GPS Receiver User Manual

1 STARTER KIT
14 Copernicus GPS Receiver
Antenna
The Copernicus GPS Starter Kit comes with an active mini magnetic mount 3.0 V
GPS antenna. This antenna mates with the MCX connector on the interface unit. The
reference board supplies power to the active antenna through the RF transition cable.
Using a Passive Antenna
To test performance with a passive antenna (not supplied in the Copernicus GPS
Starter Kit) the passive antenna should be connected directly to the MCX connector
on the reference board, to ensure minimal signal loss. Since the passive antenna has
no LNA, the antenna detection and short circuit will not report a true antenna
condition. If the passive antenna is a (DC open) patch antenna, the FW reports an
antenna open condition. If the antenna power jumper is removed, the antenna is
reported as shorted.