Experiment 28: Decoding GPS Data Transmission

Objective: Capture and decode GPS data to extract location information.

Background:

GPS receivers transmit data in a specific format known as NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) sentences. These sentences contain valuable information such as latitude, longitude, speed, time, and altitude. In this experiment, you will capture the GPS data and decode the NMEA sentences to extract location and other related information.

Steps:

1. Connect the GPS Module:
   • Connect the GPS module to a UART or serial analyzer to capture the transmitted data.
   • Ensure proper power and ground connections for the GPS module.
2. Capture NMEA Sentences:
   • Use the analyzer to capture the NMEA sentences transmitted by the GPS module.
   • Ensure that the GPS module has a clear signal to acquire data from the satellites.
3. Decode GPS Data:
   • Analyze the captured NMEA sentences.
   • Identify key data fields such as latitude, longitude, altitude, and timestamp.
   • Decode the sentences using an NMEA sentence decoder tool or manually interpret the data.

Expected Outcome:

Understand the GPS protocol, including NMEA sentence structure, and learn how to interpret the information transmitted by GPS modules. This knowledge will be useful in many applications such as navigation, geolocation, and tracking systems.