GPS Quick Fix
Edit on GitHubThe five-minute GPS fault isolation: the four checks that find 90% of GPS problems.
GPS Quick Fix
Ninety percent of GPS problems come from four causes, and all four have a five-minute check. This page is the fast path; the GPS Troubleshooting page has the full depth.
The four checks
| Check | How | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Module LED blinks? (see GPS Testing Indoors) | Wire the supply correctly |
| Wiring | TX/RX crossed? (see Wiring Quick Reference) | Swap the two wires |
| Sky view | Count climbs outdoors? (see GPS Satellite Count) | Move the antenna up and clear |
| Config | GPS enabled in CONFIG? | Enable it |
The order matters
Check power first (the LED), then wiring (the serial output), then sky (the count), then config. Each check rules out a whole failure class; going in the wrong order repeats work.
The 10-minute rule
If the module shows power and wiring but no fix after 10 minutes of open sky, treat it as failed for the session: enter manual coordinates (see GPS Failure Contingency) and diagnose at home.
The winter addition
In the cold, acquisition takes longer (see GPS Warm vs Cold Start). Add 5 minutes to the rule below 0 C.
Related pages
- GPS Troubleshooting for the full depth
- GPS Testing Indoors for the bench
- GPS Failure Contingency for the plan B