GPS Antenna Ground Plate

The Sparkfun GPS Antenna Ground Plate is an indispensable tool for enhancing the performance of GPS and GNSS antennas. It is particularly useful when the antenna is not mounted on a large metallic object like a car. This ground plate is designed to provide a solid base for a GPS Magnetic Mount Antenna, allowing it to sit flat on the ground plane while mounted to a tripod.

The ground plate is made of a steel disc that offers a reliable ground plane for a low-cost u-blox ANN-MB-00 antenna. When combined with an L1/L2 capable GNSS receiver like the ZED-F9P, it enables centimeter-level positioning.

This updated version of the GPS Antenna Ground Plate features a 1/4-20 UNC nut welded to the bottom of a thinner plate. The plate has been reduced from 3.17mm to 1.58mm, which significantly reduces its weight. The nut adds additional thickness, ensuring the tripod screw is no longer prone to the plate.

While the plate is not the cleanest piece of steel and weighs approximately 191 grams, it is designed to provide a solid base for the antenna. Its industrial finish ensures it can withstand harsh conditions.

Features:

• Diameter: 10.16 cm
• Thickness: 1.58mm
• Weight: 191 grams
• Center Thread: 1/4-20 UNC Thread
• Finish: Industrial

Documents:

• u-blox white paper on using low-cost antennas for RTK