No LED on the GPS ?? Pls post a close up pic of your GPS module opened.

Here's a pic.

The compass is working fine, so the module must be getting power. Maybe, it's just the GPS chip that is faulty.
I should have bought a better module. This is what you get for trying to save a few bucks. 

There has to be a gps antenna cable which goes to the top ceramic antenna. I couldn't see that in the pic.

The ceramic antenna is soldered on the back of the board.

Strange! How about any leds on the side of antenna? Your GPS looks a bit different than whats usually out there.

Just maybe, & I mean maybe tx/rx wires of gps may be inverted. Since mag works fine, we can be sure of two things that 3.3v power is working fine as well as i2c data lines. Also check the plugs on module and sockets on APM, can be case of bad soldering job too.

Anyways are the pins marked on module? If not I have put up some images so that you can identify whether they are properly connected or not. Trace the wires from APM to module.

The pinouts for 6m modules and apm 2.6 are


And try connecting it up with ucenter. You can do that directly if you have an FTDI, or use APM as passthrough to connect module to ucenter. Procedure on connecting it can be found http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-ublox-gps/

Thanks for the link Vishakh! I didn't know there was a passthrough method! I do have a FTDI board but I really didn't want to mess with that little GPS connector. That little thing gave me headaches while trying to update the telemetry firmware. Thankfully, the telemetry module had extra solder pads for all wires so I didn't have to buy a converter cable.

And, thanks for the pic. The board does have the pins marked. I'll check that before connecting to u-center. I might have found that picture if I had tried harder. I just give up easily and go into lazy mode when something doesn't work! It's weird how google gives me the best results when I'm trying to help someone else but when I'm stuck it just spits out gibberish!

I bought this module from quadcopters.com. I don't understand why it's different. Don't we all buy our quad stuff from there?

The connections are okay.

I tried the passthrough method but u-center shows no output. I also checked that COM port on arduino but still no output. The Tx, Rx pins aren't reversed or anything.

So either there's a bad wire somewhere or the GPS chip is bad. Maybe I should contact Satya...

Hey Swapnil, i did not get any notification from RCI hence never knew about your updates here

So the 6M that has be shown by SideWinder and the 6M that you bought are different in the terms of size rest everything is same. The one that comes with the cover has a slightly smaller size and the position of the components are different thats it.


I dont have 6M with cover in stock as of now but would get it back very soon, can you send it back to me will check and let you know about it.

Thanks so much Satya! I know this sucks and I wouldn't have usually thought about troubling you but I've tried everything and I've run out of options. The u-center software seems to connect but there is no output. I don't want to solder wires to the board and check individual outputs.

I'll send it back to you ASAP. You don't have to replace it or anything. Just see if you can make it work. I'll take it back even if it doesn't! 

I have the same problem too... till yesterday but when I installed the firmware 3.1.5 it was like a cake walk. And I have got the same gps module as you... hope this works. And is the red led, the only one on your module??

I tried 3.1.5 but it didn't work. I don't have any LEDs on my module either.
I've sent the module back to Satya. Hope he'll be able to sort it out.

I sent my module back to Satya (quadkopters.com) and he said that the module itself was faulty. And, even though it'd been a long time since I purchased the module, he replaced it with a brand new one at his own expence. Any other LHS would have told me that I had tampered with the module or somehow it was my own fault. But, Satya replaced it without any questions!

I received my new module and tested it with the 3.2 FW and it worked straight away. No warm up time! No error messages!

I'm really grateful to Satya for his understanding and generosity! 

Guys, facing an issue with GPS HOLD flight mode with APM 2.6 + UBlox 6m Neo setup.

I bought a new UBlox 6m from Quadkopters. Went through some online video to understand how the setup needs to be done.

1. Downloaded the APM / UBlox passthorugh.
2. Synced it in the APM + GPS system.
3. Connected the GPS to UCentre - with APM as the conjunction.
4. Synced in the UBlox configuraton file.
5. Calibrated the Compass - 180 (roll)
6. Calibrated Accelerometer / Radio.

I do get a good GPS lock (8 - 10) satellites. However when I get the copter flying in GPS Hold position - it just loiters around from 1 point to other . I have not set any WAY POINTS. More over I am not quite sure which way the GPS module needs to face. As of now the GPS led light faces the FORWARD Direction.

Inspite of getting a good GPS lock - when I am in the APM planner - the little quad on the screen wanders everywhere .

Need some expert advice - what am I missing ?

Ublox passthrough only needed if you want to flash new firmware on module. To know front side of module get compass and know north direction now connect quad to mission planner and set module as per compass's north side.

Thanks Dharmik.

Any suggestions on the GPS Hold mode

Please ensure that compass is at the bottom else you do not need to set 180 degree option. Since your module was not perfectly in the direction it might also causing issue.

I used a pocket compass and tried to match the direction ....all set correctly...
Still not getting a GPS lock .

okie there might be some other reasons as well. can you pist some clear pics of your module? have you flashed firmware of gps module? thaere are some that might create trouble ti setting up.