Adafruit
Adafruit Ultimate GPS HAT for Raspberry Pi [Mini Kit]
The Adafruit Ultimate GPS HAT adds high-quality GPS and GLONASS positioning to your Raspberry Pi. Built around a PA1616D module, it provides precise location...
The Adafruit Ultimate GPS HAT adds high-quality GPS and GLONASS positioning to your Raspberry Pi. Built around a PA1616D module, it provides precise location data and a built-in real-time clock (RTC) with coin cell backup — perfect for outdoor projects, time synchronisation, and location-aware applications.
This mini kit includes the fully assembled GPS HAT and a 2×20 GPIO header for soldering. It connects via the Raspberry Pi's hardware UART and features a u.FL connector for an optional external active antenna, a prototyping area for adding your own components, and breakouts for all remaining Pi GPIO pins.
Key Features
- GPS + GLONASS Support – Dual constellation tracking for improved coverage and faster fixes
- 99-Channel Receiver – -165 dBm sensitivity with up to 10 Hz position updates
- Built-in RTC – Real-time clock with CR1220 coin cell backup for 7+ years of timekeeping, even when the Pi is off
- PPS Output – Pulse-Per-Second signal connected to GPIO pin #4 by default
- Dual Antenna Support – Internal patch antenna for outdoor use, plus u.FL connector for external active antenna (auto-switching)
- Fix Status LED – Visual indicator blinks when GPS coordinates are acquired
- Prototyping Area – Space on the board for adding LEDs, sensors, and other components
- GPIO Breakouts – Access to all spare Raspberry Pi GPIO pins
Ideal For
- Raspberry Pi GPS tracking and navigation projects
- Accurate timekeeping and NTP server setups
- Outdoor data logging with location stamps
- Mobile robotics and autonomous vehicle prototyping
Compatibility
- Raspberry Pi Model A+, B+, Pi 2, Pi 3, Pi 4, and Pi Zero
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit Ultimate GPS HAT (fully assembled with GPS module and coin cell holder)
- 1× 2×20 GPIO female header (requires soldering)
Resources
- Adafruit Ultimate GPS HAT Tutorial – Setup guide, wiring, and usage instructions
- PA1616D Module Datasheet (PDF)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- GLONASS
- Russia’s satellite navigation system. A receiver that can also use GLONASS has more satellites to choose from, which can improve positioning reliability when the sky view is partly blocked.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- GPS
- The US satellite navigation system used by GNSS receivers to calculate position and time. Support for GPS is important because it is widely available and often used together with other constellations for more reliable positioning.
- HDMI
- HDMI is a common digital video and audio connection used by computers, media players, and many displays. If a display kit has HDMI input, it is usually much easier to test with a single-board computer because it can act like a normal monitor.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- RTC
- A Real-Time Clock keeps track of time even when the main processor is asleep or powered down, usually with a small backup battery. It matters for data logging and tracking projects that need accurate timestamps.
- u.FL
- u.FL is a tiny snap-on antenna connector often used on compact wireless boards. A board with u.FL usually needs an external antenna, which matters if the product will be inside an enclosure or needs better antenna placement.
- UART
- UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.
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Brands
Raspberry Pi
Sensors & Input
Datasheet
Datasheet · 1.5 MB · Click any page to view full size
