Ultimate GPS Breakout - efficiency

[ppapin]

Hello,
will the Ultimate GPS Breakout module function properly if placed under a car seat or in a pocket as it is (without an external antenna) ?

Thanks

[adafruit_support_bill]

Probably not so well. These need a good clear view of the sky and the metal of a car roof would block a good bit of the signal.

[ppapin]

Can you recommend me some other product or a work around for this issue ?

[adafruit_support_bill]

Version 3 of the module has external antenna support: http://adafruit.com/products/746
An adapter http://www.adafruit.com/products/851
Plus an external antenna http://www.adafruit.com/products/960
should do the job.

[wbp]

I'd do some testing if I were you. The Ultimate GPS is the most sensitive receiver I've seen so far. Of course I live in suburban California, and Lady Ada is in Manhattan, so YMMV.

When I was trying to shield this receiver so I could test what it did with no signal, I found it *really* hard to block it completely. My standard trick of putting the receiver inside 2 wire mesh kitchen colanders to make a Faraday cage didn't work - I had to block off the small gap where the USB cable went through (with more screening) to get a complete shield.

Under a car seat might be too much for even this receiver though...

William

[wethaguy]

It might be worth a few $ to try. I hooked mine up to power while inside my house, beside my computer and monitor, near a CFL light. Cold boot (first ever power on) took a couple of minutes. Even with all the EM interference and reduced signal strength from passing through asphalt shingles and layers or wood, according to google earth, I was less than 1m from where I actually was!

Maybe incorporate this into the headrest instead of below the seat?