QuecLocator
Application Note
GSM/GPRS Module Series
Rev. QuecLocator_Application_Note_V3.3
Date: 2013-06-08
www.quectel.com
GSM/GPRS Module
QuecLocator Application Note
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About the document
History
Revision
Date
Author
Description
2013-03-11
Kim JIN
Initial
2013-03-23
Kim JIN
Modified return values of AT+QCELLLOC.
2013-05-14
Kim JIN
2013-06-07
Kim JIN
Modified the application scope for QuecLocator
function.
Modified the functional description of
QuecLocator.
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
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Contents
About the document ................................................................................................................................... 2
1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2 Cellular Location .................................................................................................................................. 5
3 Commands Description ....................................................................................................................... 7
3.1. AT+QCELLLOC Get Current Location ..................................................................................... 7
4 Appendix A Reference ......................................................................................................................... 9
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1 Introduction
QuecLocator is the abbreviation of Quectel’s cellular positioning technology, which can enhance and
complement stand-alone GNSS performance in conjunction with information from mobile network cells
particularly in challenging signal environments, such as urban canyon, indoors, in enclosed park houses
or when GNSS jamming signals are present.
This document gives you a detailed introduction to QuecLocator and describes how to enable this
functionality via AT Command.
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2 Cellular Location
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has been widely used because of its accurate and stable
positioning capability. But it is not always possible in the challenging signal environments, such as when
GNSS receiver works indoors, in urban canyon, under the elevated bridge or GNSS signal is influenced
by jamming.
Wireless cells are widely available in urban and rural environments, which can enable QuecLocator
service to estimate the position on the basis of surrounding mobile network information. The QuecLocator,
combined with the technology of cellular location, can be supported where GSM network coverage is
available.
QuecLocator allows Quectel wireless modules to provide positioning service only with cell base station.
QuecLocator can works alone with no need for a GNSS receiver. So if GNSS signals are blocked or
influenced by jamming, (such as within tunnels, buildings or metallic containers,) Quectel modules with
QuecLocator technology can also provide rough location information.
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Benefits of QuecLocator
The advantages of using QuecLocator are the following:
Indoor positioning: GNSS signal is not available indoors or in other enclosed places. QuecLocator
can provide position information in these situations.
For some specific application, an estimated position is enough. Then a GNSS module can be
retrenched.
Convenient to use: QuecLocator can be used wherever the base station service is available. With the
cells’ information, the current location can be easily displayed via QuecLocator.
Broad application scope: QuecLocator is based on the density of network cells. It can work where
GNSS is not available. When a GNSS jamming device is used, QuecLocator can also offer the
location service.
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3 Commands Description
3.1. AT+QCELLLOC Get Current Location
This AT command is used to get the current location through QuecLocator.
AT+QCELLLOC Get Current Location
Test Command
AT+QCELLLOC=?
Response
+QCELLLOC: 1
OK
Write Command
Response
AT+QCELLLOC=
+QCELLLOC: ,
OK
else response
ERROR
Reference
Parameter
Location method.
1 Get current location by the cell’s information.
The longitude of the location information. This value should be accurate to six after the
decimal point, and the range is <-180.000000 to 180.000000>.
The latitude of the location information. This value should be accurate to six after the
decimal point, and the range is <-90.000000 to 90.000000>.
NOTE
There will be around 200 bytes of upstream data every time using this function to get location. And the
received data from server are around 200 bytes.
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