FYI - GPS

EA5JAQ
Posts: 86
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:08 am

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by EA5JAQ » Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:53 am

CU7AAZ wrote:
Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:04 pm
Hello everybody!
Finally!
New GPS antenna installed. Excellent results!
28db antenna, installed on top of the radio.
When activating the gps, in one minute the gps starts to receive the satellites.
Amazing, I wasn't expecting it. Indoors, he obtained 9 satellites. (And with the exact location of my house)
It took a lot of work but I'm happy with the result.
73s everyone
CU7AAZ
That sounds great! Could you please post the part number or link of the antenna? I definitely wanna try it out :)

Thank you, 73!

CU7AAZ
Posts: 76
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:13 pm
Location: Azores

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by CU7AAZ » Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:55 pm

EA5JAQ wrote:
Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:53 am
CU7AAZ wrote:
Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:04 pm
Hello everybody!
Finally!
New GPS antenna installed. Excellent results!
28db antenna, installed on top of the radio.
When activating the gps, in one minute the gps starts to receive the satellites.
Amazing, I wasn't expecting it. Indoors, he obtained 9 satellites. (And with the exact location of my house)
It took a lot of work but I'm happy with the result.
73s everyone
CU7AAZ
That sounds great! Could you please post the part number or link of the antenna? I definitely wanna try it out :)

Thank you, 73!
It's amazing. I want to alert friends that the antenna is active. This dear RT3S uses a passive gps antenna. But no problem, to make the work easier, I advise you to remove the pcb components and then connect the small coax directly to the (positive) of the antenna and of course not forgetting the ground.

Link
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Antenna-Cera ... 278&sr=8-1

Good Luck
73s!

CU7AAZ
Posts: 76
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:13 pm
Location: Azores

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by CU7AAZ » Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:29 pm

VK3KYY wrote:
Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:29 am
Thanks for sharing

Personally I think a separate external GPS module is better, because the GPS modules normally contain a small battery to maintain the backup memory in the GPS module, so that it can perform a warm start, whereas the internal GPS does not have such a battery and always has to perform a cold start
It's a pleasure to share.
I agree with you a 100%.
But the RT3s is what we know..... I think I managed to get around this situation.
I can say that I did several tests.
Every time I turn on the radio, in less than a minute there are already enough satellites to send the location. (outside the house)
Also to my surprise, indoors also works. It takes longer to receive the satellites, but it makes sense.
I am also fascinated by its location accuracy.
Here is proof
https://aprs.fi/#!z=11&call=a%2FCU7AAZ- ... &tail=3600
RT3S GPS for me case closed, ehehheh

73s
CU7AAZ

VK3KYY
Posts: 7478
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2019 3:25 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by VK3KYY » Tue Jan 24, 2023 9:34 pm

Thanks.

EA5JAQ
Posts: 86
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:08 am

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by EA5JAQ » Wed Jan 25, 2023 3:47 pm

CU7AAZ wrote:
Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:55 pm
It's amazing. I want to alert friends that the antenna is active. This dear RT3S uses a passive gps antenna. But no problem, to make the work easier, I advise you to remove the pcb components and then connect the small coax directly to the (positive) of the antenna and of course not forgetting the ground.

Link
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Antenna-Cera ... 278&sr=8-1

Good Luck
73s!
Thank you! I just ordered a couple and I'll try it when I receive them. So did you just unsolder and remove the stock antenna and then solder the new one even thought it's an active one? Or did you do something else or connect it to a voltage pin to power it?

I opened my MD-UV390 and it looks like there is less room for the antenna, but I think I can still make it work.

Thanks again!

CU7AAZ
Posts: 76
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:13 pm
Location: Azores

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by CU7AAZ » Wed Jan 25, 2023 7:23 pm

EA5JAQ wrote:
Wed Jan 25, 2023 3:47 pm
CU7AAZ wrote:
Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:55 pm
It's amazing. I want to alert friends that the antenna is active. This dear RT3S uses a passive gps antenna. But no problem, to make the work easier, I advise you to remove the pcb components and then connect the small coax directly to the (positive) of the antenna and of course not forgetting the ground.

Link
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Antenna-Cera ... 278&sr=8-1

Good Luck
73s!
Thank you! I just ordered a couple and I'll try it when I receive them. So did you just unsolder and remove the stock antenna and then solder the new one even thought it's an active one? Or did you do something else or connect it to a voltage pin to power it?

I opened my MD-UV390 and it looks like there is less room for the antenna, but I think I can still make it work.

Thanks again!
Cool.
You don't need to put any voltage on the GPS antenna.
Basically what you have to do is make a mod. Transform active antenna into passive antenna. Very easy to do.
If you want to place the antenna on top, this is the hardest and most annoying part. (but it's worth the work)
I ask for a little patience, this weekend I will make a small tutorial with all the steps. For you and for other colleagues who need it.
I will post a link soon here in this thread.
It's a pleasure to help
73s
CU7AAZ

k7mhi
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2023 12:21 am

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by k7mhi » Wed Jan 25, 2023 7:29 pm

thank you, I ordered a few of these chips as well .. enjoying thread!

CU7AAZ
Posts: 76
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:13 pm
Location: Azores

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by CU7AAZ » Wed Jan 25, 2023 9:46 pm

k7mhi wrote:
Wed Jan 25, 2023 7:29 pm
thank you, I ordered a few of these chips as well .. enjoying thread!
Very cool ! 8-)
73s!

CU7AAZ
Posts: 76
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:13 pm
Location: Azores

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by CU7AAZ » Fri Jan 27, 2023 10:47 pm

Hello everybody,

In the link there are some tips for those who want to try to mount a new GPS antenna on the RT3s.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qomyZf ... sp=sharing

Some pictures with higher resolution
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-G001m ... sp=sharing

I hope I have contributed something useful

Good tests and good Qsos
73s

EA5JAQ
Posts: 86
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:08 am

Re: FYI - GPS

Post by EA5JAQ » Sun Jan 29, 2023 11:35 am

CU7AAZ wrote:
Fri Jan 27, 2023 10:47 pm
Hello everybody,

In the link there are some tips for those who want to try to mount a new GPS antenna on the RT3s.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qomyZf ... sp=sharing

Some pictures with higher resolution
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-G001m ... sp=sharing

I hope I have contributed something useful

Good tests and good Qsos
73s
Thank you very very much for taking the time to document the whole process. As soon as I receive the antennas I'll be trying it and I'll post the results ;)

Thanks! 73

Post Reply