GPS has become an essential component for FPV drones, thanks to significant advancements in features like Betaflight’s Rescue Mode and iNav’s Return to Home. Today, we’ll be testing out the most popular GPS modules from Flywoo, HGRLC, Beitian, GEPRC, and FlyfishRC, comparing their performance and making recommendations.
Why FPV drones need GPS
The latest Betaflight has revolutionized GPS Rescue Mode, making it much more reliable and user-friendly. With these advancements, it’s almost a given that every quad build will incorporate a GPS module. However, the challenge is finding a reliable GPS module that balances cost, size, and weight without compromising accuracy.
To learn more about Betaflight’s rescue mode, check out this post: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
In this article, we’ll look at different options to find the cheapest, smallest, and best performing GPS module.
GPS Roundup
Here are the GPS modules I tested. You can find these GPS devices through the affiliate links provided below.
HGLRC M100 Mini
The HGLRC M100 mini GPS module is smaller and lighter than the BN180 with its low price, small form factor and lightweight design.
Despite its affordable price, small size of 15 x 15 mm and weight of 2.8 g, it uses the advanced UBlox M10 chip supporting GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS satellite signals for global functions.
Outperforming the BN220, the HGLRC M100 Mini requires no configuration tweaking. Priced similarly to the BN220, this impressive GPS module was my go-to choice for a budget 5-inch freestyle quad build.
The M100 Mini can be found here:
HGLRC M100-5883
The bigger brother of the M100 Mini offers great performance and includes a compass.
Buy it here:
HGLRC M80
This GPS uses an older M8 chip, and unfortunately the one I received was defective, so I wasn’t able to test it. In any case, it’s larger and heavier than the other M10 GPSs, and there’s no real price advantage, so I don’t see any reason to buy this over its M10 counterpart.
HGLRC M80 Pro
An upgrade from the M80, the HGLRC M80 Pro uses the M8 chip. While it isn’t as powerful as its M10 counterpart, it’s slightly cheaper and includes a compass, making it a good choice for budget builds.
Buy it here:
Flyfish RC M10 Mini
One of the smallest M10 GPS modules on the market, made by FlyfishRC.
Buy on AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkCU7qr
Flyu Goku GM10 Nano V3
The Nameless GPS is technically the smallest one I’ve tested, but its performance is unreliable and it takes a long time to get a GPS lock. However, Flywoo’s GOKU Nano V3 is an impressively small GPS module, outperforming the BN220 even with the optimized U-Center setup. With a similar price and a much smaller and lighter design, the Flywoo GOKU Nano V3 is fantastic for micro builds.
I flew this module on my Flywoo CineRace20 and consistently got up to 26 satellites. That’s amazing for its size. You need to use Betaflight version 4.3 or higher to support the 10th generation Ublox GPS chips.
GOKU Nano GPS can be found here:
There is also a version that includes a compass, greatly increasing its versatility.
Flywoo GOKU GM10 Pro V3
The bigger brother of the GOKU GM10 Nano offers more stable performance and includes a compass, making it ideal for iNav builds.
Buy Flywoo GOKU GM10 Pro V3
Beitian BN-220
As more and more GPS modules with the advanced M10 chip come out, it’s getting harder to recommend the old BN220. Don’t get me wrong, the BN220 has been around for years and is a reliable, time-tested GPS that works great with Betaflight, especially when you optimize the settings via U-Center. https://oscarliang.com/gps-settings-u-center/
If you already own a BN220, you will be fine to continue using it, but if you are considering purchasing a new GPS module, I highly recommend going with the new M10-based GPS options. They tend to perform noticeably better for a similar cost.
Buy Beitian BN220 here:
Beitian BN-180
The BN180 was a good option, but I no longer recommend it as there are many cheaper, better, and smaller options. The BN180 takes much longer to get a GPS lock than the M10 GPS module and doesn’t see as many satellites.
GEPRC M1025Q
If you are looking for a reliable GPS suitable for a large model, the GEPRC M1025Q is a strong contender. It is big, but it offers great performance and is worth it. It also comes with a compass, which is perfect for an iNav build. If size and weight are not an issue, buy it.
You can find GEP M1025Q from these sellers:
VK GPS – $4 GPS Module
While browsing AliExpress, I stumbled upon the VK2828U7G5LF GPS module, and it was only $4. It might be the cheapest GPS you can get for your FPV drone! Of course, I had to give it a try. My expectations were low, but this cheap GPS actually works!
By default, the GPS comes with a 1Hz refresh rate and 9600 baud rate. For better performance, I adjusted these settings in U-Center to 5Hz and 57600Hz. Unfortunately, I was not able to modify other settings of this GPS module. You can also configure it using U-Center by following my tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/gps-settings-u-center/
It was fixed in 3D in 2 minutes next to my room window. Not bad for $4, but after waiting for 5 minutes I couldn’t get more than 8 satellites. For a cheap build this GPS module is worth considering, but I wouldn’t rely on it for a more expensive model.
Be sure to get one like the one in this review. This $4 GPS can be found here:
Flyfish RC M8QMC
FlyFishRC claims it is a UBLOX10 GPS, but in my experience it performs more like the M8 GPS. This GPS comes with an onboard compass (QMC5883L magnetometer chip) for those who need more accurate heading performance.
It is very compact, similar in size to the BN180. However, it is quite thick and heavy, weighing 9.4g and measuring 20x20x11mm.
Buy FlyFishRC M8QMC here:
Beitian BH-182
This is the latest GPS released by Beitian in 2024, with a similar form factor and weight to the BN180. However, after trying for a few hours, I could not get it to work on Betaflight 4.5. According to the datasheet, it appears to have a “B101” chip, not the typical M series chip. This may be why it is not currently supported. Therefore, I do not recommend it at this time.
This GPS can be found at:
Beitian BH-222Q
This is the latest GPS released by Beitian in 2024, it has a similar form factor and weight to the BN220, and has an integrated compass. However, after trying for a few hours, I could not get it to work with Betaflight. According to the datasheet, it seems to use a “B101” chip, not an M series chip. This is probably why it is not currently supported. Therefore, I do not recommend it at this time.
You can buy this GPS from Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-dv9i
Beitian BH-252Q
This is the latest GPS released by Beitian in 2024, and is the big brother of the BH222Q with integrated compass. However, after trying for hours, I could not get it to work with Betaflight. According to the datasheet, it seems to use a “B101” chip, not the usual M series chip, which is probably why it is not currently supported. Therefore, I do not recommend it at this time.
You can buy this GPS from Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-5d6i
Performance Test
Below is a summary of the performance results, showing the time it took to lock on to 8 satellites (recommended by Betaflight for a reliable rescue mode) starting from cold and hot conditions, and the maximum number of satellites received after 5 minutes of power-up.
Justice:
- Cold start: GPS has not been turned on for at least 12 hours.
- Hot start: GPS has not been turned on for more than an hour.
Test Conditions: This GPS was tested on a cloudy day in a suburban area. Better performance can be expected in environments with less interference and on clear, cloudless days.
| GPS module | Cold start | Hot start | 5 minutes (saturation level) |
| BN180 | 4:10 | 1:27 | 9 |
| BN220 | 3:15 | 1:55 | 11 |
| Flyfish RC M10 Mini | 1:14 | 1:02 | 15 |
| Flyfish RC M8QMC | 2:02 | 1:35 | 11 |
| Flywoo GM10 Nano V3 | 1:21 | 0:42 | 12 |
| Flywoo GM10 Pro V3 | 0:56 | 0:36 | 14 |
| GEPRC M1025Q | 0:32 | 0:31 | 16 |
| HGLRC M100 Mini | 1:40 | 1:14 | 12 |
| HGLRC M100 5883 | 0:46 | 0:40 | 16 |
| HGLRC M80 Pro | 2:19 | 1:55 | 10 |
| VK GPS | 4:04 | 2:17 | 8 |
Recommendations
For pure performance
Regardless of size, the GEPRC M1025Q, HGLRC M100 5883, and Flywoo GM10 Pro V3 are my top picks for performance. They all have onboard compasses, making them very versatile.
GEPRC M1025Q
HGLRC M100 5883
GOKU GM10 PRO V3
For compactness and micro quads
consider Flywoo GM10 Nano V3 or Flyfish M10 MiniThis product is suitable for light and small drones.
GOKU Nano V3:
FlyFishRC M10 Mini:
For budget GPS
both Flyfish M10 Mini and HGLRC M100 Mini They are a great budget option at just $13 each. VK GPS may be the cheapest at just $4, but I don’t think they are reliable enough for me to recommend.
HGLRC M100 Mini:
All recommended GPS modules are plug and play in Betaflight. They only require 4 wires: power (5V), ground, and a spare UART TX/RX on your flight controller. The compass module requires two additional wires. See my guide for setup instructions: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
conclusion
If you haven’t added a GPS module to your FPV drone yet, now is the perfect time to do so. GPS modules have become more affordable and easier to use. A small investment of as little as $4 (or about $16 for a top-of-the-line GPS) can save your drone if the signal drops. Add a GPS module to your FPV drone and experience peace of mind as you take to the skies.
Edit history
- 2023 – Review published.
- July 2024 – Re-ran tests and added more GPS module options to the roundup.
