GPS

BlocklyProp reference for GPS blocks

For Activity Board, FLiP, and Other board types. Not available for Badge or Scribbler Robot board types.

These blocks are compatible with GPS modules delivering an NMEA 0183 serial data stream. This includes Parallax's SIM33EAU GPS Module (#28504) and PAM-7Q (Parallax #28509).

New to this sensor? Click here to see an example schematic and quick Blockly program to help you get started.

GPS initialize

This block launches a processor automatically. Use only one instance of this block per project.

The GPS Init block configures the communication from your GPS module to your Propeller microcontroller.

If you have defined a constant using the constant define block, the constant will show up in all of the pin menus and can be selected instead of a numbered pin:

If you forget to use the GPS init block first, other GPS blocks will show a triangle warning icon as a reminder:

  • TX: choose the Propeller I/O pin connected to the GPS module's TX or data out pin.
  • baud: choose the default baud rate of your GPS module, for the communication from the GPS module to the Propeller microcontroller. Options are 9600, 2400, 4800, and 19,200,

* I/O pin numbers available in this dropdown will depend on your selected board type.

GPS has satellite fix

The GPS has satellite fix block lets you know if your GPS module is receiving a usable satellite signal. The block provides 1 if true, 0 if false.

GPS latitude

The GPS latitude block provides the latitude in microdegrees (millionths of degrees).  Latitudes north of the Earth's equator are positive values, and latitudes south of the Earth's equator are negative values.

GPS longitude

The GPS longitude block provides the longitude in microdegrees (millionths of degrees).  Longitudes east of the Prime Meridian to are positive values, and longitudes west of the Prime Meridian are negative values.

GPS heading

The GPS heading block provides heading—the direction of travel—in degrees clockwise from magnetic north. The GPS module must be moving faster than two miles per hour to provide a meaningful heading value.

GPS altitude

The GPS altitude block provides altitude above sea level in centimeters.

GPS speed

The GPS speed block provides the speed that the GPS module is traveling, in the chosen unit of measurement. Choose mph (miles per hour) or knots (nautical miles per hour) from the drop-down menu. The GPS module must be moving faster than two miles per hour to provide a meaningful speed value.

GPS number of satellites

The GPS satellites tracked block provides the number of satellites that the GPS module can see.