Arduino MKR GPS Shield ASX00017

If you are working on projects that involve monitoring fleets, conducting high-altitude scientific experiments, or any application requiring device localization, the MKR GPS Shield provides the necessary functionality in a plug-and-play format.

The MKR GPS Shield is built around the u-blox SAM-M8Q GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) module. It is designed to stack on MKR-format boards but can also connect to any board with an Eslov connector using a cable.

This module supports concurrent operation with various positioning services, processing signals from GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. It interfaces with Arduino boards either through a serial interface when mounted on top of an MKR board or through an I2C interface using a dedicated ESLOV cable included in the bundle.

Configuration Commands and Backup

The GPS module can be configured using special commands. An onboard battery holder allows the system to retain configurations set via software. This is particularly useful for applications like high-altitude experiments, where specific settings are required, such as changing the GPS operation mode to 1g. Additionally, you can enable Galileo’s localization option, which is off by default, by sending a configuration message (UBXCFG-GNSS) to the receiver. A detailed description of all commands in the protocol is available here.

Getting Started

The Arduino_MKRGPS library manages both interfaces and provides a consistent set of APIs to fully utilize the GPS-acquired information.

Package Includes:

1 x Arduino MKR GPS Shield ASX00017