Help no gps on pixhawk

MIDGE · December 27, 2017, 2:59pm

HI
i have no GPS on my s500 quad build using UBOX M8N GPS module and compass externally connected to my pixhawk flight controller,one of the messages i receive through mission planner is EKF PRIMARY CHANGED.
i have calibrated in the hardware section for dual compasses,that was successful,but i have no satellites and no GPS,BUT OTHER THAN THAT MY FIRST BUILD FLIES WELL.

ANY HELP FOR THIS NOVICE WILL BE GREATLEY APPRECIATED
Kind regards
Mark

Anubis · December 27, 2017, 8:22pm

Can you upload a dataflash .bin log from one of your flights? That will allow us to check your parameters to see if you’ve got the GPS setup right. Also, the EKF switching is usually bad news, so the log will let us see why it’s doing that.

ThePara · December 27, 2017, 9:04pm

The last batch of Banggood M8N GPS/mag units I received, had an APM 5-pin connector installed and a spare 6-position housing in the bag. Mark, are you positive your GPS plug is 6-pos ?

MIDGE · December 28, 2017, 2:01pm

thanks for the quick reply i have had only one flight and i have not sorted the dataflash logging out at this time.
can you help with a query on the same problem?
The youtube videos that i have watched shows the gps module lit up with a red LED light,mine shows no lights,could it possibly be that my GPS module is not working?

Kind Regars

MIDGE · December 28, 2017, 2:08pm

Thanks for the quick reply.Normally i buy most parts for my quads from
bangood,but on this occation i brought my pixhawk and full accessory
pack from a different vender.
The one thing i have notice is that on the youtube videos i have
watched,the GPS module has a red light on it when powered,my GPS unit
has no lights could this possibly be not working?

Kind Regards
Mark

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Anubis · December 28, 2017, 8:57pm

If the GPS module does not light up and the Pixhawk doesn’t detect it, then it is probably a wiring issue, or possibly a bad module.

Many GPS modules come with two cables, as ThePara mentioned. The Pixhawk requires the 6-pin cable which connects to the GPS port. This cable also has a 4-pin connector that goes to the I2C port.

If you have it wired correctly, check the wire for damage, especially the connectors. - make sure all the pins are secured in the connector. If the cable looks okay, it might be worth opening the GPS module and checking the connection on the inside (this is also how you swap out the 5 and 6 pin connector, if you need to).

Regarding the Dataflash logging, the two easiest ways to download them are:

Connect Mission Planner to the Pixhawk. On the left side of the screen below the artificial horizon, scroll the buttons to the right until you see the DataFlash Logs button. Click that, and then click the Download DataFlash Logs Via Mavlink button.

-or-

Eject the micro SD card from the Pixhawk and use any SD card reader to view the files. The logs are contained in the APM/Logs/ directory.

MIDGE · December 30, 2017, 1:23pm

Thank you
I will do all that you have suggested
Kind regards
Mark

Luide_Mulumba · April 11, 2018, 10:13pm

Hi, great discussion going on here. I have been using the APM 2.8 with a uBlox M8N GPS unit. It has so far been working very well. However, I recently bought a Pixhawk 2.4.8, and the same healthy GPS receiver shows a “NO GPS” error. It must be something on the Pixhawk.

Anubis · April 11, 2018, 10:25pm

The APM and Pixhawk use different cables for the GPS units. They look like this:

Are you using the correct cable?

Luide_Mulumba · April 12, 2018, 7:01am

Thank you so much for this! I swapped out the 5-pin connector for a 6-pin connector and it now works, can’t believed I missed that. Thanks again.

MIDGE · April 12, 2018, 1:33pm

Hello Anubis

Sorry for the late reply to your excellent help,as i have only just returned to my project S500 pixhawk quad.

Yes it looks like mine has the 5 pin connector not the 6 pin on the GPS Module.So i will rectify that.

On the same query can you help?.I disconnected the the external GPS Module completely from the pixhawk flight computer as it has its own built in GPS and compass but still had no GPS only the on board compass which work fine,any suggestions?.

Thank you again for your help,people like you are a god send for people like me,please keep it going as you are very much appreciated.

kind Regards

Mark

Anubis · April 12, 2018, 5:09pm

The Pixhawk does not have a built-in GPS. Also, the onboard compass can sometimes be untrustworthy because of interference from nearby electronics and motors, so it is best to use an external compass.

MIDGE · April 13, 2018, 12:39pm

Thank you. That has cleared that mystery up for me.

Kind regards and thanks
Mark