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GPS: how the unit knows where it is

← WarDragon Knowledge Base

GPS: how the unit knows where it is

Updated October 19, 2026

Every kit carries a GPS receiver and the software to read it. What differs is whether an external antenna is required, and when a position fix matters. Where the unit can’t get a fix at all, you can give it a fixed position instead.

What the position is used for

The unit publishes its own position alongside detections so that the sensor appears in the right place on a TAK map and detections are referenced to a known location. Detection itself does not depend on a GPS fix; a unit with no fix still detects and reports aircraft. If accurate unit position matters for your deployment, confirm GPS lock as part of commissioning, or set a fixed position.

Antenna requirements

Drop-In Install the GPS puck antenna supplied with the kit. The enclosure has no view of the sky, so without the puck the unit will not get a reliable fix. Route the cable clear of the other antenna ports and place the puck where it has a clear view of the sky.

Mobile An external GPS antenna is optional. It improves position accuracy and lock time, and is worth fitting when the case is inside a vehicle or building.

Screw the GPS connector on by hand until snug, turning the connector nut, not the cable.

Checking for a fix

If the Console is installed, the GPS tab shows fix type, satellite count, and position. From a terminal, read five messages from the GPS service:

gpspipe -w -n 5

A fix shows a mode of 2 or 3 with latitude and longitude in the output. A mode of 1 means the receiver is working but has no fix yet. Allow several minutes for a first lock, longer if the antenna has a partial view of the sky.

Setting a fixed position

For a unit that stays in one place and can’t get a fix, such as a Drop-In inside a building or cabinet, set its position by hand. The unit uses the live GPS whenever it has one and falls back to the fixed position when it doesn’t.

The setting is in gps.ini, in the same folder as the DragonSync config.ini. If the Console is installed, you can edit it on the Config tab instead. Set your own latitude, longitude, and altitude in meters:

[gps]
use_static_gps = true
static_lat = 39.1234
static_lon = -77.5678
static_alt = 220

Then restart DragonSync, from the Console’s Config tab or with:

sudo systemctl restart dragonsync

Important Set use_static_gps = false again before moving the unit. Otherwise it keeps reporting the old location whenever it has no fix.

If there is no data at all

No data is different from no fix. If gpspipe returns nothing, confirm the receiver is present:

ls /dev/ttyACM* /dev/ttyUSB*

If no device is listed, the receiver isn’t being seen. Include the output of lsusb in a support request.

Where the position goes

The unit’s position and status are carried into its Cursor on Target output by DragonSync, so a TAK client sees the unit’s own marker along with detections. No setup is needed.

Related

WarDragon is manufactured by Millenium Products Inc. Technical support for purchased kits is requested through the support page. Purchasing and quote requests go through the contact form.

WarDragon is manufactured by Millenium Products Inc. Technical support for purchased kits is requested through the support page. Purchasing and quote requests go through the contact form.