Sintrones VDB-811DR-M2 u-blox M9V Dead Reckoning GNSS Module in M.2 2242 B-Key

A tracking computer on a bus, van or service vehicle loses its satellite fix in tunnels, depots and multi-storey car parks, and the record has gaps unless something carries the position through. The Sintrones VDB-811DR-M2 is an M.2 2242 Key B GNSS module for that job, with a u-blox NEO-M9V receiver and both UDR and ADR dead reckoning. ADR can also draw on wheel-tick and forward signals from the vehicle itself.

The NEO-M9V-20B receiver on the VDB-811DR-M2 has 92 channels and tracks GPS L1 C/A, QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou B1I and Galileo E1B/C, with SBAS from EGNOS, GAGAN, MSAS and WAAS, at navigation update rates up to 50 Hz with four constellations. Accuracy is 1.5 m CEP with SBAS or 2.0 m without, with 3 m vertical accuracy, and Sintrones quotes a 24 s cold start, 3 s aided start and 2 s hot start, with -159 dBm tracking sensitivity.

The receiver connects to the host over USB 2.0, and a second accelerometer, an ADI ADXL346, uses I2C. A 1.0 mm four-pin JST connector takes WHEELTICK+, WHEELTICK-, FWD+ and FWD- signals from the vehicle, accepting inputs up to 30 V DC ±10%, and one MHF I connector supports an active antenna. Output is NMEA 4.11 by default, with earlier NMEA versions and UBX. The VDB-810DR is the full-size Mini PCIe version with UDR only, and the VDB-810G is a u-blox M8 card with a G-sensor.

Power is 3.3 V DC ±10% from the M.2 slot. The VDB-811DR-M2 is rated from -40 °C to 85 °C with 0.6 m/s airflow, stores across the same range and handles 10 to 90% non-condensing humidity, with CE, FCC Class A and UKCA compliance, in a 22 x 42 x 8 mm footprint. It suits Sintrones computers with a free M.2 2242 Key B slot, and we fit and test it in the host computer as part of the build, with the antenna and wheel-tick wiring routed to the enclosure. It is available to order.