50 Channel D2523T Helical GPS Receiver

Replacement: None. Unfortunately the supplier for these helical GPS Receiver is no longer in business so we can no longer carry them in our catalog. This page is for reference only.

The D2523T is a compact GPS smart-antenna engine board, which comes equipped with a Sarantel GeoHelix high-gain active antenna and GPS receiver circuits. The module is based around the high performance 50-channel u-blox 5 platform.

The omni-directional antenna provides great sensitivity, even when you don't have a clear view of the sky. Whether this receiver is in your pocket or under your car seat, you are likely to pickup a rock solid GPS signal.

The module operates at 3.3VDC and outputs standard format NMEA strings over the TTL/UART pins. It has up to a 4Hz update rate.

Not sure which GPS module is right for you? Check out our GPS buying guide!

Note: As of 2/6/2012, we are now shipping units that are based on the u-blox6 GPS engine. Both datasheets are listed below for your reference.


  • 50-channel u-blox engine
  • Omni-directional Sarantel active antenna @ typical gain: +26dBic
  • 1 Hz position update rate
  • <1 second time-to-first-fix for hot and aided starts
  • 160dBm SuperSense® acquisition and tracking sensitivity
  • Accelerated startup at weak signals for modules with KickStart feature
  • Supports AssistNow Online and AssistNow Offline A-GPS services; OMA SUPL compliant
  • High immunity to jamming
  • PCB main board size 25 x 23 mm
  • UART (TTL) interface
  • 3.3V supply voltage for low power consumption

50 Channel D2523T Helical GPS Receiver Product Help and Resources

Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

2 Programming

Skill Level: Rookie - You will need a better fundamental understand of what code is, and how it works. You will be using beginner-level software and development tools like Arduino. You will be dealing directly with code, but numerous examples and libraries are available. Sensors or shields will communicate with serial or TTL.
See all skill levels


Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

3 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Competent - You will be required to reference a datasheet or schematic to know how to use a component. Your knowledge of a datasheet will only require basic features like power requirements, pinouts, or communications type. Also, you may need a power supply that?s greater than 12V or more than 1A worth of current.
See all skill levels


Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

  • RadioDoctor / about 12 years ago / 2

    Before I fry my D2523T, I wonder if any of you curious hackers out there have checked the board for a 1 sec GPS timing signal? Is the 1 PPS available on any of the pins or traces on the board?

  • Rico_fr / about 12 years ago / 2

    Which chipset is it exactly? There are an half dozen of UBX-G6010 versions.

    UBX-G6010-ST UBX-G6010-ST-TM UBX-G6010-SA UBX-G6010-NT UBX-G6010-Sx-DR ...

    • MostlyHarmless / about 12 years ago / 1

      Another request for the full part number and/or chipset. I'd like access to raw data (ephemeris). That's the 'T' and 'P' variants.

      • Member #427149 / about 12 years ago * / 1

        The description was updated "see Note 2/6/2012" so I guess the LEA6-T version is included which allows to access the raw data. If that is not the case please respond or update the description accordingly!

  • MikeNemat / about 15 years ago / 2

    Very cool! Looks just like the GS407 except with an easy to use connector and $10 cheaper. Good stuff!

    • dvdvck / about 12 years ago / 1

      Can someone point their differences? It seems they are the same!

  • Proto-Logic / about 11 years ago / 1

    Does anyone happen to know if this GPS engine has the I2C interface, and if so what pins it's on? I'd like to use I2C instead of serial and don't mind soldering to the module. Thanks!

  • Gregg Harrington / about 12 years ago * / 1

    I just got this module. About ready to hook it up and the antenna shield came off. I noticed in older version of this product that you photographed it this way. I was just wondering. Should it slide off? Should I glue it on? Not clear if this is designed this way.

    Thanks for any suggestions or information.

    Cheers!

    Edit: grammar/punctuation/spelling

    • Member #341419 / about 11 years ago / 1

      Yes, the radome should come off. It is designed so that the radome can be permanently mounted (e.g. sticking out of an enclosure) and still allow the GPS module to be removed from the inside.

  • Member #428097 / about 12 years ago / 1

    I have read through all the data sheets. There are many places where it says you need to connect a backup battery but it never says what voltage. Can someone answer this simple question please?

    • Member #341419 / about 11 years ago / 1

      I think it's safe to assume you use the same as the supply voltage....

  • Member #187616 / about 12 years ago / 1

    I can neither update firmware, or save configuration where it will not be lost on reset. Is this possible with his device or not.

  • I understand that the board is powered with 3.3v. Should I use a Logic Level Converter for the Tx/Rx Lines as well? Does anyone have a wiring diagram for this gps and the arduino duemilanove or mega?

    • I finally got everything working. I used a logic level converter with 3.3v for the serial lines, I had to cut a em406 cable and check the datasheet pins as the em406 breakout board is incorrect for this gps. I used the serialsoftware example sketch for the arduino program and waited a few minutes for a fix. I downloaded the u-blox v7 software and was very impressed! I am now trying to update the firmware but don't know exactly what to do. Anyone know how to update the firmware on this guy?

  • aroy / about 12 years ago / 1

    is it possible to turn off all messages and poll the unit for specific messages?

  • hana adel / about 12 years ago / 1

    is this u-blox GPS can be used with IMU for UAV's state estimation?! any help would be great

  • hana adel / about 12 years ago / 1

    can this u blox GPS be used with IMU for UAV state motion determination? any help would be great?

  • d0ct0r / about 12 years ago / 1

    I would be appreciate for any information about the LED connector (pin #6) on this module. For now, its constantly OFF (TTL 0). And there is no explanation for its behaviour in documents.

    • d0ct0r / about 12 years ago / 1

      This mystery is solved: LED is flashing when GPS module is acquired necessary information (GP RMC , for example) form the SVs. Its flashing every time as module throwing information to the UART.

      Ex.: $GPRMC,012817.00,A,6059.34472,N,07312.41211,W,0.195,,200612,,,A*65

  • cwilt / about 13 years ago / 1

    What is the most common cause of failure on these units?

  • JanD / about 13 years ago / 1

    What precision does this module have?

  • Member #235716 / about 13 years ago / 1

    I'm among those bad-luckers, mine 406 can't get fix - can only track 3 satellites most and sync. time. Tried various clear-sky locations in different regions. Seen rumors some got lucky after switching from USB FTDI to battery-based PSU - unfortunately that didn't work for me neither. Also been reading there was a broken set of devices with faulty antenna soldering. Anyone with a similar experience?

    • chrislwood / about 13 years ago / 1

      I bought one a few months back -- worked great the first couple of days. Now, no matter how many satellites signals it distinguishes (u-blox 6.01 software driving) it simply will not get a fix -- or a time. I've seen zero satellites for hours in a clear sky then 16 all of a sudden at the same location (Durham, NC). It isn't obvious to me there is an assembly issue with the one I have.

      I read u-blox's GPS compendium and decided to upload an almanac (not that that explains the inability to decode the time from the many satellites it sometimes syncs with), but that fails with this unit and the u-blox 6.01 software. The flash update fails due to a timeout. Interestingly the URL for the 5day (chosen at random) almanac returned a file which has a UBX command embedded at the beginning. I wonder if this confuses the unit because u-blox s/w issues its own UBX command before stuffing in the almanac payload.. (just a guess... I'm no expert) URL: http://alp.u-blox.com/current_5d.alp

      that's about 3 issues all in one... any suggestions?

  • GlenEnglish / about 13 years ago / 1

    I make personal trackers, this is the best GPS receiver/antenna combination I have used yet. It's well worth the money. Whether it is the chipset that is ideal or the antenna's radiation pattern which is ideal (it is) , I am not sure but the combination works. I put alot of it down to the good antenna.

  • Member #218954 / about 13 years ago / 1

    I just received this module and it appears the little green plate on the top of the antenna has come loose.
    The contacts look tiny. Is there any way I can fix this or should I send it back?

  • Enrique / about 13 years ago / 1

    I connected this module with the EM-406 BOB but I get no connection to it. If I look at the pinout discribed in the datasheet it does not match the pinout of the breakout board. Any hints?

    • Enrique / about 13 years ago / 1

      De soldered the cable and connected it without the BOB and now it works. So don't get the EM-406 BOB if you want to use it with this module ;-)

      • pasalgo / about 13 years ago / 1

        So if I have understood it well, the pin in the right go to pin Tx in arduino, pin2 (second in the right) to pin Rx in arduino, next to GND in arduino and the fourth to the 3v3 in arduino. The two pins in the left can be unpluged. Is that right? Thanks

      • Member #256169 / about 13 years ago / 1

        This comment was salutary Enrique. Thanks for spotting it.

  • Technical Vault / about 13 years ago / 1

    I'm curious the datasheet mentions a Galileo upgrade, what does one need to do to get this?

  • Member #223198 / about 14 years ago / 1

    i was wondering,
    i am using a 5V microcontroller,
    are ports on the GPS-09566 have 5V tolerance, as i will be sending signals from my micro controller back to the GPS.
    regards

  • Great Product... Works Great!!

  • austrisv / about 14 years ago / 1

    anyone got it working with arduino Duemilanova ?

  • German / about 14 years ago / 1

    Somebody knows if this GPS works well with Arduino using the TinyGPS library? any advices?

  • JCee / about 15 years ago / 1

    Great unit however the UBX-G5010 chip dosent allow firmware updates or saving configuration changes. If you change baud rate then power off, defaults to 9600 baud on next power up.

  • haakworks / about 15 years ago / 1

    The picture shows a Dharma U1613 chip. Is this some kind of a uBlox clone?

  • john.t.erickson / about 15 years ago / 1

    9600 8/N/1 works for me.

  • Christopherrrr / about 15 years ago / 1

    Maybe I'm blind but at what bit rate do you interface to this at?

  • Tairc / about 15 years ago / 1

    The datasheet (page 3) indicates 5V supply. Everything else indicates 3.3V. Be careful!

    • JohnGalt / about 14 years ago / 1

      Tairc:<br />
      <br />

      The datasheet (page 3) indicates 5V supply. Everything else indicates 3.3V. Be careful!
      <br />
      <br />
      <br />
      Just looked at the datasheet. Looks like it says 3.3V to me. Can't find a reference to 5V anywhere. Maybe it was updated. I'm hoping this runs off 3.3V and is not split supply, though it seems from the data sheet to only be single 3v3 supply.

  • cec / about 15 years ago / 1

    So does this one have the "enhanced" firmware that allows for RAW measurement output?

  • MRSHKO / about 15 years ago / 1

    Will this work with the ardupilot?

    • Ptacnik / about 15 years ago / 1

      yes but you have to boot loaded its easy

      • German / about 14 years ago / 1

        I'm sorry, but I don't understand very well... Loaded? with what? how? Do you know if this GPS works well with Duemilanova and TinyGPS library?. Thanx

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