[GPS_Standard] New Xtal Osc modules for sale in England - use of cheap GPS Rx

[Stephen Farthing]

Guys.

I bought one of these a while back so I thought I would post the link
for anyone who might find it useful.
http://www.sinequanon.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=29_95&products_id=239

They are brand new and cheaper than many second hand units I have seen on Ebay.

Just out of interest has anyone had a shot at modifying a cheap GPS RX
to acquire the 1pps signal for timing purposes? I am very much a
beginner at this so what I am going to say will possibly be myth
rather than reality but here goes:-

All GPS Rx require a 1pps capability to work even "El Cheapo" ones. So
it should be possible to acquire the 1pps signal by locating where
this is available on the PCB or the the appropriate pin from the
chipset and taking a feed from it. One possibility for this might be
the connections to the LED on the top of some "Mouse" Rxs based on the
SiRF3 chipset. On the one I have when acquiring a lock the led remains
lit, once a lock is required it blinks at 2 Hz. Quite how precise this
signal is, or where it is derived from I have yet to discover as it
means removing the shielding covering the chipset which looks
difficult. However intuition tells me it might be derived from the
1pps signal.

If this is possible it has the potential to recycle unused GPS
receivers which can be had for next to nothing rather than finding a
board with a 1pps output which in England is both difficult and
expensive. I am having to order one from Holland to get a good price.
However see below!

 There are some really inexpensive GPS boards with the required 1 pps
output available in Europe (less than $20). However they are very
small and they have a very very small female 5x2 way Samtech
connector. Does anyone know of a source of male connectors, preferably
with a cable attached as soldering a cable to such a tiny connector is
going to be character building as they say.

Thats all from me. Thanks very much for the help and support of the group.

Regards,

Steve G0XAR