Its metal as well as it will be pretty hard to get it there, also if you have 4g then itll block the jack for it and on top of that you wont get the freedom of having any expansions like uhub/upico
IC, if I’ve the unit I’ll find a way to do it.
I did use the original antenna and placed it where the instructions specify. To get it working, I followed the instructions here: How to use the 4G extension · clockworkpi/uConsole Wiki · GitHub and upgraded the firmware following the instructions here: How to upgrade 4G extension firmware · clockworkpi/uConsole Wiki · GitHub
Tnx for the tips, it got GPS as well ?
Not sure, GPS is outside of my intended use case.
I used the same methodology. Enable it, upgrade firmware, use it.
It works great for data, and it’s usable for sms.
As for GPS, I’ve had no luck.
With mmcli, I can get the 3GPP info (i.e. cell tower and service area code), but that’s mostly useless.
I did just notice a small bit at the bottom of the “using 4G” section on GPS:
make sure the GPS antenna is connected to the GNSS port on 4G extension
I’ll open it up and see which connector (there are three) the instructions had me connect to initially.
I don’t know the 4G module includes a GPS, but I would rather to have one more USB instead, I could use external GPS if I needed to. There’s enough space next to the battery, should have put a GPIO and system bus extension in there, now we have to sacrifice the 4G for other extensions, which the 4G is essential for field work as wifi is not always available, and this one has poor reception. I am sure makers by now will have many ideas to make good use of that space, to open up a whole new page of possibilities
So, it’s not explicitly mentioned anywhere, but the instructions for putting it together have you plug in the antenna to a particular u.FL port.
If you do this, you’ll have 4G-LTE, i.e. data/sms you name it.
There is a separate u.FL port for GNSS (GPS)
I was careless when I tried to swap the ports and ripped the wire out of the u.FL connector, so I am unable to test.
But from the looks of it, if you’re using the provided antenna, you’ll have to choose either data OR gps.
IC, I checked Github to look for details of the 4G module, such as the chips in use so that I can check the spec of it, but again the resolution of the schematic was too low to see clearly, I couldn’t even locate the antenna ports or I missed. As far as I know, PCB design sometimes includes space for parts for other models, so that the board may be “GPS ready” instead of having a GPS on board. I don’t know if 4G and GPS can co-exist on that same board or to choose either one during production, so if you have the unit on hand you can help to check that.
It’s definitely got both, but it’s two separate antenna ports. (3 ports total, no idea about the third)
The antenna that ships with the uconsole is just 1 antenna
I suspect the clockwork antenna is LTE only, I think GNSS and LTE use different antenna.
I’ve ordered an antenna with both LTE and GNSS (GPS) on one strip with 2 connectors.
It should arrive tomorrow, so I’ll see if both can be used at once, or if it remains one/other.
That’s interesting, I am new to the uConsole and there are a lot to explore, and wonder why some info is not provided.
The last line of this section is the only mention I recall seeing.
" make sure the GPS antenna is connected to the GNSS port on 4G extension"
that makes it sound like the antenna can do either.