SparkFun GNSS L1/L5 Breakout - NEO-F10N, SMA

The SparkFun GNSS L1/L5 Breakout - NEO-F10N, SMA is a high-precision GNSS board delivering meter-level positional accuracy. Utilizing the L1/L5 bands, it offers enhanced performance in challenging urban environments with reduced RF interference due to the protected ARNS frequency band.

This breakout supports concurrent reception of GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou constellations. Its dual-band multipath mitigation technology ensures better position accuracy by selecting optimal signals from both bands, particularly beneficial in dense urban settings.

The NEO-F10N module features a single serial UART communication port, complemented by a CH340 USB-to-serial converter for easy computer connectivity. For microcontroller or radio connections, users need to cut the USB-TX and USB-RX jumpers to avoid bus contention. The board's edge has 2.54mm-spaced pins for power, serial, pulse per second, and control connections. A 1x6 header is included for wireless data transmission using a BlueSMiRF v2.

An onboard rechargeable battery powers the RTC, reducing the time-to-first fix from a cold start (~28s) to a hot start (2s). The battery maintains RTC and GNSS orbit data without external power for extended periods. An SMA connector ensures a secure antenna connection.

Configurable using the u-center software, the NEO-F10N allows adjustments to baud rates, update rates, spoofing detection, and more. Basic UART examples are provided in the SparkFun Arduino Library to help users get started.

Features:

• 1x USB Type C Connector
• ESD Protection Diodes for USB Data Lines
• CH340C USB-to-Serial Converter
• Integrated SMA Connector
• Concurrent Reception of GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou
• Receives L1/L5 Bands
• Voltage: 5V or 3.3V (logic level: 3.3V)
• Current: 21mA-26mA (varies with constellations and tracking state)
• AP2112K 3.3V/600mA Voltage Regulator
• Backup Battery for Hot Starts
• Time to First Fix: 28s (cold), 2s (hot)
• Max Navigation Rate for Single GNSS Configuration (GPS): 20 Hz
• Positional Accuracy (GPS): 1.5m
• Time Pulse Accuracy: 30ns
• Operational Limits: Max G: ≤ 4G, Max Altitude: 80km, Max Velocity: 500m/s
• Software Configurable: Baud Rate (default 38400 Baud), Odometer, Spoof Detection, External Interrupt, Pin Control, and more
• Supports: NMEA, UBX over UART
• LED Indicators: Power, Pulse Per Second (PPS)
• Jumpers: USB Shield (SHLD), USB 5V (USB-5V), Measure (MEAS), USB Transmit (USB-TX), USB Receive (USB-RX), External 3.3V (EXT-3V3), Power LED (PWR), PPS LED (PPS)
• Board Dimensions (excluding SMA connector): 50.8mm x 38.1mm
• Weight: 9.75g

Documents:

SparkFun Resources

• Schematic
• KiCad Files
• Board Dimensions
• Hookup Guide
• Building a GPS System
• Arduino Library
• GitHub Hardware Repo

u-blox NEO-F10N Resources

• Product Summary
• Datasheet
• Integration Manual
• Interface Description
• White Paper: Modern GNSS/GPS signals: Moving from Single-Band to Dual-Band
• u-blox ECCN

Videos