SparkFun GNSS Flex pHAT - DAN-F10N

The DAN-F10N GNSS Flex pHAT brings meter-accurate satellite positioning to your Raspberry Pi, with dual-band receivers that work in urban canyons where simpler systems fail.

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Equip your Raspberry Pi projects with meter-level, dual-band GNSS positioning using the SparkFun DAN-F10N GNSS Flex pHAT. This development platform combines our versatile GNSS Flex pHAT carrier board with the reliable DAN-F10N GNSS Flex Module, providing an affordable and easy-to-integrate solution for any single-board computer with a 40-pin header.

The GNSS Flex pHAT acts as the bridge between your Raspberry Pi and the modular SparkPNT ecosystem. It mounts securely via an extended 40-pin header and connects to the included GNSS module using standardized 2x10-pin headers, making it simple to swap modules for repairs or future upgrades.

• Raspberry Pi Connectivity: Standard 40-pin GPIO header for a direct, secure connection.
• USB-C Port: Provides an alternative data interface to the GNSS module.
• MicroSD Card Slot: Perfect for data logging position, velocity, and time data.
• Mounting Hardware Included: Comes with the necessary standoffs, screws, and an extended header for a clean, stable setup.

Economical Urban Performance
At the heart of this module is the affordable u-blox DAN-F10N, engineered to excel where other receivers struggle. By harnessing dual-band L1/L5 GNSS technology and a sophisticated multipath mitigation engine, it delivers meter-level accuracy in challenging environments like dense urban canyons.

Additionally, its robust RF architecture features a SAW-LNA-SAW filter chain and an additional notch filter for the LTE B13 band. This design provides exceptional out-of-band interference rejection, ensuring clean signal reception even when operating near cellular modems.

Flexible Antenna Options
The DAN-F10N includes a high-performance, integrated 20mm x 20mm x 8mm dual-band patch antenna. This Right-Hand Circularly Polarized (RHCP) antenna offers a wide beamwidth, giving you flexibility in device orientation without sacrificing performance. Need even more range? An onboard switch allows you to easily connect an external dual-band antenna to maximize signal reception for your specific application.

Powerful Software & Connectivity
Get up and running quickly with comprehensive software support. The DAN-F10N is fully compatible with the u-blox u-center 2 GNSS software, a tried and tested tool for real-time performance analysis, configuration, and data logging.

• Fast Acquisition: Utilize AssistNow Online, Offline, and Autonomous A-GNSS services for significantly reduced time-to-first-fix.
• Standard Protocols: Interface directly with the module using the industry-standard NMEA 4.11 or the powerful UBX binary protocol for advanced control.

Users have the option to connect an external GNSS antenna to their GNSS receiver.

• The GNSS Flex module has a U.FL connector for an external antenna.

This product requires a Raspberry Pi (or similar single-board computer). By default, we use the Raspberry Pi's primary serial bus (i.e. TX: GPIO14/Pin 8; RX: GPIO15/Pin 9) to communicate with the GNSS receiver on our SparkPNT GNSS Flex modules.

Features and Specifications

GNSS Flex pHAT:

• 40-pin socket for Raspberry Pi header
• 40-pin header for GNSS Flex modules
  • Two 2x20-pin, 2mm-pitch male headers
    • Power
      • 3.3V
      • Backup power
      • USB bus detect (not a power source)
    • USB data
    • UART (x4)
    • SD card
    • I2C bus
    • PPS signal (x2)
    • LED indicators (x2)
    • Event indicators (x2)
• USB-C connector
  • Interfaces directly w/ GNSS Flex Module
• Antenna bridge
  • U.FL connector
  • SMA connector
• µSD card socket
• Qwiic connector
• Indicator LEDs
  • PWR (Red)
  • PPS (Yellow)
  • RTK (White)
  • PVT (Blue)
• Twenty-four jumpers
  • Raspberry Pi GPIO isolation (x16)
  • LED power isolation (x4)
  • I2C pull-up resistors (x4)

DAN-F10N GNSS Flex Module:

• u-blox DAN-F10N GNSS module
  • GNSS Constellations:
    • GPS (USA)
    • Galileo (EU)
    • BDS (China)
    • QZSS (Japan)
    • NavIC (India)
• SBAS Systems:
  • WAAS (USA)
  • EGNOS (EU)
  • BDSBAS (China)
  • MSAS (Japan)
  • GAGAN (India)
  • KASS (Korea)
  • SouthPAN (Australian + New Zealand)
• Two 2x20-pin, 2mm-pitch female headers
  • 40-pin socket for GNSS Flex system
    • Power
    • 3.3V
    • Backup power
    • USB bus detect (not a power source)
  • UARTPPS signal (x1)
  • Event indicators (x1)
• U.FL Connector:
  • GNSS Antenna (optional, L1/L5 dual-band)
• Dimensions: 34.0 x 44.0mm
• Weight: 23.85g

Flex Module Interfaces:

• I2C: N/C
• Flex COM1: DAN-F10N UART (TX and RX only)
• Flex COM2: N/C
• Flex COM3: N/C
• Flex COM4: N/C
• PPS1: DAN-F10N TIMEPULSE
• PPS2: N/C
• EVENTA: DAN-F10N EXTINT
• EVENTB: N/C
• RTK LED: N/C
• PVT LED: N/C

DAN-F10N General Features

• GNSS receiver
  • u-blox F10 engine
  • GPS: L1 C/A, L5
  • QZSS: L1C/A, L5
  • Galileo: E1B/C, E5a
  • BeiDou: B1C, B2a
  • NavIC: L5
  • SBAS: L1 C/A, L1S, L1Sb, B1C
• Sensitivity
  • Tracking & Navigation: -164dBm
  • Reacquisition: -156dBm
  • Cold start: -145dBm
  • Hot start: -156dBm
• Update rate: Up to 10Hz
• Horizontal position accuracy
  • 1.0m CEP (with SBAS)
  • 1.5m CEP (without SBAS)
• Acquisition
  • Cold start: 28s
  • Aided start: 2s
  • Reacquisition: 2s
• Interfaces
  • 1x UART
  • Digital I/O
    • Configurable timepulse (0.25Hz to 10MHz)
    • EXTINT input for wakeup
  • JTAG debug interface (disabled by default)
• Communication protocol
  • NMEA: 2.1, 2.3, 4.0, 4.10, 4.11 (default)
  • UBX binary
  • RTCM v3.4
  • SPARTN v2.0.2
• Security
  • RF interference and jamming detection/reporting
  • Spoofing detection/reporting
  • Secure boot for firmware integrity
  • Signed UBX messages (SHA-256
• Misc
  • Antenna switch function
    • Supports external active antenna (optional)
  • Integrated RTC crystal and TCXO
• Power
  • Power supply: 2.7V to 3.6V
  • Backup supply: 1.65V to 3.6V
  • Power consumption: 63 mW (continuous tracking, 3V)
• Temperature range: -40°C to +85°C
• Package
  • 56-pin LCC package
  • 20 x 20 x 11.6mm
  • 17.5g

Resources

• Design Files
  • GNSS Flex pHAT
    • Schematic
    • KiCad Files
    • Board Dimensions
    • STEP File
  • DAN-F10N Flex Module
    • Schematic
    • KiCad Files
    • Board Dimensions
    • STEP File
• Hookup Guide
  • u-center 2 Software
• Component Documentation
  • Product Summary
  • Datasheet
  • Integration Manual
  • u-center 2 User Manual
• Building a GNSS System
• GitHub Hardware Repositories:
  • GNSS Flex pHAT
  • GNSS Flex Modules

Package Contents

• 1x - SparkFun GNSS Flex pHAT
• 1x - SparkPNT GNSS Flex Module - DAN-F10N
• 1x - Tall GPIO Female Headers - 2x20 Pin
• 4x - Aluminium Hex Standoff (Thread: M2.5-0.45; Length: 16mm)
• 8x - Phillips Machine Screw (Thread: M2.5-0.45x8mm)

Raspberry Pi not included.