SparkFun MicroMod GNSS Function Board - ZED-F9P

With GNSS you are able to know where you are, where you're going, and how to get there anywhere on Earth within 30 seconds. This means the higher the accuracy the better! GNSS Real Time Kinematics (RTK) has mastered dialing in the accuracy of their GNSS modules to just millimeters. The SparkFun MicroMod GNSS Function Board takes everything we love about the ZED-F9P module from u-blox and combines it with the flexibility and easy use of the MicroMod Main Board system allowing you to test and swap out different MicroMod Processors and also add in extra functionality to your GNSS project with other Function Boards all without any soldering required! This means solderless access to the ZED-F9P modules features via UART1, SPI, and I²C ports!

The ZED-F9P module on the MicroMod GNSS Function Board raises the bar for high-precision GPS and is in a line of powerful RTK boards featuring the ZED-F9P module from u-blox. The ZED-F9P is a top-of-the-line module for high accuracy GNSS and GPS location solutions including RTK that is capable of 10mm, three-dimensional accuracy. With this board, you will be able to know where your (or any object's) X, Y, and Z location is within roughly the width of your fingernail! The ZED-F9P is unique in that it is capable of both rover and base station operations. Utilizing the M.2 connector, no soldering is required to connect it to the rest of your system.

The Function Board includes a USB-C connector for powering and programming the ZED-F9P directly. The board also includes a selection of 0.1"-spaced PTH pins for signals not connected to the MicroMod M.2 connector including UART2, Geofence and RTK status signals as well as the ZED-F9P interrupt and reset pins.

We've even included a rechargeable backup battery to keep the latest module configuration and satellite data available for up to two weeks. This battery helps 'warm-start' the module, decreasing the time-to-first-fix dramatically. This module features a survey-in mode allowing the module to become a base station and produce RTCM 3.x correction data.

The number of configuration options of the ZED-F9P is incredible! Geofencing, variable I²C address, variable update rates, even the high precision RTK solution can be increased to 20Hz. The MicroMod GNSS carrier board even has five communications ports, four of which are all active simultaneously: USB-C (which enumerates as a COM port), UART1 (with 3.3V TTL), UART2 for RTCM reception (with 3.3V TTL), I²C, and SPI. As previously mentioned, because of the MicroMod M.2 connector, the ZED-F9P's UART1, SPI, and I²C ports are available without soldering!

We've also written an extensive Arduino library for u-blox modules to make reading and controlling the MicroMod GNSS Function Board over the MicroMod's I²C bus is easy. Leave NMEA behind! Start using a much lighter weight binary interface and give your microcontroller (and its one serial port) a break. The SparkFun Arduino library shows how to read latitude, longitude, even heading and speed over I²C without the need for constant serial polling.

MicroMod is a modular interface ecosystem that connects a microcontroller “processor board” to various “carrier board” peripherals. Utilizing the M.2 standard, the MicroMod standard is designed to easily swap out processors and function boards on the fly. Pair a specialized carrier board for the project you need with your choice of compatible processor!

Features:

• Concurrent reception of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou
• Receives both L1C/A and L2C bands
• Input Voltage: 5V or 3.3V but all logic is 3.3V
• ZED-F9P Current Consumption: 68mA - 130mA (varies with constellations and tracking state)
• Time to First Fix: 25s (cold), 2s (hot)
• Max Navigation Rate:
  • PVT (basic location over UBX binary protocol) - 25Hz
  • RTK - 20Hz
  • Raw - 25Hz
• Horizontal Position Accuracy:
  • 2.5m without RTK
  • 0.010m with RTK
• Operational Limits
  • Max G: ≤4G
  • Max Altitude: 50km (49.7 miles)
  • Max Velocity: 500m/s (1118mph)
• 1.5mAh battery backup for RTC
• Isolation switch for all MicroMod M.2 connections
• I/O decoupling for all PTH connections
• LEDs
  • V_ZED - ZED-F9P Power
  • PPS - Pulse Per Second Indicator
  • RTK - RTK Lock Status Indicator
• Jumpers
  • USB PWR EN
  • SHLD
  • SUP
  • DSEL
  • WP
  • PWR
  • PPS
  • RTK
• Connectors and Ports
  • 1x M.2 (Solderless access to ZED-F9P via UART1, SPI, and I²C)
  • 1x USB Type C (Programming Processor Board, Configuring ZED-F9P module)
  • 1x u.Fl (GNSS Antenna)

Documents:

MicroMod GNSS Function Board Documentation:

• Schematic
• Eagle Files
• Board Dimensions
• Hookup Guide
• Arduino Library
• GitHub Hardware Repo

ZED-F9P Documentation:

• Datasheet
• UBX and NMEA Protocol Manual
• Integration Manual
• Product Summary
• Release Notes - FW1.00
• Example RTCM output
• u-blox ECCN

MicroMod Documentation:

• Getting Started with MicroMod
• Designing with MicroMod
• MicroMod Info Page
• MicroMod Forums

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