# USB Cameras and GPS USB cameras pose a unique challenge on drone platforms due to electromagnetic interference (EMI). USB 3.0 signaling is a well-documented source of GPS interference, emitting broadband EMI that overlaps with GPS frequencies across the L1, L2, and L5 bands. This interference can significantly elevate the noise floor, effectively burying the weak GPS signals and degrading or completely preventing GPS lock. #### Mitigation Strategy Ensuring your camera uses USB 2.0 signalling is one method to eliminate interference. If USB 2.0 is not an option you may need to use faraday tape to shield your cables and connectors. Before flight testing, verify that USB EMI impact is minimal: 1. **Measure the interference**: Use a GPS receiver with spectrum monitoring capability or a spectrum analyzer to observe the noise floor across GPS bands with the USB camera active. 2. **Apply shielding if needed**: If EMI is severe, wrap the entire USB cable, connectors, and any exposed portions in faraday/EMI shielding tape. 3. **Verify effectiveness**: Re-measure to confirm the noise floor returns to acceptable levels. Checkout this X post from Alex Klimaj\ --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.arkelectron.com/products/embedded-computers/ark-just-a-jetson/usb-cameras-and-gps.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.