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Another DIY GPS logger approach

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Created by rp6conrad > 9 months ago, 2 May 2021
PacoRaapNL
145 posts
9 Aug 2025 1:33AM
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Thanks Jan.

Meanwhile things go to slow for my liking for the next itteration.
Time kills me.
Unit height will be smaller by 8 mm.
Still using the acrilyc tape and pvc cover plate design which proofs to be 100% water resistant in normal cases.
PVC cover plate can be removed and a fresh one attached if needed (not needed sofar).
Pogo charge pins do not oxided with fresh water use during 5 month testing.
No need anymore to cut off the 3 switches black parts.
Memory by 16 MB flash or 128 MB XNAND
Push button at the top side of the Lilygo board has a new place you cant see from the outside!
Charge and push button action LED are removed from the top too.
Still it is possible to use a reed contact with a magnet if you prefer.


rp6conrad
364 posts
27 Aug 2025 3:33PM
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Another promising housing can be formed with laser cutted acrylic. Acryl can be "welded" with a solvent "glue". The result is a very reliable watersealed connection. I had a simple outline lasercutted out of 15 mm acrylic plate. Top and bottom out of 2 and 3 mm, a bit oversized. The solvent can be applied in the groove, and by capallarity, it is sucked in the weld-zone. I needed a vent hole to attach the last "top" piece, as minor pressure differences will push the solvent out of the weld. No potting needed, and repairs can be done after milling the case. Price was very reasonable, I payed about 14? for the laser cutted parts.






Stretchy
WA, 1036 posts
5 Sep 2025 11:18AM
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Is there user instructions still available for customising the screen layout?

Stretchy
WA, 1036 posts
5 Sep 2025 1:02PM
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Found it on GitHub, downloaded a pdf copy

PacoRaapNL
145 posts
10 Sep 2025 2:32PM
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So new version finally ready.

Smaller as previous version but same functions and design construction.

2.13 B74 version Lilygo.

This version has no HighSide switch circuit but simple push switch connected on GPIO39.

A push button switch is located at the corner of the Lilygo PCB.

Due to the flex of the acrylic tape and the 0.3 mm transparant cover when pressing on the lilygo the switch is easily activated from the outside (black circle).

No need for using a magnet and reed contact.In the spaces beside the flexible LCD connector a 3mm LED is placed for switch activation (Green) and charge (Red).

This version works with a regular Micro SD card placed in and external SD card module connected with 6 wires to the Lilygo PCB.

GPS is a Beitian M10 BE-220.

2000 mAh Li-Po battery.

Pogo style 2 pin charge port.

The velcro strap is 38mm wide and 40cm long.

These units are not potted but are used with high tack double sided clear adhesive acrilyc tape to create a water resistant seal in combination with a transparant 0.3mm PVC or PET plate.

Due to the flex of the top plate the pressure inside the unit can alter without causing any problem.

2 x 3mm carbon rods are used to stiffen the velcro strap locations and close the topcover on the main base.

Next version will be with a High Side Switch (50% less current consumption when not used) and a 128MB Nand memory.










PacoRaapNL
145 posts
14 Sep 2025 3:20AM
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Some more pictures.

The size difference with the wider version.


The multifunction PCB for the High Side Switch and 128MB Nand memory.
Switch and led's part can be cut off with a Dremel tool to fit the smaller version.
When the lower part with the Nand memory is Dremeled off, than you only have the extra 128MB memory option Jan already showed.


The extra pcb soldered at the back.


The electronic parts that make the ESP32-GPS


Although the smaller version looks higher this is not the case.
Only the connection points for the straps differ.
Optical illusion.
The main cases are using the same base for the electronics.




PacoRaapNL
145 posts
7 Oct 2025 6:46PM
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Brothers on arms.

Used on left upper arm and right upper arm. in same session.



elmo
WA, 8868 posts
8 Oct 2025 6:54AM
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G'day Oh knowlegable Guru's
Any idea where to get BN 220's from?

They seem to be getting either rare or f'ken pricey.
Or
Is there a new prefered option to go to.
Need to source +20
Thanks

Flex2
WA, 366 posts
8 Oct 2025 2:38PM
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Seems to be millions on Aliexpress Elmo. First option listed:- $16.46 AUD delivered for one, $258AUD delivered for 20. $12.90 ea. Could get the get the BN180, bit smaller for slightly more. www.aliexpress.com

PacoRaapNL
145 posts
8 Oct 2025 3:03PM
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Currently I use BE220 M10 bought from Aliexpress in regular mode.

Paco

elmo
WA, 8868 posts
8 Oct 2025 7:37PM
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Is that the branded Beitain or unbranded versions?

PacoRaapNL
145 posts
8 Oct 2025 8:56PM
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Select to expand quote
elmo said..
Is that the branded Beitain or unbranded versions?



Beitian only.





veton
45 posts
16 Oct 2025 8:03PM
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My last devices. These are non potted as i dont know why my last epapers froze. I found a burned pogo connector, although I've always been very careful not to use more than 1-amp charger. These ones of mine stick to any metal surface, so they may shortcut I guess, i dont know how but there is something there.
These last ones go with wireless chargers to avoid that, also a made a simple adaptor in TPU to the boom. All leds are visible through the translucent part, push comfirm, Gps, and charging leds from the charger coil.
The screen and frame are glued with flexible resin. I tested it and seem to be very reliable, time will tell..
b r
















rp6conrad
364 posts
9 Nov 2025 4:56AM
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I made some tutorials on You Tube for the DIY ESP_GPS :
Needed parts for the ESP-GPS :



Flashing the T5 board en set the configuration :

Greetings, Jan.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
9 Nov 2025 8:51AM
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Nice Jan, thanks a lot!!

PacoRaapNL
145 posts
11 Nov 2025 2:54AM
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A lot happened when I was on holiday .
Nice job Jan.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
11 Nov 2025 7:40AM
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Hey experts, I'm trying to program a new one using linux.
I just about had the OTAwebupdater sorted when it disappeared.
Is it still part of the esp dev file?
if not any idea where I can find it?

Looking at Jan's video above, I may have the reason, I'm not sure what espresive version I have, I think a few updates came through, that may have wiped the updater.
More work later.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
11 Nov 2025 1:07PM
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That was it, once I'd installed the earlier version, the OTAwebupdater reappeared.
But now I get a compilation error, "Python is not in PATH"
However as far as I can tell, Python3 is in my $PATH.

Is the OTA updater wanting a different version of Python?

Flex2
WA, 366 posts
11 Nov 2025 1:29PM
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Decrepit, I can't help you with your problem but would suggest using AI (Grok, Chatgpt etc)...It will make light work of all these niggling programming issues...I copy and pasted your issue and got a solid step by step guide to troubleshooting your issue...way too long to post here....same goes for writing or debugging code..effortless..

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
11 Nov 2025 1:48PM
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Tried an alias, now "python" opens "python3". thought I'd fixed it, but I'm still getting the same error.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
11 Nov 2025 4:29PM
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Select to expand quote
Flex2 said..
Decrepit, I can't help you with your problem but would suggest using AI (Grok, Chatgpt etc)...It will make light work of all these niggling programming issues...I copy and pasted your issue and got a solid step by step guide to troubleshooting your issue...way too long to post here....same goes for writing or debugging code..effortless..


Thanks Jim, I was very close, but using an alias didn't work. chatgpt gave me a symlink instead, and now it's compiled. I just have to persuade it to load.

leftfield
WA, 200 posts
12 Nov 2025 5:31PM
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Select to expand quote
decrepit said..
That was it, once I'd installed the earlier version, the OTAwebupdater reappeared.
But now I get a compilation error, "Python is not in PATH"
However as far as I can tell, Python3 is in my $PATH.

Is the OTA updater wanting a different version of Python?



Sorry I can't help but just thought I would mention to that
OTAwebupdater didn't appear for me either.

I ended up finding the code online and just pasted it in myself.

veton
45 posts
12 Nov 2025 6:06PM
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I just want to share some ideas. I prnted a supesmall cable organizer, glued to the pcb . Like that you can arrange all parts in the thickness of the board, the reed swich glued with cianocrylate and the Led inserted under one of the cables, everithing secured with the conformal silicon. For me is much simpler now placing it into the enclosure, also if you use translucent filament you will see the led light very clear.








leftfield
WA, 200 posts
15 Nov 2025 11:58AM
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Apologies.

I found the youtube tutorial that explains everything.

Thanks.


Hi all not sure if anyone can help with this. I was following the instructions online on how to set one of these up. However I am stuck. I have connected the device to wifi and uploaded the bin files.

I have connected to satellites with the GPS.


But what am I supposed to do with this




If I wave a magnet about the reed switch I get





Where do I go from here? Apologies if these are dumb questions.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
15 Nov 2025 1:28PM
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In that first pic you just wait the 3s, then it should say something indicating it's ready to go, you just have to move over the min threshold and it will stat displaying speeds.
The 2nd screen with the magnet, turns the device into a webserver. you can then log into that URL with your browser, and view your data. Although that URL looks wrong, not sure what's going on there.

Looks like you haven't set your WiFi details in the config file

leftfield
WA, 200 posts
16 Nov 2025 4:01AM
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Select to expand quote
decrepit said..
In that first pic you just wait the 3s, then it should say something indicating it's ready to go, you just have to move over the min threshold and it will stat displaying speeds.
The 2nd screen with the magnet, turns the device into a webserver. you can then log into that URL with your browser, and view your data. Although that URL looks wrong, not sure what's going on there.

Looks like you haven't set your WiFi details in the config file


Thanks.
I got it sorted eventually. I found the youtube instructions which were very clear.

But as you can see from the picture my soldering skills are low.

No idea how I'm going to attach the wireless charging module.

decrepit
WA, 12761 posts
16 Nov 2025 8:59AM
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Yes, be very careful of shorting out between connectors, I use very close up glasses, about X3 I think, just to check.

You need a very fine tipped soldering iron to connect to the chip pin, my old wobbly hands aren't the best for that either.
Aldo be careful not to overheat the chip.

Flex2
WA, 366 posts
16 Nov 2025 9:21AM
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The easiest way to connect the wireless charger is plug and play using the USB port. Just get one with a connector that matches your board...most likely Micro USB. Just search for "micro usb wireless charge receiver" on Aliexpress, Ebay etc


Flex2
WA, 366 posts
16 Nov 2025 9:39AM
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Depending how your intended housing you may need to extend the cable. Do that by peeling back the sticker, cutting in the middle, scratch off the insulation with a sharp knife then solder small extension wires, keeping the polarity the same of course. A bit of heat shrink to protect the connections from shorts. Of course you will need to use your awesome soldering skills but its far easier than trying to solder onto the charge chip.....Should be clear in the below photos.






leftfield
WA, 200 posts
16 Nov 2025 1:19PM
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Thanks to both of you for your help.

Think I'll go with the almost plug and play option.



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Forums > Windsurfing   Gps and Speed talk


"Another DIY GPS logger approach" started by rp6conrad