›

External GPS Receiver with Bluetooth Module

Bootz85Bootz85
in RaceChrono for Android

I have a GPS receiver that has a usb-c connection so I can connect it directly to my phone. Tested and it works great, runs at 10hz. Phones a Galaxy s21fe.


I'm wondering if I get a Bluetooth module, battery bank and Y adapter, this would create a Bluetooth connection for the GPS receiver and the battery bank would power the the receiver and module. Will RaceChrono detect the Bluetooth connection even though it wouldn't be listed under the GPS receiver options in the app? GPS chipset is the ublox M8. Curious if anyone has tried this, before I go down a rabbit hole trying to figure out a solution.

Comments

  • gps_netgps_net

    If by "bluetooth module" you have in mind these usb bluetooth modules which you usualy connect to pc then no. Gps and bluetooth module will not talk each other via usb because both are "device" type. You need host to manage them.

    However you can "force" racechrono to use connected via usb external gps. It requires third party aplication to mock your internal gps coordinates to these one provided by usb gps. But - there is a catch: it is complicated to say if that will work in your case or not because it depends if this third party app will be able to connect directly with this m8 chip( I had issues with it on some phones), or it will require some serial chip with much more common drivers (example ftdi, or ch340)

  • Bootz85Bootz85

    Thank you for the help gps_net!

    I was thinking about the Bluetooth module you'd connect to your PC so glad I didn't go down that rabbit hole.

    I messed around with an app to setup a mock location and it's now working as expected!


    Fyi for anyone in the future. I bought an M8 receiver off AliExpress for $30 (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007725104579.html) It supports 10Hz, high baud rate and multiple satellites. I then installed USBGPS4Droid (https://github.com/freshollie/UsbGps4Droid/releases)

    This allowed me to set the M8, which is connected directly to my phone via USB-C to act as the GPS receiver instead of my phone GPS. I then used Ublox U-center to update the refresh rate to 10Hz. Loaded up Racechrono, left GPS receiver as Internal. Hit start, went into the settings and refresh rate was confirmed as 10Hz.

    Way cheaper option than some of the Bluetooth options out there. Hope this helps someone in the future.

Sign In or Register to comment.