GPS Antenna

[breadtrk]

Looking at the spec's there is no preamp. To use the ext ant for better gain you would need to supply voltage to the coax.

Well there sure is no GPS firmware or hardware in the laptop, it all has to be in the ice cube. I think the coax I used was rg174? Not sure, it came from a friend that repairs hospital medical equipment. The antenna is the Larsen NMO mount triband gps. No voltage, jusr wire and solder and it works. Don't over think it guys, it is still just a reciever and antennna like any other, no magic.

 

[w8jjr]

And how would i make that little ebay thing work with my S&T?

You wouldnt You would use your antenna

 

[w8jjr]

No voltage, jusr wire and solder and it works.

Unless its a active GPS antenna, which most are today.

Don't over think it guys, it is still just a reciever and antennna like any other, no magic.

[/QUOTE]

You are correct it just outputs serial data at 4800 baud

 

[davidmc36]

And how would i make that little ebay thing work with my S&T?

If I read the specs correctly you would just need to have a serial port on your laptop and S&T should be able to use the data no problem. Not exactly sure how you would power it though. Should be no problem with the documentation that comes with it to get it going. Maybe will need to make a cable or two?

 

[poltergeisty]

Looking at the spec's there is no preamp.in the cube To use the ext ant for better gain you would need to supply voltage to the coax to power the amp in the ant.

What's the difference between this GPS and a PCI-e internal WiFi card connected to an outside antenna?

 

[breadtrk]

If I read the specs correctly you would just need to have a serial port on your laptop and S&T should be able to use the data no problem. Not exactly sure how you would power it though. Should be no problem with the documentation that comes with it to get it going. Maybe will need to make a cable or two?

Most that I have seen actually have a USB connector that emulates a serial port in the software. That way the USB can provide the little power the antenna needs.

 

[breadtrk]

What's the difference between this GPS and a PCI-e internal WiFi card connected to an outside antenna?

I think the power is already coming from the USB port. They do have a small power output.

 

[datainmotion]

Most that I have seen actually have a USB connector that emulates a serial port in the software. That way the USB can provide the little power the antenna needs.

GPS usually runs on 3.3V or 5V and the USB is 5V I believe