Support GPS properly on Heltec Wireless Tracker v1.x#1351
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weebl2000 wants to merge 1 commit intomeshcore-dev:devfrom
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Support GPS properly on Heltec Wireless Tracker v1.x#1351weebl2000 wants to merge 1 commit intomeshcore-dev:devfrom
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Confirmed this works as expected. With this firmware deployed: with GPS disabled and then GPS enabled. GPS fix works and this is the difference in power consumption.
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Heltec Tracker V1.2 (as on board) Works correctly, GPS fix goes onto app on android and then is correctly sent to other devices. Toggling on/off of GPS works, and power usage changes accordingly |
Thanks for testing! |
Pin mapping verified against HTIT-Tracker V0.5 schematic: - GPIO35 (GPS_EN): N-ch MOSFET drives P-ch high-side switch, active HIGH - GPIO36 (GPS_RST): hardware reset, active LOW - GPIO33/34: UART TX/RX Delegates power management to MicroNMEALocationProvider begin()/stop() which independently controls GPS power via GPS_EN and shares VEXT with the display through RefCountedDigitalPin.
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Update 27 February 2026
After running for nearly two months this seems battled tested, also received feedback from multiple users GPS keeps working and GPS is properly disabled and not causing phantom drain.
Summary
Power usage is high On HTWT even with GPS disabled, it's not being disabled properly.
Adds proper GPS support to the Heltec Wireless Tracker v1.x (HTIT-Tracker V0.5 schematic).
&rtc_clock,GPS_RESET,GPS_EN, and&board.periph_powertoMicroNMEALocationProviderMicroNMEALocationProvider::begin()/stop()which useRefCountedDigitalPinto safely share VEXT with the displaygetLocationProvider()override so firmware can access the GPS providerENV_INCLUDE_GPS=1andGPS_BAUD_RATE=115200in the build configPin mapping (verified against V0.5 schematic)
GPS power control
Unlike earlier assumptions, the v1 hardware does have independent GPS power control via GPIO35. The
stop()path de-asserts GPS_EN to cut GPS power independently of the display, then releases VEXT. This avoids wasting ~25-30mA on an idle GPS chip while the display is active.Note
Passes
&rtc_clockto the location provider, enabling GPS-to-RTC time sync. Complementary with #1364 and #1350 in the GPS chain.Build firmware: Build from this branch