[DaveL]

OK - I tried this mod with mixed results, and I thought I'd pass on some of the lessons I learned.

1. Use thin stranded wire - not some solid core stuff harvested from a CAT5 cable. The solid core is too stiff and brittle. It's easy to get cold solder joints with the sizes we're working with. I had wires break off at the solder connection twice because the wire is so stiff - it's lucky I didn't short anything out. MORE OMINOUS - I peeled off the pin 36 solder pad on the MiniPCI express connection while I was moving the wire around. It looks like I'm going to be able to superglue it back into place, but I'm darn close to breaking it off completely. The mini9 will still work, but I'll lose this super-handy USB point forever. Consider sacrificing an old CD audio connector or micro-USB cable for the wire.

2. Tin the wire before connecting it. Heat the wire and coat it in solder before actually connecting it. This makes it easier to attach, and it pre-shrinks the insulation. Trim the wire after tinning but before connecting and you won't have nearly as much bare wire hanging out to short on something.

3. The nubs left in the plastic from where I removed the bluetooth supports took a chunk out of the big, yellow, square antenna on my GPS. It's ceramic and very delicate. I don't think that electrical tape will interfere with the GPS signal, so I'd recommend putting a piece of tape over the antenna to protect it. You can test this by wrapping the USB stick in tape and trying testing it before you disassemble it. To answer a previous question - the yellow block is the antenna and should be facing the sky when you're done.

4. Consider taking the power from the motherboard side of the trackpad connector (or the trace near the L mentioned earlier) - having all the wires connected from one direction minimizes wire strain as you move things around.

5. Attach stuff with a hot glue gun. They're cheap (~$10), and the bond is reasonably strong but removes easily.

Now then - take all of the above with a grain of salt since I haven't been successful yet. I got mine installed but my signal strengths are extremely low and I never get a lock.I'm not sure if it's due to the gouge in my antenna, if my shielding is too close, or something else. I've removed everything to test and figure it out.

[braden]

i connected mine straight to usb connection on touchscreen controller. signal also too weak to be useful when inside mini9 case. will be trying to put the gps back into its original plastic housing over the weekend, and use as external usb gps. Think the OP runs the company that sells these things

[spo0n]

So has anyone besides the OP had this work with good reception?

[michaelahess1]

I just did this with the same gps unit. I tested it and it worked great before installing. I was extra careful doing the install and it saw the usb to serial adapter and installed the driver. Then I ran the utility, all I get is position fix unavailable and it scrolls gprmc gpgga gpvtg etc entries continuously. No date/time or position update. I can't very well go back to a normal usb connector to retest. Does this sound fixable?

On my work laptop I've got a Holux BT GPS that this unit was detected as when I tested it so I believe they are very similar and tried that driver but I get the same results with that driver.

[zrtom]

Originally Posted by michaelahess1

I just did this with the same gps unit. I tested it and it worked great before installing. I was extra careful doing the install and it saw the usb to serial adapter and installed the driver. Then I ran the utility, all I get is position fix unavailable and it scrolls gprmc gpgga gpvtg etc entries continuously. No date/time or position update. I can't very well go back to a normal usb connector to retest. Does this sound fixable?

On my work laptop I've got a Holux BT GPS that this unit was detected as when I tested it so I believe they are very similar and tried that driver but I get the same results with that driver.

One thing I've done with that GPS unit and Earth Bridge that seems to work and I'm not sure why. If the COM port is set to 9600 Baud, then set Earth Bridge to 4800 Baud. Or vice-versa works too.

[solutionsville]

Thanks Tom, this is a great article. I loave the idea and plan to do it soon.

[Mini9Newbee]

What about something like the u-blox GPS PCI mini card?

[mykillerdellmini]

this is pimp. i think i can solder that in on mine. Worth it ????I think so

[rshuck]

Just out of curiosity, could this be related to RFI and EMI inside the mini 9's case? I'm sure I've seen RF and EMI blocking film somewhere that may help. It seems silly that removing this from the case it comes in and putting it into the mini would be a problem - the plastic can't be THAT much thicker.

Also, has anyone tried this? Problem with CanMore GT-730F(L) and S&T - buyGPSnow.com Community

One more thing: http://www.rpi-polymath.com/ducttape/RFIDWallet.php

Anyone wanna give aluminum foil a try? I'd put it on the PCB (Isolated, of course), and make a little box that surrounds the GPS PCB so the EMI and RFI are blocked from nearby components

[bitz_dv]

Darn, the pictures in the original post must not be hosted anymore, I purchased the Canmore GT-730F some time ago but was never able to get it to work, shows up as a USB-Serial Controller device but no matter how I install the drivers it says that they are not installed. Opened it up today and noticed that there is what looks like a dry solder blob on the back looks like it belongs, maybe the post for the square unit on the other side, I was just wondering if anyone with a working unit could confirm the dry joint on the side with all the smd components?