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SparkFun NEO-M9N GNSS Breakout With Qwiic Connectivity, Multi-Constellation Tracking And U.FL Antenna Interface
The SparkFun GPS Breakout based on the u-blox NEO-M9N is a 92-channel GNSS receiver designed for navigation, tracking, robotics, telemetry, and embedded positioning applications. It supports concurrent reception from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou constellations, helping improve signal availability, positioning accuracy, and acquisition time in challenging environments. The receiver provides positioning accuracy of about 1.5m under suitable operating conditions.
The board includes Qwiic-compatible I2C connectivity, allowing solder-free integration without occupying a microcontroller UART port. Standard 0.1-inch-spaced pins are also broken out for breadboard and wired connections. An onboard rechargeable battery maintains the real-time clock and GNSS orbit data when main power is removed, reducing the typical time-to-first fix from about 24 seconds during a cold start to about 2 seconds during a hot start. The U.FL connector provides a compact interface for connecting a compatible external GNSS antenna.
Key Features
- u-blox NEO-M9N Receiver: Uses the u-blox M9 GNSS engine for reliable multi-constellation positioning.
- 92-Channel Operation: Tracks multiple satellite signals for improved availability and navigation performance.
- Four Concurrent GNSS Constellations: Supports simultaneous reception from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou.
- About 1.5m Accuracy: Provides metre-level positioning accuracy under suitable signal and antenna conditions.
- Qwiic-Compatible Interface: Enables solder-free I2C connection with compatible SparkFun Qwiic boards and cables.
- UART Port Conservation: I2C communication allows GNSS data access without using a microcontroller UART interface.
- 0.1-Inch-Spaced Pins: Supports breadboard prototyping, direct wiring, and custom embedded integration.
- U.FL Antenna Connector: Provides a compact RF interface for a compatible external GNSS antenna.
- Rechargeable Backup Battery: Maintains RTC and GNSS orbit data when the primary supply is disconnected.
- Fast Hot Start: Reduces typical acquisition time from about 24 seconds for a cold start to about 2 seconds for a hot start.
- Jamming Detection: Detects RF jamming events and reports them to the connected host system.
- Spoofing Detection: Identifies potential spoofing events so the host can respond appropriately.
- Integrated SAW Filter: Helps reject unwanted RF signals in electrically noisy environments.
- Integrated LNA: Improves received GNSS signal strength and supports operation under strong RF interference.
- Configurable Operation: Supports adjustable baud rates, navigation update rates, geofencing, external interrupts, SBAS, D-GPS, and security monitoring.
- Software Support: Configurable through u-blox u-center software and the SparkFun Arduino Library.
Applications
- UAV and drone navigation
- Robotics and autonomous vehicles
- Asset and fleet tracking
- Location-aware IoT systems
- Telemetry and data-logging equipment
- Outdoor navigation devices
- Geofencing systems
- Precision timing projects
- Embedded GNSS development
- Remote monitoring platformsSpecs
Specifications:
- Integrated U.FL connector for use with antenna of your choice
- 92-Channel GNSS Receiver
- 1.5m Horizontal Accuracy
- 25Hz Max Update Rate (4 concurrent GNSS)
- Time-To-First-Fix:
- Cold: 24s
- Hot: 2s
- Max Altitude: 80,000m
- Max G: ≤4
- Max Velocity: 500m/s
- Velocity Accuracy: 0.05m/s
- Heading Accuracy: 0.3 degrees
- Time Pulse Accuracy: 30ns
- 3.3V VCC and I/O
- Current Consumption: ~31mA Tracking GPS+GLONASS
- Software Configurable
- Geofencing
- Odometer
- Spoofing Detection
- External Interrupt
- Pin Control
- Low Power Mode
- Many others!
- Supports NMEA, UBX, and RTCM protocols over UART or I2C interfaces
