Product category:
Antennas and Feeders
News Release from: Sarantel | Subject: GeoHelix-SMP
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 08 October 2003
GPS antenna shrinks to surface mounting
A new small, passive, surface-mount version of the GeoHelix GPS antennas suits demanding applications requiring internal or tightly integrated surface-mount antennas.
A new small, passive, surface-mount version of the GeoHelix GPS antennas suits demanding applications requiring internal or tightly integrated surface-mount antennas The GeoHelix-SMP requires only 10 x 14mm of board space and because of inherent resistance to RF and other interference can be mounted adjacent to other antennas and other signal sources
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 3 Nov 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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'Fish finders' use GeoHelix-SMP GPS antenna
Sarantel has announced that Johnson Outdoors of Racine, Wisconsin, USA, has selected the GeoHelix-SMP GPS antenna for the newest addition to the Humminbird line of combination GPS 'fish finders'.
Omnidirectional bonus for miniature GPS antenna
Antenna specialist Sarantel has announced the PowerHelix GPS-P, a miniature GPS antenna which is omnidirectional and therefore tolerant of the orientation of the GPS receiver.
Novel GPS antenna picks up more satellites
The GeoHelix-H is a new-technology high-gain active antenna for portable GPS receivers which enables more satellites to be acquired than conventional patch devices.
As with all Sarantel's antennas, the GeoHelix-SMP is balanced and requires no ground-plane, saving space and weight.
It offers a wider beamwidth than conventional patch antennas (3dB contour up to 120 degrees typical) meaning that more GPS satellites can be seen simultaneously, resulting in greater accuracy and positioning reliability.
Furthermore it has a particularly small near field which means that the weak signals from the satellites are not detuned when the handset is close to human tissue such as the hand or head.
Barrie Foley, Sarantel's CEO, commented: "The demand for surface mount antennas, following our first introduction of active versions earlier in the year, has been surprisingly high.
I believe it indicates that GPS is no longer being considered as an addon but a core function of many new portable products.
The GeoHelix-SMP surface mount device is a result of our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation and offers manufacturers the possibility of lower production costs and better performance".
The GeoHelix-SMP antenna, which operates on the GPS L1-band (1575.42MHz), measures only 35 x 14.0 x 11.2mm (uncapped) and uses Sarantel's patented design in which copper tracks, deposited onto a small ceramic cylinder, are individually and automatically laser trimmed for optimum frequency response.
They are being manufactured on Sarantel's fully automated assembly line in Wellingborough UK.
Sarantel will supply this antenna as an edge-mount device with a choice of SMA or MCX male connectors.
Sample and production quantities of GeoHelix-SMP are available now.
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