Rpi Thonny python IDE has a problem running Pynmea2 GPS program. How to fix it?

Question

I can't run this gps program in Thonny IDE. How come I can only run this gps program when I run it in the terminal without sudo? Is there a way to fix this? EDIT: The part without the print(gps) and the missing colon is a typo

import serial
import time 
import string
import pynmea2
while True:
    port=”/dev/ttyAMA0”
    ser=serial.Serial(port, baudrate=9600, timeout=0.5)
    dataout = pynmea2.NMEAStreamReader()
    newdata=ser.readline()
if newdata[0:6] == “$GPRMC”
    newmsg = pynmea2.prase(newdata)
    lat = newmsg.latitude
    lng = newmsg.longitude
    gps = “Latitude= ” + str(lat) + “ and Longitude= ” + str(lng)

When I run it in Thonny IDE, it only says Run gps.py with nothing below.

EDIT: This code from @tlfong01 in link #1 seemed to do the trick.

import serial
import time
import string
import pynmea2
port="/dev/ttyAMA0"
ser=serial.Serial(port, baudrate=9600 ,   parity=serial.PARITY_NONE,
stopbits=serial.STOPBITS_ONE,
bytesize=serial.EIGHTBITS,)
while True:
        dataout = pynmea2.NMEAStreamReader()
        newdata=ser.readline()
        if (newdata[0:6] == b"$GPRMC"):
                newmsg=pynmea2.parse(newdata.decode("utf-8"))
            lat=newmsg.latitude
            lng=newmsg.longitude

            gps = "Latitude=" + str(lat) + "and Longitude=" + str(lng)

            print(gps)

Answer 1

Question

Rpi Thonny python IDE has a problem running a pynmea2 GPS program. How to fix it?

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Answer

Part A - Troubleshooting notes

1. My Thonny is python 3, but your program is python2, so I need to format a bit:

   (a) double quote to single quote,

   (b) add colon after if statement.

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2. Thonny then gave "import pynmea2" error, so I used Thonny package management tools to install pynmea2, then I can run the program without any error message.

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3. Your program seems to read the pynmea2's reader output OK, but then you check the new data without any decision, such as:

   (a) If cannot read GPS data, then print error message "Cannot find GPS data",

   (b) If GPS data correctly read, then print out GPS data.

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4. I suggest you to set up the GPS thing and try again. I am using Neo-6/7/8M. If you are using the same thing, I might try to compare and contrast your results.

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5. Of course you might not have setup your GPS hardware/software correctly, and have a problem getting fix, so you program would not print any GPS data. You might like to read my test results Ref 1 on how to use python to print out Neo-8M GPS results. Actually the GPS NMEA data file is very simple. So it should be easy to extract the data, not necessary from Neo-6/7/8M.

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Part B - Tips for GPS newbies

1. The OP follows the video by the Sparklers which uses CLI (Command Line Interface), which is a bit tedious and easy to go wrong for newbies.

2. I would suggest newbies to start with Windows ublox u-Centre which is GUI (Graphics User Interface) and therefore very user friendly. Actually you don't any Rpi, just put it away and learn the basics with Windows ublox U-Centre.

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References

(1) Rpi Neo-6M / Neo-8M GPS Module Setup/Fix/Update Problems (Using Thonny python to print out GPS fixing data) - RpiSE, Asked 2020jun18, Viewed 1k times

(2) GPS taking long time to fix out in the open - EESE, Asked 2020sep03, Viewed 2k times

(3) How can Rpi listen to a GPS module? - RpiSE, 2020jun02, Viewed 1k times

(4) YouTube Video on How to use Neo 6M GPS module with Raspberry Pi and Python (11:19 The OP's program) - Sparklers 2019jul23

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