{"id":2091,"date":"2018-08-07T21:36:51","date_gmt":"2018-08-07T21:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blog.exrockets.com\/blog\/?p=2091"},"modified":"2019-03-14T18:19:54","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T18:19:54","slug":"high-speed-10-hz-mini-gps-data-logger-with-micro-sd-for-rc-models-and-model-rockets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.blog.exrockets.com\/blog\/high-speed-10-hz-mini-gps-data-logger-with-micro-sd-for-rc-models-and-model-rockets\/","title":{"rendered":"HIGH SPEED (10 HZ) MINI GPS DATA LOGGER WITH MICRO-SD FOR RC-MODELS AND MODEL ROCKETS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Update Note<\/em>: As mentioned the SD card should be 2GB or less and formatted as FAT16. Due to addressing restrictions the SD card should contain only one partition, created as PRIMARY PARTITION <\/strong>with no unallocated space before the partition. Please note that some SD cards come with partitions, created as logical partitions and need to have their partitions recreated as mentioned previously.<\/p>\n

As I mentioned in one of my comments in the older post MINI PIC GPS DATA LOGGER WITH MICRO-SD CARD<\/a> I had plans to make a faster GPS data logger suitable for RC-Models and Model Rockets. Well the PCBs were ordered some time ago, but I finally found some free time to finish and describe the project.<\/p>\n

DESCRIPTION<\/p>\n

It has been already said that this GPS Data Logger, unlike the original version, is specifically designed for RC-models and model rockets. To make it as robust as possible and to accommodate the higher data transfer from the GPS module (10 Hz) and to the SD card, it was easier to change the large PIC18F25J11 MCU with the smaller PIC16F18325 and add a second MCU PIC16F18326 to control the SD data write. Thus one MCU is controlling the data transfer to and from the GPS module and passes the NMEA message to the second MCU, which on its turn write it to the SD card.<\/p>\n

In fact the electrical design is quite simple and straightforward and all the work is done through the firmware of both MCUs.<\/p>\n

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SPECIFICATIONS<\/p>\n

Despite the fact that there now two MCU\u2019s this GPS data logger is actually a bit smaller than the original version 26×18.5 mm vs. the original 27×20 mm.<\/p>\n

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An important parameter is the weight – it is 8.6gr (including the micro SD card) where the biggest part, 6 gr, is due to the GPS module.<\/p>\n

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The power supply is from 3.3 to 4.2 volts maximum, i.e. the typical LiPo battery.\u00a0 Keep in mind that this GPS data logger is quite power hungry \u2013 25mA from the GPS module, 3mA for each MCU and the typical 25mA for the SD card (which could be anywhere between 10mA and 100mA depending on the card) \u2013 this gives about 56mA typical consumption, which requires indeed a LiPo battery.<\/p>\n

HOW TO USE IT<\/p>\n

First you need a SD card with maximum size of 2Gb, formatted with FAT16. \u00a0When you start the GPS data logger and:<\/p>\n