GPS Antennas

A GPS antenna is a device that receives radiofrequency (RF) signals from GPS satellites and converts them into electronic signals for use by GPS receivers. Used across navigation, location tracking and fleet management applications, GPS antennas are available in active and passive formats to suit a wide range of operating environments.

RS Australia is a trusted supplier of GPS antennas, stocking products from leading brands including Siretta, Taoglas and RF Solutions. Browse the full range to find the right aerial for GPS applications across Australia.

Buy GPS Antennas in Australia

RS Australia stocks a comprehensive range of GPS antennas across multiple form factors, including dome, puck, square, PCB, patch directional, patch omni-directional and disc omni-directional designs.

The range supports major navigation systems including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and GNSS. Connector options include SMA, RP-SMA, IPEX and UFL to suit a broad range of GPS RF and receiver configurations.

Internal and External GPS Antennas

• Internal: An internal GPS antenna is mounted within a device, allowing it to receive a GPS signal through various barriers. It’s well suited to compact IoT devices, embedded systems and consumer electronics where space is limited.
• External: An external GPS antenna is mounted in a remote location separate from the device, making it the better choice where the device cannot acquire an adequate GPS signal in its installed position. External aerials for GPS applications are commonly used in vehicle rooftop, marine and outdoor equipment installations where signal reception is a priority.

Passive GPS Antennas

Passive antennas acquire GPS signals and send them directly to GPS navigation units without any amplification. They are simpler in design, lower in cost and require no external power source, making them a practical choice for short cable run installations where signal strength is adequate.

A passive GPS antenna is typically specified for compact, low-power embedded designs and applications where the antenna can be positioned with a clear line of sight to the sky.

Active GPS Antennas

Active antennas come with powerful amplifiers that permit them to pick up signals from longer distances. The signals received by these amplified antennas are much stronger than those reaching the GPS device directly*.*

The built-in low-noise amplifier (LNA) compensates for signal loss over longer cable runs, making an active GPS antenna the preferred choice for vehicle installations, marine navigation and any application where the antenna is positioned far from the GPS receiver.

How to Choose the Right GPS Antenna

Selecting the right GPS antenna depends on the installation environment, cable length and signal conditions.

• Internal vs external: Internal antennas suit compact embedded devices; external antennas are better for vehicles, marine and outdoor equipment where stronger signal reception is needed.
• Active vs passive: Choose a passive GPS antenna for short cable runs with clear sky visibility and an active GPS antenna for longer runs or weaker signal environments.
• Form factor: Dome and puck antennas suit vehicle and marine use; PCB and patch antennas suit embedded and IoT designs.
• Connector type: Confirm SMA, RP-SMA, IPEX or UFL compatibility with the GPS receiver port before ordering.
• GNSS support: Consider whether single-band GPS or multi-constellation GNSS coverage is required for the application.

Common Industry Applications

GPS antennas are used across a broad range of industries and applications throughout Australia, including:

• Fleet Management and Logistics: Vehicle tracking, route optimisation and real-time asset monitoring using external GPS aerials.
• Marine and Aviation: Precision navigation and positioning systems requiring reliable, high-gain GPS antenna performance.
• Agriculture: Precision farming, autonomous machinery guidance and crop monitoring across large rural areas.
• IoT and Smart Infrastructure: Asset tracking, geofencing and smart city sensor networks using compact internal GPS antennas.
• Defence and Emergency Services: Field positioning, search and rescue operations and mission-critical navigation.
• Telecommunications: Network timing and synchronisation using GNSS-referenced GPS navigation antennas.

Your Trusted GPS Antenna Supplier in Australia

RS Australia is a trusted supplier and distributor of GPS antennas, stocking active and passive options from leading brands including Siretta, Taoglas and RF Solutions. We also stock RFID antennas, SMT antennasand WiFi antennas for all your industrial needs.

Full specifications and datasheets are available online to support confident selection at the right GPS antenna price for your application. Place your order today for fast, reliable delivery anywhere in Australia. Please refer to our delivery page for more information on our shipping timelines and options.