A GPS antenna is a state-of-the-art component in the modern communication system. This wireless solution creates a seamless connection with GPS satellites in near-Earth orbit.

If you plan to purchase a GPS antenna for individual or industrial purposes, you may have many questions regarding selecting the right one. It’s bound to happen, as understanding an antenna can be a technical task, especially for beginners. But don’t worry! In this guide, we will discuss important things to consider before buying a GPS antenna. Let’s get started!

What is a GPS Antenna?

A GPS antenna or Global Positioning System antenna is an essential antenna used to transmit and receive GPS signals, near and far. You can install this equipment in vehicles and devices, including drones, cars, smartphones, aeroplanes, wearable trackers, agricultural machinery, and more. The capability of GPS antennas provides exceptional support in navigation, tracking, surveillance and more.

5 Factors to Consider Before Buying a GPS Antenna?

Wonder how to choose the ideal GPS antenna for you? Let’s get to know about the key factors that you should consider before buying a GPS antenna:

• Gain

Generally, GPS antennas offer low to moderate levels of gain. Its typical value is between 2 and 5 dBi which is also better in various applications. If you choose a vehicle GPS antenna with a higher gain than others, it will be more sensitive to weak signals. However, with the high gain, the coverage area can be lower. So choose what level of gain you are looking for in your wireless solutions.

If you want to get better connectivity in your building, you can select a passive GPS antenna with high gain capability. This ensures you receive strong signals that would otherwise be blocked by walls and other obstacles. On the other hand, low-gain solutions are suitable for outdoor purposes. They establish a precise connection with the GPS satellite and offer access to a wide range of signals.

• Directionality

Another important factor is directionality. It refers to how well a wireless solution can receive and transmit electromagnetic signals in a specific direction. A high-directional automotive GPS antenna easily receives signals coming from the sky with higher accuracy. It reduces the interference and minimizes the multiple effects for better connectivity.

Most GPS antennas are omnidirectional. They can capture GPS signals coming from all directions that are emitted by multiple satellites. This feature is essential for better accuracy and broad GPS coverage in everyday use.

• Multipath Effect Suppression

While making a connection with a GPS satellite, many obstacles such as walls, trees, and buildings can produce interference. These objects can reflect and scatter GPS signals.

Therefore, to avoid that, you need to choose a better multipath effect suppression capability GPS antenna solution. That will reduce the impact of the multipath effect and create a better and stronger connection with GPS satellites. That eventually provides accurate locations of yours and others.

• Anti-interference Capability

As we discussed above, GPS signals can be affected by interference from many objects. Electrical devices, tall buildings, and others are one of them. These unwanted things can reduce the quality of signals and may generate problems in getting the accurate location.

Therefore, your antenna must have a good anti-jamming ability to reduce the impact of interference. This feature helps users to get precise connections even in heavy traffic. When selecting a GPS antenna, you need to think about its anti-interference capability. That feature will achieve a precise and consistent flow of signals.

• Frequency band

Make sure that you are choosing the right frequency band antenna. GPS antennas can receive the L1 and L2 bands. The L1 band will support civilian devices such as smartphones and car GPS units. For example, people often prefer mounting patch antennas in their cars. But for advanced GPS systems such as aviation, surveying, and military, you need GPS antennas that work with L2 bands. VHF antennas are effective in such situations.

However, you can also purchase an antenna that supports both L1 and L2 if you want to use a versatile solution for different connections such as reradiating antennas, helical antennas and more. These antennas ensure a reliable connection and give access to better connections in various conditions from your local areas to other conditions.

Final Words

GPS antennas create an accurate connection of your device with GPS satellites. We discuss the key factors to consider when choosing the right GPS antenna. We hope this guide has given you a better understanding of how to make the ideal decision.

The decision to choose the right antenna should always be based on understanding your specific concerns. You should think about your specific needs and the budget you want to invest in your antenna. This will ultimately help you choose the best solution for you that will meet your specific needs.