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Arduino - GPS

In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to get GPS coordinates (longitude, latitude, altitude), GPS speed (km/h), and date time from NEO-6M GPS module. We also learn how to calculate the distance from current GPS position to a predefined GPS coordinates (ex. coordinates of London)

Hardware Required

1	×	Official Arduino Uno
1	×	Alternatively, DIYables ATMEGA328P Development Board
1	×	USB 2.0 cable type A/B (for USB-A PC)
1	×	USB 2.0 cable type C/B (for USB-C PC)
1	×	NEO-6M GPS module
1	×	Jumper Wires
1	×	Recommended: Screw Terminal Block Shield for Arduino Uno
1	×	Recommended: Breadboard Shield for Arduino Uno
1	×	Recommended: Enclosure for Arduino Uno
1	×	Recommended: Prototyping Base Plate & Breadboard Kit for Arduino UNO

Or you can buy the following sensor kits:

1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays)
1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays)

Disclosure: Some links in this section are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Additionally, some links direct to products from our own brand, DIYables .

About NEO-6M GPS module

Pinout

The NEO-6M GPS module includes 4 pins:

VCC pin: needs to be connected to VCC (5V)
GND pin: needs to be connected to GND (0V)
TX pin: is used for serial communication, needs to be connect to Serial (or SoftwareSerial) RX pin on Arduino.
RX pin: is used for serial communication, needs to be connect to Serial (or SoftwareSerial) TX pin on Arduino.

Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

Please be aware that while the wiring diagram provided above might work, it is not advisable. The Arduino's TX pin outputs at 5V, but the GPS module's RX pin can only accept 3.3V. To ensure safety, it is recommended to use a voltage divider between the Arduino's TX pin and the RX pin of the GPS module, as shown in the diagram below.

Arduino GPS module voltage divisor Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

Arduino Code

Reading GPS coordinates, speed (km/h), and date time

/* * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com * * This example code is in the public domain * * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-gps */ #include <TinyGPS++.h> #include <SoftwareSerial.h> #define RX_PIN 4 // Arduino Pin connected to the TX of the GPS module #define TX_PIN 3 // Arduino Pin connected to the RX of the GPS module TinyGPSPlus gps; // the TinyGPS++ object SoftwareSerial gpsSerial(RX_PIN, TX_PIN); // the serial interface to the GPS module void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); gpsSerial.begin(9600); // Default baud of NEO-6M GPS module is 9600 Serial.println(F("Arduino - GPS module")); } void loop() { if (gpsSerial.available() > 0) { if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read())) { if (gps.location.isValid()) { Serial.print(F("- latitude: ")); Serial.println(gps.location.lat()); Serial.print(F("- longitude: ")); Serial.println(gps.location.lng()); Serial.print(F("- altitude: ")); if (gps.altitude.isValid()) Serial.println(gps.altitude.meters()); else Serial.println(F("INVALID")); } else { Serial.println(F("- location: INVALID")); } Serial.print(F("- speed: ")); if (gps.speed.isValid()) { Serial.print(gps.speed.kmph()); Serial.println(F(" km/h")); } else { Serial.println(F("INVALID")); } Serial.print(F("- GPS date&time: ")); if (gps.date.isValid() && gps.time.isValid()) { Serial.print(gps.date.year()); Serial.print(F("-")); Serial.print(gps.date.month()); Serial.print(F("-")); Serial.print(gps.date.day()); Serial.print(F(" ")); Serial.print(gps.time.hour()); Serial.print(F(":")); Serial.print(gps.time.minute()); Serial.print(F(":")); Serial.println(gps.time.second()); } else { Serial.println(F("INVALID")); } Serial.println(); } } if (millis() > 5000 && gps.charsProcessed() < 10) Serial.println(F("No GPS data received: check wiring")); }

Quick Steps

Open Arduino IDE
Navigate to the Libraries icon on the left bar of the Arduino IDE.
Search “TinyGPSPlus”, then find the TinyGPSPlus library by Mikal Hart
Click Install button to install TinyGPSPlus library.

Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
See the result on Serial Monitor:

COM6

Send

Autoscroll Show timestamp

Clear output

9600 baud

Newline

Calculating the distance from current location to a predefined location

The below code calculates the distance between the current location and London (lat:51.508131 , long: -0.128002)

/* * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com * * This example code is in the public domain * * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-gps */ #include <TinyGPS++.h> #include <SoftwareSerial.h> #define RX_PIN 4 // Arduino Pin connected to the TX of the GPS module #define TX_PIN 3 // Arduino Pin connected to the RX of the GPS module TinyGPSPlus gps; // the TinyGPS++ object SoftwareSerial gpsSerial(RX_PIN, TX_PIN); // the serial interface to the GPS module const double LONDON_LAT = 51.508131; const double LONDON_LON = -0.128002; void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); gpsSerial.begin(9600); // Default baud of NEO-6M GPS module is 9600 Serial.println(F("Arduino - GPS module")); } void loop() { if (gpsSerial.available() > 0) { if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read())) { if (gps.location.isValid()) { double latitude = gps.location.lat(); double longitude = gps.location.lng(); unsigned long distanceKm = TinyGPSPlus::distanceBetween(latitude, longitude, LONDON_LAT, LONDON_LON) / 1000; Serial.print(F("- latitude: ")); Serial.println(latitude); Serial.print(F("- longitude: ")); Serial.println(longitude); Serial.print(F("- distance to London: ")); Serial.println(distanceKm); } else { Serial.println(F("- location: INVALID")); } Serial.println(); } } if (millis() > 5000 && gps.charsProcessed() < 10) Serial.println(F("No GPS data received: check wiring")); }

Quick Steps

Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
See the result on Serial Monitor:

COM6

Send

Autoscroll Show timestamp

Clear output

9600 baud

Newline

Video Tutorial

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Note that this tutorial is incomplete. We will post on our Facebook Page when the tutorial is complete. Like it to get updated.

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Arduino - GPS

Hardware Required

About NEO-6M GPS module

Pinout

Wiring Diagram

Arduino Code

Reading GPS coordinates, speed (km/h), and date time

Quick Steps

Calculating the distance from current location to a predefined location

Quick Steps

Video Tutorial

The Best Arduino Starter Kit

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