GPSCSV(1) GPSD Documentation GPSCSV(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

gpscsv - dump the JSON output from gpsd as CSV

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**gpscsv** \[OPTIONS] \[host\[:port\[:device]]]

**gpscsv** -h

**gpscsv** -V

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

**gpscsv** is a simple Python program for reading **gpsd** JSON data streams and outputting them in Comma Separated Values (CSV) format. It takes input from a specified **gpsd** and reports to standard output. The program runs until the **gpsd** dies, "**-n COUNT**" messages are processed, "**-x SECONDS**" have passed, or it is interrupted by ^C or other means.

**gpscsv** can only collect data that your **gpsd** is already sending. Use **gpspipe** to see what JSON message classes it is sending.

One good use of **gpscsv** is to create CSV files for use with the gnuplot program.

**gpscsv** does not need root, but will run fine as root.

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

The program accepts the following options:

**-?**, **-h**, **--help**

Show help information and exit.

**-c MCLASS**, **--class MCLASS**

Select the JSON class messages of type MCLASS. Overrides the default class of TPV. See the CLASSES section below for more information.

**--cvt-isotime**

Convert fields named "time" from ISO time to UNIX time.

**-D LVL**, **--debug LVL**

Set debug level to LVL. Default 0. Higher arguments than 0 produce more debug output.

**--device DEVICE**

The DEVICE on the **gpsd** to connect to. Defaults to all.

**-f FIELDS**, **-fields FIELDS**

The FIELDS from the JSON message to dump to the output. Set FIELD to empty ('') for all initially seen fields. Default varies by CLASS.

**--file FILE**

Read JSON from FILE instead of from **gpsd**.

**--header HEADER**

Set header style to HEADER. 0 for no header, 1 output fields as header, 2 send fields as a comment ('#'). Defaults to 1.

**--host HOST**

Connect to the **gpsd** on HOST. Defaults to localhost.

**-n COUNT**, **--count COUNT**

Exit after outputting COUNT records. Set COUNT to 0 to disable. Default is 0

**--port PORT**

Use PORT to connect to **gpsd**. Defaults to 2947.

**--separator SEPARATOR**

Use SEPARATOR as the field separator. Default separator is a comma (',').

**-V**, **--version**

Show **gpscsv** version, and exit.

**-x SECONDS**, **--seconds SECONDS**

Exit after SECONDS number of seconds have passed. Set SECONDS to 0 to disable. Default is 0

All the above individual options may be specified multiple times, but t only the last one off each will be used.

# [CLASSES](#CLASSES)

Some of the **gpsd** JSON message classes include sub-classes. **gpscsv** allows direct access to them using a meta-class (MCLASS).

**MCLASS** **Class** **Description** ALMANAC SUBFRAME ALMANAC from SUBFRAME JSON HEALTH SUBFRAME HEALTH from SUBFRAME JSON HEALTH2 SUBFRAME HEALTH2 from SUBFRAME JSON IONO SUBFRAME IONO from SUBFRAME JSON NMCT SUBFRAME NMCT from SUBFRAME JSON SUBFRAME1 SUBFRAME SUBFRAME1 (Ephemeris 1) from SUBFRAME JSON SUBFRAME2 SUBFRAME SUBFRAME2 (Ephemeris 2) from SUBFRAME JSON SUBFRAME3 SUBFRAME SUBFRAME3 (Ephemeris 3) from SUBFRAME JSON SAT SKY Individual satellites from SKY SKY SKY The basic parts of SKY JSON TPV TPV The basic parts of TPV JSON

# [ARGUMENTS](#ARGUMENTS)

By default, clients collect data from the local **gpsd** daemon running on localhost, using the default GPSD port 2947. The optional argument to any client may override this behavior: **\[server\[:port\[:device]]]**

For further explanation, and examples, see the **ARGUMENTS** section in the [**gps**(1)](/man/os/gpsd/gps.1) man page

# [EXAMPLES](#EXAMPLES)

Some basic standalone examples:

Grab three cycles of TPV data:

```
$ gpscsv -c TPV -n 3
time,lat,lon,altHAE
2021-07-28T22:38:37.000Z,44.0688638,-121.3140643,1108.223
2021-07-26T22:38:37.000Z,44.068863833,-121.314064333,1108.3
2021-07-28T22:38:38.000Z,44.0688637,-121.314065,1108.363
```

Grab one set of satellite data:

```
$ gpscsv -c SAT -n 1
time,gnssid,svid,PRN,az,el,ss,used,health
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,8,8,311.0,28.0,33.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,10,10,290.0,74.0,50.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,15,15,45.0,18.0,31.0,False,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,16,16,244.0,7.0,23.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,18,18,109.0,43.0,37.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,23,23,49.0,62.0,38.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,24,24,87.0,16.0,28.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,27,27,280.0,52.0,42.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,0,32,32,188.0,32.0,42.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,5,3,195,305.0,6.0,13.0,False,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,2,66,38.0,8.0,21.0,False,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,3,67,34.0,60.0,32.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,4,68,226.0,63.0,34.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,5,69,220.0,12.0,32.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,11,75,-999,4.0,0.0,False,2
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,12,76,47.0,0.0,0.0,False,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,17,81,142.0,8.0,31.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,18,82,138.0,57.0,40.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,19,83,333.0,70.0,29.0,True,1
2021-07-28T22:37:46.000Z,6,20,84,323.0,10.0,0.0,False,1
```

## [Plot Examples](#Plot_Examples)

Some plot examples, do them in exact order shown:

Grab 100 samples of time,lat,lon,altHAE:

```


  $ gpscsv -n 100 --cvt-isotime  > tpv.dat
```

Grab 100 samples of time,epx,epy,epv,eph,sep

```


  $ gpscsv -n 100 --cvt-isotime -f time,epx,epy,epv,eph,sep > ep.dat
```

Grab 100 samples of time,xdop,ydop,vdop,tdop,hdop,gdop,pdop

```


  $ gpscsv -n 100 --cvt-isotime -c SKY  > sky.dat
```

Grab 100 samples of time,nSat,uSat

```


  $ gpscsv -n 100 --cvt-isotime -c SKY -f time,nSat,uSat  > sat.dat
```

## [Viewing CSV data with gnuplot](#Viewing_CSV_data_with_gnuplot)

Start gnuplot in interactive mode:

```


  $ gnuplot
```

Some gnuplot housekeeping:

```


  # this are csv files


  gnuplot> set datafile separator ','


  # use the first line as title


  gnuplot> set key autotitle columnhead


  # X axis is UNIT time in seconds.


  gnuplot> set xdata time


  gnuplot> set timefmt "%s"
```

Now to plot time vs latitude, using **tpv.dat** from above:

```


  gnuplot> plot 'tpv.dat' using 1:2
```

Then to plot longitude and altHAE, in separate plots:

```


  gnuplot> plot 'tpv.dat' using 1:3


  gnuplot> plot 'tpv.dat' using 1:4
```

Put both latitude and longitude on one plot:

```


  gnuplot> set y2tics


  gnuplot> plot 'tpv.dat' using 1:2, '' using 1:3 axes x1y2
```

Plot epx, epy, epv, eph, and sep in one plot, using **ep.dat** from above:

```


  gnuplot> plot 'ep.dat' using 1:2, '' using 1:3, \


           '' using 1:4, '' using 1:5, '' using 1:6
```

Plot all the DOPs on one plot, from **sky.dat** above:

```


  gnuplot> plot 'sky.dat' using 1:2, '' using 1:3, '' using 1:4, \


           '' using 1:5, '' using 1:6, '' using 1:7, '' using 1:8
```

Plot nSat and uSat together:

```


  gnuplot> plot 'sat.dat' using 1:2, '' using 1:3
```

Lat/lon scatter plot:

```


  # x is no longer time


  gnuplot> set xdata


  gnuplot> plot 'tpv.dat' using 3:2 title 'fix'
```

# [RETURN VALUES](#RETURN_VALUES)

**0**

on success.

**1**

on failure

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**gpspipe**(1)](/man/os/gpsd/gpspipe.1), [**gpsd\_json**(5)](/man/os/gpsd/gpsd_json.5), [**gpsd**(8)](/man/os/gpsd/gpsd.8), [**gnuplot**(1)](/man/os/gpsd/gnuplot.1)

# [RESOURCES](#RESOURCES)

**Project web site:** <https://gpsd.io/>

# [COPYING](#COPYING)

This file is Copyright 2020 by the GPSD project  
SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-clause

# [AUTHOR](#AUTHOR)

Gary E. Miller

2026-10-09 GPSD, Version 3.27.5

---

Document: gpscsv(1) from gpsd 3.27.5-r5 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://gitlab.com/gpsd/gpsd