GNSS RTK 2 Click

How does it work?

GNSS RTK 2 Click is based on the ZED-F9R, a multi-band professional-grade GNSS positioning module featuring the u-blox F9 receiver platform providing a reliable multi-band GNSS sensor fusion solution for industrial applications. Thanks to the multi-band RF front-end architecture, all four major GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou) plus SBAS and QZSS satellites can be received concurrently. The ZED-F9R high-performance sensor fusion module also has an integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU) for centimeter-level accuracy RTK positioning (RTK rover feature).

The ZED-F9R’s built-in algorithms fuse the IMU data, GNSS measurements, wheel ticks, correction data, and a vehicle dynamics model to provide optimal positioning accuracy where GNSS alone would fail. The module operates in the open sky, in the wooded countryside, in demanding multipath environments, and even in challenging environments such as cities. Designed for industrial applications, ZED-F9R is the ultimate solution for a data-driven economy where control and position availability are crucial.

This module represents a turnkey self-contained solution, eliminating the technical risk and effort of selecting and integrating RF components and third-party libraries such as precise positioning engines. It also offers support for a range of correction services, RTCM or SPARTN-formatted corrections, enabling high precision navigation using internet or satellite data) through an unpopulated UART header in the middle of the board. This interface allows each application to optimize performance according to the application’s unique needs.

GNSS RTK 2 Click communicates with MCU using the UART interface at 115200bps as its default communication protocol with the option for the users to use other interfaces, such as SPI and I2C, if they want to configure the module and write the library by themselves. The interface is selected by positioning SMD jumpers labeled COMM SEL in an appropriate position. When choosing the SPI communication, with the correct selection of the COMM SEL jumpers, it is also necessary to populate the DSEL jumper to configure the interface pins as SPI. In the default state, the jumper labeled as DSEL is unpopulated. The receiver also can enter a Safe-Boot mode. When the jumper labeled SFBT is populated, the receiver starts in Safe-Boot mode, and the GNSS operation is disabled.

The USB interface, compatible with USB version 2.0 (Full Speed, 12 Mbit/s), can be used for communication as an alternative to the UART. The USB port can be used as an additional power supply if you need the Click board™ to be a standalone device. In the case of the main supply failure, the module can use a backup supply voltage from a connected battery. Backup voltage supplies the real-time clock and battery-backed RAM and enables all relevant data to be saved in the backup RAM to allow a hot or warm start later.

In addition to these features, this board also uses several mikroBUS™ socket pins. RDY pin routed to the AN pin of the mikroBUS™ socket is used as a communication indicator when bytes are ready to be transmitted. The RST pin routed on the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket provides the general reset ability, and the TMP pin, alongside its LED indicator, routed on the INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket provides one pulse per second time pulse with configurable duration and frequency.

RTK pin routed on the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, alongside an LED indicator labeled RTK, indicates the RTK positioning status. When LED blinks, a valid stream of RTCM messages is received, but no RTK fixed mode has been achieved. When the LED is constantly lit, the LED indicates that RTK mode has been achieved. It also has another LED indicator labeled as GDC that shows the current geofence status as to whether the receiver is inside any active areas. For example, this feature can be used to wake up a sleeping host when a defined geofence condition is reached.

GNSS RTK 2 Click possesses the SMA antenna connector for connecting the appropriate antenna that Mikroe offers, such as GPS Active External Antenna. This antenna is an excellent choice for all GSM/GPRS applications supporting L1 and L2 band frequencies. This Click board™ can be operated only with a 5V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on GNSS RTK 2 Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
Transmission Ready Indicators	RDY	1	AN	PWM	16	RST	Reset
RTK Positioning Status	RTK	2	RST	INT	15	TMP	Time Pulse
SPI Chip Select	CS	3	CS	RX	14	TX	UART TX
SPI Clock	SCK	4	SCK	TX	13	RX	UART RX
SPI Data OUT	SDO	5	MISO	SCL	12	SCL	I2C Clock
SPI Data IN	SDI	6	MOSI	SDA	11	SDA	I2C Data
	NC	7	3.3V	5V	10	5V	Power Supply
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

GNSS RTK 2 Click electrical specifications

Software Support

We provide a library for the GNSS RTK 2 Click as well as a demo application (example), developed using Mikroe compilers. The demo can run on all the main Mikroe development boards.

Package can be downloaded/installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Library Description

This library contains API for GNSS RTK 2 Click driver.

Key functions

• gnssrtk2_reset_device This function resets the device by toggling the RST pin.

• gnssrtk2_generic_read This function reads a desired number of data bytes from the module.

• gnssrtk2_parse_gngga This function parses the GNGGA data from the read response buffer.

Example Description

This example demonstrates the use of GNSS RTK 2 click by reading and displaying the GNSS coordinates.

void application_task ( void ) 
 { 
     gnssrtk2_process( &gnssrtk2 ); 
     if ( app_buf_len > ( sizeof ( GNSSRTK2_RSP_GNGGA ) + GNSSRTK2_GNGGA_ELEMENT_SIZE ) )  
     { 
         gnssrtk2_parser_application( app_buf ); 
     } 
 }

The full application code, and ready to use projects can be installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Other Mikroe Libraries used in the example:

• MikroSDK.Board
• MikroSDK.Log
• Click.GNSSRTK2

Additional notes and informations

Depending on the development board you are using, you may need USB UART click, USB UART 2 Click or RS232 Click to connect to your PC, for development systems with no UART to USB interface available on the board. UART terminal is available in all Mikroe compilers.

mikroSDK

This Click board™ is supported with mikroSDK – Mikroe Software Development Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant Click board™ demo applications, mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you are using.

For more information about mikroSDK, visit the official page.