shop/ gps/ sparkfun gps breakout zoe-m8q (qwiic) -

High-Accuracy Qwiic GNSS in a Very Small Footprint

The GPS Breakout ZOE-M8Q (Qwiic) is a compact SparkFun GNSS board for projects that need strong positioning performance in less space.

It uses the u-blox ZOE-M8Q, supports multiple constellations, includes a backup battery for fast hot starts, and works over Qwiic I2C so you do not have to give up a UART port.

Important: This board is a great fit when space is tighter than usual and you still want a feature-rich GNSS option.

Why you'll love it

  • Very small GNSS breakout: Ideal for size-limited designs
  • 72-channel receiver: Supports multiple GNSS constellations
  • Qwiic ready: Simple I2C hookup without soldering
  • Backup battery onboard: Helps keep RTC and orbit data for faster hot starts
  • Software configurable: Supports features like geofencing and update control

What you can build

Great for compact trackers, balloon or drone payloads, handheld location tools, field loggers, and timing-aware builds.

Starter bundles

Pair it with a Qwiic controller, Qwiic cable, logging board, and a suitable enclosure or mount.

Recommended add-ons

Helpful extras include Qwiic cables, loggers, microcontrollers, and host software or Arduino libraries for tuning settings.

Technical specifications

Product SparkFun GPS Breakout - ZOE-M8Q (Qwiic)
SKU GPS-15193
Receiver u-blox ZOE-M8Q
Channels 72
Horizontal Accuracy 2.5m
Max Update Rate 18Hz
Time to First Fix Cold 26s; Hot 1s
Max Altitude 50,000m
Interfaces UART or I2C
Supply and I/O 3.3V
Tracking Current About 29mA for GPS + GLONASS

Pinout & usage notes

Use the Qwiic connector for I2C or the broken-out pins for UART, I2C, PPS, reset, safeboot, and power access.

Resources & support

Official SparkFun product page | SparkFun hookup guide

What’s in the box

1 × SparkFun GPS Breakout - ZOE-M8Q (Qwiic)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose ZOE-M8Q over a larger GNSS board? It is a strong option when you need solid GNSS performance in less space.
Can it use Qwiic? Yes. It is built for Qwiic I2C connections.
Does it support hot starts? Yes. The onboard rechargeable battery helps retain RTC and orbit data.

Build with this board

// from learn.circuit.rocks

Notes from the bench

// from blog.circuit.rocks

Ask the community

// from forum.circuit.rocks