Active GPS antenna from ebay
How is GPS active antenna connected to the GPS module
I've ordered GPS module (GYNEO6MV2 Module GPS NEO-6M) with a small passive ceramic antenna that had weak signal.
I wanted to replace it with better antenna. So i've ordered active antenna. It has to be powered with 3 to 5V DC by injecting the power to it's SMA connector. SMA is standard one, with inner thread and pin at the center.
To inject the power I also needed to order some power injector. The ones with aluminium case were pricy, so i've ordered bare PCB RF bias tee, that had only a transparent heatshrink on it. Bias tee has two wires, one red to plug +5V in and one black for power ground. The SMA connector closer to those 2 cables has DC power injected. This side is connected to the active antenna.
The other connector blocks DC so only signal goes trough to the receiver. This side is plugged into NEO-6M GPS module. GPS module has U.FL connector.
To connect them I used ebay SMA to SMA cable and ebay SMA to U.FL adapter. (Don't mistake this for MHF4 or MHF3 types, those won't fit and are smaller. If there is any mention of MHF4 in listing don't order it.). Ebay listings have wrong pictures, titles or descriptions, sometimes they claim they have RP SMA to U.FL adapter, and on picture it is standard SMA. I ordered RP SMA one and it was fortunately the standard SMA to U.FL.
part list
Active GPS antenna - "28dB LNA Gain 1575.42MHz Male SMA Male GPS Active Antenna Stronger Singal NEW"
- Ebay seller: [1]
- Ebay item: [2]
- Has 3-5V power
- Has standard SMA male connector (inner thread, pin in the center).
- Price: US $2.99
RF bias tee - "6GHz 10MHz-6000MHz Wideband Amplifier Broadband RF Feeder RF Isolator Bias Tee"
- Ebay seller: [3]
- Ebay item: [4]
- Has 2 standard SMA female connectors (outer thread, hole in the center)
- Price: US $2.78
GPS module - "GYNEO6MV2 Module GPS NEO-6M GY-NEO6MV2 Board with Antenna for Arduino K"
SMA female to U.FL adapter - "RP SMA Female to uFL/u.FL/IPX/IPEX RF Coax Adapter Assembly RG178 Pigtail gl"
- Beware of listing inconsistences standard SMA can be advertised as RP SMA, check listing picture for best guess.
- Also if listing states it is MHF4 or MHF3 type, it's smaller than U.FL and it won't fit.
- Ebay seller: [7]
- Ebay item: [8]
- Standard SMA female (outer thread, hole in center) to U.FL connector
- Price: US $0.81
15 cm SMA male to SMA male cable
- has standard SMA male connector on both sides (inner thread, pin in the center)
- Price: under 2$/piece
CH340G Serial converter - "1PCS CH340G RS232 Upgrade to USB TTL Auto Converter Adapter STC Brush Module"