NEO-8Q / NEO-M8 - Hardware integration manual
UBX-15029985 - Production information
Migration to u-blox 8 / M8 modules
Page 17 of 18
C1-Public
3
Migration to u-blox 8 / M8 modules
3.1
Migrating u-blox 7 designs to NEO-8Q and NEO-M8 series
modules
u-blox is committed to ensuring that products in the same form factor are backwards compatible over
several technology generations. Utmost care has been taken to ensure there is no negative impact on
function or performance and to make NEO-8Q and NEO-M8 series modules as fully compatible as
possible with u-blox 7 modules. If using BeiDou, check the bandwidth of the external RF components
and the antenna. For information about power consumption, see the corresponding product data
sheet.
It is highly advisable that customers consider a design review with the u-blox support team to ensure
the compatibility of key functionalities.
☞
Selected pin names have been updated to agree with a common naming convention across u-blox
modules. The pins have not changed their operation and are the same physical hardware but with
updated names.
3.2
Hardware migration of NEO-6 to NEO-8Q and NEO-M8
series
Pi
n
NEO-6
NEO-8Q and NEO-M8 series
Remarks for migration
Pin name
Typical
assignment
Pin name
Typical
assignment
1 SAFEBOOT_N Leave open
SAFEBOOT_N Leave open
No difference
2 SS_N
SPI slave
select
D_SEL
Selects the
interface
-> Various functions, compatible only when not
using SPI for communication.
3 TIMEPULSE 1 Timepulse 1
(1PPS)
TIMEPULSE/
TIMEPULSE1
Timepulse1
No difference
4 EXTINT0
External
interrupt pin
EXTINT/
EXTINT0
External interrupt No difference
5 USB_DM
USB data
USB_DM
USB data
No difference
6 USB_DP
USB data
USB_DP
USB data
No difference
7 VDD_USB
USB supply
VDD_USB
USB supply
No difference
8 RESERVED
Pin 8 and 9
must be
connected
RESET_N
Reset
If pin 8 is connected directly to pin 9, the
RESET_N function is not available. If the
RESET_N function shall be used, a 3k3 resistor
from pin 8 to pin 9 in conjunction with an open
drain buffer is required for u-blox 6. For NEO-8Q /
NEO-M8 modules pin 8 can be connected to pin 9
or can be left open. Do not populate the 3k3
resistor.
Behavior of RESET_N has changed; For u-blox 7
and M8, a RESET_N will erase the time
information in the BBR, which was maintained in
u-blox 6. Therefore, with u-blox 7 and M8 a
RESET_N will not result in a hot start, etc.
9 VCC_RF
Can be used
for active
antenna or
external LNA
supply
VCC_RF
Can be used for
active antenna or
external LNA
supply
No difference
10 GND
GND
GND
GND
No difference
