GPS REPEATER
GPS repeaters are devices that are used to transmit signals to places where they normally
cannot reach. They operate by receiving satellite signals with an antenna located outside of a
building, and re-transmitting the signals to the indoor area or covered space, resulting in
consistent and uninterrupted access to signals underground or in other hard-to-reach areas.
The use of re-transmitted signals means that the GPS receiver is tracking the current GPS
status, so that when the receiver is moved from indoors to outdoors, the receiver is instantly
tracking the location, instead of taking several minutes on the acquisition of the current GPS
state.
GPS or GNSS repeaters consist of three components: an active outdoor GPS antenna,
typically mounted on the roof of a building to pick up signals, a repeater unit with a built-in
passive antenna used to re-transmit the GPS signal indoors, and a coaxial cable that connects
the two. The antenna located in the repeater unit can typically cover a radius of up to 20
metres, but multiple repeaters can be used to provide coverage over a larger area. It should be
noted that all the repeaters in a single network will transmit the coordinates of the outdoor
antenna and not the position of the repeater unit itself.
Wide or long range GPS coverage through a GPS repeater kit allows numerous GPS devices,
whether inside or outside of a building, to access and lock on to the same signal at all times.
This is a benefit that proves to be critically important for emergency service workers, first
responders, and military personnel who need instant location accuracy. With the help of
GPS repeaters, FIRE & rescue vehicles (SAR) ,no longer have to wait to acquire signals upon
exiting a building, allowing a constant state of readiness. Repeaters are also useful in
computer and electronic testing (ELT/PRB ) facilities, aircraft servicing hangars where on-
board satellite navigation equipment is tested indoors and in all areas or locations where signal
strength may be an issue
COMPONENTS USED
MAX2678 GPS/GNSS Front-End Amplifier IC
Maxim MAX2678 GPS/GNSS Front-End Amplifier IC is designed for automotive and marine
GPS/GNSS satellite navigation antenna modules, or for any application that needs to
compensate for cable losses from the antenna to the receiver. Two unconditionally stable low-
noise amplifier stages provide the high gain and integrated I/O matching. These stages
minimize the need for external matching components and eliminate the need for additional gain
stages.
The MAX2678 features the option to place a bandpass ceramic or surface acoustic wave
(SAW) filter between the two amplifier stages for improved immunity to out-of-band interferers.
A 3.4dB-gain step is also provided to compensate for cable loss variation between different
applications.
The device is designed to operate across all GNSS frequency standards with a 35dB typical
cascaded gain and a 25mA supply current. The two LNA stages allow the use of a wide range
of GNSS filter types for maximum flexibility in system design. The final RF output pin,
which drives the cable to the GNSS receiver, is also the power supply connection that accepts
a DC supply in the 3.0V to 5.25V range. Alternatively, the DC supply can be applied to pin 4.
This GPS/GNSS Front-End Amplifier is available in a leadfree, 10-pin TDFN surface-mount
package (3mm x 3mm). Electrical performance is guaranteed over the extended
-40°C to +105°C temperature range.
FEATURES
First Amplifier Noise Figure: 0.9dB
High Gain: 35dB*
3.4dB Gain Step
Shared VCC and RFOUT2 Pin
Integrated 50Ω Output Matching
AMP 2 includes 50Ω Input Matching
3.0V to 5.25V Supply Voltage Range
AEC-Q100 Qualified
ESD Protected to ±2kV Human Body Model
-40°C to +105°C Ambient Temperature Range
Small (3mm x 3mm) Low-Cost Package
RoHS Compliant
* First amplifier input is impedance matched (S11 = -10dB). Second amplifier is set to high
gain. Amplifiers are cascaded without interstage filter.
APPLICATIONS
Active Antennas
Integrated Automotive and Marine GPS Receivers
FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM