HL7812 EVK - GNSS Not Acquiring Satellite Fix (Firmware 5.4.12.2)

[vagesh.p]

I am experiencing issues with GNSS functionality on the HL7812 EVK board. Despite following the standard AT command sequence, the GNSS module is unable to acquire a satellite fix and shows zero satellites in use.
Hardware & Firmware Details:
Module: HL7812 EVK
Firmware: HL7812.5.4.12.2-23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2
Baseband: HL78xx.5.4.12.2.RK_03_02_00_22_24731_001.20230330
IMEI-SV: 3511444414114212
Antenna: Active GNSS antenna connected
Issue Description:
GNSS starts successfully but does not acquire any satellite signals. NMEA output shows:
Fix quality: 0 (no fix)
Satellites in use: 00
Position validity: V (invalid)
Events: +GNSSEV: 3,0 (no fix available)
AT Commands Used:

HL7812.5.4.12.2-23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2
HL78xx.5.4.12.2.RK_03_02_00_22_24731_001.20230330
2023/03/30 08:42:08
IMEI-SV: 3511444414114212
Legato RTOS: 23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2 2023/03/30 05:53:54
atSwi: 23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2
UBOOT: 01.03
Apps: RKAPP_03_02_00_22_24651_001__38231c6d829dbf9c71390d591eff7fc36cfd187b
MAC: ALT1250_03_02_00_22_24731_2G
PHY: 0.0.306480
PMP: 315260
AISE: ISE2APP_00_00_00_09

SBUB: 1
SBFW: 1
FPuK1: CBF402DD
FPuK2: 4BE7EB7F
RBUB: 0
RBFW: 0
MCU-Disable: 1

AT+KSRAT?
+KSRAT: 1
OK
AT+CMEE=1
OK
OK
AT+CFUN=4,0
OK
AT+KPATTERN=“–EOF–Pattern–”
OK
AT+GNSSCONF=10,1
OK
AT+GNSSNMEA=0,1000,0,4F
OK
AT+GNSSSTART=0
OK
+GNSSEV: 0,1
+GNSSEV: 1,1
+GNSSEV: 3,0
AT+GNSSNMEA=4
CONNECT
$GPGGA,000011.00,0,00,48
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000011.00,V,060180,N6C
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000011.00,*67
$GPGGA,000012.00,0,00,4B
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000012.00,V,060180,N6F
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000012.00,*64
$GPGGA,000013.00,0,00,4A
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000013.00,V,060180,N6E
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000013.00,*65
$GPGGA,000014.00,0,00,4D
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000014.00,V,060180,N69
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000014.00,*62
$GPGGA,000015.00,0,00,4C
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000015.00,V,060180,N68
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000015.00,*63
$GPGGA,000016.00,0,00,4F
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000016.00,V,060180,N6B
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000016.00,*60

Testing Environment:

• Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India (outdoor, open sky)
• Duration: 15+ minutes of continuous GNSS operation
  Request:
• Are there known GNSS issues with firmware version 5.4.12.2?
• Should I upgrade to a newer firmware version (5.5.x or later)?
• Additional AT commands or configuration for improved GNSS performance?
• Antenna specifications or hardware verification steps?

[jyijyi]

is there any improvement with the latest firmware?
https://source.sierrawireless.com/resources/airprime/software/hl781x-and-hl7845-firmware/hl781x-release-6,-d-,2/#sthash.PY3T2ncn.dpbs

BTW, here says active antenna is not supported:

Lastly, I can see other user can make it work:

HL7810 GNSS/GPS not getting fixed location

having issues with getting a GPS location on the HL7810 , I tried a few different antenna options/positions and still haven’t been able to get a location fix. I understand it may take while but we waited and waiting and never get GNSSEV:3,3 Would like to know if there are anything else I can check ATI9 HL7810.5.7.2.0-24.10.0.FreeRTOS.w43 HL78xx.5.7.2.0.RK_03_02_00_00_43621_001.20241029 AT+CFUN=0 ERROR AT+CFUN=0 OK at+gnssconf=? +GNSSCONF: 4,(0-1) +GNSSCONF: 10,(0-1) OK AT+GNSSSTART=…

[vagesh.p]

I am still facing issues with GNSS functionality on the HL7812 EVK board . Despite following the standard and recommended AT command sequence, the GNSS engine is not acquiring a satellite fix and consistently reports zero satellites in use .

Problem Summary

• GNSS starts successfully but never reaches a valid fix
• Satellites are occasionally reported in NMEA GSV, but none are used
• Latitude/Longitude remain invalid
• Issue persists even after extended outdoor testing

Module & Firmware Information

• Module: HL7812
• Firmware: HL7812.5.4.12.2-23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2
• Release: HL78xx.5.4.12.2.RK_03_02_00_22_24731_001
• MCU-Disable: 1

AT Command Sequence Used

AT
ATI
ATI9
AT+CMEE=1
AT+CGSN=1
AT+CFUN=4,0
AT+KPATTERN="--EOF--Pattern--"
AT+GNSSCONF=10,1
AT+GNSSNMEA=0,1000,0,4F
AT+GNSSSTART=0

GNSS Events Observed

+GNSSEV: 0,1   // GNSS initialized
+GNSSEV: 1,1   // GNSS started
+GNSSEV: 3,0   // Position not available

NMEA Log Observation (Excerpt)

$GPGGA,000020.00,,,,,0,00,,,,,,,*4A
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*00
$GNRMC,000020.00,V,,,,,,,060180,,,N*6E
$GPGSV,1,1,01,11,,,09,,,,,,,,,,,,*71

From the above:

• Fix Quality = 0
• Satellites Used = 0
• GNSS Status = Void (V)

Testing log

AT response

ATI
HL7812

OK
ATI9
HL7812.5.4.12.2-23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2
HL78xx.5.4.12.2.RK_03_02_00_22_24731_001.20230330
2023/03/30 08:42:08
IMEI-SV: 3511444414114212
Legato RTOS: 23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2 2023/03/30 05:53:54
atSwi: 23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2
UBOOT: 01.03
Apps: RKAPP_03_02_00_22_24651_001__38231c6d829dbf9c71390d591eff7fc36cfd187b
MAC: ALT1250_03_02_00_22_24731_2G
PHY: 0.0.306480
PMP: 315260
AISE: ISE2APP_00_00_00_09

SBUB: 1
SBFW: 1
FPuK1: CBF402DD
FPuK2: 4BE7EB7F
RBUB: 0
RBFW: 0
MCU-Disable: 1

OK
AT+CMEE=1
OK
AT+CGSN=1
+CGSN:“351144441411429”

OK
AT+CFUN=4,0
OK
AT+KPATTERN=“–EOF–Pattern–”
OK
AT+GNSSCONF=10,1
OK
AT+GNSSNMEA=0,1000,0,4F
OK
AT+GNSSSTART=0
OK

+GNSSEV: 0,1

+GNSSEV: 1,1

+GNSSEV: 3,0
AT+GNSSNMEA=4
CONNECT
$GPGGA,000013.00,0,00,4A
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000013.00,V,060180,N6E
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000013.00,*65
$GPGGA,000014.00,0,00,4D
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000014.00,V,060180,N69
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000014.00,*62
$GPGGA,000015.00,0,00,4C
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000015.00,V,060180,N68
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000015.00,*63
$GPGGA,000016.00,0,00,4F
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000016.00,V,060180,N6B
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000016.00,*60
$GPGGA,000017.00,0,00,4E
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000017.00,V,060180,N6A
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000017.00,*61
$GPGGA,000018.00,0,00,41
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000018.00,V,060180,N65
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000018.00,*6E
$GPGGA,000019.00,0,00,40
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000019.00,V,060180,N64
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000019.00,*6F
$GPGGA,000020.00,0,00,4A
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000020.00,V,060180,N6E
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000020.00,*65
$GPGGA,000021.00,0,00,4B
$GNGSA,A,1,00
$GNRMC,000021.00,V,060180,N6F
$PSGSA,1,0,0,00,3,0,B,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,00A
$GNGST,000021.00,*64
$GPGGA,000022.00,0,00,*48
$GNGSA,A,1,*00
$GPGSV,1,1,01,11,09,71
$GNRMC,000022.00,V,060180,N6C

Attachments

• HL7812 EVK board image
• GNSS antenna image
• Complete AT command and NMEA logs

Support Required

Kindly help us with:

1. Official GNSS bring-up / validation procedure for HL7812
2. Any GNSS-specific documentation or application note
3. Known limitations related to MCU-Disable: 1
4. Recommended GNSS test commands or debug steps

Your guidance will help us determine whether this is a configuration, firmware, or hardware-related limitation.

Looking forward to your support.

[jyijyi]

is there any improvement with the latest firmware?
https://source.sierrawireless.com/resources/airprime/software/hl781x-and-hl7845-firmware/hl781x-release-6,-d-,2/#sthash.PY3T2ncn.dpbs

BTW, here says active antenna is not supported:

Lastly, I can see other user can make it work:

HL7810 GNSS/GPS not getting fixed location

having issues with getting a GPS location on the HL7810 , I tried a few different antenna options/positions and still haven’t been able to get a location fix. I understand it may take while but we waited and waiting and never get GNSSEV:3,3 Would like to know if there are anything else I can check ATI9 HL7810.5.7.2.0-24.10.0.FreeRTOS.w43 HL78xx.5.7.2.0.RK_03_02_00_00_43621_001.20241029 AT+CFUN=0 ERROR AT+CFUN=0 OK at+gnssconf=? +GNSSCONF: 4,(0-1) +GNSSCONF: 10,(0-1) OK AT+GNSSSTART=…

[vagesh.p]

I would like to clarify one additional point related to the HL7812 EVK board .

Could you please confirm whether it is possible to change or upgrade the firmware on the HL7812 EVK module?

Information Requested

1. Is firmware upgrade supported on the HL7812 EVK?

If yes, Can you share:

• Official firmware upgrade procedure document
• Any application note or user guide
• List of supported firmware versions compatible with HL7812 EVK

Current Firmware Details

• Module: HL7812
• Firmware: HL7812.5.4.12.2-23.01.0.FreeRTOS.rc2
• MCU-Disable: 1

Looking forward to your guidance and documentation.

[jyijyi]

yes, you can upgrade firmware in the dev kit

BTW, are you still using active GPS antenna?

[vagesh.p]

Could you please share the relevant documentation or procedure for performing the firmware upgrade?

[jyijyi]

you can see this:
https://source.sierrawireless.com/resources/airprime/application_notes_and_code_samples/airprime_hl780x_fw_upd_methods_application_note/#sthash.iCxMryXt.dpbs

BTW, are you still using active GPS antenna?