Importing SparkFun Schematic
Thought
I’ll match the SparkFun MAX-M10S breakout’s board size and overall placement: first source the official board dimensions, then resize, place the edge connectors/mounting features, arrange the GNSS/RF and support blocks, and verify overlaps/board-edge issues.
Worked
Resized the PCB to the SparkFun reference dimensions—38.1 × 30.48 mm (1.5 × 1.2 in)—and re-placed all 34 PCB footprints in a similar compact arrangement.
- U1 centered
- SMA connector on the right edge
- Signal header on the left
- Serial header along the bottom
- Qwiic connectors on the top/bottom-left
- Backup battery upper-left
- ANT1 upper-right
- RF components clustered near U1’s RF input
- Small passives moved to the bottom where necessary
- ✅ No component overlaps or pads outside the board
Open items:
- The layout is dense because ANT1 and several additional parts are not present on the original SparkFun board.
- J5’s body intentionally overhangs the left edge slightly.
- The four SparkFun-style mounting holes have not been added.
Suggested next steps:
- Add four 3.3 mm mounting holes at the SparkFun locations.
- Add ANT1’s copper/component keepout.
- Route the RF path first, followed by power and digital signals.
Add holes and keepout
Add mounting holes
Add antenna keepout
Review placement image
Check layout issues
Refine this doc
Ask about this doc
Board Bring-Up Plan — NF-GPS Module
Pre-power inspection
- Inspect the assembled board for solder bridges, reversed diodes/LEDs, and correct MAX-M10S orientation.
- Confirm the backup battery holder/footprint is the intended final part; B1 is currently a schematic stand-in.
- Confirm RF connector footprint and antenna launch geometry before first RF testing.
Power checks
- With no backup cell installed, check resistance from
3.3VtoGND. - Apply current-limited 3.3 V through the J1/MEAS input path.
- Verify
3.3Vat U1 VCC and V_IO. - Verify
BACKUPcharges through D2/R5 and does not exceed expected backup-cell limits. - Confirm PWR LED behavior; cut/open the PWR jumper if LED current is not desired.
Digital interface checks
- Verify I²C bus idle high on
SDAandSCL; close JP5 only if external pull-ups are absent. - Scan I²C for the MAX-M10S 7-bit address
0x42. - Verify UART polarity and mapping: board
TXOis MAX-M10S TXD; boardRXIis MAX-M10S RXD. - Confirm
RESET,SAFE,INT, andPPSstates at J5.
GNSS/RF checks
- Connect a suitable GNSS antenna to the SMA connector.
- Verify no DC short on
RF_ANTto GND before antenna connection. - If using an active antenna, confirm the VCC_RF/bias path behavior and current draw.
- Check PPS LED/output after fix acquisition.
Known open items
- Replace B1 with the exact SparkFun ML414H_IV01E / 6.8 mm coin-cell footprint before PCB layout.
- Confirm final D2 MPN if exact SparkFun BOM compatibility is required.
- Preserve the schematic RF note for layout: 50 Ω CPWG, approximately 1.0 mm trace on the referenced 2-layer stackup.
Pre-power inspection
Power checks
Digital interface checks
GNSS/RF checks
Known open items
