Circuit Prototyping using Surface Mount Components

[tatteredpotato]

I'm interested in playing around with GPS modules for a project, and up until now I've not really had experience with anything but DIP packages for prototyping. Looking at the available GPS modules, I see that most are in the realm of 15x15mm^2 which is substantially smaller than anything I've worked with before. I've found modules that combine the GPS chip with the required circuitry to make a pretty simple VCC,GND,RX,TX,PPS bus with a wire connector, but I'd like to play around with the actual GPS chip itself.

Are breakout boards available for this kind of application, or am I going to have to practice soldering on tiny electronic parts?

For reference:
GPS Chip I was looking at
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...=sGAEpiMZZMsjLMBIknjmkmp6LiouZDfx823nEQo66ek=

Easier Package to work with:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=465

 

[PottedMeat]

I'd go with the SparkFun GPS because it's already got the antenna integrated on the embedded module as well as a standard looking pin connector/wiring assembly. If you get the Mouser module, you'll probably wind up spending as much as the SparkFun module when you get an antenna.

I don't believe there are breakout boards for the mouser module, I think you're supposed to place pads on the motherboard and then reflow solder the module. I don't see anything wrong however with just soldering wires to the pads and using it that way. You may have problems finding a way to mount the thing though.

 

[Modelworks]

If you have never worked with SMD then get the sparkfun product. Starting off learning how to solder SMD with a GPS module could get very expensive fast. Instead buy some cheap transistors and 8 pin ic in SMD format and learn with those. You can get opamp SMD chips for 10 cents each and they have 8-16 pins , excellent for practicing.

 

[tatteredpotato]

If you have never worked with SMD then get the sparkfun product. Starting off learning how to solder SMD with a GPS module could get very expensive fast. Instead buy some cheap transistors and 8 pin ic in SMD format and learn with those. You can get opamp SMD chips for 10 cents each and they have 8-16 pins , excellent for practicing.

Thanks for the advice... I'll probably do that. I didn't believe it was possible to solder on this stuff until I saw some videos on it.

 

[santuitman]

If you do start to practice SMD soldering, the type of solder makes a big difference. We use water wash solder and flux for 90% of our prototypes as it works really well to keep bridging to a minimum and can be cleaned up with hot water and a touch of alcohol. WE also use a boom mount microscope with is now indespensible for me.

 

[Colt45]

The little modules are fine - i'm not sure what you're planning on doing with the chip alone, that the modules don't?

I got one of these a while back... played with it a little bit, with some nix software... (just serial output...)
http://www.trimble.com/timing/resolution-t.aspx?dtID=overview

ain't done anything useful with it yet... was going to integrate it with a carpc, which is indefinitely on hold at this rate...