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    Pytrack GPS API

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    pytrack
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    • N Offline
      Neuromystix @Neuromystix
      last edited by Neuromystix

      @crumble I added a function where i can get time and date. If you want, try it and check if you have any problem.

      main.py
      L76GNSS

      Code:

      ## Test code for read date/time from gps and update RTC
      import machine
      import math
      import network
      import os
      import time
      import utime
      from machine import RTC
      from machine import SD
      from machine import Timer
      from L76GNSS import L76GNSS
      from pytrack import Pytrack
      import struct
      # setup as a station
      
      import gc
      
      time.sleep(2)
      gc.enable()
      
      #Start GPS
      py = Pytrack()
      l76 = L76GNSS(py, timeout=600)
      #start rtc
      rtc = machine.RTC()
      print('Aquiring GPS signal....')
      #try to get gps date to config rtc
      while (True):
         gps_datetime = l76.get_datetime()
         #case valid readings
         if gps_datetime[3]:
             day = int(gps_datetime[4][0] + gps_datetime[4][1] )
             month = int(gps_datetime[4][2] + gps_datetime[4][3] )
             year = int('20' + gps_datetime[4][4] + gps_datetime[4][5] )
             hour = int(gps_datetime[2][0] + gps_datetime[2][1] )
             minute = int(gps_datetime[2][2] + gps_datetime[2][3] )
             second = int(gps_datetime[2][4] + gps_datetime[2][5] )
             print("Current location: {}  {} ; Date: {}/{}/{} ; Time: {}:{}:{}".format(gps_datetime[0],gps_datetime[1], day, month, year, hour, minute, second))
             rtc.init( (year, month, day, hour, minute, second, 0, 0))
             break
      
      print('RTC Set from GPS to UTC:', rtc.now())
      
      chrono = Timer.Chrono()
      chrono.start()
      #sd = SD()
      #os.mount(sd, '/sd')
      #f = open('/sd/gps-record.txt', 'w')
      while (True):
      
         print("RTC time : {}".format(rtc.now()))
         coord = l76.coordinates()
         #f.write("{} - {}\n".format(coord, rtc.now()))
         print("$GPGLL>> {} - Free Mem: {}".format(coord, gc.mem_free()))
         coord1 = l76.coordinates1()
         print("$GPGGA>> {} - Free Mem: {}".format(coord1, gc.mem_free()))
         coord2 = l76.get_datetime()
         print("$G_RMC>> {} - Free Mem: {}".format(coord2, gc.mem_free()))
      

      The L76GNSS.py code:

      from machine import Timer
      import time
      import gc
      import binascii
      
      
      class L76GNSS:
      
          GPS_I2CADDR = const(0x10)
      
          def __init__(self, pytrack=None, sda='P22', scl='P21', timeout=None):
              if pytrack is not None:
                  self.i2c = pytrack.i2c
              else:
                  from machine import I2C
                  self.i2c = I2C(0, mode=I2C.MASTER, pins=(sda, scl))
      
              self.chrono = Timer.Chrono()
              self.timeout = timeout
              self.timeout_status = True
              self.reg = bytearray(1)
              self.i2c.writeto(GPS_I2CADDR, self.reg)
      
          def _read(self):
              self.reg = self.i2c.readfrom(GPS_I2CADDR, 128)      #Changed from 64 to 128 - I2C L76 says it can read till 255 bytes
              return self.reg
      
          def _convert_coords(self, gngll_s):
              lat = gngll_s[1]
              lat_d = (float(lat) // 100) + ((float(lat) % 100) / 60)
              lon = gngll_s[3]
              lon_d = (float(lon) // 100) + ((float(lon) % 100) / 60)
              if gngll_s[2] == 'S':
                  lat_d *= -1
              if gngll_s[4] == 'W':
                  lon_d *= -1
              return(lat_d, lon_d)
      
          #diff indexes from original - Using GGA sentence
          def _convert_coords1(self, gngga_s):
              lat = gngga_s[2]
              lat_d = (float(lat) // 100) + ((float(lat) % 100) / 60)
              lon = gngga_s[4]
              lon_d = (float(lon) // 100) + ((float(lon) % 100) / 60)
              if gngga_s[3] == 'S':
                  lat_d *= -1
              if gngga_s[5] == 'W':
                  lon_d *= -1
              return(lat_d, lon_d)
      
          def _get_time(self, gngga_s):
              gps_time = gngga_s[1]
              return(gps_time)
      
          def _get_altitude(self, gngga_s):
              gps_altitude = gngga_s[9]
              return(gps_altitude)
      
          def _get_satellites(self, gngga_s):
              num_satellites = gngga_s[7]
              return(num_satellites)
      
          def _fix_quality(self, gngga_s):
              valid = gngga_s[6]
              if valid == '1':
                  return True
              else:
                  return False
      
          #Using RMC sentence
          def _get_time_rmc(self, gnrmc_s):
              gps_time = gnrmc_s[1]
              return(gps_time)
      
          def _data_valid_rmc(self, gnrmc_s):
              valid = gnrmc_s[2]
              if valid == 'A':
                  return True
              else:
                  return False
      
          def _get_date_rmc(self, gnrmc_s):
              gps_date = gnrmc_s[9]
              return(gps_date)
      
      
          def coordinates(self, debug=False):
              lat_d, lon_d, debug_timeout = None, None, False
              if self.timeout is not None:
                  self.chrono.reset()
                  self.chrono.start()
              nmea = b''
              while True:
                  if self.timeout is not None and self.chrono.read() >= self.timeout:
                      self.chrono.stop()
                      chrono_timeout = self.chrono.read()
                      self.chrono.reset()
                      self.timeout_status = False
                      debug_timeout = True
                  if not self.timeout_status:
                      gc.collect()
                      break
                  nmea += self._read().lstrip(b'\n\n').rstrip(b'\n\n')
                  gngll_idx = nmea.find(b'GNGLL')
                  if gngll_idx >= 0:
                      gngll = nmea[gngll_idx:]
                      e_idx = gngll.find(b'\r\n')
                      if e_idx >= 0:
                          try:
                              gngll = gngll[:e_idx].decode('ascii')
                              gngll_s = gngll.split(',')
                              lat_d, lon_d = self._convert_coords(gngll_s)
                          except Exception:
                              pass
                          finally:
                              nmea = nmea[(gngll_idx + e_idx):]
                              gc.collect()
                              break
                  else:
                      gc.collect()
                      if len(nmea) > 410: # i suppose it can be safely changed to 82, which is longest NMEA frame
                          nmea = nmea[-5:] # $GNGL without last L
                  time.sleep(0.1)
              self.timeout_status = True
      
              if debug and debug_timeout:
                  print('GPS timed out after %f seconds' % (chrono_timeout))
                  return(None, None)
              else:
                  return(lat_d, lon_d)
      
          #TEST functions
          #Parser for GPGGA
          def coordinates1(self, debug=False):
              lat_d, lon_d, gps_time, valid, gps_altitude, num_satellites, debug_timeout = None, None, None, None, None, False, False
              if self.timeout is not None:
                  self.chrono.reset()
                  self.chrono.start()
              nmea = b''
              while True:
                  if self.timeout is not None and self.chrono.read() >= self.timeout:
                      self.chrono.stop()
                      chrono_timeout = self.chrono.read()
                      self.chrono.reset()
                      self.timeout_status = False
                      debug_timeout = True
                  if not self.timeout_status:
                      gc.collect()
                      break
                  nmea += self._read().lstrip(b'\n\n').rstrip(b'\n\n')
                  gpgga_idx = nmea.find(b'GPGGA')
                  if gpgga_idx >= 0:
                      gpgga = nmea[gpgga_idx:]
                      gpgga_e_idx = gpgga.find(b'\r\n')
                      if gpgga_e_idx >= 0:
                          try:
                              gpgga = gpgga[:gpgga_e_idx].decode('ascii')
                              gpgga_s = gpgga.split(',')
                              lat_d, lon_d = self._convert_coords1(gpgga_s)
                              gps_time = self._get_time(gpgga_s)
                              valid = self._fix_quality(gpgga_s)
                              gps_altitude = self._get_altitude(gpgga_s)
                              num_satellites = self._get_satellites(gpgga_s)
                          except Exception:
                              pass
                          finally:
                              nmea = nmea[(gpgga_idx + gpgga_e_idx):]
                              gc.collect()
                              break
      
                  else:
                      gc.collect()
                      if len(nmea) > 410: # i suppose it can be safely changed to 82, which is longest NMEA frame
                          nmea = nmea[-5:] # $GNGL without last L
                  time.sleep(0.1)
              self.timeout_status = True
      
              if debug and debug_timeout:
                  print('GPS timed out after %f seconds' % (chrono_timeout))
                  return(None, None, None, None, False, None)
              else:
                  return(lat_d, lon_d, gps_time, gps_altitude, valid, num_satellites)
      
          #parser for UTC time and date >> Reads GPRMC
          def get_datetime(self, debug=False):
              lat_d, lon_d, gps_time, valid, gps_date, rmc_idx, debug_timeout = None, None, None, None, None, -1, False
              if self.timeout is not None:
                  self.chrono.reset()
                  self.chrono.start()
              nmea = b''
              while True:
                  if self.timeout is not None and self.chrono.read() >= self.timeout:
                      self.chrono.stop()
                      chrono_timeout = self.chrono.read()
                      self.chrono.reset()
                      self.timeout_status = False
                      debug_timeout = True
                  if not self.timeout_status:
                      gc.collect()
                      break
                  nmea += self._read().lstrip(b'\n\n').rstrip(b'\n\n')
                  #Since or spg or glonass could give date see which one is present -SEE page 10 GNSS protocol
                  #GPS only       - GPRMC         GPGGA
                  #Glonass only   - GNRMC         GPGGA
                  #GPS+GLON       - GNRMC         GPGGA
                  #No station     - GPRMC         GPGGA
                  gprmc_idx = nmea.find(b'GPRMC')
                  gnrmc_idx = nmea.find(b'GNRMC')
                  if gprmc_idx >= 0:
                      rmc_idx = gprmc_idx
                  if gnrmc_idx >= 0:
                      rmc_idx = gnrmc_idx
                  if rmc_idx >= 0:
                      rmc = nmea[rmc_idx:]
                      rmc_e_idx = rmc.find(b'\r\n')
                      if rmc_e_idx >= 0:
                          try:
                              rmc = rmc[:rmc_e_idx].decode('ascii')
                              rmc_s = rmc.split(',')
                              lat_d, lon_d = self._convert_coords1(rmc_s[1:])
                              gps_time = self._get_time_rmc(rmc_s)
                              valid = self._data_valid_rmc(rmc_s)
                              gps_date = self._get_date_rmc(rmc_s)
                          except Exception:
                              pass
                          finally:
                              nmea = nmea[(rmc_idx + rmc_e_idx):]
                              gc.collect()
                              break
      
                  else:
                      gc.collect()
                      if len(nmea) > 512: # i suppose it can be safely changed to 82, which is longest NMEA frame --CHANGED to 512
                          nmea = nmea[-5:] # $GNGL without last L
                  time.sleep(0.1)
              self.timeout_status = True
      
              if debug and debug_timeout:
                  print('GPS timed out after %f seconds' % (chrono_timeout))
                  return(None, None, None, False, None)
              else:
                  return(lat_d, lon_d, gps_time, valid, gps_date)
      

      Researcher @ UALG, Portugal

      G S 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 4
      • C Offline
        combaindeft @andrethemac
        last edited by

        @andrethemac Yeah, ran into that issue aswell.

        why we are re-doing the gps library that comes from pycom :)

        and selectively adding more and more features ... so we won't run out of memory

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • A Offline
          andrethemac @Neuromystix
          last edited by

          @neuromystix I used to search the nmea messages with _read looking for xxGGA until a fix was found. Only then I use the l76.coordinates to find the exact position.
          a bit of a work around.
          The new library you posted works as a charm, no more memory errors.
          The Quectel is a bit "slow" but with a timeout of 180 (3 minutes), I manage to get a fix (almost) every time the wipy/lopy comes awake (after deep sleep). Not so good for the battery, 3 minutes on +- 70 mA vs 390 uA in deep sleep with the pytrack. The 390 uA are probably from the accelerator, I use the accelerator to wake up the unit when it gets more than 2g for over a second.

          N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • N Offline
            Neuromystix @andrethemac
            last edited by

            @andrethemac i followed the original lib which use gc to clean memory. But haven't tried any other options.
            Same problem here with the starting time. Sometimes i just unplug the cable from my computer and plug it to a powerbank and have to wait 5 minutes for it to get fix. For my project this will not be a problem but for a battery operated device it's not a good thing...

            Researcher @ UALG, Portugal

            A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • G Offline
              gregcope @Neuromystix
              last edited by

              @neuromystix Works like a champ - it would be good if this was added to the main lib. I added HDOP (GPGGA) as that is a good indication of accuracy.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • M Offline
                mwtidd @Neuromystix
                last edited by

                @neuromystix your work has been awesome. Thank you so much for your efforts. In running some test logs earlier today, I found that I got a series of fixes logged that were "invalid". Upon reviewing you code the protocol documents, I have one update to propose

                def _fix_quality(self, gngga_s):
                    valid = gngga_s[6]
                    if valid == '0':
                        return False
                    else:
                        return True
                

                Your initial fix quality function only returned true if gngga_s[6] was 1, however it seems that values such as 2 or 3 may be valid as well.

                Per v2.2 of the protocol spec:

                Value Description
                0 Fix not available or invalid
                1 GPS SPS Mode, fix valid
                2 Differential GPS, SPS Mode, fix valid
                3 GPS PPS Mode, fix valid

                Once again, thanks for your efforts. Just wanted to share my findings.

                N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • N Offline
                  Neuromystix @mwtidd
                  last edited by

                  @mwtidd When i wrote it i was reading the "Quectel l76 Series GNSS protocol Specification V3.3" which says (@page 12):
                  Fix Status
                  "0"=Invalid
                  "1"=GNSS fix
                  "2"=DGPS fix
                  "6"=Estimated (dead reckoning) mode

                  That's why i only used "1". But even with that, we can use the value "2" for the DGPS fix. I haven´t checked if i had some fixes "2" ou another values. If it worked for you, nice ;)

                  Best regards
                  Nelson Pinto

                  Researcher @ UALG, Portugal

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S Offline
                    stefan85e @bmarkus
                    last edited by

                    @bmarkus said in Pytrack GPS API:

                    umber of satellites visible /used for fi

                    • number of satellites visible /used for fix - Is this possible yet?!
                    N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • N Offline
                      Neuromystix @stefan85e
                      last edited by

                      @stefan85e If you need the number of satellites used to fix, it's already parsed in l76.coordinates1(). The "Satellites in view" i haven't done it, but it's easy to implement, just parse any $__GSV sentence, the third field is "Satellites in view".

                      Researcher @ UALG, Portugal

                      S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S Offline
                        stefan85e @Neuromystix
                        last edited by

                        @neuromystix said in Pytrack GPS API:

                        l76.coordinates1()

                        Sorry did not udnerstand that :)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • A Offline
                          andrethemac
                          last edited by

                          Hi all. I've taken the original librarya and @Neuromystix addtions and made my own library. It parses aml the sentences from the L76 gps and returns them as a dict. you can get the coordinates parsed, the time, ...
                          https://github.com/andrethemac/L76GLNSV4

                          I've noticed one (strange?) thing. the RMC (required minimum data to get a fix) message only pass once (just after starting the gps) and does not reappear. Any idea's ?
                          best regards

                          S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • S Offline
                            stefan85e @Neuromystix
                            last edited by

                            @neuromystix said in Pytrack GPS API:

                            For use it just call l76.coordinates1() which will return (lat, long, time(not formatted), altitude (M), valid fix (true ou false), number of satellites).
                            L76GNSS.py
                            So what did you do to get the nimber of satellites? We are trying this and we cant get it to work.

                            N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • N Offline
                              Neuromystix @stefan85e
                              last edited by

                              @stefan85e Hello,

                              You have to do something like this inside your code, and you'll get the number of satellites used for fix:

                              ...
                              gps_data = l76.coordinates1()
                              n_sat = gps_data[5]
                              ...
                              

                              Or you can use the @andrethemac library which will get you all the data ;)

                              Researcher @ UALG, Portugal

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • S Offline
                                stefan85e @andrethemac
                                last edited by

                                @andrethemac
                                (2018, 4, 17, 11, 29, 12, 564887, None)(None(53.33632, 12.53262)
                                (None, None) Got when I add this:

                                gps_data = l76.coordinates1()
                                n_sat = gps_data[5]

                                Did also try to use this lib:
                                https://github.com/andrethemac/L76GLNSV4

                                A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • S Offline
                                  stefan85e @Neuromystix
                                  last edited by

                                  @neuromystix said in Pytrack GPS API:

                                  num_satellites

                                  Does this work:

                                  return(lat_d, lon_d, gps_time, gps_altitude, valid, num_satellites)

                                  I want num_satellites...

                                  N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • N Offline
                                    Neuromystix @stefan85e
                                    last edited by

                                    @stefan85e If you are using my code (and just my code, not the one from @andrethemac), when you call gps_data = l76.coordinates1() it will return a list gps_data with latitude at first position (gps_data[0]), longitude at second (gps_data[1]), and so on till the sixth position where you get the number of satellites (gps_data[5]). So, number_of_satellites = gps_data[5].

                                    Researcher @ UALG, Portugal

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • A Offline
                                      andrethemac @stefan85e
                                      last edited by

                                      @stefan85e An example on how to get the number of satelites with my library

                                      from pytrack import Pytrack
                                      from L76GNSV4 import L76GNSS
                                      
                                      py = Pytrack()
                                      L76 = L76GNSS(pytrack=py)
                                      
                                      print("test L76")
                                      # returns the info about sattelites in view at this moment
                                      # even without the gps being fixed
                                      print(L76.gps_message('GSV'))
                                      
                                      # returns the number of sattelites in view at this moment
                                      # even without the gps being fixed
                                      print(L76.gps_message('GGA')['NumberOfSV'])
                                      
                                      # returns the coordinates
                                      # with debug true you see the messages parsed by the 
                                      # library until you get a the gps is fixed
                                      print(L76.coordinates(debug=True))
                                      #L76.getUTCDateTime(debug=True)
                                      #L76._read_message(debug=True)
                                      
                                      
                                      S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • S Offline
                                        stefan85e @andrethemac
                                        last edited by stefan85e

                                        @andrethemac

                                        0_1524042540467_f2c4b355-5786-4440-8e0e-6e4ab4d095d0-image.png

                                        Got this

                                        I see that you have a 180 timeout in the code:

                                        -> L76GNSV4 - So how do I know how many sattelites i have then :) just so I look at right nr :)

                                        ´´´´
                                        def init(self, pytrack=None, sda='P22', scl='P21', timeout=180,debug=False):
                                        ´´´´

                                        A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • A Offline
                                          andrethemac @stefan85e
                                          last edited by

                                          @stefan85e The timeout is to prevent the library to wait for ever. 180 seconds (3 minutes) is (for me) most of the time enough to get a fixed location. (that is after a cold start)
                                          the GGA sentences contains the number of messages seen by the GPS, In the dict that GGA returns, this is the "NumberOfSV' fied.
                                          with this you get this number -> L76.gps_message('GGA')['NumberOfSV']
                                          In your screenshot the line that prints the number of satellites has scrolled out of view
                                          but if you make this line the last you get the number:
                                          print(L76.gps_message('GGA')['NumberOfSV'])
                                          or remove the 'debug=True) from the coordinates line (the debug spews out a lot of information)
                                          I'm still working on the library to make it faster
                                          best regards

                                          A S 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • A Offline
                                            andrethemac @andrethemac
                                            last edited by

                                            @andrethemac published a new version of the Library to github
                                            https://github.com/andrethemac/L76GLNSV4

                                            If you find some errors or have a request, please ask.
                                            best regards

                                            S 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0

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