GPS not working for Starling 2 Max

[Bernhard]

@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?

[nuallaino]

@Bernhard Maybe our issues are related? See [my post].(https://forum.modalai.com/topic/3912/problem-acquiring-gps-satellites-possible-voxl2-board-emi?_=1731073406011)

[Bernhard]

@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.

[Kory4Drone]

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.

[Bernhard]

@Kory4Drone sadly there has been no update.
@Zachary-Lowell-0 is there anything ModalAI can do to support?

[groupo]

@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

[Zachary Lowell 0]

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:

https://www.amazon.com/ZTTXL-Conductive-Grounding-Shielding-Interference/dp/B0CW9GL3Q9/ref=asc_df_B0CW9GL3Q9?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676856756448&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276320887549&psc=1&msclkid=17e3696f10bd1379a5500e2bb0278770

[groupo]

@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

[Bernhard]

@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.

[James Strawson]

@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.

[groupo]

@James-Strawson is this sensor on the sentinel as well?

[James Strawson]

@groupo It is not on Sentinel.

[Bernhard]

@James-Strawson sadly that did not help.

[Bernhard]

@James-Strawson, @Zachary-Lowell-0 can we expect an update in the near future?

[ROBERT JUDD]

@Bernhard @James-Strawson @Zachary-Lowell-0 @Alex-Kushleyev @nuallaino

I have a brand new Starling 2 Max (received 3 days ago), and I'm having the same problem described by nuallaino and Bernhard (no GPS even when outside for a long time).

My system info and results of px4-listener are pasted below.

I did unplug the Lepton 8-pin JST SH connector as suggested by James Strawson, but that had no effect.

Everything else seems to work fine (haven't tried 5G comm yet), but I'm hesitant to fly without GPS functioning properly, so at this point I'm stuck.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks for your help !

---

system-image: 1.8.02-M0054-14.1a-perf
kernel: #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Nov 11 22:47:44 UTC 2024 4.19.125
hw platform: M0054
mach.var: 1.0.1
voxl-suite: 1.4.1
current IP: wlan0: 10.0.0.19

---

voxl2:~$ px4-listener sensor_gps

TOPIC: sensor_gps
sensor_gps
timestamp: 841732144 (0.020669 seconds ago)
timestamp_sample: 0
time_utc_usec: 0
device_id: 11272245 (Type: 0xAC, SERIAL:6 (0x00))
lat: 0
lon: 0
alt: -17000
alt_ellipsoid: 0
s_variance_m_s: 999.00006
c_variance_rad: 3.14159
eph: 4294967.50000
epv: 3796926.25000
hdop: 99.99000
vdop: 99.99000
noise_per_ms: 64
jamming_indicator: 15
vel_m_s: 0.00000
vel_n_m_s: 0.00000
vel_e_m_s: 0.00000
vel_d_m_s: 0.00000
cog_rad: 0.00000
timestamp_time_relative: 0
heading: nan
heading_offset: 0.00000
heading_accuracy: 0.00000
rtcm_injection_rate: 0.00000
automatic_gain_control: 0
fix_type: 0
jamming_state: 0
spoofing_state: 1
vel_ned_valid: False
satellites_used: 0
selected_rtcm_instance: 0

voxl2:~$ px4-listener sensor_mag

TOPIC: sensor_mag
sensor_mag
timestamp: 861420482 (0.006257 seconds ago)
timestamp_sample: 861420007 (475 us before timestamp)
device_id: 527625 (Type: 0x08, I2C:1 (0x0D))
x: -0.04417
y: -0.32142
z: 0.42167
temperature: nan
error_count: 0
voxl2:~$