SparkFun
SparkFun GPS Breakout - Chip Antenna, SAM-M8Q (Qwiic)
The SparkFun SAM-M8Q GPS Breakout features a u-blox SAM-M8Q 72-channel GNSS receiver with a built-in chip antenna. It supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Bei...
The SparkFun SAM-M8Q GPS Breakout features a u-blox SAM-M8Q 72-channel GNSS receiver with a built-in chip antenna. It supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou constellations simultaneously, providing improved positional accuracy and faster satellite lock times.
The board communicates over I2C via the Qwiic connector system, keeping your UART ports free for other peripherals. Standard 0.1"-spaced header pins are also broken out for breadboard use. An onboard rechargeable battery powers the RTC, reducing time-to-first-fix from approximately 30 seconds (cold start) to around 1 second (hot start).
Key Features
- 72-Channel GNSS Receiver – Supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou for multi-constellation positioning
- Built-in Chip Antenna – No external antenna required for standard use
- Qwiic I2C Interface – Plug-and-play connection with no soldering required
- Onboard Rechargeable Battery – Maintains RTC and orbit data for fast hot-start acquisition
- Highly Configurable – Adjustable baud rates, update rates, geofencing, spoofing detection, SBAS/D-GPS, and more via the SparkFun Arduino Library or u-center
- Breadboard-Friendly – 0.1"-spaced header pins broken out alongside the Qwiic connector
Specifications
- GNSS Module: u-blox SAM-M8Q
- Constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
- Channels: 72
- Interface: I2C (Qwiic) and UART
- Cold Start TTFF: ~30 seconds
- Hot Start TTFF: ~1 second
- Backup Battery: Onboard rechargeable
Ideal For
- GPS tracking and data logging projects
- Geofencing and location-aware applications
- Drone and robotics navigation
- Arduino and Qwiic ecosystem projects
Package Contents
- 1× SparkFun SAM-M8Q GPS Breakout Board
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- baud
- Baud is the signalling rate of a serial connection, often used as the speed setting for UART communication. Matching the baud rate matters because both connected devices must use the same setting for readable data.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- Galileo
- Europe’s satellite navigation system. Galileo support can improve satellite availability and accuracy, especially when combined with GPS and other constellations.
- 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.
- GNSS
- GNSS stands for Global Navigation Satellite System, covering positioning systems such as GPS and similar satellite networks. It matters here because high-precision GNSS modules can output lots of serial position data that this product can send wirelessly to a computer or phone.
- 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.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- 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.
- SBAS
- Satellite-Based Augmentation System, a set of regional services that broadcast correction information for GNSS receivers. SBAS can improve ordinary GPS-style positioning, although it is not the same as centimetre-level RTK correction.
- 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.
Find this product in
Sensors & Input
SAM-M8Q Breakout Schematic
Schematic · 153.3 KB · Click any page to view full size
SAM-M8Q Datasheet
Datasheet · 1.1 MB · Click any page to view full size
SAM-M8Q Product Summary
Product Brief · 115.9 KB · Click any page to view full size
SAM-M8Q Datasheet
Datasheet · 732.1 KB · Click any page to view full size
SAM-M8Q Hardware Integration Manual
User Guide · 924.8 KB · Click any page to view full size
u-blox M8 Receiver Interface Manual
User Guide · 9.2 MB · Click any page to view full size
GPS Week Number Rollover Workaround App Note
Document · 218.2 KB · Click any page to view full size
Power Management Considerations App Note
Document · 1.1 MB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 847.6 KB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
