Summary
Package requirement: gps
Sub-menu: /system gps
Standards: GPS, NMEA 0183, Simple Text Output Protocol
Global Positioning System (GPS) is used for determining precise location of a GPS receiver.
Configuration Properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| channel (integer [0..4294967295]; Default: 0) | Port channel used by the device |
| coordinate-format (dd | dms | ddmm; Default: no) | Which coordinate format to use, "Decimal Degrees", "Degrees Minutes Seconds" or "NMEA format DDDMM.MM[MM]" |
| enabled (yes | no; Default: no) | Whether GPS is enabled |
| gps-antenna-select (external | internal; Default: internal) | Depending on the model. Internal antenna can be selected, if the device has one installed. |
| init-channel (integer [0..4294967295]; Default: ) | Channel for init-string execution |
| init-string (string; Default: ) | AT init string for GPS initialization |
| port (string; Default: ) | Name of the USB/Serial port where GPS receiver is connected |
| set-system-time (yes | no; Default: no) | Whether to set router's date and time to one received from GPS. |
Monitoring Status
Command: /system gps monitor
This command is used for monitoring the data received from a GPS receiver.
Parameters:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| date-and-time (date) | Date and time received from GPS |
| latitude (none | string) | Latitude in DM (Degrees Minute decimal) format |
| longitude (none | string) | Longitude in DM (Degrees Minute decimal) format |
| altitude (none | string) | Altitude based on GPS data |
| speed (none | string) | Current moving speed of the GPS unit |
| destination-bearing (none | string) | The direction toward which a GPS is moving |
| true-bearing (none | string) | The direction toward which a GPS is moving |
| magnetic-bearing (none | string) | The direction toward which a GPS is moving |
| valid (yes | no) | |
| satellites (integer) | Number of satellites seen by the device. |
| fix-quality (integer) | Quality of the signal |
| horizontal-dilution (integer) | Horizontal dilution of precision (HDOP); |
| data-age (integer) | The time that has passed since the device received last NMEA message |
Starting with the 7.1rc3 firmware release, a new parameter was added, called "data-age" (measured in seconds). This parameter displays the time that has passed since the device received last NMEA message.
Basic examples
Check port usage, as only one instance can use serial port simultaneously:
[admin@MikroTik] /port print Flags: I - inactive # DEVICE NAME CHANNELS USED-BY BAUD-RATE 0 serial0 1 Serial Console auto
In case there is one port and it is used by console, release it from the console menu:
[admin@MikroTik] > /system console print Flags: X - disabled, U - used, F - free # PORT TERM 0 U serial0 vt102 [admin@MikroTik] > /system console disable 0
Adjust port settings specifically for your device (leave "auto" for LtAP mini):
[admin@MikroTik] /port> set 0 baud-rate=4800 parity=odd [admin@MikroTik] /port> print detail Flags: I - inactive 0 name="usb1" used-by="" channels=1 baud-rate=4800 data-bits=8 parity=odd stop-bits=1 flow-control=none
Enable GPS:
[admin@MikroTik] /system gps> set enable=yes port=usb1
[admin@MikroTik] /system gps> print
enabled: yes
port: usb1
channel: 0
init-channel: 0
init-string:
set-system-time: no
Monitor status:
[admin@MikroTik] /system gps> monitor
date-and-time: sep/07/2021 08:26:26
latitude: 56.969689
longitude: 24.162471
altitude: 25.799999m
speed: 0.759320 km/h
destination-bearing: none
true-bearing: 185.500000 deg. True
magnetic-bearing: 0.000000 deg. Mag
valid: yes
satellites: 6
fix-quality: 1
horizontal-dilution: 1.3
Port and GPS settings for LtAP
/port set serial1 baud-rate=115200
/system gps set port=serial1 channel=0 enabled=yes
We have also created an in-depth article about live GPS tracking, using scripting and a web server: Manual:GPS-tracking.
Troubleshooting
Note that sometimes in order to make GPS module to be recognized under RouterOS you need to change the baud-rate setting in the '/port' menu.
LtAP mini has a low gain GPS antenna built-in and for a better experience, we suggest using an additional external antenna.
Switch between internal and external antennas under GPS menu:
[admin@MikroTik] > /system gps set gps-antenna-select=external
On some modems with GPS support you need to send multiple init commands for the continuous GPS monitoring, for example, for Huawei cards you need to send "AT^WPDST=1,AT^WPDGP" init string to get continuous monitoring.