How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

Welcome to our redesigned webshop! Same functionality, fresh new look!

1 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer?

Share

I created this step by step instructions on Ubuntu. Possibly there might be a slight difference if you are using another Linux
distribution, but they should be very similar.

1. Plug in the GPS receiver

After plugging in a GPS / GNSS receiver through the USB port, your GPS should be automatically configured. To verify,
type the below command.

ls /dev/tty*

You will see the “/dev/ttyACM0” has been created automatically(above screenshot).

(Special note for Columbus V-800 Mark III or Columbus P-7 pro GNSS receiver:)

you will see “/dev/ttyUSB0” or “dev/ttyUSB0” “dev/ttyUSB1” instead.

2 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

change the baud rate

To further verify if the GPS has been bound to this folder. please type

sudo cat /dev/ttyACM0

(Special note for Columbus V-800 Mark III or Columbus P-7 pro GNSS receiver:)

please type
sudo cat /dev/ttyUSB0

The GPS input stream shows similar to the below

3 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

If you can see the above, which means your GPS receiver works with your Linux computer.

2. Install gpsd

The next step of installation is to bind the “gpsd” daemon to the GPS receiver so that the applications running on Linux can
access the GPS receiver through the “gpsd” daemon.

The purpose of “gpsd”.

“gpsd” is used to connect applications with the GPS receiver hardware. It manages USB GPS devices so the applications
don't have to. In Linux, if you set up the “gpsd” properly with GPS receivers hardware, most GPS location aware
applications can get the GPS data by calling “gpsd”. Furthermore, “gpsd” shares the GPS receiver to all applications
running on this Linux machine.

To install "gpsd", type

sudo apt install gpsd

4 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

The computer responded with something like the below screenshot.

3.Test gpsd with xgps (optional)

If you are confident the GPS is already working properly, just skip this section and go to section 4.

To start the gpsd in interactive mode, type the below command.

sudo gpsd -D 5 -N -n /dev/ttyACM0

(Special note for Columbus V-800 Mark III or Columbus P-7 pro GNSS receiver:)

please type
sudo gpsd -D 5 -N -n /dev/ttyUSB0

5 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

sudo gpsd -D 5 -N -n /dev/ttyUSB0

It shows.

6 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

Now the GPS signal should be available for applications. It is not mandatory but good to confirm that. It can be tried by a
tool called “xgps”. xgps is included in the gpsd-clients package.

To Install gpsd-clients, open another terminal session & type

sudo apt install gpsd-clients

7 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

Above screenshot shows the "gpsd-clients" has been successfully installed. Now type

xgps

xgps should look similar to this when the GPS signal is available.

8 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

4. Make gpsd available on boot.

To make gpsd automatic startup on boot, update the /etc/default/gpsd file a below

9 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

Please make sure

GPSD_OPTIONS="/dev/ttyACM0"

is included in the "gpsd" config file above. Restart your computer.

(Special note for Columbus V-800 Mark III or Columbus P-7 pro GNSS receiver:)

please make sure

5. Ready to serve.

Now your GPS applications can make use of "gpsd" to acquire GPS data. For example, below shows the “Marble”
application running on Linux which gets GPS data from "gpsd".

10 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

We have tested the below USB GPS/GNSS receivers

• GNSS100L
• GNSS200L
• Columbus V-800 Mark II
• Columbus V-800+
• TOP608BT
• Columbus P-10 Pro
• Columbus V-800 Mark III
• Columbus P-7 Pro

work with this instruction. They can be purchased from gpswebshop.com

Back to blog

Company Info Resources

Support Forums New Arrivals

Blogs On Sale

YouTube Channel High Accuracy GNSS

News Room Discontinued Products

Become a Vendor Discontinued Blogs

About Us

Contact Us

Shipping Shop Policies and Accounts

United States Shipping Warranty Policy

Canada Shipping Order Cancellation Policy

International Shipping Return/Refund Policy

Shipping Policy Privacy policy

Tracking Your Package My Order History

11 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25
How to connect an usb GPS receiver with a Linux computer? – GPSW... https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-support-by-os-linux/how-to-connect...

Shipping Cutoff Time My Account Detail

© 2025, GPSWebShop Powered by Shopify

12 of 12 5/25/25, 10:25