pyGPSclient as a python module

[octavio-light]

I would like to know if there is any way to use pyGPSclient as a module to include in other software.
Also, if this can work as an independent thread in a way similar to "gpsd" (GPS service daemon).
Thank you!

[semuadmin]

Hi @octavio-light,

PyGPSClient itself is a stand-alone tkinter GUI application and can't readily be invoked from another Python script, and certainly not as an independent thread.

However, PyGPSClient utilises a number of GNSS libraries under the covers which can absolutely be used in this way:

• pynmeagps - a parser and generator for NMEA 0183 protocol messages.
• pyubx2 - a parser and generator for u-blox UBX protocol messages.
• pyrtcm - a parser for RTCM protocol messages.
• pyspartn - a parser for SPARTN protocol messages.
• pygnssutils - a series of GNSS utility libraries, including NTRIP and SPARTN clients, an NTRIP caster and a gnssstreamer utility which has broadly comparable functionality to gpsd.
• pyubxutils - a series of UBX utllities.

Refer to the respective READMEs for more details. Several illustrations of how to invoke these libraries from Python scripts are included in the \examples folder for each library.

If you're looking for a Python CLI utility that broadly mirrors some of the functionality in gpsd, then pygnssutils.gnssstreamer is probably the best place to look in the first instance.

If you can be more specific about what you actually want to achieve, and which GNSS devices and/or data streams you're intending to work with, I may be able to provide more specific advice.

Hope this helps

[octavio-light]

Thank you for your reply, it is very informative and helpful.

The goal is to timestamp and geotag field measurement environmental readings with cm precision.
For this purpose, I use the ardusimple RTK2blite that is powered by u-blox ZED-F9P module
https://www.ardusimple.com/product/simplertk2blite/
I bought their RTK Handheld Surveyor Kit with an extra u-blox GNSS Multiband antenna ANN-MB-00 (IP67) and their ground plate
https://www.ardusimple.com/product/rtk-handheld-surveyor-kit/
https://www.ardusimple.com/product/ann-mb-00-ip67/
https://www.ardusimple.com/product/ground-plate-for-gnss-antenna/

For testing, I am using the GNSS Master app connecting to a NTRIP server, and GNSS Master "displays" 0.01m accuracy (my guess is that they confuse precision with accuracy).
https://www.gnssmaster.com/

As for GIS, I work with QGIS in Windows, and with QFields in android, and everything works fine.
QFields (android) is reading the mock gps signal that GNSS Master provides, and I can automate forms to capture location.
So far, everything works good.

Next hardware step is to use the u-blox ZED-F9R that integrates an IMU (inertial measurement unit) that provides rover attitude (roll, pitch, yaw).
https://www.ardusimple.com/product/simplertk2b-fusion/
I am still not into the IMU readings, but I need to know this for better precision of my measurement device (I need to know heading and horizontal stabilization).

My question is to read the environmental sensors and timestamp the readings.
And this is the reason why I am investigating RTK GPS signal reading (on request) as in "gpsd".

I hope that this gives you a basic idea. Thank you again!

[semuadmin]

Ok so gnssstreamer (which uses pyubx2 under the covers) is certainly capable of parsing any NMEA, UBX or RTCM output from a ZED-F9P or ZED-F9R receiver, and it can be configured to run as a daemon process (e.g. under systemd on Linux), though you could of course just use gpsd for that purpose - do you have a particular reason for wanting to work in Python?

Note that IMU calibration on the ZED-F9R is a non-trivial process so be sure to familiarise yourself with the Integration Manual before proceeding with that.

And be aware that "cm level precision" is by no means a given with the F9 series - it depends on a variety of factors. You may want to take a look at this wiki.

Please appreciate I'm not in a position to provide support for any commercial GNSS products - refer to the manufacturers for advice.