GPS not working for Starling 2 Max
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@Bernhard what is your testing environment? Safe to assume you are outside yeah? Also to confirm can you run
cat /etc/modalai/voxl-px4.confand paste the output? -
@Zachary-Lowell-0 yes, we test outside.
The only difference between the Starling 2 and the Starling Max is the 5G board. On the Max we have the 5G board installed, which seems to be the root of the problem.
We have tried switchen the GPS modules and the VOXL board itself in the meantime, and the GPS always works on the Starling 2, but not on the Max.
Is there something additional to do when installing the 5G board? We swapped the Wifi module for the 5G module, configured voxl-modem and it works. But GPS does not work with it it seems.Besides, output for voxl-px4.conf:
GPS=AUTODETECT RC=CRSF POWER_MANAGER=VOXLPM DISTANCE_SENSOR=NONE OSD=DISABLE DAEMON_MODE=ENABLE SENSOR_CAL=ACTUAL EXTRA_STEPS=() -
I wonder if there is some form of interference - I do know that from time to time when I am in the same situation as you (GPS showing 0's for both lat and lon) I just have to wait it out for like 10 minutes and then after that, the GPS data shows - unsure why it would take that long, but I can say I have recreated this issue in the past and the solution was to wait - @brahim I believe you ran into this and just let the drone sit for a while before gps was acquired.
I would be hard pressed to say the issue is directly from the 5g hat - all the hardware is tested rigorously together to ensure safe flights and such.
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For anyone wondering:
We figured out what the problem was.
The 5G is not the only source for interferences.It turned out the video transmission hardware we use (Siyi MK 32 https://shop.siyi.biz/products/siyi-mk32?VariantsId=10619) blocks the GPS from finding any satellites.
We will try to somehow shield the GPS from the video transmission signal.
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@Bernhard said in GPS not working for Starling 2 Max:
We will try to somehow shield the GPS from the video transmission signal.
Makes sense to me @Bernhard we have leveraged faraday tape to dull the signals coming off.
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@Zachary-Lowell-0 actually I have to correct that statement.
I have now invested quite some time into testing the whole situation thoroughly.
The drone's GPS works fine without 5G and video transmission. The drone's GPS has problems with 5G (at least where we are testing - populated area, probably some other interferences). The drone's problem also has a problem with the video transmission.So basically, both 5G and video cause the problem. But it does not even work with the 5G module that ModalAI provides. Is there any further help available?
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@Bernhard Maybe our issues are related? See [my post].(https://forum.modalai.com/topic/3912/problem-acquiring-gps-satellites-possible-voxl2-board-emi?_=1731073406011)
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@nuallaino that might be.
But for us the GPS-sensor usually works, we only have problems when using 5G and/or video transmission.We will test if an external GPS-sensor fixes the situation.
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Hello,
Has there been any resolution on this? I have a brand new Starling 2 Max, with 5G and have let the drone sit for over an hour and no GPS.
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@Kory4Drone sadly there has been no update.
@Zachary-Lowell-0 is there anything ModalAI can do to support? -
@Bernhard I also have had GPS related issues with my sentinel drone that happens to have a 5G modem. I have two drones and one does work so we havent chased the other one down much. I will be interested to hear what steps the team will have for you
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How far away is the gps from the 5g hat? Also have you leveraged faraday tape around the fuselage of your drone so the signal for the gps doesnt get interfered. Odds are the issue isnt from the 5g hat but from the USB3.0 port if you are leveraging. Multiple studies show there is quite a lot of interference from usb3.0 that can disrupt GPS - the solution for this is taking faraday tape and wrapping it around the right spots to cut the signal:
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@Zachary-Lowell-0 Are you talking about the USB-C used for ADB? (Maybe there is not the same on the Starling as there is on the Sentinel). Wouldn't that only apply if something was plugged in (i.e.) a cable for ADB
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@Zachary-Lowell-0 I don't know if there is another way to mount the 5G board (see picture - we sticked the antennas to the arms in the meantime).
.We assumed since all of the components are official ModalAI products, that they would work together.
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@Bernhard When we released the 5G version of the Starling Max we also moved the GPS to the back of the drone and specified smaller LTE antennas which those landing gear were designed to fit. I'll reach out to you via PM regarding updating your Starling Max.
We just discovered a source of EMI which is the cable running to the optional Lepton sensor socket. For a number of reasons we've not offered Lepton as an option of Starling 2 Max yet so you can safely disconnect the 8-pin JST SH connector on the front left side of your camera breakout board next to the barometer cap. This will improve GPS performance. Please see picture below.
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@James-Strawson is this sensor on the sentinel as well?
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@groupo It is not on Sentinel.
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@James-Strawson sadly that did not help.
