SparkFun GPS Dead Reckoning Breakout - NEO-M8U (Qwiic)

The SparkFun NEO-M8U GPS Breakout is a high quality GPS board with equally impressive configuration options. The NEO-M8U takes advantage of u-blox's Untethered Dead Reckoning (UDR) technology. The module provides continuous navigation without needing to make any electrical connection to a vehicle, thus reducing cost of installation for after-market dead reckoning applications.

The NEO-M8U module is a 72-channel u-blox M8 engine GNSS receiver, meaning it can receive signals from the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou constellations with ~2.5 meter accuracy. The module supports concurrent reception of three GNSS systems. The combination of GNSS and integrated 3D sensor measurements on the NEO-M8U provide accurate, real-time positioning rates of up to 30Hz.

Compared to other GPS modules, this breakout maximizes position accuracy in dense cities or covered areas. Even under poor signal conditions, continuous positioning is provided in urban environments and is also available during complete signal loss (e.g. short tunnels and parking garages). With UDR, position begins as soon as power is applied to the board even before the first GNSS fix is available! Lock time is further reduced with on-board rechargeable battery; you'll have backup power enabling the GPS to get a hot lock within seconds!

Additionally, this u-blox receiver supports I2C (u-blox calls this Display Data Channel) which made it perfect for the Qwiic compatibility so we don't have to use up our precious UART ports. Utilizing our handy Qwiic system, no soldering is required to connect it to the rest of your system. However, we still have broken out 0.1"-spaced pins in case you prefer to use a breadboard.

U-blox based GPS products are configurable using the popular, but dense, windows program called u-center. Plenty of different functions can be configured on the NEO-M8U: baud rates, update rates, geofencing, spoofing detection, external interrupts, SBAS/D-GPS, etc. All of this can be done within the SparkFun Arduino Library!

The SparkFun NEO-M8U GPS Breakout is also equipped with an on-board rechargeable battery that provides power to the RTC on the NEO-M8U. This reduces the time-to-first fix from a cold start (~26s) to a hot start (~1.5s). The battery will maintain RTC and GNSS orbit data without being connected to power for plenty of time.

This product requires an antenna: Be sure to check out the related products/hookup accessories and pick a suitble U.FL antenna for your project.

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.


  • Integrated U.FL connector for use with antenna of your choice
  • 72-Channel GNSS Receiver
  • 2.5m Horizontal Accuracy
  • 30Hz Max Update Rate
  • Time-To-First-Fix:
    • Cold: 26s
    • Hot: 1.5s
  • Max Altitude: 50,000m
  • Max G: ≤4
  • Max Velocity: 500m/s
  • Velocity Accuracy: 0.5m/s
  • Heading Accuracy: 1 degrees
  • Built-In Accelerometer and Gyroscope
  • Time Pulse Accuracy: 30ns
  • 3.3V VCC and I/O
    • Current Consumption: ~29mA Continuous Tracking, Default Concurrent Mode
  • 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

SparkFun GPS Dead Reckoning Breakout - NEO-M8U (Qwiic) Product Help and Resources

Three Quick Tips About Using U.FL

December 28, 2018

Quick tips regarding how to connect, protect, and disconnect U.FL connectors.

SparkFun GPS Dead Reckoning NEO-M8U Hookup Guide

April 30, 2020

The u-blox NEO-M8U is a powerful GPS units that takes advantage of untethered dead reckoning (UDR) technology for navigation. The module provides continuous positioning for vehicles in urban environments and during complete signal loss (e.g. short tunnels and parking garages). We will quickly get you set up using the Qwiic ecosystem and Arduino so that you can start reading the output!

How to Upgrade Firmware of a u-blox GNSS Receiver

March 26, 2021

A few steps and you'll upgrade to the latest features on a u-blox GNSS receiver.

Dead Reckoning Calibration - Target Mode of Transportation

The dead reckoning calibration is intended for automobiles and is not supported for other modes of transportation such as walking, bicycling, or e-bicycling. The dead reckoning has been factory calibrated but the extra calibration steps, shown in the hookup guide, are intended for automobiles only.

Once calibrated, the NEO-M8U's readings will not be accurate if it is mounted on a different vehicle. You will need to re-calibrate the NEO-M8U should you decide to use the GPS module on a different vehicle. For more information, check out this post in the SparkFun Forums.


Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

3 Programming

Skill Level: Competent - The toolchain for programming is a bit more complex and will examples may not be explicitly provided for you. You will be required to have a fundamental knowledge of programming and be required to provide your own code. You may need to modify existing libraries or code to work with your specific hardware. Sensor and hardware interfaces will be SPI or I2C.
See all skill levels


Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

2 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
See all skill levels


Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

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  • kwan3217 / about 5 years ago / 1

    Regulator getting hot?

    I just got one, and as a test, I plugged it in via USB-C straight to my Windows laptop running uCenter software. The antenna connector is plugged into the 6-in-1 antenna evaluation board. After being plugged in for a few mintues and getting a fix, it started resetting itself. I picked up the board, which was hot to the touch. The uBlox module didn't seem especially hot, but the regulator is.

    I wonder if the regulator is big enough to power the board? I am going to start running it from 3V3, which should bypass the regulator and is how I plan on doing it anyway.

  • North Alabama PC / about 5 years ago / 1

    Why didn’t SparkFun get in on this https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=24956

    Your group would be able to make it cost effective for the normal drone flyers, unless this is just commercial applications.

Customer Reviews

4 out of 5

Based on 3 ratings:

Currently viewing all customer reviews.

High specification. Accurate, sensitive and fast

Upon its arrival I attached it to a handy spare Seeeduino MCU I had lying around and got it going. I connected a Molex flexible antenna to the device and tried it out in one room of our house adjacent to a north facing window. I found it achieved a first, accurate first fix within a few readings. This device will ultimately form part of a Smart Citizen environmental sensor, when I'm able to integrate it into the system. Them I'll be able to use the sensor in a mobile context. I'm pretty pleased that it seems well up to the task.

Working good so far but

Works as advertised but has old firmware so now I have to wait for the latest firmware so I can start running the HNR messages which is delaying my project.