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EVK-7 / EVK-M8 User Guide 

 

UBX-14041540 - R04

 

Early Production Information

 

Getting Started

 

 

 

Page 8 of 24

 

3

 

Getting Started 

3.1

 

Software installation 

 

Installation of the EVK-M8T software and documentation requires Internet access. 

Choose Software only or Software and documentation installation package from u-blox website. Once the zip 
file is downloaded and unzipped, unzip the file in Tools folder and double-click the extracted exe file. 
The software components will be installed on your system and placed under the “u-blox” folder in the “Start 

 

Programs” menu. 

3.2

 

Hardware installation  

1.

 

Connect the unit to a PC running Microsoft Windows. Options: 

 

USB: Connect via USB port. 

 

UART: Connect via RS232. Set slide switch to I2C. 

 

SPI / I2C compliant DDC: Connect corresponding pins (see Table 5 for pin description). Set slide 
switch accordingly to SPI or I2C. 

 

Press the RST button after changing the switch. 

2.

 

The device must always have power, either via USB on the back or the V5_IN input on the front. 

3.

 

Connect the GNSS antenna to the evaluation unit and place the antenna in a location with good sky view. 

4.

 

Start the u-center GNSS Evaluation Software and select corresponding COM port and baud rate.  

 

Refer to the 

u-center User Guide

 [5] for more information. 

3.3

 

Serial port default configuration 

Parameter 

Description 

Remark 

UART Port 1, Input 

UBX and NMEA protocol at 9’600 Bd 

 

UART Port 1, Output 

UBX and NMEA protocol at 9’600 Bd 

Only NMEA messages are activated 

USB, Input 

UBX and NMEA protocol 

 

USB, Output 

UBX and NMEA protocol  

Only NMEA messages are activated  

Table 3: Default configuration 

 
 

Summary of Contents for EVK-M8T

Page 1: ...bstract This document describes the structure and use of the EVK M8T evaluation kit and provides information for evaluating and testing u blox M8 positioning technology for timing and raw data applications www u blox com UBX 14041540 R04 ...

Page 2: ...n PCN reference EVK M8T EVK M8T 0 00 A Flash FW 3 01 TIM 1 10 UBX 16005636 u blox reserves all rights to this document and the information contained herein Products names logos and designs described herein may in whole or in part be subject to intellectual property rights Reproduction use modification or disclosure to third parties of this document or any part thereof without the express permissio...

Page 3: ...and performance Warnings and certifications CAUTION IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A FAILURE IN THE INTERNAL PROTECTION CIRCUITRY THERE IS A RISK OF AN EXPLOSION WHEN CHARGING FULLY OR PARTIALLY DISCHARGED BATTERIES REPLACE THE BATTERY IF IT NO LONGER HAS SUFFICIENT CHARGE FOR UNIT OPERATION CONTROL THE BATTERY BEFORE USING IF THE DEVICE HAS NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME Products mark...

Page 4: ...tions 7 3 Getting Started 8 3 1 Software installation 8 3 2 Hardware installation 8 3 3 Serial port default configuration 8 4 Device description 9 4 1 Interface connection and measurement 9 4 2 Active antenna 9 4 3 Evaluation unit 9 4 3 1 Antenna connector 10 4 3 2 USB 10 4 3 3 UART 10 4 3 4 RST button 10 4 3 5 Safe boot button 10 4 3 6 Slide Switch 10 4 3 7 Test Connector 11 4 3 8 LED 12 4 3 9 Ba...

Page 5: ...uide UBX 14041540 R04 Early Production Information Contents Page 5 of 24 9 Schematic 18 10 Battery replacement 19 11 Troubleshooting 20 12 Common evaluation pitfalls 22 Related documents 23 Revision history 23 Contact 24 ...

Page 6: ...ation Kit Description Suitable for EVK M8T u blox M8 Timing GNSS Evaluation Kit NEO M8T LEA M8T Table 1 List of products supported by EVK M8T evaluation kit 1 2 Kit includes Evaluation unit USB cable Active GPS GLONASS BeiDou antenna with 3 m cable Extra Battery RENATA CR2450 Quick Start card 1 3 Software and documentation The EVK installation software and documentation package can be downloaded f...

Page 7: ...aud rate 921 6 kBd DB9 12 V level 14 pin 3 3 V logic 1 DDC I2C compatible max 400 kHz 1 SPI clock signal max 5 5 MHz SPI DATA max 1 Mbit s Timing Interfaces 2 Time pulse outputs 1 Time mark input Dimensions 105 x 64 x 26 mm Power Supply 5V via USB or external powered via extra power supply pin 14 V5_IN 13 GND Normal Operating temperature 40 C to 65 C Table 2 EVK M8T specifications ...

Page 8: ...S232 Set slide switch to I2C SPI I2C compliant DDC Connect corresponding pins see Table 5 for pin description Set slide switch accordingly to SPI or I2C Press the RST button after changing the switch 2 The device must always have power either via USB on the back or the V5_IN input on the front 3 Connect the GNSS antenna to the evaluation unit and place the antenna in a location with good sky view ...

Page 9: ...ector Figure 1 Connecting the unit for power supply and communication 4 2 Active antenna EVK M8 evaluation kits include a GPS GLONASS BeiDou antenna with a 3 m cable It is possible to connect various active and passive GNSS antennas with SMA connectors to the evaluation unit The recommended maximum antenna supply current for active antennas is 30 mA 4 3 Evaluation unit Figure 2 shows the front and...

Page 10: ...ct it directly to the evaluation kit RS232 port The 9 pin D SUB female connector is assigned as listed in Table 4 Pin Nr Assignment 1 Time pulse 1 output RS 232 levels 2 TXD GNSS Transmit Data serial data to DTE 3 RXD GNSS Receive Data serial data from DTE 4 Optional time mark input RS 232 levels using EXTINT0 internal jumper J6 fitment required 5 GND 6 not connected 7 Time pulse 1 output RS 232 l...

Page 11: ...current supply 100 mA 1Ω 1 resistor for over all current measurement to pin 11 P1B NOTE the current includes also SQI Flash LNA 11 P1B O Second connection for over all current measurement see Figure 5 10 P2A O 3 0 V Battery output unloaded 100 Ω 1 resistor for battery backup current measurement to pin 9 P2B NOTE There is a current protection to 3 mA See circuit in figure 7 D2 D4 R29 9 P2B O Second...

Page 12: ...ween operations and to enable faster start up It is a RENATA 3 0 V Li MnO battery of the type CR2450 The battery has a rated capacity of 540 mA The battery operating temperature range is 40 C to 85 C CAUTION RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN INCORRECT TYPE DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS 4 3 10 GNSS Configuration The EVK M8T supports GPS QZSS Galileo GLONASS an...

Page 13: ... or download all the Aiding Data via the AssistNow Online service 3 Read the voltage and average if necessary on the voltmeter and convert to current 1 mV equals 1 mA 4 Perform the test with good signals and clear sky view to ensure that the receiver can acquire the satellite signals The overall current measurement also includes the internal SQI flash For ROM based products the current will be low...

Page 14: ... the save configuration box in u center otherwise the configuration will be lost Communications to the evaluation kit must be via the UART I2C or SPI not USB The evaluation kit can be supplied via the USB connector or via V5_IN at the front panel connector Do not connect the USB cable to the PC This can be done by either connecting a USB cable from the evaluation kit to a USB hub or by using a USB...

Page 15: ...EVK 7 EVK M8 User Guide UBX 14041540 R04 Early Production Information Block diagram Page 15 of 24 7 Block diagram Figure 5 EVK M8T block diagram ...

Page 16: ... Guide UBX 14041540 R04 Early Production Information Board layout Page 16 of 24 8 Board layout Figure 6 shows the EVK M8T board layout PCB Version A See Table 6 for the component list of the EVB Figure 6 EVB M8T layout ...

Page 17: ... 54MM PITCH DISCONNECTABLE CRIMP CONNECTOR 40 85C J6 CON 1 ROW THT 100MIL GRID 2PINS 0 64MM SQUARE 6 1MM HEIGHT L2 IND MURATA LQW15A 0402 120N 5 0 64A 55 125C Q1 MBT3906DW1T1G DUAL GENERAL PURPOSE TRANSISTOR 0 2A 0 15W 40 125C R1 RES THICK FILM CHIP 1206 10R 5 0 25W R2 R6 R11 RES THICK FILM CHIP 0603 100R 5 0 1W R3 R8 R14 R15 R19 VARISTOR BOURNS MLE SERIES CG0402MLE 18G 18V R4 R5 RES THICK FILM CH...

Page 18: ...UBX 14041540 R04 Early Production Information 9 Schematic Figure 7 Schematic EVK M8T DNI TRUE in the schematic means Component not installed ...

Page 19: ...UBX 14041540 R04 Early Production Information 10 Battery replacement To replace the battery Number 5 in Figure 8 open the unit unscrew four screws on the front panel Figure 8 EVK M8T battery location ...

Page 20: ...r is using it The position is off by a few dozen meters u blox M8 GNSS technology starts up with the WGS84 standard GNSS datum If your application expects a different datum you ll most likely find the positions to be off by a few dozen meters Don t forget to check the calibration of u center map files The position is off by hundreds of meters Position drift may also occur when almanac navigation i...

Page 21: ... communication port The EVK M8T does not work properly when connected with a GNSS simulator When using an EVK together with a GNSS simulator please pay attention to proper handling of the EVK A GNSS receiver is designed for real life use i e time is always moving forward By using a GNSS simulator the user can change scenarios which enables jumping backwards in time This can have serious side effec...

Page 22: ...ave an impact on signal travel time The position of the GNSS receiver is typically not the same between two tests Comparative tests should therefore be conducted in parallel by using one antenna and a signal splitter statistical tests shall be run for 24 hours Monitor the Carrier To Noise Ratio The average C No ratio of the high elevation satellites should be between 40 dBHz and about 50 dBHz A lo...

Page 23: ...l Specification Docu No UBX 13003221 Public Release 5 u center User Guide Docu No UBX 13005250 For regular updates to u blox documentation and to receive product change notifications register on our homepage http www u blox com Revision history Revision Date Name Status Comments R01 07 Nov 2014 amil alnu Advance Information R02 07 Jan 2015 julu Early Production Information R03 20 Apr 2015 amil PCN...

Page 24: ... com Regional Office China Beijing Phone 86 10 68 133 545 E mail info_cn u blox com Support support_cn u blox com Regional Office China Chongqing Phone 86 23 6815 1588 E mail info_cn u blox com Support support_cn u blox com Regional Office China Shanghai Phone 86 21 6090 4832 E mail info_cn u blox com Support support_cn u blox com Regional Office China Shenzhen Phone 86 755 8627 1083 E mail info_c...

Page 25: ...AD5821AEBZ EVAL AD7175 8SDZ EVAL AD7262EDZ EVAL AD7265EDZ EVAL AD7366SDZ EVAL AD7634EDZ EVAL AD7641EDZ EVAL AD7655EDZ EVAL AD7674EDZ EVAL AD7705EBZ EVAL AD7718EBZ EVAL AD7719EBZ EVAL AD7730LEBZ EVAL AD774142EBZ EVAL AD7767 1EDZ EVAL AD7873EBZ EVAL AD7877EBZ EVAL AD7995EBZ AD9114 DPG2 EBZ AD9122 M5372 EBZ AD9125 M5372 EBZ AD9148 EBZ AD9211 200EBZ AD9211 300EBZ AD9219 65EBZ AD9228 65EBZ AD9230 170EB...

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