X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from [69.171.58.236] (account marv@lancaironline.net) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro WEBUSER 5.1c.2) with HTTP id 1317749 for lml@lancaironline.net; Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:07:25 -0400 From: "Marvin Kaye" Subject: Re: [LML] Re: GPS ground plane To: lml X-Mailer: CommuniGate Pro WebUser v5.1c.2 Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:07:25 -0400 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <44DBCD1F.40206@ieee.org> References: <44DBCD1F.40206@ieee.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1";format="flowed" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Posted for "Charles R. Patton" : Assuming it is some sort of standard GPS antenna puck, the ground plane is already in the antenna. The typical construction is a thick piece of ceramic, an inch or so square, coated on the top and bottom with fired on conductors. The size and dielectric constant make the puck resonant at the GPS receive frequency, but this tuning is very susceptible to the proximity and size of the ground plane the puck is mounted on. So any standard GPS antenna also has a metal plane that he puck is mounted on as part of the package. As long as you mount this assembly as is, additional ground planes (such as a glare shield, plane body, etc.) or not is far enough away as to not bother this antenna. A important aspect of these type of antennas is the omnidirectional characteristics with 360 degree azimuthal capability extending almost to the horizon. Charles Patton LNC2 360JM