u-blox has introduced the SAM-M11N, a 4.4 g GNSS module with an integrated omnidirectional antenna for compact, battery-powered devices. Measuring 15.5 × 15.5 × 5.3 mm, it is 1 mm thinner and 0.9 g lighter than the SAM-M10Q. The company says it is the thinnest and smallest by volume of any GNSS modules with an integrated antenna.
Adding GNSS to small devices can require space for a separate antenna and additional RF design. The SAM-M11N combines the receiver and antenna in one module, and includes a high-gain 15.5 × 15.5 mm RHCP patch antenna, removing the need for a separate GNSS antenna and associated RF components.
The integrated omnidirectional antenna is intended to support installation flexibility in products that change orientation, including animal and personal trackers. Pin compatibility with the previous u-blox SAM product line provides an upgrade path for existing designs.
The SAM-M11N is the first module in the u-blox SAM antenna-integrated family to support Low Energy Accurate Positioning (LEAP) mode. Operating in the L1 band, it consumes as little as 10 mW at 1.8 V in LEAP mode and delivers 1.5 m CEP horizontal positioning accuracy. Navigation update rates reach up to 10 Hz using three concurrent GNSS constellations or up to 25 Hz with one, and the supply range is 1.8 V to 3.6 V.
Unlike the ROM-based SAM-M10Q, the SAM-M11N includes embedded flash memory for firmware upgrades. Additional features include geofencing and indoor detection; u-blox AssistNow services for faster position acquisition; and integrated RF interference, jamming and spoofing detection and reporting.
Stefania Sesia, head of business unit standard precision and low power GNSS at u-blox, said: “For a compact, battery-powered tracker, every millimeter, gram and milliwatt matters. But the antenna can be one of the hardest parts of GNSS to integrate. With the SAM-M11N, we have brought the receiver and antenna together so developers can spend less time on RF design and more time on what makes their product valuable.”
Developers can use the EVK-F112 evaluation kit to explore the u-blox F11 positioning technology and assess power consumption before testing SAM-M11N hardware. The first SAM-M11N samples will be on display at electronica 2026, November 10–13 in Munich, at Hall C4, Booth 480. More information is available at https://www.u-blox.com/en/sam-m11n-gnss-antenna-module.
