which, gps rpof antenna please!?

[leanon]

HI,
I am quite new to GPS systems and even new to using them to the application I am about to describe.
I will like to monitor some GPS softwares and accuracy, and will like to install a receiver on the roof - yes roof and then connect to my laptop/computer.

can anyone help me out with suggestions on which type of antenna /receiver?
any other suggestions or comments (e.g. - should i use USB or bluetooth or?? any please)

thanks

L

[mikealder]

You will need an external GPS receiver to connect straight to a laptop, I have three Garmin GPS HVS35 (I think that was the correct part number) they are powered from 12 volts available from the car and connect to the PC via a Quatec 4 port serial to USB port.

These receivers can be obtained on e-bay for as little as 12 quid, sometimes they go for much more, they are about the size of a computer mouse and each one requires five holes in the roof to secure.
By todays standards they are quite an old receiver but I have found they work quite well, other options are something like the Hirschmann Como aerial I have on the car (see the write up elsewhere on the site), this provides AM, FM, GSM and GPS but to actually receive GPS data you will need to feed the output into GPSreceiver, this opens up a number of options in way of the actual receiver, bluetooth or wied could be considered as long as the device has an external connection available, the down side to the Hirschmann is that again you need to replace an existing aerial or drill a single hole for it to fit.

Are you sure you need an externaL aerial though, as most modern recivers will work very well in the confines of a car - Mike

[leanon]

well, i want to use it in buildings, so i mean roof of a building.
and probably egnos enabled?

[Outlander]

Must be spider man

[mikealder]

Is it going to stay up on a single building or do you plan to move it around?
I suggest you have a look at some of the marine GPS aerials as these will withstand the weather, something like a Garmin GA29 which is supplied with 30 foot of cable, you would need to pole mount that though.

If you do use a marine aerial you will need to couple the end of the cable to a GPS receiver which can be either wired to the PC or connected via Bluetooth, in order for this to work either change the connector on the end of the external GPS aerial to match the GPS receivers external socket (mMCX or similar, check when you buy the receiver it has an external socket and what type of plug will fit it). The other option is a cable addaptor, but these introduce additional losses and will degrade the signal slightly - Mike

[philpugh]

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!