HardLabs

Vx8 gps

4x1md·vx8_gps·pcbs/vx8_gps_prototype_v3.0/vx8_gps_prototype_v3.0.kicad_pcb

Vx8 gps PCB layout, top view — open source AVR/Arduino board by 4x1md

About the Vx8 gps PCB

Vx8 gps is an open source AVR/Arduino PCB design by 4x1md, published on GitHub under the MIT license. It is a 2-layer board measuring 43.5 × 43.5 mm, with 30 components from 25 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the ATMEGA328P-A, from the AVR/Arduino family. Other key parts include the MIC5205-3.3BM5 and Gms-g9_GNSS_Module. By type, the board carries 9 capacitors, 8 connectors, 4 resistors, 3 ICs, 3 diodes and 1 crystal.

It belongs with the rf & radio designs in this gallery, and the repository also holds 2 earlier revisions of it.

From the project

DIY GPS module for Yaesu VX-8DR/VX-8DE handheld transceiver.

When I was buying my Yaesu VX-8DE, I knew that I wasn't going to buy the original Yaesu FGPS2 module. There is very little APRS coverage in Israel and APRS in general seemed quite useless to me. The unreasonably high price of the original module didn't make me want to try it either.

After receiving far APRS stations during a strong tropo over the Mediterranean I thought it would be nice to transmit some data. I started investigating how GPS transmits data and discovered the NMEA protocol I had never encountered before. My first source of information was the article Reverse Engineering the…

Vx8 gps, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the Vx8 gps

ATMEGA328P-AMIC5205-3.3BM5Gms-g9_GNSS_Module

Vx8 gps bill of materials (BOM)

30 components, 25 distinct parts.

QtyPartRefs
1
ATMEGA328P-A
IC1
1
MIC5205-3.3BM5
IC2
1
Gms-g9_GNSS_Module
U1
1
7.3728MHz
Y1
1
AVR-ISP
CON1
1
USB
CON2
1
Yaesu VX-8
CON3
1
VX-8 Pins
J1
1
GPS Debug
J2
1
uC Out
P2
1
3.3V
P3
1
5V
P4
1
MS621FE
BT1
1
0.25A
F1
1
1N4148
D1
2
RG LED
D2, D3
3
0.1uF
C1, C3, C7
1
220uF
C2
2
22pF
C4, C5
1
22uF
C6
Show 5 more
QtyPartRefs
1
470pF
C8
1
47uF
C9
1
10K
R1
1
1K
R2
2
330
R3, R4

Vx8 gps design files

The KiCad project lives in the 4x1md/vx8_gps repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Vx8 gps: common questions

What microcontroller does the Vx8 gps use?

The Vx8 gps is built around the ATMEGA328P-A, from the AVR/Arduino family.

How big is the Vx8 gps PCB?

The Vx8 gps measures 43.5 × 43.5 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Vx8 gps?

30 components, from 25 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Vx8 gps design files?

From the 4x1md/vx8_gps repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the Vx8 gps design in my own project?

Yes, under the terms of its MIT license, which 4x1md chose for the repository.

Can I test firmware for the Vx8 gps without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug AVR/Arduino firmware against it before you order a PCB.

Earlier revisions in the repo: vx8_gps_prototype_v2.0, vx8_gps_prototype_v1.0

Similar boards