Location has become the backbone of modern technology. From asset trackers and fitness wearables to drones and autonomous vehicles, the ability to accurately pinpoint position isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s mission-critical.
Yet here’s what too many engineering teams discover too late: even the best GNSS antenna will underperform if integration is an afterthought.
GNSS signals arrive from space incredibly weak. That alone makes antenna selection high-stakes. But the real make-or-break factor? How that antenna is integrated into your device. Poor integration leads to degraded accuracy, increased interference, ballooning development timelines, and costly redesigns — none of which your customers or your bottom line will forgive.
The challenge is only getting harder. Today’s devices need to be compact, lightweight, low-power, and affordable. Shrinking PCB real estate means your GNSS receiver is sitting dangerously close to LTE transceivers and other noise sources. Choosing between active and passive antenna architectures, managing RFI, and validating real-world performance all demand expertise that’s difficult to piece together from scattered resources.
A Single Guide That Covers It All
That’s why Baha Badran, Taoglas’ Global Head of Engineering, has put together a comprehensive guide to GNSS antenna integration — one resource that walks you through the decisions, trade-offs, and best practices that separate high-performing location systems from frustrating ones. Ready to unlock your GNSS system’s full potential and navigate the evolving landscape of GNSS antennas? Click the link here to download the guide.
Inside, you’ll learn:
- Why antenna selection belongs at the start of your design process — not the end — and the real cost of getting that timing wrong.
- How to choose between active and passive GNSS antenna systems based on your device’s unique requirements for performance, form factor, power, and price.
- Which cellular bands pose the greatest interference risk and how front-end filtering and notch filters can protect signal quality.
- Where to place your antenna on the PCB to maximize performance and minimize RFI — the “sweet spot” that too many teams miss.
- Which external antenna types to consider when a ground plane isn’t available.
- How to validate system-level performance using GNSS simulators, anechoic chambers, and field testing so you launch with confidence.
- Whether you’re designing a sub-centimeter precision measurement tool or a cost-optimized asset tracker, the principles in this guide will help you avoid the pitfalls that delay launches and disappoint end users.
Don’t Leave Performance on the Table
Location accuracy is only as strong as your weakest integration decision. This guide gives you the expertise to make every decision count.
