GPS RECEIVERS vs 60KFT
Ralph Wallio, WØRPK W0RPK at
netINS.net
Updated
06Sep08
The
60kft limit (aka 18km) is one of the three vehicle dynamics limitations placed on
GPS receivers for we civilian unwashed, altitude, vehicle velocity and
acceleration. GPS receiver manufacturers are allowed some leeway to
juggle the values of these limits to serve their markets so details vary
between manufacturers, between models from the same manufacturer and even
between software versions in the same model. The 60kft (18km) upper limit
of controlled airspace is the altitude limit most often used.
Amateur high altitude balloonists have discovered a few GPS receivers that
allow operation above 60kft and often announce their findings to our small
community. I have yet to hear of balloonists using expensive GPS
simulators for this test so this knowledge results from actually flying
receivers above 60kft and experiencing the results. This web page is
intended to gather first person information submitted by individuals and groups
that have tested receivers.
We will need to be picky about models, software versions and dates so submitted
information will need to include:
Manufacturer
Model number (complete)
Software version (often output at power-up)
Individual or group involved in test
Date of test
Test result (Pass or fail)
Other relevant information
RECEIVERS
THAT PASS THE 60KFT TEST
|
MANUFACTURER |
MODEL |
SOFTWARE |
TESTED BY |
TEST DATE |
DATE POSTED |
|
DeLorme |
TripMate (Rockwell ZODIAC chip set and commands) |
TBD |
ARSAT (N5SNN) |
10Sep05 |
18Mar06 |
|
FASTRAX |
iTrax02 |
V 1.11 |
AMSAT-France |
15May04 |
18May04 |
|
GARMIN |
ETrex |
2.11 |
KMC |
17Apr02 |
13Jun02 |
|
GARMIN |
GEKO 201 |
V 2.0 |
TVNSP |
TV03G 12Jul03 |
13Jul03 |
|
GARMIN |
GPS-16-HVS |
2.3.0 & 2.9.0 |
TVNSP (N7MTZ & W7MJR) |
04Jul04 |
05Jul04 |
|
GARMIN [Note 9] |
GPS-18-LVC |
2.30 & 2.40 |
TVNSP |
06Nov04 |
14Nov04 |
|
GARMIN |
GPS-25 LP-LVS |
GPS 25-LVS V2.5 |
F1SRX |
12Jun2003 |
30Jan04 |
|
GARMIN
|
RINO |
TBD |
HABITAT SKYLAB (KAØJLF) |
01Aug04 |
03Aug04 |
|
GARMIN |
GPS-35HVS |
GPS 25-HVS V2.5 |
WØZC |
22Apr01 |
05May01 |
|
GARMIN |
GPS-15H |
2.70 |
KB8PVR |
09Apr05 |
19Apr05 |
|
MOTOROLA |
GT+ ONCORE [5] |
NA |
KI5CZ |
1998 |
07Dec04 |
|
MOTOROLA |
M12 |
61-G10002A |
ANSR |
|
12Jan03 |
|
MOTOROLA |
M12+ |
61-G10002A |
ANSR |
07Dec02 |
12Dec02 |
|
NAVMAN
|
JUPITER 32 (SiRF III chipset) |
GSW3.2.4-SDKNM_3.1.00.12-SDK001P1.00a |
ANSR (KD7LMO) |
15Dec07 |
31Dec07 |
|
RAND McNALLY
|
Streetfinder GPS for the Palm III (ROCKWELL ZODIAC) |
ZODIAC V1.83 |
ORB (KC5TRB) |
ORB-5 14Sep03 |
18Sep03 |
|
ROCKWELL |
JUPITER |
JUP V1.80 |
EOSS |
EOSS-39 12Mar00 thru -49 21Apr01 |
08May01 |
|
TRIMBLE |
LASSEN LP GPS P/N 39263-00 |
7.82 |
BEAR |
BEAR-1 27May00 |
23Jun01 |
RECEIVERS
THAT FAIL THE 60KFT TEST
|
MANUFACTURER |
MODEL |
SOFTWARE |
TESTED BY |
TEST DATE |
DATE POSTED |
|
AXIOM |
SandPiper |
SiRF Star-1 chipset |
[1] |
unk |
|
|
DELUO (rebranded EVERMORE) Note [4] |
Serial GPS |
Unknown |
EOSS-83 (KØANI) |
08Aug04 |
09Aug04 |
|
DELUO
|
Lite |
Unknown (Sony chipset) |
K5IS |
16Apr05 |
28Apr05 |
|
GARMIN
|
GPS-45 |
3.05 |
EOSS |
26Sep01 |
10Jan02 |
|
HOLUX |
GM-210 [1] (SiRF-II chip set) |
$Version 2.3.2-GSW2-2.05.024-C1Prod1.1 $SiRF version : 2.3.2 uservesion : GM210V41 |
TABEL KE4PJW/KQ4TV |
22Apr06 01Jul06 |
28Jul06 |
|
HOLUX |
GR-213 (SiRF-III chip set) |
Also failed Info pending |
TABEL KE4PJW/KQ4TV |
01Jul06 |
28Jul06 |
|
RADIO SHACK |
DigiTraveler |
|
Note [2] |
|
|
|
ROCKWELL |
JUPITER |
JUP V1.03 |
EOSS |
|
24Jan06 |
|
SAN JOSE |
FV-17 |
Unknown
|
Alfred Kastler school |
13May04 |
02Jun04
|
|
TELIT (24km ~80kft alt limit) |
GM862-GPS (SIRF-III) |
Unknown |
EDGAR-1 (VA2TCV) |
05Apr08 |
20May08 |
|
BYONICS |
GPS2 |
SiRF-III Notes [1 & 8] |
LASA |
24Nov07 |
27Nov07 |
Note [1] We now have solid evidence that GPS receivers based on SiRF-I and SiRF-II chip sets all fail at ~60kft. Some SiRF-III chips sets, receivers that use them and firmware work at high altitude –but- others do not.
Note [2] We have a report that a Radio Shack DigiTraveler GPS receiver max’ed-out at 9,999m but continued with reliable 2D navigation.
Note [3] Warning de F6FAO: To have the GPS working above 18 km, you need to send a command to the GPS. This command is ‘Set Upper Limit’.
Note [4] The DeLuo Serial GPS receiver is a discontinued product but DeLuo continues to sell a few EverMore GPS receivers. It appears all EverMore receivers are limited to 18km altitude. Some other DeLuo GPS receivers are based on either the SiRF Star-I or SiRF Star-II chip sets which are limited to 18km per above.
Note [5] Motorola GT OnCore receivers in both 6-channel (earlier) and 8-channel (later) versions were successfully flown above 18km by FreeSpace, and HABET (ISGC/ISU). Model numbers and software versions are no longer available.
Note [6] From Steve KCØYA of EOSS: Early Rockwell Jupiter boards, serial numbers <300,000 with V1.03 software, have failed above 30km. Later boards, serial numbers >386,000 with V1.80 software, have repeatedly worked ok. Contact Steve for more details.
Note
[7] Gerard Auvray,
F6FAO, forwards the following information from FASTRAX support:
De : Fastrax Customer Support
[mailto:support@fastrax.fi]
Envoyé : lundi 21 mai 2007 16:33
À : AUVRAY GERARD; Fastrax Customer Support
Objet : RE: Max altitude for GPS
Hello Gerard,
The following receivers can be used above 18 km:
iTrax03
iTrax03-s
iTrax130
uPatch130 (new receiver, available beginning of Q2)
They all work if speed is < 1000 knots
http://isuite.fastrax.fi/faq.html#mozTocId469010
Other receivers limit the height to either 20 km (uPath101,102) or 60000 feet (All Sirf based receivers like iTrax300, uPatch300) regardless of speed.
The only receiver actually tested above 18km in a real application (in a weather balloon) is iTrax03.
Note
[8] Byonics GPS2
cut out when the payload ascended beyond 78,838', and resumed
after burst when it descended below the same level one hour later.
– Rick LASA
Note
[9] On
23Aug08 a new GPS18xLVC froze altitude at 60kft. Garmin development staff
found the software problem
which will be fixed in the next software release.