How to connect a Bluetooth GPS Receiver with an Android Device?

Background knowledge:

(Feel free to skip this section and proceed directly to the “Connection Instructions” if you’re pressed for time.)

In Android OS, the “fused location provider” is a location API in Google Play services that intelligently combines different signals (e.g. GPS, Wifi and Cell) to provide the location information that the apps need. 

In order to receive location information from an external Bluetooth GPS device, Android OS needs to be switched to developer debugging mode. This allows for the simulation of locations through a third-party app like “Bluetooth GPS” or “Bluetooth GNSS”. These apps obtain location data directly from an external Bluetooth GPS receiver via Bluetooth and then pass it to the “fused location provider” of the Android OS.

Connection Instructions: 

  1. On your Android device, navigate to Settings -> Device Connection -> Bluetooth -> Available Devices. You should be able to see your GPS receiver listed there. If it’s not visible, please scan for the device.

2. Tap on the Bluetooth GPS receiver from the list of available devices. A “Bluetooth pairing request” will appear. Please enter “0000” as the PIN code and tap the “OK” button.

3. The bluetooth GPS receiver is paired with your Android device.

4. Download the “Bluetooth GNSS” app from the Google Play Store on your Android device.

5. On your Android device, go to Settings -> System -> Developer options -> Debugging -> Select mock location app. From the list of options, choose the “Bluetooth GNSS” app.

(The “Developer options” are hidden by default on Android devices. To make them visible, go to Settings -> About Phone and tap on ‘Build Number’ seven times. This will enable the Developer options menu.)

6. Before launching your GPS software (such as CoPilot, TomTom, or Google Maps), open the “Bluetooth GNSS” app and tap on the “gear” icon.

7. Click on “Select” and choose the Bluetooth GPS device from the list. After that, click on “Save” to confirm your selection.

8. Press the “Bluetooth icon” button to establish a connection between the “Bluetooth GNSS app” and the “Bluetooth GPS device”.

9. If the connection is successful, you will be able to see the Latitude, Longitude, and Altitude data displayed on the screen.

10. Now, launch your GPS app and it will start utilizing the location data received from your external Bluetooth GPS receiver.

11. If you are experiencing frequent disconnections with the “Bluetooth GNSS” app on your Android device, we have received feedback regarding this issue. In such cases, you can try using an alternative app called “GPS Connector” instead. For detailed setup instructions, please refer to the blog post provided here.

The “GPS Connector” app supports both USB and Bluetooth GPS devices. Although the blog post primarily focuses on USB GPS devices, you can easily adjust the settings from “USB” to “Bluetooth” for your Bluetooth GPS device.

We have tested the below Bluetooth GPS/GNSS receivers

work with this instruction.

They can be purchased from gpswebshop.com

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