What is this about?

NavSpark is a tiny, Arduino-compatible, satellite navigation enabled microcontroller board. It has GPS/GLONASS/Beidou versions to use multiple satellite networks. I wanted to be able to use it easily with Raspberry Pi, either for navigation, or for satellite-atomic-clock-fed NTP server. Made this shield to make it super-easy to connect, and as low-noise and reliable as possible.

Compatibility

I've tested this shield to create an NTP server with both Raspberry Pi 1 Model B and 2 Model B, both of them work like a charm, and should work with any board that uses the original Pi's 26-pin mapping. The other connected pins are not yet tested.

Should work with all normal-size NavSpark variants, NavSpark (GPS), NavSpark-GL (GPS/GLONASS), NavSpark-BD (GPS/Beidou).

Please note, the NavSpark board and Raspberry Pi has to be purchased separately, this is just the adaptor shield! Get a NavSpark from their online store. Will need to solder the pin headers on the board to be able to use it with this shield!

Pinout

• RPi pin <-> NavSpark pin
• GPIO 22 <-> 1PPS
• GPIO 4 <-> TRIG
• GPIO 17 <-> GPIO 12
• GPIO 18 <-> GPIO 13
• GPIO 27 <-> GPIO 14
• GPIO 23 <-> GPIO 16
• GPIO 24 <-> GPIO 20
• RX0 <-> TX1
• I2C <-> I2C
• SPI (CE0) <-> SPI

Example projects

• Dual Satellite NTP server with Navspark - this is still using the hand-soldered prototype, the new version using this board is being written.

Other info

License

The board is released under CERN Open Hardware License 1.2.

Shipping

The Harmonized System customs code for this product is 85.34.009000 to the best of my knowledge (meaning electronics board with passive elements), please check with your customs authorities if you have doubts about importing it. This here is self-assessment, not official opinion.