GNSS application solution
GPS and GNSS Antennas for Asset and Fleet Tracking
An “IP67 antenna” does not give you an IP67 tracker. The antenna sits inside the device, so the rating that matters is the one your enclosure, its seals and its cable exits can pass. Two decisions come first, and everything else follows: does the antenna go inside or outside, and is it passive or active.
When this page helps
- Selecting a ceramic patch antenna for asset trackers, telematics units, and compact GNSS modules.
- Balancing patch size, ground plane, enclosure material, cable loss, and receiver sensitivity.
- Choosing between passive patches and active GNSS assemblies with LNA support.
- Preparing an RFQ with frequency band, connector, cable length, and installation constraints.
Why asset tracking devices need careful GNSS antenna selection
Asset tracking hardware often has a tight mechanical envelope, a small battery, cellular or IoT radios nearby, and limited space for a clean ground plane. A patch antenna that works well on a lab board can lose margin after it is placed inside a plastic enclosure, mounted near a battery, or connected through a long cable.
For GPS GNSS patch antenna selection in tracking projects, the goal is not simply the smallest patch or the highest peak gain. The right choice keeps enough signal margin in the final device, supports the required band set, and gives the receiver a stable view of the sky in the real mounting position.
Inside the tracker or outside it?
| Your tracker | Start with | Confirm before samples |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic housing, antenna close to the receiver, usable ground plane | Internal patch, passive or active | Patch size, ground plane, enclosure material, orientation, nearby battery and radios |
| Antenna some distance from the receiver, or connected through coax | Active antenna | LNA supply, cable type and length, connector, total path loss |
| Metal housing, or a vehicle body blocking the sky | External magnetic or adhesive antenna | Mounting surface, cable exit, connector, exposure |
| Finished tracker has to meet IP67 | An enclosure-level sealing plan | Test method for the whole device, seals, feedthroughs, cable outlet |
Place the patch with its sky-facing surface pointing the way the product will actually sit in use, which is not always the way it sits on the bench. Then look at what is next to it: batteries, displays, metal brackets, cable harnesses and any LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth or LoRa antenna in the same box will all move the tuning.
On LDS: we treat a laser direct structuring antenna as a custom integration, quoted against your part and your enclosure. There is no standard LDS tracker antenna in our published range, and we would rather say that than point you at something that only looks close.
LoRa antenna selection
Need a LoRa antenna matched to your range target?
Send us the band, gateway or node type, mounting environment and range target. We can recommend LoRaWAN antenna options for your deployment.
Common tracking applications
Logistics and cargo trackers
Compact devices need predictable GNSS reception while moving between depots, vehicles, containers, and outdoor storage areas.
Vehicle telematics terminals
Tracking, fleet management, and connected vehicle units often combine GNSS, LTE/4G/5G, and multiple RF cables in one enclosure.
Industrial equipment tags
Rugged tags and monitoring units need a patch antenna that fits the housing while handling vibration, temperature, and nearby metal.
Battery-powered location devices
Low-power trackers benefit from efficient antenna placement because every extra acquisition attempt costs battery life.
Selection matrix for tracking hardware
| Design question | What to check | Why it matters | Relevant page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band support | L1 only, dual-band, or multi-band GNSS | Tracking accuracy and receiver compatibility depend on the band set. | GPS patch antenna options |
| Polarization | RHCP response and axial ratio | GNSS satellites use RHCP signals, so polarization quality affects multipath rejection. | RHCP patch antenna guide |
| Patch size | 15 mm, 18 mm, 25 mm, or larger ceramic patch | Smaller patches save space but can reduce gain and pattern margin. | How to choose a patch antenna |
| RF path | Passive patch, active patch, cable length, connector | LNA gain and cable loss decide whether the receiver sees enough signal. | Custom patch antenna support |
Product mapping
Compact ceramic GNSS patches
Use for small trackers where board space is tight and the receiver sits close to the antenna.
RHCP ceramic patch options
Use when multipath rejection, axial ratio, and stable circular polarization are important to the receiver design.
Custom cable and connector builds
Use when the antenna location, housing, or connector type requires a custom assembly instead of a standard part.
Product paths we can quote
| Model | Where it goes | Published specification | What is not published |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL045 | Internal, cabled | 1575.42-1610 MHz, RHCP, IPEX, RG1.13 100 mm, VSWR ≤1.5, 50 ohm, -40 to +85 °C | The gain field on the product page is ambiguous, so we do not quote a figure from it |
| GL-DY008L | Thin internal patch | 1568 ±3 MHz, RHCP, 35 x 35 x 3 mm, SMA / MCX / FAKRA and other connector options, ABS, RoHS | Cable length, gain and IP rating |
| GL-DY006 | External, MCX right angle | 1575.42 ±1 and 1601-1610 MHz, RHCP, VSWR <1.5, magnet or adhesive mount, 46 x 38.5 x 13.5 mm, -40 to +85 °C | Cable and IP are datasheet items, confirmed per order against the revision quoted |
| GL-DY008 | External, SMA magnetic | 1575.42 ±1 and 1601-1610 MHz, RHCP, VSWR <1.5, SMA male, magnetic mount, 50 x 37 x 17 mm, -40 to +85 °C | Same: cable and IP are confirmed against the quoted datasheet revision |
The standard external assembly for GL-DY006 and GL-DY008 is 3 m of RG174. If your harness needs a different length, say so early, because cable loss at 1.5 GHz is not a rounding error and an active antenna’s LNA does not cancel it. For a wider comparison of external models, connectors and mounts, use the GPS and GNSS antenna category.
What an IP67 requirement has to cover
If the antenna is internal, the IP evidence you need is for the assembled tracker, not the antenna. Ask for it that way in the specification and you avoid a long argument later.
If the assembly is external, be explicit about where the boundary sits: the antenna housing, the connector, the cable outlet, the enclosure feedthrough, or the whole installed system. These are four different tests and they do not imply each other. Our external GNSS datasheets rate the housing but exclude the cable outlet, which is exactly the joint most installations get wrong.
Before you go to production
- Test with the real receiver, the real firmware and the constellations you ship.
- Assemble the production enclosure, with battery, display, cables and every other radio in place.
- Test in the orientation and mounting position the product will really have.
- Record cold start, hot start, satellite count and position stability under agreed conditions.
- Check coexistence with LTE, LTE-M, NB-IoT, WiFi, Bluetooth or LoRa in the same device.
- Run the ingress test on the correct assembly boundary if IP67 is contractual.
- Freeze the antenna part number, drawing, cable, connector and datasheet revision before mass production.
For the full method behind these choices, read the GPS tracker antenna selection guide. If the tracker also carries a cellular link, see NB-IoT and LTE-M antennas.
RFQ checklist
- GNSS receiver and required satellite bands.
- Available patch size, ground-plane area, and enclosure material.
- Passive or active antenna preference, cable length, and connector type.
- Nearby radios, batteries, display, metal parts, and installation position.
- Target use case: cargo tracking, fleet terminal, industrial tag, or compact location module.
FAQ
Is a ceramic patch antenna suitable for asset tracking?
Yes, provided the device gives it a usable ground plane and a clear view of the sky in its real mounting position. A patch that measures well on a bare board can lose several dB once it is inside the finished housing.
Should a tracker use an active patch antenna?
Use an active patch when the antenna sits away from the receiver, when there is real cable loss in the path, or when the receiver needs the extra LNA. Check first that it can supply the bias voltage and current the antenna expects.
What information should I send for selection?
Receiver model, target GNSS bands, enclosure drawing with the antenna keep-out and ground area marked, internal or external placement, cable and connector, mounting orientation, and the exact IP test boundary if one applies.
Can you supply an LDS antenna for a tracker?
As a custom integration, yes, quoted against your part and enclosure. There is no standard LDS tracker antenna in our published range, so treat it as a development item rather than an off-the-shelf selection.
Does an IP67 antenna make my tracker IP67?
No. Ingress protection is a property of the finished assembly. Define whether your requirement applies to the antenna housing, the connector, the cable outlet, the feedthrough or the complete installed device, then test that boundary.
Related patch antenna guide
For the complete topic map, selection tables, applications, and engineering resources, see the Patch Antennas guide.
Need a GNSS patch antenna for a tracking device?
Share your device size, GNSS band, receiver, cable, connector, and mounting constraints. Rftech can match a standard ceramic patch or discuss a custom active assembly.
Related GNSS Antenna Models
For active and cable-connected tracker designs, review GL-DY006 GPS/GNSS antenna with MCX right-angle connector, GL-DY225D 1575.42 ±3 / 1602-1610 MHz GPS/GNSS antenna, GL0081 1610 ±1.023 MHz GPS/GNSS antenna, and GL-DY048-18 IPEX GPS/GNSS antenna.
