I was wondering why my LoRa device was not picking up GPS…Turns out this is the reason:
The GPS fell off…or the wire/solder broke
Anyone care to take a picture of the connections please?
Cheers
John
M0VAZ
Hi John,
From your picture it appears that the cable has broken at the active antenna. I have made a similar repair on a Meshtastic device which it worked fine. Unfortunately I can’t give you any details on where your connection should be. You can buy replacement active antennas if you don’t fancy the fiddly soldering. The antenna has a Hirose coax connector to a socket on the main board.
John, I have a spare antenna I can send you. Alternatively, you can buy larger patch ones off ebay for about £4
@M0VAZ the larger patch ones off eBay work much better too!
Which board have you got John?
This is the stock one from the T Beam (I don’t use it any more, it’s rubbish). The wire is soldered under the metal shield and looks difficult/impossible to access.
This is an upgraded one off eBay. It looks like shield/braid of the cable is soldered to the copper track that the metal shield is also soldered to, and the core is soldered somewhere under the shield. The metal shield looks like it could be unsoldered and reattached after surgery.
For £4, I’d buy a replacement one because it will probably cost more than £4 of effort to repair the old one.
The bigger ones definitely work better.
Hi John
I fitted my mobile LoRa tracker in a box to partly protect the delicate IPEX connectors. Then its possible to use an external GPS antenna.
Carolyn
John, I’m more than happy to try to resolder it for you. PM me if you want to discuss this.
Hi all.
@MW0KXN - I have ordered a pair of GPS antennas of the same size I had before. It does look like the cable has snapped off from under the shield.
@MM0EFI - Thanks. I have new ones on order
@GW4BML - not a lot of room in the 3D printed case for a bigger patch GPS
@MW0PJE - I have a lillygo board. two new ones on order.
@G6WRW - I think a bigger box for mine might be in order, I had to re-solder the antenna mount as well.
@MM0FMF - thanks for the offer Andy, but new ones on order.
Cheers
John
M0VAZ
Send me the old one and I can practice on it!
OK Andy, will do. PM me an address please and I will get it in the post for you.
cheers
That amplifier looks interesting.
Does it increase transmission/reception range much?
I Have 2, they give a significant enhancement to my mobile transmissions and provide a marked improvement in RSSI and SNR on my RX i-Gate.
Home i-Gate
Orac is alive.
Just a rudimentary version, I’ll begin to worry when it starts interfacing with my other systems all on its own.
Doesn’t the amplifier defeat the concept of it being a LoRa?
What do you mean by that?
LoRa devices are low power because they are designed to work in licence exempt ISM and SRD bands. When used with an amateur radio licence why not use more power?
I don’t use a 1kw linear with my QMX radio. Same principle.
Hardly. 1kW >>> 10W.
Yawn. Not arguing Richard. You know what meant.
Would increasing the power for LoRa make a difference? If 100mW can easily go almost 200km would a modest increase in power to, say, 10W allow much longer range via troposcatter? Or would high gain yagis pointing in the right direction still be needed?
