Globalsat Technology Corporation 
     
 
 
PRODUCT USER MANUAL 
  GPS ENGINE BOARD 
              ET-212    version 1.2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GlobalSat Technology Corporation 
16, No.186,Chien 1 Road, 235Chung Ho City,Taipei Hsien, Taiwan ,R.O.C. 
Tel: 886-2-8226-3799(Rep.)                        Fax: 886-2-8226-3899 
Web: www.globalsat.com.tw                      E-mail: service@globalsat.com.tw 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SiRF GSC2x 
L1, 1575.42 MHz 
1.023 MHz chip rate 
12 channel all-in-view tracking 
-155 dBm 
Features: 
 
SiRF GSC2x high performance GPS Chip Set 
Very high sensitivity (Tracking Sensitivity: -155 dBm) 
Extremely fast TTFF (Time To First Fix) at low signal level 
Compact size (27.9mm * 20 mm * 3.4mm) suitable for space-sensitive application 
One size component, easy to mount on another PCB board 
Support NMEA 0183 and SiRF binary protocol 
 
Specification: 
 
General 
Chipset 
 
Frequency 
C/A code  
Channels  
Sensitivity 
 
Accuracy 
Position   
 
 
Velocity   
Time 
 
 
Datum 
Default 
 
Acquisition Time 
Reacquisition   
 
Hot start   
Warm start 
 
Cold start  
 
 
Dynamic Conditions 
Altitude   
Velocity   
Acceleration 
Jerk  
18,000 meters (60,000 feet) max 
515 meters /second (1000 knots) max 
Less than 4g 
20m/sec **3 
10 meters, 2D RMS 
5 meters, 2D RMS, WAAS enabled 
0.1 m/s 
1us synchronized to GPS time 
0.1 sec., average 
8 sec., average 
38 sec., average 
45 sec., average 
  WGS-84 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Power 
Main power input 
 
Power consumption  
 
Interface 
 
Dimension 
Baud rate  
 
Output message 
 
 
 
Antenna   
 
Environmental 
Operating Temp 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.3V +- 5% DC input 
42 mA (With antenna) 
27.9mm * 20mm * 3.4mm 
4,800 to 57,600 bps adjustable 
SiRF binary or   
NMEA 0183 GGA, GSA, GSV, RMC, VTG, GLL 
Active antenna 
 
-40℃  to +85℃ 
 
 
Pin Assignment 
 
Pin description 
 
 
 
* RF: 
 
 
* VIN (DC power input): 
 
 
* BATTERY (Backup battery): 
 
power is removed. Typical current draw is 15uA. Without an external backup battery, 
This is the main DC supply for a 3.3V +- 5% DC input power module board. 
Connect to External Active Antenna   
This is the battery backup input that powers the SRAM and RTC when main 
User can use this I/O pin for special function. 
For example, on/off LED 
the module/engine board will execute a cold star after every turn on. To achieve the 
faster start-up offered by a hot or warm start, a battery backup must be connected.   
The battery voltage should be between 2.0v and 5.0v. 
 
* GPIO13: 
 
 
 
* TX: 
 
data to user’s navigation software or user written software. 
 
 
* RX: 
 
board from SiRFdemo software or from user written software. 
 
* GND: 
This is the main receive channel for receiving software commands to the engine 
This is the main transmits channel for outputting navigation and measurement 
Output TTL level, 0V ~ 2.85V 
 
GND provides the ground for the engine board. Connect all grounds. 
 
Application Circuit 
 
 
Recommend Layout PAD 
 
 
SOFTWARE COMMAND 
  NMEA Output Command 
GGA-Global Positioning System Fixed Data 
                          Table B-2 contains the values for the following example: 
              $GPGGA,161229.487,3723.2475,N,12158.3416,W,1,07,1.0,9.0,M,,,,0000*18 
 
                                        Table B-2 GGA Data Format   
Name 
Example
$GPGGA 
Message ID 
161229.487
UTC Time 
3723.2475
Latitude 
N 
N/S Indicator 
12158.3416
Longitude   
E/W Indicator 
W 
Position Fix Indicator  1 
07 
Satellites Used 
1.0 
HDOP 
MSL Altitude1 
9.0 
M 
Units   
Geoid Separation1
 
M 
Units 
Age of Diff. Corr.
 
0000 
Diff. Ref. Station ID 
*18 
Checksum 
 
 
Units
Description 
GGA protocol header
hhmmss.sss
ddmm.mmmm
N=north or S=south
dddmm.mmmm
E=east or W=west
See Table B-3
Range 0 to 12
Horizontal Dilution of Precision 
meters
meters
meters
meters
second
Null fields when DGPS is not used 
End of message termination 
SiRF Technology Inc. does not support geoid corrections. Values are WGS84 ellipsoid heights. 
 
 
            
 
 
Table B-3 Position Fix Indicator 
Value 
0
1
2
3
Description
Fix not available or invalid
GPS SPS Mode, fix valid
Differential GPS, SPS Mode , fix valid
GPS PPS Mode, fix valid
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                             
 
GLL-Geographic Position-Latitude/Longitude 
                                  Table B-4 contains the values for the following example: 
                                            $GPGLL,3723.2475,N,12158.3416,W,161229.487,A*2C 
 
                                          Table B-4 GLL Data Format 
            Name 
Units
Message ID 
Latitude 
N/S Indicator 
Longitude   
E/W Indicator 
UTC Position 
Status 
Checksum 
 
 
                         
 
 
 
 
      Description
GLL protocol header
ddmm.mmmm
N=north or S=south
dddmm.mmmm
E=east or W=west
hhmmss.sss
A=data valid or V=data not valid 
    Example
$GPGLL 
3723.2475
n 
12158.3416
W 
161229.487
A 
*2C 
 
End of message termination 
GSA-GNSS DOP and Active Satellites 
             
                      Table B-5 contains the values for the following example: 
                         
                                    $GPGSA,A,3,07,02,26,27,09,04,15,,,,,,1.8,1.0,1.5*33 
 
                                                      Table B-5 GSA Data Format 
                                             
Name 
Message ID 
Mode1 
Mode2 
Satellite Used1 
Satellite Used1 
….. 
Satellite Used1 
PDOP 
HDOP 
VDOP 
Checksum 
 
Example 
$GPGSA 
A 
3 
07 
02 
 
 
1.8 
1.0 
1.5 
*33 
 
Units 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description 
GSA protocol header 
See Table B-6 
See Table B-7 
Sv on Channel 1 
Sv on Channel 2 
 
Sv on Channel 12 
Position dilution of Precision 
Horizontal dilution of Precision 
Vertical dilution of Precision 
 
End of message termination 
Satellite used in solution. 
1. 
 
 
                                                            Table B-6 Mode1 
                                                             
Description 
Value 
M 
A 
Manual-forced to operate in 2D or 3D mode 
2Dautomatic-allowed to automatically switch 2D/3D 
                                                           
                                                            Table B-7 Mode 2 
                                                             
Value 
1 
2 
3 
Description 
Fix Not Available 
2D 
3D