GPS, or GNSS generally, has grow to be a useful part for FPV drones because of main developments in options like Rescue Mode and Place Maintain in Betaflight, in addition to Return to House in iNav. At present, I’ll be testing a number of the hottest GPS modules in the marketplace from BZGNSS, Flywoo, HGLRC, Beitian, GEPRC, Flyfish, and plenty of extra, evaluating their efficiency and providing my suggestions.
Why You Want GPS on Your FPV Drone
The newest variations of Betaflight have revolutionized GPS Rescue Mode, making it much more dependable and user-friendly. This makes including a GPS module to virtually your entire quad builds a no brainer. Nevertheless, the problem is discovering a dependable GPS module that balances value, measurement, and weight with out compromising accuracy.
On this roundup, we’ll discover varied choices to search out the most affordable, smallest, and best-performing GPS modules out there.
Efficiency Testing
Listed below are the GPS modules I’ve examined:
- All of those modules help the u-blox protocol
- I wrote down the value (lowest discovered on AliExpress), the width of every module, and tagged it “Magazine” if it has a built-in magnetometer (compass)
| GPS Modules | Purchase 8 sats (Chilly Begin) | 5 Minutes (No. of sats) | PDOP (5min) |
| AxisFlying Axis M10 (Manta5) $30, 20mm, Magazine  |
0:45 | 22 | 1.29 |
| Beitian BN-180 $19, 18.2mm  |
1:30 | 15 | 1.36 |
| Beitian BN-220 $19, 20mm  |
0:53 | 17 | 1.18 |
| Beitian BE-122 (Seeker3) $19, 12mm  |
2:07 | 11 | 2.05 |
| BZGNSS BZ-121 (Seeker35) $18, 12.2mm  |
1:02 | 14 | 1.37 |
| BZGNSS BZ-181 $19, 18mm  |
0:41 | 21 | 1.26 |
| BZGNSS BZ-251 $20, 25.2mm, Magazine  |
0:38 | 23 | 1.13 |
| BZGNSS P18 Professional $20, 20.5mm  |
0:36 | 33 | 0.82 |
| Cyclone M1012 $9.5, 12.5mm, Magazine  |
0:45 | 17 | 1.44 |
| FlyfishRC M10 Mini $19, 12.3mm  |
0:42 | 19 | 1.46 |
| ** FlyfishRC M8QMC $25, 20mm  |
2:02 | 11 | N/A |
| Flywoo GM10 Nano V3 $21, 12.5mm, Magazine  |
0:54 | 18 | 1.42 |
| Flywoo GM10 Mini V3 $18, 18.3mm  |
0:42 | 20 | 1.25 |
| Flywoo GM10 Professional V3 $20, 25mm, Magazine  |
0:46 | 24 | 1.13 |
| GEPRC GEP-M10 $20, 22mm  |
0:41 | 24 | 1.06 |
| GEPRC GEP-M1025 (MOZ7 V2) $22, 29mm  |
0:42 | 25 | 0.96 |
| GEPRC M1025Q $24, 29mm, Magazine  |
0:41 | 23 | 1.22 |
| HGLRC M100 Mini $16, 15.2mm  |
1:10 | 22 | 1.21 |
| HGLRC M100 5883 $17, 21mm, Magazine  |
0:33 | 22 | 1.14 |
| HGLRC M80 Professional $19, 25mm, Magazine  |
1:43 | 13 | 1.51 |
| NewBeeDrone M10Q Micro (LionBee) $20, 12.4mm, Magazine  |
0:41 | 23 | 1.23 |
| ** VK GPS $4, 30mm  |
4:04 | 8 | N/A |
Let me clarify what these outcomes imply:
The 2nd column exhibits the time it takes to lock onto 8 satellites from a chilly begin. Buying no less than 8 satellites earlier than takeoff is really helpful by Betaflight for dependable Rescue Mode and Place Maintain.
What’s Chilly Begin and Sizzling Begin?
- A chilly begin refers back to the GPS module initializing with no acknowledged location, time, or satellite tv for pc information, forcing it to go looking from scratch. That is the slowest startup mode and often takes wherever from over 30 seconds to a number of minutes. This sometimes occurs when the module is powered on for the primary time after a protracted interval of inactivity.
- A sizzling begin refers to a GPS module reconnecting to satellites after a quick energy cycle or reset, for instance if you swap batteries. Because it retains earlier satellite tv for pc information, acquisition is way sooner, sometimes inside 10 to twenty seconds.
Within the third and 4th columns, I additionally recorded the utmost variety of satellites acquired after being powered on for five minutes, in addition to the Place DOP (PDOP), which is an indicator of place precision. Mainly, the decrease the higher.
- Low PDOP (1–2): Wonderful satellite tv for pc geometry. Satellites are unfold out effectively, resulting in increased precision.
- Excessive PDOP (>6): Poor satellite tv for pc geometry. Satellites are clustered collectively, growing the possibility of bigger place errors.
Nevertheless, whereas a greater PDOP (decrease) is more likely to point out higher-quality and extra correct place information, it isn’t a direct measure of how good a GPS module is. It’s helpful right here when evaluating GPS modules on the similar location and on the similar time, to see which one is likely to be extra correct below these particular circumstances.
All the GPS modules have been examined on the similar location on a sunny day. Testing circumstances have been supreme, with no WiFi routers or VTX/Air Unit indicators inflicting interference. So it’s possible you’ll discover that it takes longer to get a 3D repair when utilizing these GPS modules in your quad. That’s utterly regular.
Rating and Suggestions
Primarily based on how rapidly they get a 3D repair from a chilly begin, right here’s the rating. The utmost variety of satellites they purchase can also be essential issues.
Notes
- From the outcomes, you may see that you could hardly go unsuitable with most M10 GPS modules, though there are nonetheless small variations in efficiency between them.
- Larger GPS modules typically carry out higher than smaller ones due to their bigger antenna.
- The common value is round $18 to $20, even for the perfect ones, so there may be not a lot motive to pay additional.
- All the really helpful GPS modules listed below are plug-and-play in Betaflight. They solely require 4 wires: energy (5V), floor, and a spare UART TX/RX in your flight controller. For setup directions, confer with my information: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
Finest Efficiency
BZGNSS P18 Professional utterly blew the others out of the water. It received a 3D lock in simply 36 seconds, acquired as much as 33 satellites in 5 minutes, and achieved the bottom PDOP rating of 0.82 of all of the GPS modules examined on this roundup. Additionally it is very inexpensive at solely $20. It is available in a plastic case, which improves water resistance.
Get the BZ P18 Professional from AliExpress: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_c40xa4sV.
The BZ251 and BZ181 from BZGNSS are additionally glorious selections. The BZ251 is bigger and has an onboard compass, whereas the BZ181 is a smaller 18mm module the identical measurement because the BN-180.
The HGLRC M100 5883 in all probability provides the perfect performance-to-price ratio. Not solely was it the quickest to get a 3D repair on this roundup, it additionally comes with a magnetometer, and it prices solely $17 on AliExpress.
As an honorable point out, GEPRC additionally makes glorious GPS modules. You received’t be dissatisfied.
GEP-M10
GEPRC M1025Q
For Compact Micro Builds
Bigger GPS modules are typically higher than smaller ones as a result of the bigger antenna permits them to get a 3D repair sooner, they usually often locks onto extra satellites, leading to decrease PDOP and higher place precision. That mentioned, some tiny GPS modules nonetheless carry out effectively sufficient and needs to be greater than satisfactory for the typical pilot.
The smallest GPS modules have a width of round 12mm, and on this measurement class, the perfect performers are the NewBeeDrone M10Q Micro and FlyFishRC M10 Mini. The NewBeeDrone has a slight edge over the FlyFish by way of accuracy, and it additionally comes with an onboard compass, making it my favourite compact alternative. Nevertheless, the PVC wires are a slight letdown as a result of they’re fairly stiff, and there are not any solder pads on the GPS, which makes wiring much less versatile.
NewBeeDrone M10Q Micro
FlyFishRC M10 Mini:
For those who prioritize worth, you must also think about the Cyclone M1012 on this class. For under $14, it provides unimaginable worth. It even comes with a magnetometer, which is a superb bonus.
Most cost-effective Price Having
For price range builds, the most affordable GPS I might advocate is the Cyclone M10 once more, at solely $14. Cyclone additionally provides bigger variants for the same value.
For those who want another, the HGLRC M100 Mini can also be a wonderful price range choice, priced at solely $16.
HGLRC M100 Mini:
I additionally examined the VK GPS when constructing the $150 7-inch long-range quad. It is likely to be the most affordable choice at solely $4 again in 2024, and round $6 in 2026, however whereas it did work, it isn’t dependable sufficient for me to advocate.
Conclusion
Now could be the right time so as to add a GPS module to your FPV drone when you have not performed so already.
GPS modules have grow to be extra inexpensive and user-friendly. For as little as $14 to $20, you will get a high-performing GPS module. It’s a small funding that might probably save your drone within the occasion of sign loss.
Equip your FPV drone with a GPS module and benefit from the peace of thoughts it brings each time you’re taking to the skies.
Edit Historical past
- 2023 – Overview posted.
- 2024 – Re-ran testing and added extra GPS module choices within the round-up.
- Apr 2026 – Re-ran all testing and added extra GPS modules to the roundup
