Despite the fact that today you can find a huge variety of GPS devices on the market of various price categories and functionality, not everyone is ready to immediately buy a ready-made navigation device and prefer to make it themselves. Whether this is necessary is difficult to say, but, without a doubt, it is possible.

You can make your own navigator using two different ways. For the first one you will need the simplest mobile device, GPS transmitter and battery. It’s worth warning right away that there is no point in considering it in detail, since assembling a homemade navigator in this way will require a lot of hassle and time, and most importantly, you need to have a good understanding of electronics and master the basics of system programming - not everyone has such skills. In addition, such a navigator is difficult to use; by sending a message to the satellite, it will receive in response coordinates that will have to be superimposed on the map.

The second method is simpler and can be done by anyone - a GPS navigator made using a laptop. What will you need for this? Firstly, the laptop itself, secondly, a GPS receiver, for example, built into a modern mobile phone.

The GPS receiver is connected via any of the interfaces (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB) on a laptop PC. Almost everyone has the latter today; besides, even the simplest netbook or tablet will be enough for a navigator.

Before connecting the GPS module, you need to make sure that the appropriate software which will support it. Finding and downloading it from the Internet will not be difficult, since the choice here is unimaginably large. Some programs are suitable for long-distance country trips, some, on the contrary, for trips around the city. If your PC has Internet access, you can also install programs that provide information about traffic jams.

Having connected the navigator to the PC, you need to wait until the system detects it; if additional drivers are required, they must be installed. There is no need to search, you can simply ask automatic search in the Internet. The device has been detected - you can launch the navigation program and make sure that the device is visible to it. If everything's alright homemade gps The navigator is ready, if problems arise, you need to dig into the software settings.

Whether it is worth making a navigator with your own hands or whether it is better to buy one is up to everyone to decide at their own discretion. In any case, in both the first and second cases you will have to make a little effort and spend time.

According to statistics, several vehicles are stolen every minute in Russia. Taking this into account, motorists are forced to take care of the safety of their cars at the highest level. The best solution here would be to take advantage of modern technology, which has gone much further than simple sirens.

Today, a tracker is recognized as one of the progressive methods of protection - a tracking device that allows you to monitor the location of a vehicle in real time. Of course, it will not save you from theft, but in case it does happen, tracking down and returning a car with a GLONASS GPS tracker with your own hands, even without the participation of the police, is a matter of a few minutes. Without it, in turn, the chances are scanty and tend to zero.

Why does the idea arise to make a GLONASS GPS tracker with your own hands?

A reasonable question arises: why, if this protection is so effective, is not every single car equipped with it? The answer is perhaps obvious - everything depends solely on the price of the device. However, the purchase is far from the only disadvantage of such devices:

• In addition to the starting price, you need to pay a certain amount monthly for the maintenance of the tracker as a subscription fee to the “provider” (and also to the seller). This amount is not so large that it can be called “unaffordable,” but it is still noticeable.
• Most models need to be connected to a battery, which makes not only the tracker, but also everything inside the car, not to mention the car itself, defenseless in the hands of a skilled thief. It is enough to turn off the power source in such trackers, and the signal from them will disappear, opening the way for the criminal to escape with the loot.
• Since trackers are not so widespread, most car enthusiasts, accustomed to relying on the opinions of friends, look at the device without trust. At the same time, knowing the situation on the market, some manufacturers counterfeit quality brands, which ultimately create a negative impression among those who were trying to save money.

All this, combined with some other nuances, seemed to bury the concept of tracking for Russian open spaces. But, fortunately, there are plenty of radio engineers in our country, therefore, delving into circuit diagrams, many began to create trackers with their own hands.

Advantages of a DIY GLONASS GPS tracker

As they say, if you want something good, do it yourself. Indeed, the list of advantages of a homemade tracker is impressive enough to at least cause confusion among those who bought this device in a store:

• First of all, the cost of the device is an order of magnitude lower than the market price. In some cases, it may come out completely free - for example, if the workshop scraps spare parts suitable for the tracker.
• A DIY GLONASS GPS tracker will exactly meet the user’s needs, and can also be easily modified when circumstances change.
• The homemade product will certainly not contain hidden manufacturing defects that appear at the most inopportune moment.

Disadvantages of GLONASS GPS trackers made by yourself

Alas, like everything, this method has its drawbacks:

• The quality of the device directly depends on the level of the master solder; if he has not worked directly in the production of trackers, he may not know some of the subtleties, and thereby “fail” the work, regardless of how much work and skill is invested in it.
• For obvious reasons, there is no guarantee for homemade products. But it is not this fact itself that is important, but the fact that in the event of any malfunctions or even a “misfire” in the work, you can only make a claim on your own soldering kit.
• Finally, only the most experienced professionals can understand how to make a GLONASS GPS tracker with their own hands without a ready-made circuit. Unfortunately, ready-made solutions cannot be found in the public domain, and if you suddenly come across fundamental devices, you won’t be able to do it without basic programming skills.

A solution that eliminates the need to make a GLONASS GPS tracker yourself

There is a way out that allows you to avoid all the troubles described above - purchase a device of an innovative model, in which the shortcomings of its predecessors have been eliminated.

This navigator compares favorably not only with its affordable price, but also with many other advantages that most tracking devices cannot boast of:

• DIY GLONASS GPS trackers are usually quite bulky and awkward in appearance. But our device is housed in an elegant miniature case the size of a little more than a plastic bank card.
• As is the case with homemade devices, the device does not require any subscription fee - you only need to contain a SIM card, which should be inserted into the device before starting work. With a favorable tariff, expenses can become completely symbolic, up to completely free security.
• Batteries are an important factor in any tracking device model; No one will be able to make an energy-intensive GLONASS GPS tracker with their own hands, if only for the reason that laboratory equipment is needed for switching with suitable batteries. But also connect, like outdated paid models, to car battery this device is not needed. The built-in battery lasts a record long time - up to nine months on a single charge.

Opportunities that a homemade GLONASS GPS tracker will not provide

Considering the small size, high degree of autonomy and other advantages of the device, it can be used not only as an “anti-theft”, but also for completely abstract purposes:

• First of all, mobility and small dimensions make it possible to monitor the machine completely unnoticed and without preliminary installation work. This is readily used by various transport companies in order to track the routes of subordinate units, and at the same time check drivers regarding fuel and lubricant costs.
• A DIY GLONASS GPS tracker is a hobby, but when it comes to professional issues like industrial espionage, experiments are inappropriate. Meanwhile, secret surveillance of anyone - from individuals to entire corporations - is one of the most common ways to use a beacon. It is enough to hide it in the car, clothes or bag of the subject being studied, and you will receive comprehensive information about all his movements.
• With the help of trackers, you can also monitor your loved ones. This model presents a function that is almost impossible to implement with your own hands, namely, a “panic button” located directly on the device body. Just one click and an “SOS notification” with linked geo-coordinates will be sent to your phone.
• Finally, with the help of a beacon you can even track the movement of things - for example, parcels at postal companies or luggage at airports. In the latter case, by the way, many questions may arise about what a DIY GLONASS GPS tracker is. To avoid getting into trouble, it is better to use branded devices.

Order a GLONASS GPS tracker instead of soldering it yourself right now

All you need to do to receive this miniature gadget is to leave a completed online application form on our website. After confirming the order, the tracker will be immediately sent to you and will arrive directly to your apartment door by courier. No advance payment or any additional conditions are required - just order and pay the messenger in cash.

If you are planning to solder a GLONASS GPS tracker with your own hands for fun, try it, but when it comes to security, don’t take risks. Act wisely and choose only the best for yourself.

DIY GLONASS GPS tracker - life hack for the elite

Almost every person is intimately familiar with the navigation system. GPS helps to quickly and accurately determine the location of a specific object - a person, car, other modes of transport or animals. The simplest beacon is inexpensive in the store, but a more powerful one takes a bit of a toll on your wallet. But why buy if you can really make it yourself? From what and how will those who wish to learn now.

Self-assembly of a GPS beacon, what to make it from, how to proceed

ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline!

Every modern phone, car, and computer has a GPS beacon. The program is convenient, simple, and most importantly productive. The location of any object is determined instantly with its help. A GPS beacon, as an independent device, is popular among motorists and parents who constantly want to know where their child is, but not everyone is in a hurry to shell out their money in the store for this device. For such thrifty people, there are ideas that will help them construct a GPS tracking beacon on their own and with minimum costs. There are several ways to make a tracking beacon with your own hands, and these are the ones we will talk about now.

Owners of cool smartphones will receive a tracking system for free and without effort

Every smartphone that has a built-in gps module can become a full-fledged beacon that a person can use to obtain the coordinates he needs. The entire technical aspect of creating such a beacon is as follows:

After these steps, the owner of the smartphone will be able to use his device not only for calls, entertainment and access to the Internet, but also to track the location of a specific object. So in a simple way The smartphone turns into a full-fledged GPS beacon.

For the system to work correctly, the Android device must have a version no lower than 3.2, but it is better if it is no lower than 4.1.2. Data about the tracked object will be displayed on the phone in the form of SMS messages or dots on Google maps Maps.

How to mount a GPS beacon using a less sophisticated mobile device

A phone that is slightly inferior to powerful mobile devices on the Android operating system too can become an excellent basis for a GPS beacon. To assemble such a device with your own hands, you will need to buy something else and show your skills in handling technical devices. In addition to the phone, you will need to stock up on an adapter - it may be broken Charger, where the side of the connection with the telephone survived. You will also need to buy a GPS/GPRS module and receiver.

If all the elements of the future lighthouse are at hand, you need to stock up on tools - a knife, a soldering iron. The work must be carried out according to the following principle:

• the wires that form the basis of the cable for connecting to the phone need to be stripped;
• they must be connected to the module or using a soldering iron;
• connect the system to the phone socket, which is intended for charging;
• turn on the receiver and try to configure the necessary parameters from your phone.

Such a GPS beacon will send signals to the phone in the form of regular text messages, and if it is possible to open maps, then it is easier to look at the coordinates on them, because this will make it easier to navigate in space and determine the specific location of the object.

This beacon is easy to use, but at home. The design will be quite inconvenient to carry or install in a car. This is an ideal option for those who are going to keep an eye on their loved ones and children from home.

Is it possible to make a beacon without a phone?

Before answering the question of whether it is possible to make a GPS beacon with your own hands without a phone, you should understand what this device actually is and what features it has. GPS beacon is a device that is mainly used to protect cars. It has a compact size and is powered by charging. The system accurately determines the location of the object, but for it to work correctly, a SIM card must be present inside the device.

The last fact makes it possible to understand that the operation of a beacon without a SIM card is not possible. In this case, there are only two ways out of the situation - buy a ready-made beacon in a store or make it yourself using a mobile phone and additional components. If the SIM card is missing, the system will not be able to perform the following actions:

• correct and timely signal transmission;
• registration of a new tracking object and display of statements about it;
• Connect to the Internet - this is necessary for the GPS to work.

If you are using a phone with the latest operating system And powerful processor, all you need to do is download special application, and more simple model requires additional elements to work in GPS beacon mode.

Advantages and disadvantages of a DIY GPS beacon

Even store bought ones technical devices have a number of advantages and disadvantages. If we talk about what was done with my own hands gps machok, then its positive aspects are as follows:

• the ability to quickly, without outside help and large financial investments, make a reliable tracking device;
• even if you have to buy additional little things to construct the lighthouse, it will be much cheaper than in the store;
• In terms of functionality, such a device is in no way inferior to beacons that were bought in a store.

A person will be able to use such a beacon for many years, and if any inaccuracies arise in the work, they can always be corrected.

A beacon for cars created with one’s own hands has a number of disadvantages that make it inferior in popularity to the standard version bought in a store. These negative aspects are especially noticeable for car owners and are as follows:

• due to the design features of the system, it cannot be correctly placed in the car;
• Part of such a beacon must necessarily be a mobile device, and the constant tracking process can create difficulties for mobile communications;
• The beacon consists of several elements connected to each other, and when the car moves, they may become disconnected from each other or the wires may break.

If a person plans to use a beacon for receiving GPS data for his car, then it is better to buy this device in a store. When a tracking system is needed solely for home use– a do-it-yourself lighthouse will become ideal option. The frequent use of such systems for cars prompted the creators to develop a monoblock design of compact dimensions. If you make an analogue of a beacon yourself using only a smartphone and a special program, you can use it for placement in a car. If the lighthouse is created from separate elements, it is better to leave it for home use.

A GPS beacon will always help you search for cars or other moving objects. You can buy it in a store or create it yourself. It is worth deciding which option to choose, taking into account your own financial capabilities, the purpose for which the device will be used and soberly assessing your communication skills with technical devices.

After several experiments with Arduino, I decided to make a simple and not very expensive GPS tracker with coordinates sent via GPRS to the server.
Used Arduino Mega 2560 ( Arduino Uno), SIM900 - GSM/GPRS module (for sending information to the server), GPS receiver SKM53 GPS.

Everything was purchased on ebay.com, for a total of about 1500 rubles (about 500 rubles for the arduino, a little less for the GSM module, a little more for the GPS).

GPS receiver

First you need to understand how to work with GPS. The selected module is one of the cheapest and simplest. However, the manufacturer promises a battery to save satellite data. According to the datasheet, a cold start should take 36 seconds, however, in my conditions (10th floor from the windowsill, no buildings close by) it took as much as 20 minutes. The next start, however, is already 2 minutes.

An important parameter of devices connected to the Arduino is power consumption. If you overload the Arduino converter, it may burn out. For the receiver used, the maximum power consumption is 45mA @ 3.3v. Why the specification should indicate the current strength at a voltage other than the required one (5V) is a mystery to me. However, the Arduino converter will withstand 45 mA.

Connection

GPS is not controlled, although it has an RX pin. For what purpose is unknown. The main thing you can do with this receiver is to read data via the NMEA protocol from the TX pin. Levels - 5V, just for Arduino, speed - 9600 baud. I connect VIN to VCC of the arduino, GND to GND, TX to RX of the corresponding serial. I read the data first manually, then using the TinyGPS library. Surprisingly, everything is readable. After switching to Uno, I had to use SoftwareSerial, and then problems began - some of the message characters were lost. This is not very critical, since TinyGPS cuts off invalid messages, but it is quite unpleasant: you can forget about the 1Hz frequency.

A quick note about SoftwareSerial: there are no hardware ports on the Uno (other than the one connected to USB Serial), so you have to use software. So, it can only receive data on a pin on which the board supports interrupts. In the case of Uno, these are 2 and 3. Moreover, only one such port can receive data at a time.

This is what the “test stand” looks like.

GSM receiver/transmitter

Now comes the more interesting part. GSM module - SIM900. It supports GSM and GPRS. Neither EDGE, nor especially 3G, are supported. For transmitting coordinate data, this is probably good - there will be no delays or problems when switching between modes, plus GPRS is now available almost everywhere. However, for some more complex applications this may not be enough.

Connection

The module is also controlled via the serial port, with the same level - 5V. And here we will need both RX and TX. The module is shield, that is, it is installed on the Arduino. Moreover, it is compatible with both mega and uno. The default speed is 115200.

We assemble it on Mega, and here the first unpleasant surprise awaits us: the TX pin of the module falls on the 7th pin of Mega. Interrupts are not available on the 7th pin of the mega, which means you will have to connect the 7th pin, say, to the 6th pin, on which interruptions are possible. Thus, we will waste one Arduino pin. Well, for a mega it’s not very scary - after all, there are enough pins. But for Uno this is already more complicated (I remind you that there are only 2 pins that support interrupts - 2 and 3). As a solution to this problem, we can suggest not installing the module on the Arduino, but connecting it with wires. Then you can use Serial1.

After connecting, we try to “talk” to the module (don’t forget to turn it on). We select the port speed - 115200, and it is good if all the built-in serial ports (4 on mega, 1 on uno) and all software ports work at the same speed. This way you can achieve more stable data transfer. I don’t know why, although I can guess.

So, we write primitive code for forwarding data between serial ports, send atz, and receive silence in response. What's happened? Ah, case sensitive. ATZ, we get OK. Hurray, the module can hear us. Should you give us a call out of curiosity? ATD +7499... The landline phone rings, smoke comes from the arduino, the laptop turns off. The Arduino converter burned out. It was a bad idea to feed it 19 volts, although it is written that it can operate from 6 to 20V, 7-12V is recommended. The datasheet for the GSM module does not say anywhere about power consumption under load. Well, Mega goes to the spare parts warehouse. With bated breath, I turn on the laptop, which received +19V via the +5V line from USB. It works, and even the USB didn't burn out. Thanks Lenovo for protecting us.

After the converter burned out, I looked for current consumption. So, peak - 2A, typical - 0.5A. This is clearly beyond the capabilities of the Arduino converter. Requires separate food.

Programming

The module provides extensive data transfer capabilities. Starting from voice calls and SMS and ending with GPRS itself. Moreover, for the latter it is possible to perform HTTP request using AT commands. You'll have to send several, but it's worth it: you don't really want to create a request manually. There are a couple of nuances with opening a data transmission channel via GPRS - remember the classic AT+CGDCONT=1, “IP”, “apn”? So, the same thing is needed here, but a little more cunning.

To get a page at a specific URL, you need to send the following commands:
AT+SAPBR=1,1 //Open carrier (Carrier) AT+SAPBR=3,1,"CONTYPE","GPRS" //connection type - GPRS AT+SAPBR=3,1,"APN","internet" //APN, for Megafon - internet AT+HTTPINIT //Initialize HTTP AT+HTTPPARA="CID",1 //Carrier ID to use. AT+HTTPPARA="URL","http://www.example.com/GpsTracking/record.php?Lat=%ld&Lng=%ld" //The actual URL, after sprintf with coordinates AT+HTTPACTION=0 //Request data using the GET method //wait for response AT+HTTPTERM //stop HTTP

As a result, if there is a connection, we will receive a response from the server. That is, in fact, we already know how to send coordinate data if the server receives it via GET.

Nutrition

Since powering the GSM module from an Arduino converter, as I found out, is a bad idea, it was decided to buy a 12v->5v, 3A converter on the same ebay. However, the module does not like 5V power supply. Let's go for a hack: connect 5V to the pin from which 5V comes from the arduino. Then the built-in converter of the module (much more powerful than the Arduino converter, MIC 29302WU) will make from 5V what the module needs.

Server

The server wrote a primitive one - storing coordinates and drawing on Yandex.maps. In the future, it is possible to add various features, including support for many users, “armed/unarmed” status, the state of the vehicle systems (ignition, headlights, etc.), and possibly even control of the vehicle systems. Of course, with appropriate support for the tracker, which smoothly turns into a full-fledged alarm system.

Field tests

This is what the assembled device looks like, without the case:

After installing the power converter and placing it in the case from a dead DSL modem, the system looks like this:

I soldered the wires and removed several contacts from the Arduino blocks. They look like this:

I connected 12V in the car, drove around Moscow, and got the track:


The track points are quite far from each other. The reason is that sending data via GPRS takes a relatively long time, and during this time the coordinates are not read. This is clearly a programming error. It is treated, firstly, by immediately sending a packet of coordinates over time, and secondly, by asynchronously working with the GPRS module.

The search time for satellites in the passenger seat of a car is a couple of minutes.

conclusions

Creation GPS tracker using Arduino with your own hands is possible, although it is not a trivial task. The main question now is how to hide the device in the car so that it is not exposed to harmful factors (water, temperature), is not covered with metal (GPS and GPRS will be shielded) and is not particularly noticeable. For now it just lies in the cabin and connects to the cigarette lighter socket.

Well, we also need to correct the code for a smoother track, although the tracker already performs the main task.

Used devices

• Arduino Mega 2560
• Arduino Uno
• GPS SkyLab SKM53
• SIM900 based GSM/GPRS Shield
• DC-DC 12v->5v 3A converter

Today on the market you can find a large number of GPS devices with different functionality and price categories. But not all people are ready to immediately buy a GPS navigator and prefer to make it themselves. Whether this is necessary is difficult to say. But it is, without a doubt, possible to do.

How to make a navigator with your own hands

You can make your own navigator 2 different ways. For the first option, you will need a battery, the simplest mobile device and a GPS transmitter. It will take a lot of time to assemble such a GPS navigator. First of all, you need to have a good understanding of system programming and electronics. This navigator is very difficult to use. Messages will need to be sent to a satellite, and coordinates will have to be overlaid on maps.

A simpler second method: a GPS navigator can be made using a laptop. To do this you will need a GPS receiver and a laptop itself. We connect a GPS receiver via USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The laptop should detect the device itself. Then we install the appropriate software on the computer, which can be easily downloaded on the Internet.

Programs for creating a navigator

There are many programs that are suitable for trips out of town. There are also special programs for trips around the city. This is, for example, the OziExplorer program. With its help you can use scanned maps of the area. It is best to use electronic GPS maps for driving around the city. There is another program that has gained popularity due to its accurate map of St. Petersburg. This is the CityGuide program. It also provides information about traffic jams.

Laptop as a GPS navigator

In a car, the laptop must be installed in such a way that it does not slip or fall while driving. The car mount allows you to securely mount your laptop. If your PC has Internet access, you can install programs that provide information about traffic jams. And if everything is in order, then the GPS navigator is ready. Now you know how to make a navigator from a laptop. And if problems arise, you need to understand the computer settings.

As you can see, you can make a GPS navigator out of a laptop. And it is quite justified to use a laptop as a GPS navigator. Since it is possible to use various navigation programs using the large display. All you need to do is purchase a GPS receiver for your laptop. And the navigation problem is solved forever.