# Picking components for a GPS project **URL:** \ **Category:** Raspberry Pi\ **Created:** [20 October 2020 23:11 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/picking-components-for-a-gps-project/8629 "2020-10-20T23:11:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anthony106728](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/65b543/32.png) [@Anthony106728](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Anthony106728)\ **Post date:** [20 October 2020 23:11 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/picking-components-for-a-gps-project/8629/1 "2020-10-20T23:11:44Z")
Hey folks. I’m getting into the world of making stuff. And my dad’s given me a cool starter idea - a GPS. Like one you’d buy and put into your car for navigating. Could people help me pick out some parts? Ideally, budget within reason, not too huge (not fat or anything), touchscreen but high quality enough (I know of [this one](https://core-electronics.com.au/5-800x480-tft-raspberry-pi-dsi-touchscreen-compatible-with-raspberry-pi-3b-3b.html)) and able to function similarly to a GPS (feeding me location data that I can try plot into my own mapping/directions application). I’ve got some development knowledge, mainly working with website UI (HTML, CSS) and JavaScript based projects, but I’m open to learning whatever language I need to do this. All help and suggestions is greatly appreciated. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Bryce](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/bryce/32/3631_2.png) [@Bryce](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Bryce)\ **Post date:** [21 October 2020 02:52 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/picking-components-for-a-gps-project/8629/2 "2020-10-21T02:52:44Z")
Hey Anthony, Great project, I’d personally go with a Raspberry Pi (you’ll also need an SD card), a simple touchscreen display, and a GPS breakout board to be able to throw that together (a battery bank or cigarette port with 5V out with a micro-USB output would be great too). By the way, if you’re looking to practice, another thing you could do is to buy an old GPS online, tear it apart into components then put it back together again (possibly with a different layout). Another idea is to put together a weather station to learn the basics of how I2C a Raspberry Pi and other similar sensors work. > **[DIY Weather Station with Raspberry Pi](https://core-electronics.com.au/projects/diy-weather-station-raspberry-pi)** > > I wanted to build a weather station. After some googling I found a great ‘how to’ guide using a raspberry pi.  > I was also interested in learning Python, so I decided to dive right in and start working at building my own weather station. > **[Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+](https://core-electronics.com.au/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-plus.html)** > > This is the latest generation board released by the Raspberry Pi Foundation on 14 March 2018. It has a 1.4Ghz Quad-Core Processor and is the most popular platform amongst makers and educators. > **[16GB MicroSD Card with NOOBS for all Raspberry Pi Boards](https://core-electronics.com.au/16gb-microsd-card-with-noobs-for-all-raspberry-pi-boards.html)** > > This 16GB MicroSD Card is preloaded with the Official Raspberry Pi New Out of Box Software (NOOBS). For beginners and first time users, this is the easiest way to get started with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B. > **[SparkFun GPS Breakout (ZOE-M8Q and SAM-M8Q) Hookup Guide - learn.sparkfun.com](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/sparkfun-gps-breakout-zoe-m8q-and-sam-m8q-hookup-guide)** (Simple I2C based GPS breakout) > **[LCD Touchscreen HAT for Raspberry Pi - TFT 3.5in. (480x320)](https://core-electronics.com.au/lcd-touchscreen-hat-for-raspberry-pi-tft-3-5in-480x320.html)** > > This LCD Touchscreen HAT fits snuggly on top of the Raspberry Pi, practically form fitting on top of it so as not to compromise the over all dimensions of the credit .. read more Bryce Core Electronics | Support ---
**Author:** ![Mitchell](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/mitchell/32/3564_2.png) [@Mitchell](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Mitchell)\ **Post date:** [21 October 2020 04:26 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/picking-components-for-a-gps-project/8629/3 "2020-10-21T04:26:01Z")
Hey Anthony, Also, building on Bryces comment, If you did want to just try the touchscreen and pi open auto is a neat way to get android auto on a raspberry pi, see here: [https://www.zdnet.com/article/raspberry-pi-goes-android-auto-now-you-can-build-your-own-cheap-car-head-unit/](https://www.zdnet.com/article/raspberry-pi-goes-android-auto-now-you-can-build-your-own-cheap-car-head-unit/) It’s a neat article on how it works. Hope this helps! ---
**Author:** ![Anthony106728](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/65b543/32.png) [@Anthony106728](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Anthony106728)\ **Post date:** [26 October 2020 02:14 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/picking-components-for-a-gps-project/8629/4 "2020-10-26T02:14:24Z")
Thanks for both of your recommendations! I’ll take a look into them and see where I get. One question - does the GPS module just provide the lat and lon of where the device is in the world? Asking mainly as the software I designed places you on the map based on lat and lon. ---
**Author:** ![Oliver33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9adbd/32.png) [@Oliver33](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Oliver33)\ **Post date:** [26 October 2020 04:31 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/picking-components-for-a-gps-project/8629/5 "2020-10-26T04:31:17Z")
Short answer is yes, but its not always that easy. You’ll need to check which map/coordinate system your gps and software are using as there’s a few in common use and you’ll get weird behaviour if you try to use the wrong one.