Fractus Antennas has published a new report that explains the advantages of using chip antennas instead of patch antennas for GNSS applications. Devices requiring a top GNSS (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou) are now portable, they are located everywhere and they are not always stable and facing the satellite reception.
Using chip antennas for Global Navigation Satellite Systems reception is the best choice as they feature an omnidirectional radiation pattern that enables tracking satellites in any position and orientation.
Using patch antennas for GNSS reception becomes problematic when the antenna is mounted on a small and portable tracking device, for example, IoT sensors, bikes, etc. because the orientation with respect to the satellite constellation is uncertain and variable. Chip antennas are the immediate solution for the position matter, and chip antennas are also an advantage in terms of high efficiency and gain, they do not require an extra energy-consuming amplifying LNA to make the job.
Tracking devices, fleet management and wearables applications owing to its portable nature need an antenna with the same portable versatility. At this point, with the endless diversity of new devices requiring versatile GNSS connection, is when chip antennas become the perfect choice where size, weight, portability and cost are a priority.