A GNSS Smart Antenna Module for the Smart World | Symmetry Blog
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.
The smart world of IoT needs a smart antenna module to keep up. Telit has the solution to meet the needs of small tracking devices, telematics, cellular bases and more.
The SE878K3-A is a GNSS smart antenna module equipped with an embedded RHCP patch antenna, additional LNA, TCXO, RTC and support for additional external antennas.
The SE878K3-A has been designed to fulfill three main requirements:
- Companion module to the small 11x11 mm smart antenna module SE868K3-A
- Turn-key solution for applications requiring two-antenna support controlled by internal RF switch. (classic use case: alarm systems requiring main and backup antenna)
- Improved sensitivity, lower power consumption and additional flexibility compared to the smaller SE868K3-A
While the small SE868K3-A (11x11mm) is conceived for small telematics and portable applications, the new bigger SE878K3-A (18x18mm), with its larger 17x17mm antenna, aims to provide performance improvement required for application areas like telematics and alarm systems.
The SE878K3-A is packaged in the same “Cavity-Like” design used by the smaller SE868K3-A smart antenna but, thanks to improved power supply and larger antenna, it is able to provide improved sensitivity with lower power consumption.
The SE878K3-A supports GPS, QZSS, GLONASS, Beidou and it is Galileo ready. Moreover, it supports A-GNSS onboard generation as well as A-GNSS server-generated file injection that can be stored into embedded flash memory.
The SE878K3-A is provided with multiple communication ports like UART, I2C and SPI. The I2C port can be configured as a second UART. The embedded flash memory allows FW upgrades and customization and serves as A-GPS file storage.
The Jupiter SE878K3-A dimensions are targeted at classic telematics boxes and applications, including track & trace, fleet management, container tracking, alarms.
Key benefits are:
- GPS, Glonass, Galileo and Beidou compatible
- 18 x 18 x 6.2 mm LLC package
- Supply voltage range: 3-4.3 VDC
- Embedded 17x17x4mm low profile antenna
- Easy support for dual antenna designs thanks to the embedded RF switch
- UART, I2C, SPI comm ports
- I2C or 2nd UART (configurable)
The GPS-only version SE878K7-A completes the SE878Kx-A family and provide a companion low cost/low power solution in the same form factor, allowing the customers to design once and keep advantage from the common pinout. The SE878K7-A features the same pinout and form factor of SE878K3-A, built-in ROM memory and two UARTs. Moreover its power consumption is lower than SE878K3-A being the best solution for low power applications targeting lower price points than the full GNSS variant.
For more information on Telit smart antennas and other solutions, click here.
About Symmetry Electronics Team
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics is a focused global distributor of wireless connectivity solutions, sensors, and audio-video technologies. Offering comprehensive design support and available-to-ship inventory, Symmetry is committed to helping engineers accelerate time to market, reduce costs, and offer modern solutions for their IoT designs. Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company, TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is part of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG) – a supergroup of electronic component distributors and engineering services firms working together to advance the electronics industry. For more information, visit www.symmetryelectronics.com.