Pulse Introduces Thin Multi-Positional GPS Antennas

December 9, 2009

Pulse announces the W4000 series of GPS active antennas, thin, oval-shaped antennas designed to offer high performance and versatility in installation. The antenna can be positioned on the dashboard or window without concerns about orientation, the company said.

Designed for in-vehicle mounting, Pulse GPS antennas combine a Pulse ceramic chip antenna with a low noise amplifier (LNA) resulting in an antenna profile that's more than 50% thinner than standard GPS antennas while still maintaining an excellent level of performance. These antennas receive, amplify, and filter GPS signals for telematics applications such as in-car infotainment, navigation and location, intelligent vehicle safety, fleet management and tracking, asset monitoring, risk management, and pay-as-you-drive insurance applications.

Pulse's W4000 GPS antennas are 5.45 millimeters high and 50x30 millimeters at the widest points of the oval. The antenna is uniformly thin throughout. It operates at 1575.42 megahertz and 3 to 5 volts, with a maximum gain of 1.5 decibels (dB) isotropic and 28 dB with an LNA having 1 dB noise figure. The antennas are standard with 5 meters of RG-174 cable and come in four models with a variety of connectors:

W4000D197 MMCX male straight connector
W4000G197 SMA male straight connector
W4000J197 MCX male straight connector
W4000L197 FME male straight connector

Other cable and connector options are available on request.

The antennas are individually packaged with double-sided tape for easy installation. The antenna can be installed with either side facing up. As a result, only one antenna is required for either glass or dashboard mount, making installation simple. "Telematics devices are being used by insurance companies for risk
assessment, by the navigation sector, and by freight companies for tracking and proof of regulatory compliance. In addition, GPS devices are more routinely integrated into consumer vehicles," explained Beatrice Colbeau, product manager for Pulse. "Pulse has developed a cost-effective method for manufacturing these antennas while at the same time producing antennas that give consistent performance, have diverse uses, and are easily installed."

Prices are around $4.29 in quantities greater than 100,000 antennas. Pricing may vary due to order configuration and destination. Lead-time is six to eight weeks. Detailed specifications are available on data sheet W4000 available at the Pulse website.