NMEA Transmitted Messages

 

 

 

The default communication parameters for NMEA output are 4800 baud, 8 data bits, stop bit, and no parity.

 

Table 4-1 NMEA-0183 Output Messages

NMEA Record

Description

GGA

Global positioning system fixed data

GLL

Geographic position- latitude/longitude

GSA

GNSS DOP and active satellites

GSV

GNSS satellites in view

RMC

Recommended minimum specific GNSS data

VTG

Course over ground and ground speed

 

 

 Global Positioning System Fix Data (GGA)

 

$GPGGA,<1>,<2>,<3>,<4>,<5>,<6>,<7>,<8>,<9>,M,<11>,<12>,<13><CR><LF>

 

1)     UTC time of position fix, hhmmss.sss format

2)     Latitude, ddmm.mmmm format.

3)     Latitude hemisphere, N or S.

4)     Longitude, dddmm.mmmm format.

5)     Longitude hemisphere, E or W.

6)     Position Fix Indicator,

      0 = fix not available, or invalid.

1 = GPS SPS Mode, fix valid.

2 = Differential GPS, SPS Mode, fix valid.

3 = GPS PPS Mode, fix valid.

7)     Number of sate1lites in use, 00 to 12.

8)     Horizontal Dilution of Precision, 0.5 to 99.9.

9)     MSL Altitude, -9999.9 to 99999.9 meters.

10) Geoidal height, -999.9 to 9999.9 meters.

11) Differential GPS (RTCM SC-104) data age, number of seconds since last valid RTCM transmission (nu1l if non-DGPS).

12) Differential Reference Station ID, 0000 to 1023. (null if non-DGPS)

13) Checksum.


 

Geographic Position with Latitude/Longitude

 

$GPGLL,<1>,<2>,<3>,<4>,<5>,<6>,<7><CR><LF>

 

1)     Latitude, ddmm.mmmm format.

2)     Latitude hemisphere, N or S.

3)     Longitude, dddmT1.mmmm format.

4)     Longitude hemisphere, E or W.

5)     UTC time of position fix, hhmmss format.

6)     Status, A = data valid or V = data not valid.

7)     Checksum.

 

 

GNSS DOP and Active Satellites (GSA)

$GPGSA,<1>,<2>,<3>,<3>,,,,,<3>,<3>,<3>,<4>,<5>,<6>,<7><CR><LF>

 

1)     Mode 1, M = manual, A = automatic.

2)     Mode 2, Fix type, 1 =not available, 2 = 2D, 3 = 3D.

3)     PRN number, 01 to 32, of satellite used in solution, up to 12 transmitted.

4)     PDOP-Position dilu1ion of precision, 0.5 to 99.9.

5)     HDOP-Horizontal dilution of precision, 0.5 to 99.9.

6)     VDOP-Vertical di1ution of precision, 0.5 to 99.9.

7)     Checksum.

 

 

GNSS Satellites in View (GSV)

 

$GPGSV,<1>,<2>,<3>,<4>,<5>,<6>,<7>,…<4>,<5>,<6>,<7>,<8><CR><LF>

 

1)     Total number of GSV sentences to be transmitted, 0~3.

2)     Number of message, 0~3.

3)     Total number of satellites in view, 00 to 12.

4)     Satellite PRN number, 01 to 32.

5)     Satellite elevation, 00 to 90 degrees.

6)     Satellite azimuth, 000 to 359 degrees, true.

7)     Signal to noise ratio (C/No) 00 to 99 dB, null when not tracking.

 

NOTE: Items <4>,<5>,<6> and <7> repeat for each satellite in view to a maximum of four (4) satellites per sentence.  Additiona1 satellites in view information must be sent in subsequent sentences. These fields will be null if unused.

 

8) Checksum.


 

 

Recommended Minimum Specific GNSS Data (RMC)

 

$GPRMC,<1>,<2>,<3>,<4>,<5>,<6>,<7>,<8>,<9>,<10>,<11><CR><LF>

 

1)     UTC time of position fix, hhmmss.sss format.

2)     Status, A = data valid, V = data not valid.

3)     Latitude, ddmm.mmmm format.

4)     Latitude hemisphere, N or S.

5)     Longitude, dddmmm.mmmm format.

6)     Longitude hemisphere, E or W.

7)     Speed over ground, 0.0 to 1851.8 knots.

8)     Course over ground, 000.0 to 359.9 degrees, true.

9)     Date, ddmmyy format.

10) Magnetic variation, 000.0 to 180.O.

11) Degrees

12) Checksum.

 

 

Course Over Ground and Ground Speed

 

$GPVTG,<1>,T,<2>,M,<3>,N,<4>,K,<5><CR><LF>

 

1)     True course over ground, 000 to 359 degrees.

2)     Magnetic course over ground, 000 to 359 degrees.

3)     Speed over ground, 00.0 to 999.9 knots.

4)     Speed over ground, 00.0 to 1851.8 ko/hr.

5)     Checksum.

 

 


File Format

 

The default extension for  files used for saving GPS strings are .csv, the standard extension for Microsoft Excel comma delimited files. You can change this if you wish. The files can be edited in any text editor or spreadsheet programme.

 

Sample GPS cature String

 

$GPGGA,145121.999,5121.2199,N,00032.5133,E,1,06,2.1,175.9,M,,,,0000*0A

 

Included with Xylon is a utility called OS Convert which converts the GPS raw data to the UK Ordnance Survey co-ordinate system. You can use this to convert data captured anywhere to real world co-ordinates in metres for plotting etc. though you should check locally to see what corrections should be applied. There are many utilities available on the internet to convert NMEA strings to various national systems. Follow this link for a listing of conversion information.