GNSS Flash EPO                     
Application Note   
  GNSS Module Series 
  Rev. GNSS_Flash_EPO_Application_Note_V1.0 
Date: 2017-04-28 
www.quectel.com
 
 
                                                                                                                                              GNSS  Module  Series 
                                                                                                                GNSS  Flash  EPO  Application  Note 
 
 
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                                                                                                                                              GNSS  Module  Series 
                                                                                                                GNSS  Flash  EPO  Application  Note 
 
About the Document 
   
History   
Revision   
Date 
Author 
Description 
1.0 
 
2017-04-28 
Matt YE   
Initial 
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                                                                                                                GNSS  Flash  EPO  Application  Note 
 
Contents 
About the Document ................................................................................................................................... 2 
Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 
Table Index ................................................................................................................................................... 4 
Figure Index ................................................................................................................................................. 5 
1 
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 6 
2  Download EPO Files ............................................................................................................................ 7 
2.1. 
Types of EPO Files .................................................................................................................... 7 
2.2.  Download URL of EPO Files ..................................................................................................... 7 
2.3.  Recommended Download Strategy of EPO Files ..................................................................... 8 
2.4. 
The Validity Period of EPO Files ............................................................................................... 9 
2.5.  One SV Format of EPO Files .................................................................................................. 11 
3  Format of EPO Files ........................................................................................................................... 12 
3.1.  GPS Only EPO File Format ..................................................................................................... 12 
3.2.  GPS+GLONASS EPO File Format ......................................................................................... 13 
4  MTK Binary Protocol ......................................................................................................................... 14 
5  EPO Binary Packet Format ............................................................................................................... 15 
6  EPO Data Transfer Protocol ............................................................................................................. 17 
6.1. 
6.2. 
EPO Data Transfer Procedure................................................................................................. 17 
Error Handling .......................................................................................................................... 18 
6.3.  Check EPO Data in GNSS Chip .............................................................................................. 19 
7  Pseudo Codes for EPO Data Transfer Protocol ............................................................................. 20 
8  EPO Related PMTK Commands ....................................................................................................... 23 
8.1. 
8.2. 
8.3. 
Packet Type: 253 PMTK_SET_OUTPUT_FMT ...................................................................... 23 
Packet Type: 607 PMTK_Q_EPO_INFO................................................................................. 24 
Packet Type: 707 PMTK_DT_EPO_INFO .............................................................................. 24 
8.4.  MTK Binary Packet Types ....................................................................................................... 25 
8.4.1.  Acknowledge Packet (Packet Type 1) ........................................................................... 25 
8.4.2.  EPO Acknowledge Packet (Packet Type 2) ................................................................... 25 
8.4.3.  Change UART Format Packet (Packet Type 253) ......................................................... 26 
9  Appendix A References ..................................................................................................................... 28 
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                                                                                                                GNSS  Flash  EPO  Application  Note 
 
Table Index 
TABLE 1: TYPES OF EPO FILES ....................................................................................................................... 7 
TABLE 2: DOWNLOAD URL OF EPO FILES ..................................................................................................... 7 
TABLE 3: MTK BINARY PROTOCOL FORMAT................................................................................................ 14 
TABLE 4: DESCRIPTION OF MTK BINARY PROTOCOL PARAMETERS ...................................................... 14 
TABLE 5: EPO BINARY PACKET FORMAT ..................................................................................................... 15 
TABLE 6: MTK_BIN_EPO (CONTAINS 2 SAT DATA) ....................................................................................... 15 
TABLE 7: MTK_BIN_EPO (CONTAINS 1 SAT DATA) ....................................................................................... 16 
TABLE 8: MTK_BIN_EPO (CONTAINS NO SAT DATA) ................................................................................... 16 
TABLE 9: ACKNOWLEDGE PACKET OF MTK _BIN_EPO .............................................................................. 16 
TABLE 10: 253 PMTK_SET_OUTPUT_FMT .................................................................................................... 23 
TABLE 11: 607 PMTK_Q_EPO_INFO ............................................................................................................... 24 
TABLE 12: 707 PMTK_DT_EPO_INFO ............................................................................................................ 24 
TABLE 13: ACKNOWLEDGE PACKET (PACKET TYPE 1) .............................................................................. 25 
TABLE 14: EPO ACKNOWLEDGE PACKET (PACKET TYPE 2) EXAMPLE 1 ................................................ 25 
TABLE 15: EPO ACKNOWLEDGE PACKET (PACKET TYPE 2) EXAMPLE 2 ................................................ 26 
TABLE 16: CHANGE UART FORMAT PACKET (PACKET TYPE 253) EXAMPLE 1 ....................................... 26 
TABLE 17: CHANGE UART FORMAT PACKET (PACKET TYPE 253) EXAMPLE 2 ....................................... 27 
TABLE 18: ALMANAC, EPHEMERIS & EPO .................................................................................................... 28 
TABLE 19: TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................... 28 
 
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Figure Index   
FIGURE 1: RECOMMENDED DOWNLOAD STRATEGY OF EPO FILES ......................................................... 8 
FIGURE 2: ONE SV FORMAT OF EPO FILES ................................................................................................. 11 
FIGURE 3: GPS ONLY EPO FILE FORMAT .................................................................................................... 12 
FIGURE 4: GPS+GLONASS EPO FILE FORMAT ........................................................................................... 13 
FIGURE 5: EPO DATA TRANSFER PROCEDURE ......................................................................................... 18 
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1  Introduction   
 
EPO (Extended Prediction Orbit) is a free service provided by MediaTek, which can achieve fast TTFF 
and  improve  accuracy  in  weak  signal  conditions.  This  document  mainly  describes  EPO  file format  and 
EPO data transfer protocol for EPO Management Tool development. 
 
This document is applicable to the following Quectel modules: 
 
  L26 
  L70 
  L76 
  L76B 
  L76-L 
  L80 
  L86 
 
 
 
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2  Download EPO Files   
 
2.1. Types of EPO Files 
Table 1: Types of EPO Files   
EPO Type 
GNSS Type 
Description 
Unified QEPO URL 
GPS only 
Unified QEPO URL 
GPS+GLONASS 
6-hour prediction orbit (ephemeris) 
Single file name, always get the latest QEPO file 
The  server  auto  selects  the  EPO  files  valid  at  the  current 
time, no need to specify the file number 
6-hour prediction orbit (ephemeris) 
Single file name, always get the latest QEPO file 
The  server  auto  selects  the  EPO  files  valid  at  the  current 
time, no need to specify the file number 
EPO 
EPO 
 
GPS only 
3-30 days prediction orbit (ephemeris) 
GPS+GLONASS 
3-30 days prediction orbit (ephemeris) 
2.2. Download URL of EPO Files 
Table 2: Download URL of EPO Files 
EPO Type 
GNSS Type 
EPO File URL 
File Name 
Unified QEPO URL  GPS only 
http://wpepodownload.mediatek.com/
QGPS.DAT?vendorinfo 
Single name: QGPS.DAT 
Unified QEPO URL 
GPS+ 
http://wpepodownload.mediatek.com/
GLONASS 
QG_R.DAT?vendorinfo 
Single name: QG_R.DAT 
EPO 
GPS only 
http://wpepodownload.mediatek.com/
EPO_GPS_3_X.DAT?vendorinfo 
EPO 
GPS+ 
http://wpepodownload.mediatek.com/
GLONASS 
EPO_GR_3_X.DAT?vendorinfo 
X = 1~10 
EPO_GPS_3_1.DAT ~ 
EPO_GPS_3_10.DAT 
X = 1~10. 
EPO_GR_3_1.DAT ~ 
EPO_GR_3_10.DAT 
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