Looks like the code from https://codebender.cc/sketch:60928 fixes the startup issue.

Thanks!

The power issue sounds like the GPS module isn't being switched on correctly. Let us know if the newer code fixes that.

I have the same issue with the system starting up as well.  A short term work around, has been to have the system plugged into the USB, and then turn on the port monitor, and watch the gps data.  I then unplug the USB module while the system is running live. The system will continue to run and collect GPS data.
However, if I cycle power, it will not start up again, until I go through the port monitor sequence again.

$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
NC,,,,,4
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
NM,,,,,4
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
GM,,,,,*
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
NM,,,,,4
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
GS812100,200,300,00007
GS822500,,00,,00*3$GV,,,,,,.4
GM,,,,,*
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
G$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
N$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
N$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
G,00,,00,700,800,B$GV,,,,00,,00,100,200,3
LV,,,,,,.*
GR,,,,,*D$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48
$GNGNS,,,,,,NN,00,,,0.0,,0000*7D
$GNGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,*0
GM,,,,,*
$GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,M,0.0,M,,0000*48

I just started the same project.  What I found for most of the data, is that I just needed to go outside for a while, so that the GPS could acquire the satellites.  After that the data started to flow in.  It took a minute or so before real data showed up.