Ublox XPLR-HPG-2 User manual

XPLR-HPG-2 - User guide
UBX-22039292 - R01
C1-Public www.u-blox.com
XPLR-HPG-2
High-precision GNSS evaluation platform
User guide
Abstract
This document describes the XPLR-HPG-2 explorer kit used for evaluating and prototyping of high-
precision GNSS solutions. Describing the positioning, cellular and short-range radio modules hosted
on the C214 host application board, this document explains the various module configurations and
related use cases that can be explored using the kit. It also provides a quick start guide to get XLPR-
HPG-2 up and running as quickly as possible.

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Document information
Title
XPLR-HPG-2
Subtitle
High-precision GNSS evaluation platform
Document type
User guide
Document number
UBX-22039292
Revision and date
R01
7-Jun-2023
Disclosure restriction
C1-Public
Product status
Corresponding content status
In development /
Prototype
Objective specification
Target values. Revised and supplementary data will be published later.
Engineering sample
Advance information
Data based on early testing. Revised and supplementary data will be published later.
Initial production
Early production information
Data from product verification. Revised and supplementary data may be published later.
Mass production /
End of life
Production information
Document contains the final product specification.
This document applies to the following products:
Product
name
Ordering code
Firmware version
Application
version
PCN reference
Product status
XPLR-HPG-2
-
-
N/A
In development/Prototype
u-blox or third parties may hold intellectual property rights in the products, names, logos, and designs included in this
document. Copying, reproduction, or modification of this document or any part thereof is only permitted with the express
written permission of u-blox. Disclosure to third parties is permitted for clearly public documents only.
The information contained herein is provided “as is” and u-blox assumes no liability for its use. No warranty, either express or
implied, is given, including but not limited to, with respect to the accuracy, correctness, reliability, and fitness for a particular
purpose of the information. This document may be revised by u-blox at any time without notice. For the most recent
documents, visit www.u-blox.com.
Copyright © u-blox AG.

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Contents
Document information .............................................................................................................................2
Contents .......................................................................................................................................................3
1Product description............................................................................................................................4
1.1 Module integration .....................................................................................................................................4
1.2 Kit includes...................................................................................................................................................5
2Hardware ...............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 C214 application board..............................................................................................................................6
2.2 Control and communication .....................................................................................................................9
2.3 Correction data............................................................................................................................................9
2.3.1 Use case #1: Correction data through L-band receiver ............................................................10
2.3.2 Use case #2: Correction data through LTE Cat 1 modem .......................................................11
2.3.3 Use case #3: Correction data through Wi-Fi connection..........................................................12
2.4 Power subsystem......................................................................................................................................13
2.5 USB subsystem .........................................................................................................................................13
3Software ............................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1 HPG use case examples...........................................................................................................................14
3.2 u-blox library (ubxlib) ................................................................................................................................15
4Module configuration...................................................................................................................... 16
4.1 NINA-W106 short range radio................................................................................................................16
4.1.1 Configuring the I2C bus...................................................................................................................16
4.1.2 GPIO pin-out.......................................................................................................................................17
4.1.3 Auto reset circuit ..............................................................................................................................18
4.1.4 JTAG connector ................................................................................................................................19
4.2 ZED-F9R –GNSS receiver .......................................................................................................................20
4.3 NEO-D9S L-band receiver .......................................................................................................................22
4.4 LARA-R6001D LTE cat 1 modem..........................................................................................................23
5Quick start guide.............................................................................................................................. 25
Appendix .................................................................................................................................................... 27
AGlossary .............................................................................................................................................. 27
Related documentation......................................................................................................................... 28
Revision history ....................................................................................................................................... 28
Contact....................................................................................................................................................... 28

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1Product description
The XPLR-HPG-2 explorer kit provides a compact platform for the evaluation and prototyping of the
ublox solution for high-precision GNSS. Comprising integrated GNSS, cellular, and short-range radio
modules, the platform accesses correction data from satellite broadcasts using an L-band satellite
GNSS receiver or through IP connectivity using Wi-Fi or LTE. The correction data, which compensates
for satellite and atmospheric errors, is provided by the u-blox PointPerfect GNSS augmentation
service and delivered through the Thingstream IoT service delivery platform. The platform topology
and data communication between each of the component systems is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: XPLR-HPG-2 platform topology
1.1 Module integration
XPLR-HPG-2 integrates the following positioning, cellular, and short-range radio modules:
•ZED-F9R high precision dead reckoning module [6]: Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) for
high-precision GNSS positioning in challenging environments, including:
oMulti-band GNSS receiver delivers centimeter-level accuracy
oNative support for PointPerfect GNSS augmentation service
•NEO-D9S correction data L-band receiver module [9]: Processes the correction data necessary for
correcting satellite and atmospheric errors. The module processes external corrections to
compensate for various imperfections called GNSS errors, with:
oAccess to centimeter-level GNSS corrections globally
oFreedom to select GNSS correction data delivery channel
oAllows selection of desired L-band GNSS correction service
•LARA-R6 single or multi-mode LTE Cat 1 cellular module [12]: Modem for Internet of Things (IoT)
and Machine to Machine (M2M) applications, including:
oSecure Cloud
oUniversal connectivity and reliable performance in smallest form factor
oReduced logistics complexity, with three regional product variants and extensive certifications
from the mobile network operator (MNO)
oAny region, any band, any technology for simple roaming anywhere in the world
oWorld's smallest LTE Cat 1 module - used for cellular applications - with global coverage, ideal
for size-constrained devices (LTE CAT-1 = medium speed wireless communication standard
specifically designed for Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine to Machine (M2M) use cases).
oReceive-diversity for reliable performance in difficult conditions
oSecure by design to always keep your device running and updated
•NINA-W106 stand-alone multiradio module [3], including:
oWi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and dual-mode Bluetooth v4.2 radio connectivity
oPowerful open CPU for advanced customer applications
oSmall footprint and multiple antenna options

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1.2 Kit includes
The XPLR-HPG-2 kit is suitable to develop applications that require high-precision GNSS positioning
devices feature real-time kinematics, dead reckoning, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth communication.
The purchase of the kit includes:
•C214 high-precision GNSS demo board hosting the GNSS and communications modules
•2x LTE antennas
•1x GNSS high precision patch antenna that includes L-band
•2x protective plexiglass sheets
•Screws and standoffs
•USB cable
•Thingstream promo code that provides one month of free access to the PointPerfect IP service
•Application software example in source code
•PointPerfect GNSS augmentation service (Trial version)
•AssistNow location services
☞XPLR-HPG-2 is shipped as a fully assembled product that includes two protective plexiglass
sheets over each side the PCB. Customers need only connect the antennas before configuring and
using the platform.

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2Hardware
XPLR-HPG-2 comprises four u-blox modules:
•NINA-W106 short range radio as the controller and for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity
•ZED-F9R GNSS receiver
•NEO-D9S L-BAND receiver
•LARA-R6001D LTE Cat 1 module
See also Module integration.
2.1 C214 application board
The C214 application board hosts the L-band, GNSS, LTE, and multiradio modules together with the
following component items:
•USB-C connector (J1) connected to a 4-port USB hub that facilitates the direct communication of
all the modules to an external PC
•MicroSD connector (J10), which can be used for logging and persistent memory
•Li-ion battery charger capable of charging and powering the board by a single-cell Li-ion battery,
which makes evaluation in the field much easier. The charger connects to the USB-C connector for
power.
•QWIIC®connector for evaluating external sensors
•LEDs for presenting the status of the board
•Three buttons:
oPower On: Press to power up the LARA-R6 LTE module
oReset: Press to reset the NINA-W106 module
oBoot: Press and hold for five seconds to erase user credentials
•Three pin headers (J2, J5 and J10) that usefully expose the modules IOs
•I2C (J4) pin header for connecting external modules or devices through the QWIIC connector
•JTAG (J11) pin header that can be used to debug the NINA-W106 module
•One SMA connector for GNSS and L-band receiver antenna
•Two SMA connectors for LTE Cat 1 modem antennas
☞The schematics and other project resources can be found on the Altium XPLR-HPG hardware
repository [16] under the XPLR-HPG-2 folder.

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Figure 2 shows the top side of the C214 application board and the physical location of the main
component items.
Figure 2: C214 board description (top side)

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Figure 3 shows the bottom side of the C214 application board and the physical location of the pin
headers.
Figure 3: C214 board description (bottom side)

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2.2 Control and communication
The NINA-W106 multiradio module runs the high precision GNSS application and controls the
communications between the ZED-F9R GNSS module and NEO-D9S L-band receiver module over the
I2C bus. NINA-W106 also connects to the LARA-R6 LTE Cat 1 modem through a 4-pin UART interface,
as shown in Figure 4Figure 4.
Figure 4: XPLR-HPG-2 modules connections
2.3 Correction data
XPLR-HPG-2 can receive GNSS correction data over Wi-Fi, through the GNSS and L-band antenna, or
either of the LTE antennas (1 and 2). The NINA-W106 module provides the Wi-Fi interface and
manages the decryption keys and receipt of GNSS correction data and between the three modules. In
this case, the XPLR-HPG-2 can work in three different modes of operation –described in the following
sub-sections as use cases:
•Use case #1: Correction data through L-band receiver
•Use case #2: Correction data through LTE Cat 1 modem
•Use case #3: Correction data through Wi-Fi connection

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2.3.1 Use case #1: Correction data through L-band receiver
L-band represents the range of frequencies in the radio spectrum from 1 2 GHz to 2 GHz, which is the
top end of the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band and the lower end of the microwave range.
In this use case #1, the NEO-D9S module receives correction data through LBAND and the NINA-
W106 module gets the correction data from NEO-D9S through the I2C bus. NINA-W106 forwards the
correction data to ZED-F9R through the same I2C bus.
The active components in this use case are shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Correction data flow (L-band)
☞NINA-W106 also forwards the decryption keys for the correction data packages to ZED-F9R. The
decryption keys (changed monthly) can be downloaded from the internet over a NINA-W106 Wi-Fi
connection or LARA-R6 LTE Cat 1 connection, using the MQTT messaging protocol.
☞For library references, code examples, build instructions, macro and component definitions
related to this use case, see also the GitHub example: “Correction data via NEO-D9S LBAND
module to ZED-F9R with the help of MQTT –using certificates” [25].