Question

I have been using the GPS module on waspmotes, and I have been able to get data off it. However on a fine day, with clear visible skies(which I don’t think matters), I cannot be able to set the power mode on.

On calling GPS.setMode(GPS_ON), it fails to set the power mode on, and on freezes on subsequent call to: gpsConnected = GPS.check();

I have tried changing the GPS unit to no avail. I am using the following code. (NB: I have removed the unnecessary bits of code for the sake of brevity)

void setup()
{
  ACC.ON();
  USB.begin();  // Opening UART to show messages using 'Serial Monitor'

  //Initialize the GPS module
  GPS.ON();  // Turn GPS on
  GPS.setMode(GPS_ON);    // set GPS on
  if(!GPS.pwrMode) USB.println("Was unable to set on the GPS internal power mode.");  //this message gets printed.
  if(!GPS.setCommMode(GPS_NMEA_GGA)) USB.println("Was unable to set the GPS communication mode.");

  // Power up the Real Time Clock(RTC), init I2C bus and read initial values
  RTC.ON();
  ........
}

void loop(){
  //declare the variables
  len, i, j = 0;
  char degree[4] = "", minutes[8] = "", *latitude, *longitude, *altitude;
  uint8_t temperature = 0;
  int8_t fileFound = 0;
  double latitude_dd, longitude_dd;
  byte accOk;

  //check if the GPS has connected to the satellite
  GPS.begin();  // open the uart
  GPS.init();  // Inits the GPS module
  gpsConnected = GPS.check();

  ........
  ........
}

What might have happened???

Any help will be appreciated.

Answer 1

This was caused by using the RTC.setTime function. In the code, as can be seen here: http://pastebin.com/RmA98MkD, on line 195, RTC.setTimeFromGPS(), I was setting the boards time with the time that I received from GPS. This ended up screwing the GPS connection up and the code only looped once. You can see detailed conversations from here: http://www.libelium.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=9861