Alpha Micro Components has added the AP.35a GPS antenna from Taoglas to its product portfolio. This powerful active 35x35mm antenna has been developed for use in compromised environments where next-generation tracking devices are placed, including deep inside vehicles and assets. The antenna is made from a uniquely formulated high-grade ceramic supplied with its own ground-plane and can be terminated with the customer's choice of connector. In addition, it does not take up valuable board space as it can hover over the main-board of the device, saving space and also allowing for a much higher gain and resistance to noise than existing passive patch antennas. Combining high-zenith gain and low-axial ratio, the antenna is capable of receiving very weak signals at low elevation satellites, giving the greatest GPS sensitivity. An internal SAW filter reduces noise entering from the device system, which is important when considering the close proximity of cellular transmitters and circuitry in today's miniature devices. These results combined lead to quicker cold starts and more accurate position and location information. With a cold start of 21 seconds in open sky conditions with the uBlox 5 module, testing has confirmed that the AP35a cuts up to five seconds off the market cold-start performance of Taoglas' existing antenna the AP.25B. Max C/N ratio of 51 with 12 simultaneous locked satellites has been recorded over 24 hours, an improvement from ten. All told, these incremental changes result in substantial improvements in reliability and accuracy for the discerning professional GPS system designer at the forefront of the industry.
