Are you in Australia and looking to buy a high - performance GPS for your drone? The Matek GNSS M10 - L4 - 3100 DroneCAN GPS is your ideal choice. It runs on ArudPilots’ AP_Periph firmware and combines GNSS, compass, and barometer functions. It features CAN/DroneCAN and UART/MSP interfaces. Powered by the u - blox MAX - M10S multi - constellation GNSS, it can receive and track multiple GNSS systems simultaneously, including GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou. The integrated industrial - grade PNI RM3100 compass offers high resolution, low power consumption, no hysteresis, a large dynamic range, and high sampling rates. Specifications include a u - blox MAX - M10S GNSS, RM3100 magnetic compass, SPL06 - 001 barometer, 25*25*4mm patch GNSS antenna, and STM32L431RCT6 MCU. It has various interfaces like UART3, UART2, CAN, and an I2C connector for an external AirSpeed sensor. LEDs indicate different states: blue for CAN bootloader, green for GNSS PPS, and red for 3.3V. It operates at 4.5 - 5.3V, consumes 60mA, and works in temperatures from - 20 to 80 °C. Measuring 36mm*36mm*12mm and weighing 16g, it comes with 1x M10 - L4 - 3100, 2x JST - GH - 4P to JST - GH - 4P 20cm silicon wires, and a mounting base. Note that on the M10 - F4 - 3100, the 3 magnetic coils need careful handling. The default MAX - M10S configuration has GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou B1I enabled with QZSS and SBAS, and GLONASS disabled. Beidou B1I and GLONASS can't be enabled together, while Beidou B1C and GLONASS can (though flight controller firmware doesn't support Beidou B1C yet). With GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou B1I enabled, it can receive over 30 satellites with HDOP down to 0.55. Starting from u - blox GNSS FW3.01, the timepulse aligns with UTC time and may take up to 12.5 minutes to set valid after leap - second download, so the PPS LED may not blink right away after 3D fix.
Using the Matek GNSS M10 - L4 - 3100 DroneCAN GPS is straightforward. First, make sure to connect it to your drone using the provided cables and follow the appropriate wiring diagrams for the UART, CAN, or I2C interfaces. When powering it on, you'll see the LEDs light up. The blue CAN bootloader LED will fast - blink during booting and slow - blink when it's working. The green GNSS PPS LED will stay solid on after power - on and start blinking at 1Hz when the GNSS has a 3D fix. The red 3.3V LED indicates the power status. When handling the device, be extra careful with the magnetic coils, especially on the M10 - F4 - 3100. Any strong impacts can separate them and cause reading inaccuracies. For the best performance, keep the input voltage between 4.5V and 5.3V. Avoid operating it outside the temperature range of - 20 to 80 °C. Regarding the firmware, the ArduPilot AP_Periph: MatekL431 - Periph is pre - set. If you need to update it, follow the standard procedures for your flight controller. When it comes to maintenance, keep the device clean and dry. If you notice any issues with the LED indicators or the overall performance, double - check the connections and make sure the firmware is up - to - date. Also, remember that the default configuration of the MAX - M10S has some limitations on enabling different GNSS systems, so plan your setup accordingly.
