The Ublox NEO-8M GPS Module is a high-sensitivity satellite navigation board optimized for multirotors, fixed-wing aircraft, and autonomous flight controllers. Built around the u-blox 8 positioning engine, it features multi-GNSS tracking, an onboard LNA signal amplifier, and a robust external active antenna via a standard SMA interface. With native Micro-USB connectivity, an onboard EEPROM, and a rechargeable backup battery, it allows direct configuration from a PC without requiring external USB-to-UART converters.

Specifications

• Core GPS Chipset: u-blox NEO-8M multi-GNSS positioning engine
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V to 5V DC (Compatible with 3.3V and 5V logic levels)
• Antenna Interface: Standard SMA connector (Supports active and passive external antennas)
• Signal Amplification: Integrated Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) for enhanced sensitivity
• Onboard Interfaces: Micro-USB port and 2.54mm pitch UART breakout header
• Memory: Onboard I2C EEPROM for permanent configuration parameter storage
• Backup Battery: Rechargeable MS621FE coin cell for hot start ephemeris data retention
• Firmware: Supports official u-blox firmware upgrades and UBX protocol commands
• USB Compatibility: Driver-free operation on Windows, Linux, and Raspberry Pi

Interface and Pinout Guide

• VCC: 3.3V to 5.0V DC Power Supply Input
• GND: Common Ground Reference
• TXD: Serial Data Output (Transmits NMEA/UBX data to flight controller or MCU RX pin)
• RXD: Serial Data Input (Receives configuration commands from flight controller or MCU TX pin)
• PPS: Pulse Per Second output (High-precision 1 Hz timing pulse, flashes upon 3D lock)
• Micro-USB: Direct PC connection port for real-time telemetry, configuration in u-center, and USB serial streaming

Key Features

• Integrated Micro-USB Port: Connects directly to a PC or Raspberry Pi via a standard USB cable for immediate communication, eliminating the need for an external FTDI adapter.
• Onboard EEPROM: Saves baud rates, refresh rates (up to 10 Hz), and NMEA sentence filters permanently across power cycles.
• Rechargeable Ephemeris Battery: Maintains real-time satellite data and system clock when disconnected from main power, achieving hot-start fixes in approximately 1 second.
• Built-in Signal Amplifier (LNA): Features an onboard front-end signal amplifier to maintain strong satellite lock even in electrically noisy aircraft builds.
• Standard SMA Antenna Port: Allows seamless connection to various high-gain external patch antennas or mast-mounted active antennas.

Common Applications

• Aircraft Flight Controllers: Providing positioning, auto-hover, and return-to-launch (RTL) for platforms running INAV, Betaflight, ArduPilot, or PX4.
• Autonomous Drones & Rovers: Supplying waypoint navigation data for agricultural drones, survey aircraft, and robotic ground vehicles.
• Raspberry Pi Telemetry Nodes: Direct USB plug-and-play GPS tracking on Linux single-board computers without manual driver installations.
• Long-Range Vehicle Trackers: High-sensitivity asset and fleet tracking combined with 4G/LTE communication links.

Usage Tips

• Configuration via u-center: Connect the module to a computer using the Micro-USB port and open the u-blox u-center software to adjust the navigation update rate (e.g., set from 1 Hz to 5 Hz or 10 Hz for flight systems) and save the configuration to the onboard EEPROM.
• Antenna Mounting on Drones: Mount the external SMA antenna on an elevated mast away from high-current ESCs, 5.8 GHz video transmitters (VTX), and carbon fiber frames to minimize electromagnetic interference.
• Flight Controller RX/TX Crossing: When wiring via the pin header, connect the module TXD to the Flight Controller UART RX, and module RXD to the Flight Controller UART TX. Verify that the UART port's baud rate in your flight software matches the module's saved baud rate.