Problem with the Lilygo T-Beam V1.2

Hello, I have a problem with my T-Beam, that I get no location from the GPS.
I received the Lilygo T-Beam (directly from their website) which should be V.1.1 but it is V.1.2 (2023). I read about several problems with the new PMU (AXP2101), that could be a reason for the non working GPS. But most users seemed to have different GPS types, not the Ublox Neo-6m. I’ve tried different firmware’s and GPS antennas, I left the device outside for several hours but I got no GPS lock. The GPS reset sketch also didn’t changed anything (it also seems to be for the ‘NEMA’ GPS and not ‘UBLOX’). I tried config with the Android and Desktop app, I can use the GPS position from my phone via the App, but the LED next to the GPS doesn’t light up at all.
I’m new to Meshtastic and I dont now what the ‘telemetry/power metrics’ option should display but according to the existence of a PMU I thought there also should be some data, because in my case it says “no measurement” on the display of the device itself? (Its a different problem, but may still correlate with the GPS problem?)

Thanks in advance for your help! :slight_smile:

For the following log I used the Alpha 2.3.8.d490a33 from the Meshtastic flasher with the EU_868 setting (Stable 2.3.7.30 and other also versions didn’t changed anything):

Thats a part after a fresh firmware install:

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Module Info :

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Soft version: 7.03 (45969)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Hard version: 00040007

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Extensions:0

INFO | ??:??:?? 5 [GPS] GNSS module configuration saved!

WARN | ??:??:?? 5 [GPS] GPS FactoryReset requested


And that after a normal reset:

//\ E S H T /\ S T / C



INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Booted, wake cause 0 (boot count 1), reset_reason=reset

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Filesystem files (491520/1048576 Bytes):

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/channels.proto (57 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/config.proto (90 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/db.proto (316 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/module.proto (112 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/.gitkeep (0 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/Logo_Black.svg.gz (602 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/Logo_White.svg.gz (610 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/apple-touch-icon.png.gz (3164 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/favicon.ico.gz (2270 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/icon.svg.gz (852 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/index-BMhLjTmL.css.gz (16270 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/index-Bt2MYVVB.js.gz (203021 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/index-CGqDWSD_.js.gz (348 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/index.html.gz (548 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/maplibre-gl-BXZZhNda.js.gz (210451 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/robots.txt.gz (42 Bytes)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /static/site.webmanifest.gz (197 Bytes)

[ 975][I][esp32-hal-i2c.c:75] i2cInit(): Initialising I2C Master: sda=21 scl=22 freq=100000

[ 976][I][XPowersCommon.tpp:248] begin(): SDA:21 SCL:22

[ 981][W][Wire.cpp:301] begin(): Bus already started in Master Mode.

INFO | ??:??:?? 0 AXP2101 PMU init succeeded, using AXP2101 PMU

[ 1013][D][XPowersAXP2101.tpp:2791] setInterruptImpl(): DISABLE - HEX:0xffffffff BIN:

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 =======================================================================

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 DC1 : + Voltage:3300 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 DC2 : - Voltage:500 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 DC3 : - Voltage:500 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 DC4 : - Voltage:1800 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 ALDO1: - Voltage:1800 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 ALDO2: + Voltage:3300 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 ALDO3: + Voltage:3300 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 ALDO4: - Voltage:3300 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 BLDO1: - Voltage:1800 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 BLDO2: - Voltage:3300 mV

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 =======================================================================

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Battery: usbPower=1, isCharging=0, batMv=0, batPct=0

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Scanning for i2c devices...

[ 1080][W][Wire.cpp:301] begin(): Bus already started in Master Mode.

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Scanning for i2c devices on port 1

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 I2C device found at address 0x34

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 axp192/axp2101 PMU found

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 I2C device found at address 0x3c

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 ssd1306 display found

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 ssd1306 display found

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 0x4 subtype probed in 2 tries

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 2 I2C devices found

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 acc_info = 0

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Meshtastic hwvendor=4, swver=2.3.8.d490a33

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Setting random seed 1335412591

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Total heap: 192944

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Free heap: 158660

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Total PSRAM: 4192107

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Free PSRAM: 4191847

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 NVS: UsedEntries 90, FreeEntries 540, AllEntries 630, NameSpaces 3

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Setup Preferences in Flash Storage

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Number of Device Reboots: 4

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 OTA firmware version 0.2.1.ceca52c

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Initializing NodeDB

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loading /prefs/db.proto

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded /prefs/db.proto successfully

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded saved devicestate version 22, with nodecount: 1

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loading /prefs/config.proto

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded /prefs/config.proto successfully

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded saved config version 22

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loading /prefs/module.proto

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded /prefs/module.proto successfully

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded saved moduleConfig version 22

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loading /prefs/channels.proto

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded /prefs/channels.proto successfully

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Loaded saved channelFile version 22

[ 1478][E][vfs_api.cpp:105] open(): /littlefs/oem/oem.proto does not exist, no permits for creation

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 File /oem/oem.proto not found

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 cleanupMeshDB purged 0 entries

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Using nodenum 0x1fa062a0

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Number of Device Reboots: 4

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Expanding short PSK #1

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Wanted region 3, using EU_868

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Saving /prefs/db.proto

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Using GPIO38 for button

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 SPI.begin(SCK=5, MISO=19, MOSI=27, NSS=18)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Set Timezone to GMT0

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Read RTC time as 1715023705

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Setting GPS power=1

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 WANT GPS=1

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Setting GPS power=1

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Using GPIO34 for GPS RX

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Using GPIO12 for GPS TX

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 NeighborInfoModule is disabled

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 External Notification Module Disabled

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Turning on screen

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Module wants a UI Frame

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 RF95Interface(cs=18, irq=26, rst=23, busy=33)

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Starting meshradio init...

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 (bw=250, sf=11, cr=4/5) packet symLen=8 ms, payloadSize=0, time 231 ms

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 (bw=250, sf=11, cr=4/5) packet symLen=8 ms, payloadSize=253, time 2115 ms

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio freq=869.525, config.lora.frequency_offset=0.000

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Set radio: region=EU_868, name=LongFast, config=0, ch=0, power=27

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio myRegion->freqStart -> myRegion->freqEnd: 869.400024 -> 869.650024 (0.250000 mhz)

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio myRegion->numChannels: 1 x 250.000kHz

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio channel_num: 1

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio frequency: 869.525024

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Slot time: 42 msec

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Set radio: final power level=20

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Current limit set to 100.000000

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Current limit set result 0

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 RF95 init result 0

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Frequency set to 869.525024

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Bandwidth set to 250.000000

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Power output set to 20

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 RF95 Radio init succeeded, using RF95 radio

INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Not using WIFI

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 (bw=250, sf=11, cr=4/5) packet symLen=8 ms, payloadSize=237, time 2000 ms

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 2 LoRA bitrate = 118.500000 bytes / sec

INFO | ??:??:?? 2 PowerFSM init, USB power=1

DEBUG ����������*�ѕɁstate: BOOT

[ 2014][D][esp32-hal-cpu.c:244] setCpuFrequencyMhz(): PLL: 320 / 4 = 80 Mhz, APB: 80000000 Hz

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 2 [Power] Battery: usbPower=1, isCharging=0, batMv=0, batPct=0

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 2 [Screen] Screen: Started...

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 2 [GPS] Probing for GPS at 9600

INFO | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Found a UBlox Module using baudrate 9600

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Module Info :

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Soft version: 7.03 (45969)

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Hard version: 00040007

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 3 [GPS] Extensions:0

INFO | ??:??:?? 6 [GPS] GNSS module configuration saved!

INFO | ??:??:?? 6 [RangeTestModule] Range Test Module - Disabled

INFO | ??:??:?? 6 [PowerFSM] Initialise the NimBLE bluetooth module

INFO | ??:??:?? 6 [Screen] Done with boot screen...

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 6 [Screen] showing standard frames

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 6 [Screen] Module wants a UI Frame

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 6 [Screen] Showing 1 module frames

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 6 [Screen] Total frame count: 104

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 6 [Screen] Added modules. numframes: 1

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 6 [Screen] Finished building frames. numframes: 3

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 7 [GPS] NMEA GPS time 2024-05-06 19:28:30

DEBUG | ??:??:?? 7 [GPS] Upgrading time to quality GPS

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Read RTC time as 1715023710

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] publishing pos@0:2, hasVal=0, Sats=0, GPSlock=0

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] No GPS lock

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] onGPSChanged() pos@0, time=1715023710, lat=0, lon=0, alt=0

INFO | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] updatePosition LOCAL pos@0, time=1715023710, latI=0, lonI=0, alt=0

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Setting local position: latitude=0, longitude=0, time=1715023710, timestamp=0

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Node status update: 1 online, 1 total

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] showing standard frames

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Module wants a UI Frame

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Showing 1 module frames

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Total frame count: 104

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Added modules. numframes: 1

DEBUG | 19:28:30 7 [GPS] Finished building frames. numframes: 3

INFO | 19:28:30 7 BLE authentication complete

INFO | 19:28:32 9 From Radio onread

INFO | 19:28:32 9 To Radio onwrite

INFO | 19:28:32 9 Client wants config, nonce=28

INFO | 19:28:32 9 Starting API client config

INFO | 19:28:32 9 From Radio onread

INFO | 19:28:32 9 getFromRadio=STATE_SEND_MY_INFO

DEBUG | 19:28:32 9 encoding toPhone packet to phone variant=3, 14 bytes

INFO | 19:28:32 9 From Radio onread

INFO | 19:28:32 9 getFromRadio=STATE_SEND_METADATA

I have the same issue. No GPS. I got GPS immediately on other T-beams. Reverted to a 2.2.20 software version and GPS came back.

Thanks for your message. I’ve tried different firmware versions again, including 2.2.20, but nothing worked.
Was anyone else able to resolve this problem or is this maybe just a faulty device?
I will try to contact Lilygo.

I’ve measure the supply voltage to the GPS-Module according to the pins specified in the UBLOX-NEO-6M Datasheet. The supply voltage is correct, but there is for example no output on the ‘timepulse’-Pin, which is connected to the GPS LED.

After several try’s with different firmware versions it started working with the latest Alpha version 2.3.12.24458a7. It’s kind of strange that it works so inconsistent, that some people can use it without any problems and sometimes it wont work…