This SparkFun GNSS Breakout features the u-blox SAM-M8Q GNSS receiver. The SAM-M8Q is a 72-channel GNSS receiver that supports the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and certain regional GNSS constellations. It is a compact version of the SparkFun SAM-M8Q Breakout (Qwiic), featuring a 1"x1" layout of most Qwiic boards that makes it more suitable for smaller enclosures and projects. The breakout board is also equipped with a rechargeable backup battery that powers the RTC of the SAM-M8Q. This reduces the time-to-first fix from a cold start (~30s) to a hot start (~1s). The battery will maintain RTC and GNSS orbit data without being connected to a power supply.
The u-blox M8 GNSS engine increases precision and supports an I2C interface (u-blox calls this Display Data Channel). This makes it perfect for the Qwiic connect system, so we don't have to use up our precious UART port. Utilizing our handy Qwiic system, no soldering is required to connect it to a Qwiic-enabled development board. However, we still have broken out 0.1"-spaced pins in case you prefer to solder your connections.
u-blox based GNSS products are configurable using their popular u-center software application. Plenty of different functions can be configured on the SAM-M8Q: baud rates, update rates, geofencing, spoofing detection, the external interrupts, etc. All of this can be done within the SparkFun Arduino Library!
- Software Configurable
- Geofencing
- Odometer
- Spoofing Detection
- External Interrupt
- Pin Control
- Low Power Mode
Note
The SparkFun Qwiic Connect System is an ecosystem of I2C sensors, actuators, shields and cables that make prototyping faster and less prone to error. All Qwiic-enabled boards use a common 1mm pitch, 4-pin JST connector. This reduces the amount of required PCB space, and polarized connections mean you can’t hook it up wrong.
The SAM-M8Q GPS Breakout can also be automatically detected, configured, and have its data logged with the OpenLog Artemis or Datalogger IoT. No programming, soldering, or setup required!
- Hookup Guide - A hookup guide for the SparkFun ZOE-M8Q and SAM-M8Q boards; three similarly powerful GNSS boards, but with different project applications. We'll compare both GNSS receivers before getting each up and running.
- SparkFun u-blox GNSS Arduino Library - An Arduino library for u-blox GNSS receivers
- /Hardware - Hardware design files (.brd, .sch)
- /Production - Production files
- GPS-30018 - SAM-M8Q GNSS Receiver (Qwiic)
- GPS-15210 - SAM-M8Q GNSS Breakout (Qwiic)
- GPS-15193 - ZOE-M8Q GNSS Breakout (Qwiic)
- v01 - Initial Release
This product is open source!
Please review the LICENSE.md file for license information.
If you have any questions or concerns about licensing, please contact technical support on our SparkFun forums.
Distributed as-is; no warranty is given.
- Your friends at SparkFun.