotely Controled GPS Module via UART
Modules NEO by U-blox are very popular GNSS receivers in these days. I have bought NEO-7M GPS/GLONASS module. A synchronized time signal can be also found on the board and you can control the frequency as well as the duty-cycle via a serial port (3.3V logic). The output signal can be used e.g. for disciplined oscillators. All important information about this module is in its datasheet. A disadvantage is that the datasheet is very complex.
I have written a piece of software in Python with WX graphical interface for my experiments. This software can also run on Raspberry Pi and it allows to control the output frequency and the duty-cycle in locked and unlocked mode via UART. If I want to use a different device e.g. a microcontroller I can just use the code generated by the application (the last text box in the form) for UART request so the application is still useful.
I have also placed the module into a small plastic box as you can see in the following images.
Developed application
1. GNSS module with an antenna, mechanical construction
GNSS Module U-blox NEO-7M
DC input, RS-232, LED indicating the output frequency and BNC connector - the output signal
2. RS-232 communication test, measurement
Controlling the module with my application and Raspberry Pi.
The output frequency (Yellow) is changing from 1Hz to 10Hz after my request (Purple)
Purple - RS-232 (TX) - Request sent via the new application
Blue - RS-232 (RX) shows the received NMEA messages
3. Results - output signal measurement
For presenting the measured data I use my software connected to an oscilloscope via LXI bus which I have already presented here.
The time pulse signal is connected to a resistor and a LED diode on the board. I removed both the LED diode and the resistor, so the BNC connector was connected directly to the output. The following figures present the measured time pulse signal:
a) Output frequency: 10 kHz
b) Output frequency: 100 kHz
c) Output frequency: 1 MHz
